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Set of 2: $20 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle No Motto NGC AU53 AND 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle With Motto NGC AU50

2023-04-03 21:15:00
Set of 2: $20 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle No Motto NGC AU53 AND 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle With Motto NGC AU50

Set of 2: $20 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle No Motto NGC AU53 AND 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle With Motto NGC AU50

Set of 2: $20 1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle No Motto NGC AU53 &

1866-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle With Motto NGC AU50

 

  • Mintage:
  • 1866-S No Motto – 120,000
  • 1866-S With Motto – 830,250
  • NGC Population:
  • 1866-S No Motto – 32/42
  • 1866-S With Motto – 127/482
  • Finest Known:
  • 1866-S No Motto – MS62 (2)
  • 1866-S With Motto – MS62+ (3)
  • The San Francisco Mint began striking its first coins in 1854, producing 141,000 double eagles, the fewest number of Liberty Head Double Eagles struck by the branch mint except for the 1866-S No Motto issues.
  • Up until 1864, U.S. coinage had not carried any reference to a supreme being. This was about to change, thanks largely to the strong religious zeal born of the Civil War.
  • Reverend Mark R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase in 1861, urging that provisions be made for “the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.” Watkinson said, “This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed.” 
  • Secretary Chase took this appeal to heart by specifying the inclusion of an inscription of sorts on the two-cent piece. On the first trials the motto GOD OUR TRUST was used but by the time the coins were finally released to the public the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was inscribed on the ribbon above the shield on the obverse of the coin.
  • After first gracing two-cent pieces in 1864, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST would then be placed on half eagles, eagles and double eagles in 1866.
  • As the Philadelphia branch mint waited for the new reverse dies featuring the motto, the notice of this change had yet to reach the San Francisco Mint and so business carried on per usual resulting in the production of gold coins without the motto dated 1866.
  • This was not uncommon during the early years of operation at the new San Francisco Mint, as communication between the west coast and the Atlantic states was anything but quick, with policy changes such as the inclusion of the motto, not reaching the California facility for at least a month after being announced.
  • In total 9,000 half eagles, 8,500 eagles and an estimated 120,000 double eagles were produced without the motto, while another 34,920 half eagles, 11,500 eagles and 842,250 double eagles were minted containing the motto.
  • Due to the nature of their existence both the No Motto & With Motto Double Eagles struck at the San Francisco Mint are highly sought after by collectors.
  • However, the 1866-S No Motto has managed to escape the grasp of countless pursuers of the date due to its immense scarcity in all grades, let alone About Uncirculated condition.
  • Most seek both the final issue of the Type I Double Eagle (1866-S No Motto) & first issue of the Type II Double Eagle (1866-S With Motto) for their personal collection, as together they speak to the story of what was versus what should have been.