Following recent gold discoveries, United States circulation of gold coinage had increased significantly. In the year ending June 30, 1859, the U.S. Mint had coined six denominations of gold coins, ranging from twenty dollars to one dollar. The largest number of these issued were the more than 800,000 $20 "Double Eagles" with their distinctive "Liberty Head." For coins under a dollar, silver still dominated; more than eight million silver half-dollars were minted in 1858-59, for example. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1861 (Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and Company, 1861), 217.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Business/Industry