1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

The 1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were designed by James B. Longacre and were struck by the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. A significantly larger number of $20 gold coins were made at the San Francisco mint in 1899 than the Philadelphia mint.

Keep in mind that the high mintage figures do not reflect the number of issues that exist today. Many Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins have been melted or damaged beyond a condition favorable to coin collectors, meaning far fewer pieces survive today than were originally minted. This is the case for all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. It therefore makes sense from the perspective of the purchaser to buy 1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins that have been certified by reputable third-party coin authentication firms.

Grading the 1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

If you are talking about a coin that is more than 100 years old, you must first assess the condition of the coin. These coins, through their lifetime, have had ample opportunities to become damaged, and many of them have been extremely roughed up over the years. This is why you will see collectors carefully analyze the condition of a coin prior to ever making a purchase.

Normally, a coin that is having its condition called into question will be shipped away to a professional coin-grading company. Understanding that not everyone has the time and money to send their coins away for grading, we have provided below a listing of the different popular coin grades as well as their characteristics.

Uncirculated: A coin that is graded as being Uncirculated is one that has spent absolutely no time at all on the open exchange market. These coins have been extremely well-preserved throughout the years and will even boast the original luster as was applied by the US Mint at the time of minting. For collectors, these coins are far and away the most sought after.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is determined to be of Extremely Fine grade is one that only spent a short period of time being exchanged. These coins may appear to be in perfect condition at first glance, but upon closer inspection you will notice that some light wear is able to be seen. Collectors love these coins because they are in great shape but a bit more affordable than Uncirculated coins.

Fine: If a coin is of Fine grade, the coin in question was one that spent a good bit of time being circulated, but has mostly managed to avoid being overly damaged. These coins will play host to light scratching and you will be able to notice that the surface of the coin has been smoothed a bit thanks to the changing of hands over the years.

Good: Good is the lowest grade a coin can receive and is usually indicative of a coin that has been circulated heavily. These coins will have had their surfaces worn down thanks to the changing of hands, and the imagery on the surfaces will have been worn down. All in all, these coins are in poor shape but are still sought after by collectors for various reasons, but mostly because they are inexpensive.

Pricing the 1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

When it comes to a coin that is more than 100 years old, determining an accurate price is something that is not very difficult. By taking into consideration the condition of the coin, you will be able to determine an accurate price. Further, because multiple types of these coins were minted every year, the exact type of Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin you own will play into the asking price. Below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1899 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin given its condition and type.