$5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle Coin (MS63, NGC or PCGS, Random)
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$20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Coin (MS63, NGC or PCGS)
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The United States of America has seen incredible variations in its coinage with time. Since its independence in 1776, the country has minted various gold coins. While some were circulated as legal tender back in the day, all past US gold Coins, such as Liberty gold coins, are now purchased for investment and collection purposes. Between 1795 and 1933, the US minted multiple Liberty Gold Coins. These coins, commonly known as US Eagles, are still prevalent in the global bullion market.
If you are an investor, coin collector, or history enthusiast, you can buy Liberty Gold Coins of multiple denominations. High purity, global acceptance, and historical significance make them perfect investment options for everyone.
Before getting to the details of Pre-1933 Liberty Gold Coins, let us quickly understand the history of the US gold coinage.
As the 18th century came to an end and the 19th century began, European wars significantly influenced the gold coinage. High gold prices worldwide led to market fluctuations impacting the gold coins produced by the US Mint. The impact was maximum on the then largest gold coin – the $10 Capped Bust Eagle.
By 1795, one ounce of gold was equivalent to 15 ounces of silver. Further 15 ounces of silver in the US was worth 15.5 ounces of the same metal in Paris. This motivated bullion brokers to buy gold from the US and sell it in Paris. This led to the gradual destruction of the US gold coinage. In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson had no option but to halt the production of the Eagles.
Gold was scarce in the US during the late 1700s. However, there was no shortage of silver coins, especially in Latin America. This made the Congress resort to the bi-metallic standard of coinage. The country received a steady money supply from its silver coins. In 1838, following two Congressional Acts, gold coins were allowed to continue in circulation after adjusting their fineness and metal content.
The US coinage began after the Coinage Act of 1792. The gold coins entered the production line two years after this act. For most of the early 19th century, the US Mint focused more on producing silver coins. The Liberty Gold coins were minted and circulated widely 1830s onward.
Interestingly, the term “Eagle” was used to depict a popular denomination in the US back in the day. One value of one Eagle was $10 and other denominations were derived from this base. These Liberty Gold Coins denominations include Double Eagles ($20), Half Eagles ($5), Quarter Eagles ($2.50), and Gold Dollars ($1).
While all these coins fall under the Liberty Gold Coins umbrella, they are often referred to by their denominations for easy identification.
By 1838, Christian Gobrecht, the Active Engraver at the US Mint, had replaced his predecessor William Kneass. He prepared a new gold coin design that was inspired by the portrait of Venus in a popular Benjamin West painting, Omnia Vincit Amor.
This Half Eagles and Large Cents of 1939 used Gobrecht’s design as a prototype. On the obverse of these “No Motto” $10 Liberty Gold Coins, you can see a left-facing bust of Lady Liberty. Her cornet contains the inscription “LIBERTY.” The bust is surrounded by thirteen stars with the mintage date inscribed below.
On the coin’s reverse, you can see the American Eagle with an olive branch and arrows in its claws. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “TEN D.” surround the eagle.
Back in the day, all Liberty Gold Coins contained 22 karats of “English Crown Gold.” While 11/12th of these coins contained gold, the remaining 1/12th was made of an alloy containing silver and copper.
Here are the key Liberty Gold Coins with their production years:
These were the standard denomination gold coins carrying the value of $10. Minted from 1795 to 1933, they contain 16.04 grams (0.5156 oz) of gold.
The Half Gold Eagles carry the face value of $5. They were produced and circulated between 1795 and 1929.
Worth $2.50 at the time of their production, these Liberty Gold Coins were minted from 1796 to 1929.
High in metal content and face value, the US Mint produced these $20 Liberty Gold Coins from 1850 to 1933.
The diameter of these gold coins also went through minor shifts with time. Here is a chart depicting diameter changes in Liberty Gold Coins:
| Year | Quarter Eagle | Half Eagle | Eagle | Double Eagle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1795 | - | 25 mm | 33 mm | - |
| 1796 | 20 mm | - | - | - |
| 1821 | 18.5 mm | - | - | - |
| 1829 | 18.2 mm | 23.8 mm | - | - |
| 1834 | - | 22.5 mm | - | - |
| 1838 | - | - | 27 mm | - |
| 1840 | 18 mm | 21.6 mm | - | - |
| 1849 | - | - | - | 34 mm |
The Double Eagle Liberty Heads of $20 were some of the largest circulating coins in the US. They carried two designs – Type 1 “No Motto,” Type 2, and Type 3.
The Type 1 “No Motto” Liberty Heads were minted from 1850 to 1866. The obverse side of these coins carries the head of Lady Liberty who wears a diadem with a pearl border. The diadem carries the inscription “LIBERTY.” The Crouching Venus, a popular Greco-Roman sculpture, served as the inspiration for this design. The reverse of Type 1 Liberty Heads showcases a spread eagle carrying a shield on its breast.
Type 2 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins carried a new design. These coins were minted between 1866 and 1876. This is when the Mint Act of 1865 required the coins to contain the inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the obverse. The reverse side was also subtly changed. The design now featured a shield curving outward and slightly lowered eagle feathers.
Type 3 Liberty Heads were minted from 1877 to 1907. These coins spelled out “TWENTY DOLLARS” on the obverse instead of “TWENTY D.” The obverse side of these coins depicts a left-facing head of Lady Liberty. You can see her hair tied in a bun and curls reaching the bust’s base. Her coronet carries the inscription “LIBERTY.” The bust is surrounded by thirteen stars.
The reverse of Type 3 Double Eagles shows the American Eagle outstretching its wings. Its claws hold an olive branch and arrows.
Most investors and coin collectors prefer buying certified Liberty Gold Coins. These coins are graded by one of the two most popular third-party coin grading services – The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and the Profession Coin Grading Services (PCGS).
These coins carry an official stamp of approval from globally recognized coin graders. They assure buyers of quality, durability, and metal content. A single look at the label on these coins can give you all the information you need about them.
At BOLD Precious Metals, you can buy both certified and uncertified Liberty Gold Coins at the lowest online prices. We provide our customers with free shipping benefits for orders above $199. We give you accurate and upgraded information about all Liberty Gold Coins, making your purchases seamless and well-informed.
