1861 $20 Liberty Gold SS Republic NGC MS-61

Few coins bridge American numismatic history and maritime legend quite like a $20 Liberty Gold recovered from the SS Republic shipwreck. This 1861 Philadelphia Mint double eagle was struck at the dawn of the Civil War, a pivotal year in which the United States Mint continued producing its largest gold denomination even as the nation fractured. The SS Republic, a side-wheel steamship, sank in a hurricane off the Georgia coast in October 1865 while carrying a cargo of gold and silver coins destined for the rebuilding South, and the coins recovered from her wreck represent one of the most significant numismatic underwater discoveries of the modern era.

The obverse presents the classic Coronet Liberty head designed by James Longacre, with LIBERTY inscribed on her coronet and thirteen stars encircling the portrait above the date 1861. The portrait shows bold relief with well-defined hair detail and a sharp coronet inscription. The reverse features the heraldic eagle with spread wings, holding an olive branch and arrows, with the shield at its breast and a glory of stars and rays above, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination TWENTY D., all with strong device definition characteristic of a well-struck Philadelphia issue.

NGC has certified this example MS-61, reflecting its uncirculated status with the expected handling marks consistent with its long ocean voyage and subsequent recovery. The surfaces display warm, rich original mint luster with the characteristic golden patina common to SS Republic coins. The SS Republic designation on the NGC holder adds a layer of historical provenance that makes this coin desirable both as a Civil War-era gold piece and as a certified shipwreck relic. For those seeking an original uncirculated example of the $20 Liberty type with authentic shipwreck provenance, this coin delivers a compelling combination of history, gold, and maritime legend. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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