1900-S Double Eagle - 1900-S $20 NGC MS63 CAC. Very lustrous. Type 3 Double Eagle. Lovely, satiny mint luster and an extremely bold strike characterize this Western branch mint, Mint State 1900-S double eagle. The surfaces are original and extremely clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. Full details are present on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair, and the design elements of the reverse, especially the eagle. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece and fully deserves the assigned grade.

The 1900-S double eagle, designed by James B. Longacre, is a Type 3 because the motto IN GOD WE TRUST has been added the oval of stars on the reverse, and the denomination was changed from TWENTY D. to TWENTY DOLLARS. Neither addition caused 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.

The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 because of the need to coin gold resulting from the California Gold Rush. In the West there was an abundance of gold bullion, nuggets and dust; however, there was also an acute shortage of circulating coinage. Congress authorized this mint to relieve the shortage and coin silver and gold and because transportation of bullion to Philadelphia was time consuming and hazardous. Because of its proximity to the Gold Rush area, San Francisco was chosen as the site of the new mint.  In 1874 it moved into a new building called the Old United States Mint or the Granite Lady. It is one of the few structures that survived the earthquake of 1906. It remained in service as a mint until 1938, when the present facility opened.

In its first year of operation the Mint made four million dollars in gold coins from bullion. The second building, the Old United States Mint, was designed by Alfred B. Mullett in Greek Revival style. It was built in an E-shape with a central pediment portico. There was a completely enclosed courtyard that had a well. It was these features that saved it in the fire that resulted from the earthquake of 1906. The building was situated on a concrete and granite foundation that was made to prevent tunneling into its vaults. In 1906 there was $300 million, a third of the United States gold reserves, in its vaults. Frank Leach and his men worked heroically to successfully preserve the building and the bullion. The mint was able to resume service and operated until 1937. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

In its population report, as of January 2013, CAC shows 12 1900-S double eagles in MS63 condition.