Double Eagle

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The Double Eagle is a United States gold coin with a face value of $20. The first Double Eagle was produced in 1849 at the time of the California Gold Rush. Struck from .900 fine gold, its gold content of 0.9675 troy ounces was worth exactly $20 based in the 1849 official spot price.

Double Eagles were produced from 1850 until 1933 when the official price of gold was raised to $35 per ounce. The $10 Eagle was the largest denomination US coin prior to 1850 and since the $20 coin represented twice the value it was named the 'double eagle'.

There are two main types of Double Eagle; the Liberty Head which was designed by James B. Longacre and issued from 1849 to 1907 and the Saint Gaudens, designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens and minted from 1907 to 1933.