1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Shipwreck SS Central America Full Serif, Bold Left S PCGS MS62

1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle – Full Serif, Bold Left S – SS Central America – PCGS MS62

PCGS MS62 | Rare Full Serif, Bold Left S variety | SS Central America treasure coin | Tough 1856-S issue in Mint State

• Year: 1856
• Weight: 33.44 grams (1.075 troy oz)
• Purity: .900 fine gold
• Type: Pre-33 U.S. Gold
• Mint: San Francisco (S mintmark)
• Face Value: $20
• Grade: PCGS MS62
• PCGS Population: 4
• Variety: Full Serif, Bold Left S
• Origin: SS Central America Shipwreck

This 1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle is more than a Mint State coin—it’s a tangible relic of the California Gold Rush and one of America’s greatest maritime disasters: the sinking of the SS Central America.

Struck at the San Francisco Mint during the height of the Gold Rush, this coin represents an early and elusive Mint State survivor. Unlike the more common 1857-S, the 1856-S date is significantly rarer in high grades, and this example—graded PCGS MS62—features the Full Serif, Bold Left S variety, a subtle and highly desirable diagnostic that sharpens its appeal among specialists.

The SS Central America, known as the “Ship of Gold,” sank in a hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas on October 3, 1857, while transporting passengers and over three tons of gold from the West Coast to New York. The loss triggered the Panic of 1857, a financial crisis that rippled across banks, businesses, and governments—further intensifying the national tensions that would erupt into Civil War.

Rediscovered in the late 1980s by Tommy Thompson and the Columbus-America Discovery Group, the shipwreck yielded a trove of gold coins and artifacts preserved for over a century beneath 7,000 feet of ocean. Painstakingly restored using delicate, non-invasive methods, these coins emerged in exceptional condition and were later authenticated and graded by PCGS.

This particular example stands at the intersection of history, rarity, and beauty. Backed by its shipwreck pedigree and elite condition, it offers a compelling opportunity for advanced collectors, shipwreck enthusiasts, or those drawn to treasures with a story. With a PCGS population of just 4 for this variety and grade, its scarcity matches its significance.