1876 P$20 Gold, J-1490 PR

With just a single specimen known, the 1876 Liberty double eagle pattern, Judd-1490, is an ultimate "stopper" for collectors of the U.S. pattern series. Many of the greatest pattern collections of all time, like those of Major Lenox Lohr, Harry W. Bass, Jr., and Dr. J. Hewitt Judd, have lacked this sought-after rarity.

This design was also struck in copper, with a reeded edge (Judd-1491). The reverse was used with a slightly different obverse to strike Judd-1492, a unique copper pattern with a plain edge.

Obverse Description

Dies similar to the regular design as adopted in 1877, but slightly modified, with the letters in LIBERTY farther from the beads than on regular issues of this year; date 1876 lower on the die than on J-1488.

Reverse Description

In the words of John W. Haseltine: in the style of regular issue, but “entirely different from [J-1488]; the TW in TWENTY nearly touch the scroll or label inscribed E PLURIBUS, and there are other slight variations. The whole heraldic eagle design is larger and TWENTY DOLLARS below; in fact, an entirely different die.”

Source: Heritage, Judd