Designer: James B. Longacre Diameter: 34 mm Edge: Reeded Weight: 33.436 grams Fineness: .900 Net gold weight: .9675 oz. Mints: Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco
With a gold content of nearly one ounce, this popular coin was first issued for circulation in 1850 as a means to utilize the gold flowing out of California. (A single pattern was struck in 1849 and resides in the Smithsonian). Three major types of $20 Liberties were issued: Type I 1850 to 1866 without the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, Type II 1866-1876 with motto, and Type III 1877 to 1907 with motto and the word DOLLAR spelled out on the reverse. Nearly 104 million $20 Liberties were struck, more than any other U.S. gold coin, contributing to it's worldwide popularity and widespread use.
