Early Double Eagles $20 Gold
1866-S Motto


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country:
Design Description:
Item Description:
Grade: NGC AU 58
Owner: ftrifilio5
 
Winning Set: Early Double Eagles $20 Gold
Date Added: 3/31/2016
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

In accordance with the Reverend M. R. Watkinson's suggestion, Congress passed the Act of March 3, 1865 and mandated that all silver and gold coins carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. To fulfill this requirement for the double eagle, James Barton Longacre enlarged the oval of stars above the eagle's head and inserted the motto within its outline. Unknown to most collectors, however, are the other changes that Longacre incorporated into this new double eagle reverse. The alert numismatist can also discern minor style and positional differences on the shield borders, double scroll, leaves, wings, and tail. While not as rare as its No Motto counterpart, Breen still describes this S-mint double eagle as 'very rare Unc.'

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