1879-O $20 Gold Liberty AU-53 by PCGS

There was a certain, unmistakable energy about the city of New Orleans that would be squashed during the Civil War, but like a Phoenix rising above the ashes, its inner birthright would never be taken from them.

Production of Double Eagles was halted in 1861 at the start of the Civil War once the Union seized control of the New Orleans Mint. It would not begin production again until 1879, and even then the coins would only come off the dies for that year only and never again.

A sparse 2,325 pieces were made. Of that, the vast majority of survivors grade no better than XF with a small spattering of AU’s here and there, including this coin. Just 3 or 4 examples are believed to exist in Mint State, and each one is a princely high six-figure sum.

This attractive AU-53 fits the bill for the connoisseur looking to fill that coveted spot in their collection!