1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle Value
A 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle is worth roughly $3,306 to $32,411 depending on its condition; the melt floor under every example is $3,241 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $3,241.13 |
| Good (G-4) | $3,306 to $4,376 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $3,306 to $4,538 |
| Fine (F-12) | $3,306 to $4,781 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $3,526 to $5,186 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $3,995 to $5,875 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $4,821 to $7,090 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $6,061 to $8,913 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $8,265 to $12,154 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22,040 to $32,411 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is a 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle starts around $3,306. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $32,411. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Double Eagle
- Year
- 1871
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 90% gold, 10% copper
- Weight
- 33.436 g
- Diameter
- 34 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
- Gold content
- 0.96750 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, below the eagle) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
The value drivers behind this coin
Documented examples of the 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
Each 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle holds 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, worth $3,241 at current spot prices. Gold content dominates the value of common dates and underwrites every numismatic premium above it.
Context adds the final layer to the 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle. Born of the California Gold Rush, the double eagle packed nearly an ounce of gold into a single coin and quickly carried most of America's monetary gold. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* 1871
bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TWENTY D.
eagle facing, head l., motto within stars, rays above
Measured 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 33.436 g, 34 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle #1 | 33.845 g | 34 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.177, Breen.7237 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle is valued between $3,306 and $32,411 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.