1897 Liberty Head Double Eagle ($20 Gold Coin)

This is a United States $20 gold piece, known as a Double Eagle, featuring the Liberty Head design by James B. Longacre. The obverse depicts a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty with her hair bundled and secured by a coronet inscribed with 'LIBERTY.' She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars representing the original colonies, with the date '1897' at the base. The coin is struck in 90% gold and 10% copper, measuring approximately 34mm in diameter. Physically, the coin displays a warm, orange-gold luster characteristic of late 19th-century minting. Notable features include the intricate detail remaining in the hair curls and the coronet edges. Evaluation of condition reveals significant surface contact marks, hairlines, and several small 'bag marks' across the fields and on Liberty's cheek, which are common for circulating gold of this era. The rim appears mostly intact with minor softening at the top. There is a visible texture of light circulation wear, particularly on the high points of the hair. This specimen lacks a mint mark on the reverse (implied), suggesting it was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The craftsmanship exhibits the high-relief quality typical of the Victorian-era U.S. Mint.