CGG

Congress authorized the United States Mint to create a $20 gold coin on March 3, 1849, to deal with the massive amount of gold flowing into the mint from the California Gold Rush. When it was realized that a $20 gold coin, or double eagle, could be minted in half the time it took to produce two $10 gold coins with the same amount of gold, the Liberty became the highest valued coin.

Since $20 was a considerable amount of money in the 19th Century, the $20 Liberty was predominantly used for bank-to-bank transfers and international finance. It remained in production until 1907 when the U.S. Mint began minting the $20 Saint-Gaudens.

Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse of the $20 Liberty gold coin, also referred to as $20 Coronet, features Miss Liberty wearing a crown inscribed with the word 'LIBERTY', encircled by thirteen stars representing the original thirteen colonies and the mint year.

The reverse features a bald eagle behind a striped shield with the words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' around the top of the coin with the denomination appearing under the eagle. Three different types of $20 Liberties were minted during its time in circulation.