Until 1849, the U.S. Mint produced only $2.50, $5 and $10 coins. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill and the ensuing California gold rush, however, soon prompted Congress to authorize the mintage of the legendary $20 Double Eagle Liberty gold coin.

In January 1850, the first regular production Liberty Double Eagle gold coins were struck.

Over the years, this $20 Liberty gold coin was produced in three types. Type I, the "No Motto" variety, was minted from 1849 to 1866. Type II, bearing the designation "Twenty D" on the reverse, was minted from 1866 to 1876, followed by the most common variety, Type III (1877-1907), with "Twenty Dollars" fully spelled out. This historic Double Eagle gold coin offers the highest gold content of any regular issue U.S. gold coin of its era and possesses one of the most arresting reverses on any United States coin: a dauntless eagle, its wings fully spread. The obverse bears a classical Greek rendition of Lady Liberty.