1857-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Shipwreck Spiked Shield Central America PCGS MS65

1857-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Shipwreck SS Central America PCGS MS65

1857-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle – PCGS MS65 | Shipwreck Recovery from SS Central America | Population: 121 | Only 88 Graded Higher

• Year: 1857-S
• Denomination: $20 (Double Eagle)
• Metal Content: 0.9675 oz of Gold
• Purity: .900 Fine (Pre-33 Gold)
• Mint: San Francisco Mint
• Grade: MS65
• Grading Service: PCGS
• Population: 121
• Population Higher: 88
• Pedigree: Recovered from the SS Central America ("Ship of Gold")
• Historic Era: California Gold Rush & Pre-Civil War America
• Special Feature: Conserved and certified shipwreck treasure

This 1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle is not just a coin—it’s a gem-grade relic of one of America’s greatest maritime tragedies and numismatic recoveries: the wreck of the SS Central America, also known as the “Ship of Gold.” Graded MS65 by PCGS, this coin stands out as one of only 121 examples at this level, with a mere 88 graded higher, making it an elite-quality specimen among shipwreck-recovered gold.

Struck at the San Francisco Mint during the height of the California Gold Rush, this coin was part of a massive gold shipment sent to stabilize New York’s financial markets. When the Central America sank in a hurricane in October 1857, it carried with it over three tons of gold and hundreds of lives, triggering the Panic of 1857, a financial crisis that helped widen the rift between North and South ahead of the Civil War.

Discovered in the late 1980s at depths over 7,000 feet beneath the Atlantic, the SS Central America yielded a trove of exceptionally preserved gold coins. This coin was carefully restored using advanced conservation methods, revealing its original mint luster and sharp detail—attributes that earned it the coveted Gem Uncirculated MS65 designation.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a shipwreck enthusiast, or an investor in historical U.S. gold, this coin checks every box: high grade, low population, compelling backstory, and a direct link to both the California Gold Rush and a pivotal moment in U.S. financial history.