Types of Liberty Gold Coins

While all American gold coins are very much appreciated, the Liberty gold coins may be some of the most popular. The Liberty gold coins were in the forefront of US gold coinage for 7 decades, and most were lost to the melting/confiscation of 1933. Once they were America's symbol of growth to world power status from a struggling and developing nation. The Liberty gold coinage enjoyed popularity during 1838 to 1908. Now, it is estimated that less than 5% of Liberty gold coins exist today.

There are 4 coins in a Liberty gold series; these are known as the 4-piece Liberty Gold set which comprises the Quarter Eagle ($2.50), the Half Eagle ($5.00), the Eagle ($10) and the Double Eagle ($20). These are the main denominations used in gold coins mintage.

Liberty Quarter Eagle

The Liberty Quarter Eagle was minted between 1840 and 1907 at Philadelphia Mint, Dahlonega Mint, Charlotte Mint, New Orleans Mint and San Francisco Mint. This $2.50 gold coin holds 0.12094 oz. of gold in its 18 mm diameter design. The Lady Liberty bust sports its obverse, set above the date with 13 stars all around representing the first 13 states of the U.S. The American eagle sports its reverse with words "United States of America."

Liberty Half Eagle

This $5 gold piece has the longest mint history from 1839 to 1908, having been minted at 7 mints: Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, San Francisco, New Orleans, Carson City and Denver. There are 2 varieties of this Half Eagle. The first variety, ‘No Motto’ variety, does not include ‘In God We Trust’ inscription; it was minted between 1839 and 1866. The second variety, ‘With Motto’, with the inscription was minted between 1866 and 1908. Lady Liberty’s bust sports the obverse above the date with 13 stars around while the reverse shows the American eagle clutching arrows and olive branches in its talons at its center; its perimeter is engraved with ‘United States of America Five D’ wordings.

Liberty Gold Eagle

The Liberty Gold Eagle mintage was between 1838 and 1907 at Philadelphia Mint, New Orleans Mint, San Francisco Mint, Denver Mint and Carson City Mint in 2 varieties: ‘No Motto’ (minted between 1838 and 1866) and ‘With Motto’ (minted between 1866 and 1907).

Its design is the same as the Quarter and Half Eagle coins design.

Liberty Double Eagle

The Liberty $20 gold coin was the biggest coin denomination ever issued by the US mint. Its initial design sported the Liberty motif from 1849 through 1907. It was created from the increased gold supply that resulted from the gold rush in California. This coin was minted at Philadelphia Mint, New Orleans Mint, San Francisco Mint, Denver Mint and Carson City Mint. Again, Lady Liberty bust sports its obverse while the most impressive designs of eagles sport its reverse.

A QUICK GUIDE TO Gold Bullion Coins

It is one of those special hobbies in which not everyone would indulge although there are no bounds for anyone who is interested in buying gold coins. However, there are many different types of gold coins on the market for you to consider including in your new or current collection. Others may want these gold coins for investment purposes.

The More Popular Gold Coins

The following lists some of the preferred gold coins by the public. They are:

American Gold Eagle

This gold coin began minting in 1986 by law with a specification of copper-silver alloy for a more sturdy appearance to endure against wear and tear. This gold coin of the American Gold Eagle became the nation’s official bullion gold with Lady Liberty carrying the torch on the front side. The American Eagle gold coins are available in 1/10oz, 1/4oz, 1/2oz and 1 full ounce weights.

South Africa Krugerrand

This gold coin is the product of South Africa where it is minted from a durable gold alloy. The image of the previous President of South Africa, Paul Kruger, is imprinted on one side with Springbok on the other side.

Chevronets

The gold Chevronets was introduced by Russia in 1701 to replace the nation’s Ruble in 1757. However, the Russian Revolution caused a temporary halt of the Chevronets’ minting until the revolution ended. The authorities resumed Chevronets production in an attempt to ease out the devaluing Ruble; however, production of the Chevronets halted again in 1926. The Moscow Olympics in 1980 saw the revival of the 1925 Chevronets as a commemoration of the grand and prestigious event.

Britannia Gold

Britannia gold is Britain’s pride and joy with 22 carat and a mixture of 91.7% gold and silver or copper. The Britannia became the British’s official coin amongst its gold bullion collection. Britannia gold coins are available in ten pound denomination of 1/10 ounce troy gold, twenty-five pound denomination of ¼ ounce troy gold and fifty pound denomination of ½ ounce troy gold.

Gold Panda

The Gold Panda was minted with 99.9% gold by the Chinese with the Temple of Heaven imprinted on one of its sides. Though minting was frozen in 2002, it was resumed after much popular demand by coin collectors.

Islamic Gold Dinar

Malaysia also produced its own Kelantanese Dinar in September 2006 where these gold dinars were to be used in that state alone for paying dowries in accordance with the state’s Islamic Law, purchase of merchandise and even savings.

Gold Maple Leaf

The Royal Canadian Mint produced this Gold Maple Leaf gold coin from its locally mined gold that is 99.9% pure gold. There are two versions of the Gold Maple Leaf: normal and deluxe standard. This Maple Leaf gold coin can fetch $1,000,000 on the market with its 100kg weight at 3cm thick and 55cm wide in 2007.

Liberty Gold Coins: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Liberty gold coins are one of the most recognizable coins in the United States. These coins were said to be the building blocks of America’s trade and industry in the 19th and 20th century. Liberty gold coins find a unique place in American history, along with the Great Depression, the likes of Ford, Durrant, Rockefeller, and the American Civil War. Liberty gold coins, in fact, witnessed the birth of industrial America well before Edison invented the light bulb, Bell invented the telephone, and Mark Twain wrote his classics. In the 21st century, Liberty gold coins have found favor with coin collectors, antique dealers, and Wall Street hotshots for their beauty, rarity, and rich historic value. Coins from the original 13 states, both south and north of the Mason-Dixon Line, come under the auctioneer’s hammer regularly.

Liberty Gold Coins: Types

Liberty gold coins were minted in the form of $20 gold coins, $10 gold coins, $5 gold coins, and $2.5 gold coins. Liberty’s production started during 1849 and finally wound up in 1907, but remained in business till 1933. Minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco and New Orleans, these gold coins adorned the collections of Iacocca, Du Pont, and even JFK.
The $20 gold coin, designed by James Longacre, featured Lady Liberty with the word “LIBERTY” inscribed on the bottom of the coin. Thirteen stars, representing the 13 states, encircled the Lady. The other side of the coin featured the American bald eagle with the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircling it.

The $10 gold coin, designed by Christian Gobrecht, featured Lady Liberty with the word “LIBERTY” engraved on her coronet. The $10 coin was minted in 1838 and continued till 1907. The reverse side of the coin featured the bald eagle, with three arrows in its talons and perched on olive branches. The eagle was shielded by stars and stripes on its chest. These coins were minted in the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The Denver mint joined the bandwagon around 1906.

The $5 gold coins were authorized by the US Congress to be manufactured in the US Mint on April 2, 1792. This coin, also known as the “Half Eagle,” was minted in 1866 and continued till 1908. Struck at seven different American mints through its life, the coin featured Lady Liberty with the word “LIBERTY” engraved on her coronet and adorned by 13 starts that represented each of the 13 states. The reverse side of the coin was identical to the $10 coin with the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surrounding the eagle.

The $2.50 gold coins were similar to the $10 and $5 counterparts, expect that it was first minted at 1840. The Philly mint started the production and additional coins were struck at Charlotte, New Orleans and Dahlonega.

Know the Different Types of Gold Coins

Gold coins were used as currency in the olden times. However, their use as currency was put to an end after the period of the Great Depression, in Twentieth Century. At present, different types of gold coins are purchased by collectors and investors. Investors usually prefer bullion coins for investment purposes.

Major Types of Gold Coins
The two popular types of gold coins found across the world are:

American Gold Eagle

One of the most popular types of gold coins is the American Gold Eagle. This type of bullion coin was first produced in 1986, by the US Mint. Minted in 22-karat gold, these coins bear an image of Lady Liberty on one side and a Family of Eagles on the other side.

They are certified by the US government in terms of their weight, purity and content. The advantage of these coins is that they can be easily converted into cash. The American Gold Eagle coins can be bought in four different gradations:
• One-ounce with a face value of $ 50.
• Half-ounce with a face value of $25.
• Quarter-ounce with a $10 face value.
• Tenth-ounce with a face value of $5.

The elevated level of sales of the US Mint’s bullion gold coins continued till July 2010. The Sales figures of the US Mint’s American Gold Eagle coins for the month of July 2010 are as follows:

July 2010
American Gold Eagle 1/10 oz $30,000
American Gold Eagle 1/4 oz $2,000
American Gold Eagle 1/2 oz $2,000
American Gold Eagle 1 oz $147,500

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

Another famous type of gold coin is the Canadian gold maple leaf. These gold coins were introduced in 1979 for the first time. The Canadian gold maple leaf coins are produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. These gold coins are formed of 99.99% pure gold. These coins feature the image of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on one side. On the reverse side, they bear the image of Canada’s national symbol, the maple leaf. These coins are backed by the Canadian Government, for their purity and weight. The Canadian maple leaf coins can be purchased in following denominations:
• One ounce with 50 Canadian dollar face value.
• Half-ounce with 20 Canadian dollar face value.
• Quarter-ounce with 10 Canadian dollar face value.
• Tenth-ounce with 5 Canadian dollar face value.

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued an exciting new range of finely crafted gold coins in its third release of the 2010 collector products. The new coins include the 25-cent Birds of Canada and the 50-cent Lenticular Dinosaur Exhibit. Also, the half gram pure mint gold coin and 14 Karat ‘gold maple leaf’ have been introduced.

Staggering Price for the 1794 Silver Dollar

The silver dollar was one of the earliest species to be issued from the United States Mint. Though, the Mint came into existence in 1792, red tape and cumbersome legal requirements deterred the official casting in precious metals until 1794. Unconfirmed accounts suggest that total 1,578 coins were struck in the year 1794. The entire lot was minted using a single pair of dies in one day, on October 15, 1794. Consequently, the strikes gradually became less prominent, resulting in the outright rejection of a large number of silver dollars. It is believed that today only 120 to 130 coins are available in acceptable net mintage. Therefore, the 1794 silver dollar is treated as a rare issue.

The Congress mandated that the design for the silver dollar was to feature ‘Liberty’ and commissioned the task to engraver Robert Scot. The obverse of the coin portrays the side view of the face of a young woman with freely flowing hair. This hairstyle is particularly symbolic of ‘freedom.’ The word ‘LIBERTY’ is engraved at the top along the circumference with fifteen stars representing the states. The lower portion contains the year of issue. The reverse side shows a bald eagle with outspread wings, encircled by laurel branches on either side. The eagle is depicted sitting on a rock and looking towards its left. The country’s name is engraved along the circumference.

The then Director of the US Mint, David Rittenhouse distributed some of the pieces as mementos to some VIPs, put some into the common circulation, while retained some of them. The uncirculated silver dollars are very few in number and are available in mint state grade, commanding very high valuations. On May 20, 2010, one such coin was sold under a private treaty sale at a stunning price of $7.85 million. This constitutes the highest value transaction in precious metal coins in the world and surpasses a previous record of $7.59 for a 1933 American Double Eagle (gold). The President of the Rare Coins Wholesalers, Steven L. Contursi sold it to Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation, California, after holding it for last seven years.

Many analysts and experts believe that this particular piece is the first silver dollar ever struck. However, concrete evidence to this effect is not available. The dollar retains its pristine shape, making it more significant than its other counterparts do. The visible file marks were created to make the metal content precise to the face value. Martin Loges of Sunnyvale Foundation, California stated, “Of all the rarities I have seen or heard of, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the single most important of all, the very first silver dollar. This is the coin that has it all.”

American Eagle Gold Coins Well Know Bullion Coins

American Eagle Gold Coins are well known bullion coins. These are minted in USA and as per the rules the gold is 100% American for it to be considered legal. These were launched when South African gold was banned due to protest against apartheid.

The American Eagle Gold Coins are 22 carat gold, i.e. 91.67% pure gold. They are made in 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz and 1 oz denominations which are also the weight of the coin i.e. its gold content. Gold has baser metal like copper and silver alloy content. They differ from Kruggerands in their yellow color, which is due to the alloy. Kruggerands are deep orange.

This coin was designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens, the world famous designer. It has the Lady of Liberty holding her torch on one side, the other has a male eagle flying above a female eagle and a baby eagle. It is rich in symbolism. The male eagle represents the power and might of USA, and the male eagle also carries an olive branch that represents USA’s commitment to peace. All of the coins bear the same design. The gold content varies as per the denomination.

Another great advantage is that American Eagle Gold Coins are recognized globally. They are, in fact, the most popular gold coins in the world. Hollywood has done its bit in making people from countries all over the world familiar with both its intrinsic value as well as its artistic value. This adds to their appeal as a collector’s item. People display pride in owning an American Eagle Gold Coin.

Moreover, U.S. Mint guarantees their gold content and their weight.

Liberty Head Double Eagle: Very Fine

During 1848-52, the chance discovery of large goldmines in California led the American Government mandate the issue of its first $20 gold coins. Earlier, the highest denomination was $10 and the coins were named ‘Eagle.’ Drawing upon the logic, the $20 coins came to be known as ‘Double Eagle.’ Engraver James B. Longacre conceptualized the pioneering design for the Double Eagles ‘Liberty Head.' The Liberty Heads were released from 1849 to 1907. In the year 1849, only two proofs were molded and its mass production officially began in 1850.

The obverse design of the coins features the head of Lady Liberty, aligned sideways. Along the circumference, thirteen stars are present that seem to surround her head. The year is engraved in an arch alignment right below her head. The reverse is a more complex design portraying the bald eagle in the center with its wings spread. One of its claws holds some arrows and the other holds an olive branch. An ornate shield appears to cover most of the frontal portion of the eagle. Encircled by thirteen stars, the ‘motto’ appears (1866-1907) above its head.

From the collectors’ point of view, there are three main categories of the coin. Unlike the later two variants, the Type I (1850 through 1866) Liberty Heads did not carry the motto ‘In God We Trust.’ The Type II (1866 through 1876) had the words engraved and the denomination was mentioned as ‘Twenty D.’ The Type III (1877 through 1907) carried the motto and was primarily different from the previous two issues in that the denomination was expressed as ‘Twenty Dollars.’ Additionally, it had some design modification, like the repositioned head of Liberty and her acutely diagonal neckline.

Type III Liberty Heads were minted in the largest numbers, partially owning to its 21-year stint. Most of them went into the national treasuries of the investing countries, rather than going into mass circulation. This exported variety is a highly valued one, as is the Type 1A (1861), designed by Anthony C. Paquet. However, all the three series are available in various grades, including VF (Very Fine), from VF-20 to VF-35. These coins contain light to moderate wear & tear. The buyers should avoid the coins ‘cleaned’ for enhancing the eye appeal.

For valuation purpose, the obverse is more significant than the reverse. One must closely examine the areas behind the ears, along the cheeks, hair, and forehead on the frontal side. On the reverse, the possible spots of aberration are the eagle’s neck, the contours of its wings, and the breast feathers, apart from the upper edge of the shield. Fingerprints, handling marks, hairline cracks, and minting defects reduce the worth of the coins. Traditionally, the VF grades have traded at spot price as well as premium. Presently, they usually trade at the spot rate, adding to its appeal.