1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle “S.S. Central America” Spiked Shield Variety – PCGS MS64

The 1857-S Liberty Head Double Eagle is one of the most famous gold coins ever struck by the United States Mint—made legendary by its connection to the tragic sinking of the S.S. Central America. The ship, carrying tons of California Gold Rush treasure, went down in a hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas in September 1857. Its loss helped trigger the financial panic of that year. When the wreck was discovered more than a century later, it yielded a cache of beautifully preserved San Francisco Mint double eagles—coins that had been sealed in the cold darkness of the Atlantic since the dawn of the American West.

Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse features Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed “LIBERTY,” encircled by thirteen stars and the date below. The reverse bears the heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, holding arrows and an olive branch, surrounded by the denomination and country legend. The “Spiked Shield” die variety, seen on this specimen, is distinguished by a prominent die line running upward from the shield point—a feature highly sought by specialists in this historic issue. Every element of the design embodies the optimism and energy of a young nation fueled by discovery and expansion.

This coin exhibits remarkable mint luster and satiny golden surfaces typical of the finest Central America recoveries. Graded MS64 by PCGS, it offers sharply struck details in Liberty’s hair, facial features, and the eagle’s plumage. The fields are clean and radiant with the original orange-gold hue unique to these deep-ocean specimens. Only a small fraction of the recovered pieces achieved such a lofty grade, placing this example among the elite survivors of the treasure. The preservation is a direct testament to the sealed storage and silt-free environment of the wreck site.

Owning a treasure-coin from the S.S. Central America is owning a tangible link to the California Gold Rush and one of the most captivating chapters in American numismatic history. These coins bridge the gap between legend and reality—gold that fueled an empire, lost at sea, and rediscovered generations later.

The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.