1854-S Double Eagle (1854-S $20) NGC Unc Details. Despite this 1854-S double eagle having been “improperly cleaned,” it is still an excellent example of a scarce coin. The bright luster is especially evident on Liberty’s hair and face on the obverse and on the eagle's head, its wings, and the rays on the reverse.

The California Gold Rush of 1849 caused a huge increase in the amount of gold that came into the Mint for coinage. In that year, a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives to create twenty dollar coins called double eagles. James Longacre abandoned the Turban Head Liberty of the earlier ten dollar eagle. Instead he adapted Gobrecht’s Large Coronet Cent of 1839-57. In the new design, Liberty wears a coronet, and her hair is tied in the back. The heraldic eagle of the reverse has a circle of thirteen stars above its head which are surrounded by rays. E PLURIBUS UNUM is found on matching ribbons on each side of the eagle. The present coin is a Type 1. The denomination is abbreviated TWENTY D., and IN GOD WE TRUST has not yet been added.

All early double eagles are scarce in mint state grades, and the 1854-S twenty dollar coin is scarce in all grades. According to the NGC population reports, only 140 uncirculated coins in total have been certified.