1907 $20 Liberty (1907 Double Eagle Liberty) NGC PF55. The last Proof $20 Liberty. This rare, circulated, last-year-of-type coin has all the striking characteristics of a proof. It is fully struck especially on the obverse stars, Libertys hair, and the eagle on the reverse. There is sufficient separation in the lines of Libertys hair to warrant the grade. Mint luster is found within the devices.

The double eagle of 1849-1907 was designed by James Barton Longacre. For all dates the total proof mintage was 2,426 coins. Therefore, all proof double eagles of this type are rare, and some are exceedingly rare.

Longacre designed the coin, which was substantially different from the previous capped Liberty eagle. It was similar to Gobrechts Large Cent Braided Hair Coronets of 1839 to 1857 in that instead of the cap, Liberty now wore coronet with her hair tied in the back. The reverse design depicted a modified heraldic eagle with a circle of stars above its head which are in turn surrounded by rays. The motto E Pluribus Unum is on each side of the eagle on matching ribbons. This design remained in use for almost sixty years.

There were three types of Longacre double eagles. The first had the denomination abbreviated as TWENTY D. In 1866 the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the top of the reverse creating Type 2. This change 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. This addition did not cause crowding of the design because it was only necessary to enlarge the circle of stars to accommodate the motto within it. The Type 3 coins were created in 1877 when the denomination was changed to TWENTY DOLLARS. This double eagle is known as the Longacre-Barber type. The present coin is an example of the third type of double eagle.

Only 45 to 55 proofs are known for this date so it is rare in all conditions. In its population report, NGC shows 2 at PF55 with 6 better.