Liberty Head $20 1866 S MOTTO $20 MS

NGC Universal ID: 269Y

Coin Information

1866 S MOTTO $20 MS
Obverse
1866 S MOTTO $20 MS
Reverse
  • Category: Liberty Head $20 (1850-1907)
  • Mint: San Francisco
  • Mintage: 842,250
  • Obverse Designer: James B. Longacre
  • Reverse Designer: James B. Longacre
  • Composition: Gold
  • Fineness: 0.9
  • Weight: 33.44g
  • AGW: 0.9675oz
  • Melt Value: $2623.39 (1/20/2025)
  • Diameter: 34mm
  • Edge: Reeded
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Grade Summary

View a summary of the NGC Price Guide, NGC Census, Auction Prices Realized and NGC Registry Scores for each grade.

1866 S MOTTO $20 MS
 
NGC Price Guide
NGC Census
Auction Prices Realized
NGC Registry Score
Find it on eBay
PrAgGVGFVFXFXF+5050+5353+5555+5858+6060+6161+6262+6363+6464+6565+6666+6767+6868+6970
$2800 $2800 $2825 $2825 $2750 $3450 $3650 $4000 $4500 $5500 $6500 $8250 $9000 $11500 $12500 $18500 $20000 $23500 $32500 $37500 $55000
00003828601301150119021351502424000000000000000

3/3/16 - PCGS
$1527.50
Lot# 4579 - HA

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12/3/15 - NGC
$1410.00
Lot# 8247 - HA

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7/14/19 - PCGS
$2520.00
Lot# 3887 - HA

11/2/17 - PCGS
$1440.00
Lot# 17989 - HA

11/2/17 - PCGS
$1440.00
Lot# 17989 - HA

7/31/16 - PCGS Genuine
$1468.75
Lot# 23552 - HA

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6/16/21 - NGC
$3240.00
Lot# 5430 - SB

9/20/20 - PCGS Genuine
$3480.00
Lot# 7373 - HA

6/7/20 - NGC Details
$2340.00
Lot# 3748 - HA

6/9/19 - NGC
$2280.00
Lot# 4210 - HA

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1/15/23 - NGC
$4320.00
Lot# 4309 - HA

9/8/19 - NGC
$3120.00
Lot# 5051 - HA

2/4/16 - NGC
$4935.00
Lot# 3432 - HA

1/7/15 - NGC
$4935.00
Lot# 7464 - HA

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1/10/22 - PCGS
$7212.00
Lot# 4115 - HA

8/9/20 - NGC
$5424.00
Lot# 3536 - HA

6/7/20 - NGC
$5880.00
Lot# 3750 - HA

6/7/20 - NGC
$5640.00
Lot# 3749 - HA

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1/15/23 - NGC
$8400.00
Lot# 4310 - HA

8/9/20 - NGC
$6900.00
Lot# 3537 - HA

6/7/20 - PCGS
$8700.00
Lot# 3277 - HA

5/13/20 - PCGS
$6300.00
Lot# 23511 - HA

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9/8/19 - PCGS
$8700.00
Lot# 4038 - HA

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2/3/11 - NGC Details
$2530.00
Lot# 4621 - HA

2/3/10 - NGC
$1437.50
Lot# 2355 - GO

1/6/10 - PCGS
$13225.00
Lot# 2247 - HA

12/3/09 - PCGS
$13800.00
Lot# 1937 - HA

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8/9/20 - PCGS
$13200.00
Lot# 3538 - HA

4/25/19 - PCGS
$12600.00
Lot# 3921 - HA

1/4/17 - NGC
$19387.50
Lot# 6023 - HA

8/6/14 - PCGS
$28200.00
Lot# 12034 - SB

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1/6/16 - NGC
$28200.00
Lot# 5650 - HA

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9/25/13 - NGC
$55812.50
Lot# 6870 - HA

11/3/05 - PCGS
$34500.00
Lot# 2462 - HA

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2,713 2,770 2,781 2,786 2,885 2,960 3,278 3,447 3,541 3,730 3,815 3,984 4,199 4,630 4,770 5,049 5,422 6,169 6,846 8,200 8,981 10,543 11,857 14,485 14,704 15,143 15,412 15,950 16,230 16,789 17,079 17,660 18,069 18,887 20,176
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Description & Analysis

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.'

Description and Analysis courtesy of Heritage Auctions and may not be republished without written permission.

1866 S MOTTO Liberty Head Value

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of January 2025, a Liberty Head from 1866 S in circulated condition is worth between $2800 and $12500. However, on the open market 1866 S MOTTO Double Eagles in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $55000.

Price Guide

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NGC US Coin Price Guide >

Census

NGC Grade Summary
  • Total Graded: 955
  • Low Grade: VF
  • Average Grade: 50
  • High Grade: 62
Created with Highcharts 5.0.1438941921301501901355244VF404550535558606162050100150200250
NGC Census Detail
1866 S MOTTO $20 MS Last updated 01/15/2025
 
BASE
TOTAL
 
PrAgGVGFVF4045505355586061626364656667686970 TOTAL
00003894192129149188134522400000000 955
0000000000000000000000 0
0000000112102000000000 7
0000000000000000000000 0
0 0 0 0 38 94 192 130 150 190 135 5 24 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 962
0%0%0%0%4%10%20%14%16%20%14%1%2%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
NGC US Coin Census >

NGC Registry

NGC Registry Score
1866 S MOTTO $20 MS
 
BASE
PrAgGVGFVF4045505355586061626364656667686970
2,713 2,770 2,781 2,786 2,885 2,960 3,194 3,447 3,730 3,984 4,630 5,049 6,169 8,200 10,543 14,485 15,143 15,950 16,789 17,660 18,887 20,176 
2,732 2,774 2,783 2,819 2,910 3,038 3,278 3,541 3,815 4,199 4,770 5,422 6,846 8,981 11,857 14,704 15,412 16,230 17,079 18,069 19,317 21,185 
3,278 3,541 3,815 4,199 4,770 5,422 6,846 8,981 11,857 14,704 15,412 16,230 17,079 18,069 
3,363 3,636 3,899 4,415 4,909 5,796 7,523 9,762 13,171 14,924 15,681 16,509 17,370 18,478