Last month was noteworthy in the world of Numismatic Coins, a group of three Liberty Double Eagle types of gold coins proved to be the lead earners at the ANA Fall National Money Show, realizing more than $16 million! The prices included buyers’ premium. The Double Eagles coins originated in 1854 and 1856 are two of the rarest variants among the coins of the Liberty series. Each reportedly has a maximum of 30 known samples available.

The auction, which took place in Pittsburgh, featured an example of each coin representing the Rubic Collection. The leader at this auction was the original 1854 version, graded AU-55. It led the charts, garnering a whopping $431,250. The 1856 originated version, which is considered even rarer, was sold for a much lower price of $276,000. A Double Eagle from 1864, which has a grade of PR-65 and was awarded the star designation by the NGC, managed to fetch $345,000 at the Pittsburgh auction.

Rare types of gold coins are favored by coin collectors and investors alike. For those interested in putting some money into these rare coins, knowing more about the intriguing variants and their essential attributes and qualities would help in making a choice.

$10 Dollar Gold Coin with Indian Head

The history of the origin of these coins is quite intriguing. Way back in 1905, Augustus Saint Gaudens attempted to create a new design for gold coins in the US, on the request of the then President, Theodore Roosevelt. The President was keen on coins that reflected Greek tradition, albeit with new designs. In response to the request, Saint Gaudens decided to blend two diverse cultures by adding a feathered headgear, reminiscent of Indian culture, to Lady Liberty.

The other adornments included 46 stars, representing the States of the US. Post 1912, a couple of stars was added to this to symbolize the inclusion of New Mexico and Arizona into the Union. The reverse has a proud Eagle sitting on an arrow bundle. The design of this coin is considered as one of the finest in American history of gold art.

These types of gold coins are especially popular among collectors and investors because of their limited mintage. They were minted between 1907 through 1933. In 1933, millions of coins were recalled by the Treasury and subsequently melted.

The $5 Liberty Gold Coins

This is one of the two coins that have been minted across all seven of the US Mints. It was minted between 1839 and 1908. The design was crafted by Christian Gobrecht and has a Liberty Head that has been encircled by 13 stars, representing the colonies of the Union. The reverse was adorned by a majestic Eagle with wings opened up. The phrase ‘United States of America” and the denomination “Five D” were engraved on it. In 1866, “In God We Trust” was added as a motto, engraved on a flowing banner. These elegant and aesthetically designed coins are considered to be rare collector items, as they are symbolic of the Pre Civil War Era. Some investors prefer to begin with the rarest dates and highest grades, as the price of such coins is not totally dependent on the volatile spot gold prices.

Acquiring rare types of gold coins is not about trading and profits alone. It is also about bringing home a piece of history, to be cherished for years. Investors often choose gold coins as they offer two sources of growth. Firstly, the price of gold has historically risen over the longer term. Secondly, the supply of gold coins is limited. As the demand for this grows, the scarcity value of these coins rises, driving their prices even higher on numismatic coins.