1880 Proof Double Eagle Pattern - J-1663a

Coin Details

Description

An extremely rare double eagle ($20) pattern from 1880, struck in gilt copper and representing one of only a handful of twenty-dollar denomination patterns produced during the Design Reform era. The double eagle was the workhorse of American gold coinage — the denomination most heavily used in international trade and the largest gold coin in regular production — making any pattern exploring modifications to its design a matter of considerable economic significance. The obverse features the Coronet Liberty head that had served as the standard double eagle design since James B. Longacre's original 1849 rendering, with modifications reflecting Charles Barber's evolving aesthetic sensibilities. The reverse depicts the heraldic eagle with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon above, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS around the periphery. Barber's 1880 tenure was marked by a transition from his father's established program to his own emerging vision for American coinage, and this double eagle pattern sits at that inflection point. The 'a' suffix in the Judd designation indicates a distinct die state or composition variant from the primary J-1663 entry, which is cataloged as a half eagle pattern.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Very few specimens are documented. Gold denomination patterns in the twenty-dollar range are among the rarest and most valuable of all American patterns.

Cross References

Judd J-1663a, Pollock P-1863a