1870 Double Eagle - 1870 $20 NGC AU53. Type 2 Double Eagle. A strong strike and muted mint luster remaining in protected areas typify this Type 2 1870 Double Eagle. Full details are present in the centers of the stars and the design details of the reverse, especially the eagle. The surfaces are original and clean with no individual abrasion marks worthy of description. Just a touch of wear on the highest points keeps this attractive piece from Mint State grade.

The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the original double eagle by enlarging the oval of stars above the eagles head and placing the motto in it. This modification did not require a major alteration of the design as was the case with adding the motto to the lower denominations. It was made at the behest of Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of Treasury and Congress because of pressure brought about by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania.

Despite this new coinage act, 120,000 1866 San Francisco double eagle coins were minted without the new motto. Obviously older dies were in use in the branch mint and were used for this date. All branch mint double eagle dies were made in Philadelphia, and it is reasonable to assume that the trip was too long for the new dies to reach San Francisco on time.

Originally all of the United States coinage was secular. However, in the first sixty or so years of the United States existence, religious life became more important to the populace. By 1860, twenty-three percent of the population belonged to a church or had some kind of religious affiliation. Groups such as the National Reform Association wanted to amend the Constitution to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of all power and authority in government. The amendment was unsuccessful; however, the sentiment to bring religion into government remained strong. President Abraham Lincoln chose James Pollock to be the Mint Director in 1861. He served until 1867. Pollock was in favor of the idea that the nation depended on the will of God. Reverend Watkinson was the first person who actually addressed this need. He believed that adding the name of God to our coinage would, relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism [and] place us openly under the divine protection.

Although placed on the two cent coin in 1864, the Coinage Act of 1865 created the authority to add the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to all coins. In 1866 it was placed on the half eagle, the eagle and the double eagle as well as on silver coinage and the shield nickel. It wasnt until the newly designed eagle and double eagle of Augusts Saint-Gaudens that the motto was briefly omitted in 1907 and 1908 because of President Theodore Roosevelts objection to it.

The 1870 double eagle is scarce in all grades. Even the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian lacks one of this date. So here is an excellent opportunity to acquire a Type 2 double eagle worthy of the finest collection.