1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle brings anywhere from $3,306 to $32,411, and its metal content alone is worth $3,241 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1872 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.
How much is a 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1872 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.
1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Double Eagle
- Year
- 1872
- 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 there is no letter on this coin
Philadelphia struck the 1872 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.
What makes the 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle valuable
Each 1872 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.
The 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle. Carson City and New Orleans issues, and the early 1850s Philadelphia dates, are the numismatic prizes. 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.
1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* 1872
bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TWENTY D.
eagle facing, head l., motto within stars, rays above
Measured 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle specimens
2 physically measured 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle examples 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle #1 | 33.419 g | 34 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.177, Breen.7241 |
| 1872 Liberty Head Double Eagle #2 | 18.28 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Judd.1251, Adams.Woodin.1211, Pollock.1393 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1872 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.