1876 Double Eagle (1876 $20) PCGS MS63. Mint luster blooms on both sides of this mint state 1876 Double Eagle. A few surface abrasions keep this delightful 1876 Double Eagle coin from a higher mint state grade. The strike is above average in that all of the design features are clear except for a few lines of hair on the obverse. Light clash marks are seen on both sides, which do not detract from the desirability of the coin or its grade.

Designed by James B. Longacre, double eagles were first struck in 1850. The elaborate ribbons on the sides of the shield inscribed E PLURIBUS on the left and UNUM on the right symbolize the new denomination. It was felt that a large sized coin would better facilitate large commercial and international transactions. It is also no coincidence that the eagle appeared immediately after gold was discovered in California. Miners could now get their oar, dust, and other gold refined and converted into coinage of several denominations.

The 1876 double eagle is a Type 2, which indicates that the motto IN GOD WE TRUST has been added. This motto was added as a result of political pressure on Congress initiated by Reverend M. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania. He campaigned to have the motto added to all United States coinage. Congress, probably afraid of being called atheists, complied, and a new coinage law was passed that required the motto to be added to all coins that were large enough to accommodate it. The double eagle did not require much redesigning because the motto was placed with the slightly enlarge oval of stars above the eagles head.