1904 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS64 Prooflike

This is a stunning piece, one that you will be proud to own. David Akers writes, "The 1904 is by far the most common date in the Liberty Head Double Eagle series…”

However, it could be argued that the specific coin offered is actually rare. How could that be possible—especially with its enormous mintage of 6,256,699? Well, here’s the story. PCGS has graded 233,285 mint state examples of the 1904 $20 Liberty Head double eagle. That’s quite a substantial amount. However, they have graded and designated only 219 specimens as Prooflike (PL).

So while PCGS has graded 42,194 1904 $20s as MS64, they have graded only 10 to be MS64PL. Yes, only 10. And there are only 2 finer in MS64PL (one 64+PL and one 65PL). That is what makes this “common” coin a rarity. Collectors Universe has given this issue a price of $6,000.00 in MS64PL.

The Second Philadelphia Mint, where this striking beauty was produced in 1904. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.