1892-S Double Eagle - 1892-S $20 NGC MS64. This near-Gem, Western branch mint 1892-S Double Eagle has subdued mint luster within its devices. The coin is a mixture of yellow-gold and rose-gold, with the latter more on the devices and the former more in the fields, especially so on the obverse. The coin is well struck with full details on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair, and the design elements of the reverse especially the eagle. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade with no individually distracting abrasion marks. It is an attractive piece worthy of the grade assigned.

The design change that brought about the Type 3 Double Eagle was the denomination. It went from TWENTY D. to TWENTY DOLLARS.  Like the addition of the motto to the reverse of the previous double eagle, it did not cause any major change in the rest of the coins design. William Barber who by then was the Engraver following Longacres death in 1869 made the modification. Later, his son Charles further modified the reverse of the double eagle by smoothing the back of the eagles neck. Many of the twentieth century double eagle coins have the new reverse, but some were made from left over hubs and have the 1899 reverse.

During this time period there were extremes of coin mintage. There were several years that saw double eagle mintages of over a million and even two million coins. However, the largest was 1904, which had a mintage of 6,256,699. Many of these were saved in European banks and are available in quantity today. On the other hand, there were great rarities created by low mintages. In 1886 there were only 1,000 coins minted, and that was the third lowest. The years 1885 and 1882 saw 751 and 571 respectively. Of course authentication is required for these rarities because the S mint mark could easily be removed from the common dates of 1885-S and the 1882-S.

Longacres double eagle design was a new concept that endured well past the turn of the century. When Longacre first came to work at the Mint, he was opposed by Franklin Peale, the Chief Coiner. Peale was probably responsible for some blundered dies that Longacre was criticized for making. Peal was involved in a private, illegal medal manufacturing business using Mint facilities. He was concerned that this new political appointee would interfere with his business, and he resisted Longacres appointment as Chief Engraver. In the end Peale was found out and fired in 1854. Longacre flourished in his position and was responsible for creating many new designs including the Indian Head cent, the two-cent piece, the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head gold dollar, the Indian Princess gold dollar, the three-dollar gold piece, and the Liberty Head double eagle. 

Charles E. Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He became Chief Engraver after the death of his father, William. He served from 1879 to 1917. He is best known for his designs of the Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar. In addition he designed the Liberty Head nickel, several commemoratives, and the Flowing Hair Stella pattern. Barber was born in London in 1840. He came to the United States in 1852 with his family. His father became an engraver at the Mint in Philadelphia. Following Longacres death, William Barber became the Chief Engraver and made his son, Charles, his assistant. In 1879, Charles Barber became the Chief Engraver despite the fact the George T. Morgan may have been more qualified or at least more talented.

While the 1892-S is one of those dates that were saved in Europe, most are found in VF to MS63 grades. Choice examples are often elusive. In its population report, NGC shows the present coin tied with a group of others at MS64 with only 3 better.