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.”
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings oustretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest with vertical stripes on bottom part and horizontal stripes on top part, ribbon over eagle's head.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
