1889-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS MS63+

1889-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS63+ – Possibly from the Saddle Ridge Hoard

• Date: 1889-S
• Denomination: $20 Double Eagle
• Type: Liberty Head
• Grade: MS63+
• Grading Service: PCGS
• PCGS Population: 69 in MS63+, 131 finer
• Metal Content: 0.9675 troy oz
• Fineness: .900 gold
• Diameter: 34 mm

This 1889-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle, graded MS63+ by PCGS, is a stunning survivor from a mintage once considered unremarkable—until the 2013 discovery of the Saddle Ridge Hoard, the largest known buried treasure of gold coins in U.S. history.

While walking their dog on their Northern California property, a couple unearthed eight rusty cans containing 1,427 U.S. gold coins dated 1847–1894, including 422 examples of the 1889-S $20 Liberty Double Eagle. Based on its quality and timing, this coin is highly likely to be a product of that historic hoard.

This MS63+ specimen is a top-tier Choice Mint State example, boasting satiny luster, strong strike definition, and minimal marks. With only 69 graded MS63+ and 131 finer at PCGS, its scarcity at this level is matched only by its story—wrapped in mystery and marked by century-old clues like a “Saddle Ridge” rock and a tin can hanging in a tree.