1879 $20 (1879 Double Eagle) NGC MS61 CAC. Type 3 Double Eagle. Lustrous PQ. This mint state 1879 Double Eagle has significant mint luster gleaming on both sides of the coin. It is well struck as evidenced by the centers of the stars and the lines of Libertys hair on the obverse and the details of the eagle on the reverse. The coin shows no wear, as expected for a mint state piece, which is confirmed by CAC. The presence of the CAC sticker also indicates that the coin is one of premium quality within the grade range.

The coin is a Type 3 double eagle. Type 1 had no motto on the reverse. Type 2 added IN GOD WE TRUST to the circle of stars above the eagle. Type 3 changed the denomination from TWENTY D. to TWENTY DOLLARS.

James Longacre designed the double eagle. Its obverse shows a Liberty head facing left wearing coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is tightly tied in the back with two loose curls hanging down her neck to the end of the truncation. She is surrounded by thirteen six pointed stars with the date below. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with elaborate ribbons on both sides of the shield extending from the top corner down to the eagles tail feathers. The ribbons are inscribed, on the left E PLURIBUS and UNUM on the right. The ribbons were added to the design to symbolize the denomination since this was the first twenty dollar coin. There is an oval of thirteen stars above the eagles head and an arc of rays from wing tip to wing tip behind the upper half of the oval. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc above the eagle, and the denomination TWENTY D. is below. The mint mark is between the tail feathers and the N of TWENTY.

In its population report as of June, 2011, CAC has confirmed 5 1879 double eagles in MS61 condition with 1 better.