1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were minted in huge numbers in the scheme of 19th-century $20 gold coins, with more than 2.7 million produced. Designed by James B. Longacre, the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin was struck by the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The majority of the output coming from the San Francisco mint, which was not surprising given that facility’s location near the epicenter of the Gold Rush. As with most gold coins, the 1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin tended to circulate more in the West.

Although the mintage figures were high, they do not reflect the number of issues that exist today. Many 1898 gold coins have been melted or damaged beyond collectability, meaning far fewer pieces survive today than were originally minted. If purchasing a 1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, use caution and be sure to purchase coins that have been certified by reputable third-party coin authentication firms.

Grading the 1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

For coins that are more than 100 years old, the condition of the coin is something that is always called into question. Most of these coins have been heavily circulated throughout their lifetime, and with that knowledge it goes without saying that many of these pieces have been damaged to some extent. This is why collectors carefully analyze the surfaces of a Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin prior to ever making a purchase.

Normally, a person who is looking to have the condition of their coin officially judged will send the coin away for grading at the hand of some professional company. Knowing that not everyone has the money to send their coins away for grading, we have provided below an outline of the most popular coin grades as well as their characteristics.

Uncirculated: A coin that is determined to be Uncirculated is one that never spent any time exchanging hands. These coins will appear to be pristine and are exactly that. The overall texture of the coin will have been perfectly preserved, and even the coin itself will have a nice luster. For collectors, these coins are the most desirable.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is determined to be Extremely Fine is one that spent only a little bit of time in circulation. These coins will appear to be free from any flaw, but upon closer inspection you will see some signs of wear and tear including light scratching. Collectors still strive to get their hands on these coins because they are still in decent shape.

Fine: A coin that is determined to be of Fine grade is one that has spent a good bit of time being circulated. These coins will show some signs of damage, but for how long they were in circulation the overall damage will be fairly light.

Good: Good is the lowest grade a coin can receive and is indicative of a piece that has been heavily damaged. These pieces will have been smoothed thanks to the changing of hands over the years. In fact, some of the imagery may be hard to make out with the naked eye due to the damage. Though in poor condition, these coins are still added to collections all the time.

Pricing the 1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

As far as grading the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin is concerned, you need to take into consideration the type of coin you possess and the condition it is in. For one, the condition of the coin means everything to collectors so if the coin is in great shape it will naturally sell for a higher price. Secondly, because there were multiple types of these coins minted every year, the exact type of coin you possess will play into the asking price. Listed below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1898 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin given its condition and type.