Whitman Expo
1853 U.S. Assay Office 20 Dollar Gold MS TWENTY D., 900 THOUS, K-18 Values
Details
Millions of dollars’ worth of the 1853 900-Thousandths $20s were struck by the United States Assay Office, making these double eagles the most commonly encountered pioneer gold issue. Between 500 and 600 examples are known today, with somewhere around ten grading MS65 or MS66. 17 Kagin-18 $20s were recovered from the S.S. Central America. So-called “Prooflike Assay $20” forgeries were marketed by John J. Ford in the 1960s. These were initially exposed in the 1960s by numismatist Eric P. Newman, and the coin from which their dies were copied was identified in 2006 by David J. McCarthy.
Obverse: Eagle clutching shield and ribbon UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 900 THOUS TWENTY D.
Reverse: Engine turning UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE OF GOLD SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA. 1853.
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
California
Mintage:
500–600 known
Coinage Type:
Private & Pioneer Gold
Coinage Years:
1852-1853
Composition:
Gold
Varieties and Classification
Variety:
U.S. Assay Office
Variety 2:
TWENTY D., 900 THOUS, K-18
Rarity:
R-2
Physical Characteristics
Strike Type:
Business
Coin Shape:
Round
Design Details
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 900 THOUS TWENTY D.
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE OF GOLD SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA. 1853.
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