1855 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle NGC AU-55

The 1855 Liberty Head Double Eagle represents a period when the nation’s largest gold denomination played a central role in commerce, banking, and international trade. Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin features a portrait of Liberty surrounded by stars on the obverse, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle paired with the denomination expressed as TWENTY D. Struck during the height of the California Gold Rush era, Double Eagles helped transform newly mined gold into circulating money.

This example is certified NGC AU-55, a grade that preserves substantial detail while retaining evidence of limited circulation. Traces of original mint luster remain visible within the protected areas of the design, complementing the strong overall appearance expected of a Choice About Uncirculated specimen. For collectors of Type One Double Eagles, AU-grade pieces offer an appealing combination of historical significance and visual quality.

NGC has graded 137 examples of the 1855 Double Eagle in AU-55, with 122 finer across all higher grades. The issue becomes notably scarce in Mint State, as NGC has certified only 24 pieces from MS-60 through MS-64 combined. These population figures underscore the challenge of locating high-grade survivors of this important mid-19th century gold coin.