1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle, 20F PCGS AU55 Ex.SS Central America w/Box & COA

This attractive piece would be an excellent candidate as a type coin to add to your collection. Plus it is a more affordable option in its AU grade. This coin, the 20F (No Serif, Right S) variety, is housed in the exclusive PCGS Gold Foil holder, telling you that it is from the original retrieval mission at the site of the tragic wreck of the SS Central America (SSCA).

PCGS has graded 76 examples of this variety as AU55 Gold Label, with 160 finer.

Captain William Herndon, who went down with his ship (SS Central America) after doing what he could to help the passengers and crew. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Numismatic writer and gold specialist Doug Winter tells us, "The discovery [of the S.S. Central America treasure] literally kick-started the wider market for this series and today the 1857-S is desirable to collectors, investors, and history lovers alike. ... This is a well-struck issue. The hair detail on the obverse is sharp with many of the curls and the strands at the top of Liberty's head showing individual definition. The stars usually have full radial lines and the denticles are sharp and clear. On the reverse, ... the overall [details are] excellent with detail[s] not seen on most Type One issues from the San Francisco mint."