The 1879-O Double Eagle: New Orleans’ Only Type III $20 Gold Coin

A Singular Coin in the History of the New Orleans Mint

The 1879-O Liberty Head Double Eagle holds a unique position in American numismatics. It is the only Type III $20 gold coin ever struck at the New Orleans Mint. At the same time, its mintage totals only 2,325 pieces, making it one of the smallest productions for any New Orleans double eagle.

Yet the coin’s significance extends beyond the numbers. The 1879-O represents the dramatic reopening of the New Orleans Mint after the turmoil of the Civil War. As a result, it stands as both a rarity and a historical marker of the Mint’s return to federal control and coin production.

An especially attractive AU55 example certified by NGC will cross the block in Heritage Auctions’ March 26–28, 2026 U.S. Coins Signature® Auction (#1391).

A Mint Reborn After the Civil War

The story of the 1879-O begins with the turbulent history of the New Orleans Mint.

Operations at the facility ended in 1861, when Louisiana seceded from the Union and Confederate forces seized the Mint. For nearly two decades afterward, no federal coinage emerged from the building.

Then, in 1879, the Mint reopened under the United States government. Its main purpose was clear: to produce the newly introduced Morgan silver dollar in large quantities.

However, the Mint also struck small quantities of gold coins. Eagles appeared between 1879 and 1883 and again in 1888. Yet the Mint produced double eagles only once during this period, 2,325 pieces dated 1879.

Because of this brief and singular production, the 1879-O became the only New Orleans issue of the Type III Liberty Head double eagle design.

The Only Type III New Orleans Double Eagle

The timing of the 1879-O adds another layer of importance.

When the New Orleans Mint last struck double eagles in 1861, the Liberty Head design had not yet reached its final form. In the years that followed, the denomination underwent two design changes, creating what collectors now classify as Type III Liberty Head double eagles.

Therefore, when coinage resumed in New Orleans in 1879, the Mint produced a double eagle with a design that had never before appeared at that facility.

As a result, the 1879-O stands alone in the series.

One of Three Ultra-Low Mintage New Orleans Twenties

The 1879-O forms part of an elite group of rare New Orleans double eagles.

Collectors often speak of a “trifecta” of ultra-low mintage issues:

• 1854-O – 3,250 coins struck
• 1856-O – 2,250 coins struck
• 1879-O – 2,325 coins struck

The 1879-O actually has a smaller mintage than the 1854-O and comes remarkably close to the 1856-O, the lowest-mintage New Orleans double eagle.

However, survival patterns differ. More examples of the 1879-O exist today than its earlier counterparts. Researchers attribute this difference to the movement of gold coins in international commerce during the late 19th century.

Exported Gold and the Survival of the Issue

During the late 1800s, double eagles played a major role in global trade. Banks and financial institutions shipped large quantities overseas to settle international accounts.

The 1879-O double eagle followed this pattern. Many pieces traveled abroad soon after striking. Over time, some entered foreign bank reserves.

As those reserves dispersed during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, examples of the issue returned to the United States through repatriations. These discoveries helped expand the known population.

Even so, the coin remains extremely scarce.

Estimates of surviving pieces include:

• Approximately 100 survivors, according to Q. David Bowers
• Fewer than 150 known, according to John W. Garrett and Ron Guth
• 115 to 135 examples, according to numismatist Doug Winter

In contrast, Winter estimates 30 to 40 survivors each for the 1854-O and 1856-O, while other researchers suggest even lower totals.

Therefore, depending on the estimate used, there are roughly four to six times as many 1879-O double eagles as the earlier rarities.

Nevertheless, the issue remains a major rarity within the Liberty Head series.

A Coin That Tests the Patience of Collectors

The 1879-O presents another challenge: quality.

Most known examples show heavy abrasions and uneven coloration. These problems reflect the rough handling typical of circulating gold coins used in banking channels.

Numismatist Doug Winter has commented on the issue’s appearance, noting that the overall eye appeal for the date tends to fall well below average. As a result, collectors often wait years for a truly desirable example.

A Choice AU Example Heads to Auction

The example appearing in Heritage’s March 2026 Signature Auction offers an unusual level of preservation for the issue.

Graded AU55 by NGC, the coin displays orange-gold surfaces with faint prooflike reflectivity in protected areas. Weakness appears only in the uppermost strands of Liberty’s hair on the obverse.

Importantly, the piece avoids the deep abrasions and discoloration that plague most examples of the date. Instead, its marks remain minor and scattered, resulting in noticeably stronger eye appeal.

This level of preservation places the coin near the top of the known population.

Rare in High Grade

The 1879-O becomes significantly rarer as grades increase.

In the fifth edition of his reference on New Orleans gold coins, Doug Winter lists only seven Mint State examples of the date. Meanwhile, auction archives suggest roughly a dozen unique examples in AU58.

Certification reports from PCGS and NGC show additional finer listings. However, Winter notes that some NGC totals likely reflect resubmissions of the same coins.

When researchers adjust for duplication, only about twenty examples appear to exist that grade higher than this AU55 specimen.

For a coin with fewer than 150 survivors overall, that statistic highlights the issue’s scarcity in collectible condition.

A Leading Rarity in Southern Gold

Among New Orleans Mint double eagles, the 1879-O ranks as one of the most desirable issues in the series.

Doug Winter places the coin sixth in overall rarity among New Orleans double eagles, behind the 1856-O, 1854-O, 1855-O, 1859-O, and 1860-O.

Even so, the 1879-O carries additional demand. Its status as the only Type III New Orleans double eagle ensures that collectors of the Liberty Head series actively pursue it.

Therefore, when an example with strong eye appeal appears at auction, competition often follows.

A Historic Coin with a Story to Tell

The 1879-O double eagle represents more than a scarce gold coin. It marks a pivotal moment in American mint history.

The coin celebrates the return of federal coinage to New Orleans after nearly two decades of silence. At the same time, it stands as the sole Type III double eagle ever produced at that historic Southern facility.

With a tiny mintage and a limited surviving population, the issue continues to capture the attention of advanced collectors.

When a high-end example emerges, especially one that defies the typical abrasions of the date, it reminds collectors why the 1879-O double eagle remains one of the great prizes of Southern gold coinage.