20 Dollars, Moffat & Co., United States, 1853

Description:

This twenty dollar gold coin was produced at Moffat & Company's mint in San Francisco, California around 1853. Moffat & Company was a major player in the production of California private gold coinage. First issuing its own coins, then coining the fifty dollar “slugs” for the United States Assay Office of assayer Augustus Humbert. This 1853 double eagle is one of the last coins struck by this prolific California pioneer coiner. Obverse and reverse designs bear a close and deliberate similarity to those used on the "official" double eagle of the same period produced by the U.S. Mint for regular circulating coins.

Obverse: Liberty head, “Moffat & Co.” on crown, 13 stars around, dated 1853 below.

Reverse: Liberty eagle with thirteen stars around its head, “San Francisco California/Tweny D.”

Date Made: 1853

Maker: Moffat & Company

Place Made: United States: CaliforniaPlace Of Issue: United States: California

See more items in: Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection, American Enterprise, Coins, Currency and Medals, Josiah K. Lilly Jr. Collection

Exhibition: American Enterprise

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Credit Line: Estate of Josiah K. Lilly

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: NU.68.159.1163Accession Number: 283645Catalog Number: 68.159.1163

Object Name: coin

Physical Description: gold (overall metal)0 (overall die axis)0 (overall die axis measurement)struck (overall production method)Measurements: overall: .3 cm x 3.4 cm; 1/8 in x 1 11/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-78f3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1101844

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