The Significance of Liberty Gold Coins

The 1933 Double Eagle coin is considered the rarest and the most expensive coin a collector can own. With a market value of $7.6 million and a face value of $20, a batch of these coins are currently in the lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The coins are from the last batch of coins ever minted by the United States government. The coins from that batch were not issued, instead melted for bullion in 1937.

The liberty gold coins or double eagles are rare coins and have a high significance for American numismatic enthusiasts, especially due to their rarity. Originally issued with a face value of $20, liberty gold coins have much larger market value today.

The Significance of Liberty Gold Coins in Numismatic Collections

Gold was discovered in the United States in the state of California in 1848, what ensued was a period of madness, the Gold Rush. The amount of gold unearthed in the following year was so large that the US Congress authorized the minting of a $20 gold coin, an amount that in 1849 was very large. One of the original pieces from that time is on display at the Smithsonian. The design of that particular gold coin had Lady Liberty on the obverse with Liberty written on it.

Let’s take a look at what makes liberty gold coins so important for collection.

• Liberty: To begin with the liberty gold coins feature Lady Liberty on them. Lady Liberty signifies “Liberty Enlightening The World," however the actual significance of Liberty for the forefathers of America is much deeper. To them she represented a vision of freedom that was almost idealistic. Liberty is the foundation upon which the United States of America was created. For this purpose alone the liberty gold coins hold a dear place in the hearts of numismatic enthusiasts.
• Historical Significance: Amongst the first few gold coins to be minted was the $5 half eagle which had on its obverse the liberty head and on its inverse an eagle. It was minted in 1795 and was in circulation till 1929. the sheer age of this coin makes it all the more valuable.
• Value: Liberty gold coins are rare to find, considering that a lot of the coinage was melted down to bullion. However of the surviving coins that are in collections, liberty head quarter eagles of 1843 O large date and small date are the rarest, and the most valuable. As few as 150 remain today. Apart from just the monetary value of the gold they contain, liberty gold coins are also valuable for their historical significance. It is a matter of pride for numismatics enthusiasts to have a liberty head gold coin in their collections.
• Value: As the prices of gold soars, so will the value of the liberty gold coins. Coupled with the rarity of their occurrence these coins present excellent opportunities for those interested in gold, and even collection. Gold is also a safe haven asset.
• Variety of Types: Liberty gold coins are part of the broader Gold Eagle coins, and there is a large variety available from different time frames. Amongst the Liberty Head coins there are three types, the first type and the largest minted type had the liberty head on one side and the majestic eagle on the other side. The second type incorporated the words “In God We Trust” on the reverse above the eagle. This addition was made in 1866. The third type was issued in 1877 with a change in the denomination and called the Twenty D.

No matter the type or the rarity of the liberty gold coins, their value remains high in the hearts of Americans. This is largely due to the meaning of Liberty these coins and their designs held for the forefathers of the country.