1885 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

The 1885 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins are quite scarce, as less than 700,000 were ever made and far fewer than that survive today. Gold coins, including the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, were mainly used in the West and used during large transactions, most often banking related. Not surprisingly, the San Francisco mint handled much of the coin production in 1885.

Making the 1885 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin scarce is the fact many of these gold coins were melted, leaving behind only a small number of survivors. For that reason, Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins should be regarded as rare and only purchased from reputable coin dealers.

Grading the 1885 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

Coins that have been graded by a professional and recognized grading company have been put through a rigorous process to determine the coin’s condition and authenticity. The process involves several detailed steps to accurately determine the coin’s physical condition to see how well it has stood up to the test of time. While much of the coin grading process is subjective in nature, a coin’s final grade is assigned by a team of coin grading experts who will use all available information to make an opinion about a coin’s grade. You can closely examine your coin, checking its details including edges, text and imagery, to get a good idea of what grade your coin may be assigned.

Use the specifications below to determine how your Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin might be graded.

Uncirculated: A coin in uncirculated condition will be close to perfect condition. This means that the coin’s details, such as images or text, will appear crisp and clean as if they were just struck. The coin’s edges will have the appropriate texture and the coin will show no signs of handling or abuse. Many coins in this condition will retain their original shine and luster, while some may have very slight discoloration due to aging. You can use a magnifying glass to visually inspect all of your coins details.

Extremely Fine: A coin in extremely fine condition is just one notch on the grading scale below uncirculated, and will also look as if new. Upon close inspection, these coins may have very miniscule blemishes or imperfections on the details or edge. In addition, the coin’s finish may be ever-so-slightly discolored. Nevertheless, coins given a grade of extremely fine are in top physical condition and remain visually appealing to collectors and investors.

Fine: Further down the grading ladder, a coin in fine condition may show age-related damage or general wear and tear. The coin’s surfaces may be slightly eroded from being handled over the years, and the coin’s finish may appear dull. The coin may feel slightly different to the touch due to erosion over time.

Good: Coins that are assigned a grade of good often have significant physical imperfections. The coin’s details-especially the finer ones-may be worn down or even absent. Sometimes, a coin in this condition may not be easily identified without the use of a magnifying glass or other visual aid. Even though coins in good condition may not be in the best shape, they may still have significant market value depending on year, type, relative scarcity and other factors.

Pricing the 1885 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

If you are like any other collector, you will naturally want to know what the asking price of a specific Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin might be. To do this, you must do nothing more than take into consideration the type of coin it is, and the condition it is in. By carefully assessing these two factors, you will gain a better idea of what you might be asked to pay, or what you might ask someone to pay, for a specific Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin. Below is a chart that will help you understand an appropriate asking price for one of these coins given the condition and type.