With the discovery of large quantities of gold in California in 1848, large quantities of gold were available, and in 1849, the mintage of the $20 gold coin began. Mass production began the following year in Philadelphia and New Orleans, joined by San Francisco in 1854 and Carson City in 1870. Longacre's obverse design was an enlarged version of the Liberty head he had created for the gold dollar that had debuted the previous year. The reverse featured a heraldic eagle with an arc of rays above it. The coins contained almost a full ounce (0.9675) of fine gold, and their diameter was almost exactly between the half dollar and the silver dollar.
Three distinct types of $20 Liberties were produced, each distinguished by changes to the reverse of the coin. The first, produced from 1850 to 1866, did not have the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse. The second (1866-1876) had the motto and the denomination on the bottom edge read: "TWENTY D." In 1877, the denomination was changed to "TWENTY DOLLARS," and this third type continued until the end of production in 1907.
Designed by: James Barton Longacre
Date of publication: 1877-1907
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Diameter: 34 mm
Weight: 30.14 grams of gold, total 33.44 grams
Edge: Serrated
Condition: Circulation coin
Year: 1900-1903
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