1873 Double Eagle Patterns

About This Coin

Crowning the denomination hierarchy of William Barber's Trade Dollar Era Patterns (1871-1873), the 1873 Double Eagle Patterns represent the most ambitious application of his design language — reimagining America's highest-value circulating coin at the Philadelphia Mint. The twenty-dollar gold piece was the titan of American coinage, serving as the primary instrument of international trade, and any proposal to redesign it required both artistic vision and practical courage. Barber's obverse features the seated Liberty facing left with olive branch and wheat sheaf, proposing a complete departure from the Liberty Head design defining the double eagle since 1849. The reverse displays an eagle perched on a bale of goods with olive branch and three arrows, applying the trade dollar program's commercial symbolism to the denomination most directly involved in international commerce. A notable result of $41K in PR66 grade at Bowers & Merena reflects the premium collectors place on double eagle patterns. For pattern specialists, the 1873 Double Eagle represents the pinnacle of Barber's ambition — his design for the largest and most important American coin, produced during the year the Coinage Act transformed the monetary system.