How to Identify the Liberty Head Double Eagle
Confirm a Liberty Head $20 gold by its coroneted Liberty head, heraldic shield eagle, large size, and by reading its motto and denomination to fix the type.
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Start with the two designs, which identify the type at a glance. The obverse shows Liberty in left-facing profile wearing a coronet lettered LIBERTY, surrounded by thirteen stars with the date below. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle: wings spread, a striped shield across its breast, an olive branch and arrows in its talons, and rays with an oval of stars above the head. This formal coat-of-arms eagle is different from the naturalistic flying eagle on the later Saint-Gaudens double eagle.
Use the reverse lettering to pin down the variety, which matters for a coin like the 1869. If you see IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon within the star oval and the value reads TWENTY D., it is a Type 2 (1866–1876), matching an 1869 coin. No motto at all means Type 1 (1850–1866); a value spelled out as TWENTY DOLLARS means Type 3 (1877–1907). Reading the motto and denomination together, then checking the date, quickly confirms which of the three types you hold.
Check size, weight, and color. A genuine double eagle is about 34 mm across, weighs roughly 33.44 grams, and is struck in 90% gold with a reeded edge and a rich yellow-gold tone. It is a large, dense coin; a piece that is noticeably light, thin, off-diameter, or pale in color deserves scrutiny. A careful weight and diameter measurement is a useful first screen.
Locate the mint mark on the reverse, below the eagle and above the denomination, between the tail feathers and the value. No mint mark indicates Philadelphia; letters such as S (San Francisco), CC (Carson City), O (New Orleans), or D (Denver) indicate branch mints, though not every mint struck every year. For an 1869, expect either no mint mark or an S.
Be cautious with authentication. Because these are high-value gold coins, they are widely counterfeited, and genuine coins are sometimes altered — added or changed mint marks and re-engraved dates are used to imitate scarce issues. Cast or die-struck fakes may even use gold. Given the stakes, confirm any coin of real premium with a recognized third-party grading service rather than relying on appearance alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 apart?
Read the reverse. No motto and TWENTY D. is Type 1 (1850–1866); IN GOD WE TRUST added with TWENTY D. is Type 2 (1866–1876); and IN GOD WE TRUST with the value spelled TWENTY DOLLARS is Type 3 (1877–1907). An 1869 coin is a Type 2.
Where is the mint mark on a Liberty Head Double Eagle?
On the reverse, directly below the eagle and above the denomination, between the tail feathers and the value. No mint mark is Philadelphia; S, CC, O, or D indicate branch mints. Not all mints struck every date.
How can I distinguish this from a Saint-Gaudens double eagle?
The Liberty Head type has a profile Liberty head in a coronet and a heraldic shield eagle. The Saint-Gaudens type, which replaced it in 1907, shows a full-length striding Liberty on the obverse and a flying eagle on the reverse.
Is a weight check enough to prove authenticity?
It is a strong first screen — a genuine coin is about 33.44 grams, 34 mm, and 90% gold — but matching weight alone does not guarantee authenticity, since counterfeits can be made from gold. For any valuable piece, use a recognized third-party grading service.
Liberty Head Double Eagle identified by the community
Recent Liberty Head Double Eagle coins identified with Coin Identifier.
