1877 Double Eagle marked the start of Type Three Liberty Head double eagles. From then through the end of the series in 1907, the statement of value was spelled out – as TWENTY DOLLARS – on the reverse of each “Lib $20.” Until then, it had been abbreviated as TWENTY D. Type One had made way for Type Two in 1866 when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to double eagles. 1877 was a big year for small mintages. Production of U.S. coins was at low ebb, with gold coin output especially small.

The year was noteworthy beyond the realm of coins:

• Reconstruction ended in the South after a 12-year occupation of the vanquished Confederate states
  by Union troops. The tragic Civil War era was finally done.
• Thomas Edison patented the phonograph, which he described as his “talking machine.”
• In England, the first human cannonball act was performed, and the first-ever Wimbledon tennis championship was held – with men’s singles only.
• Here at home, children took part in the first White House Easter egg roll, and dogs strutted their stuff in the first Westminster Show.
• The man inside the White House, Rutherford B. Hayes, had just become the nation’s 19th President – even though he lost the popular vote and probably should have lost the electoral vote as well.

To his credit, Hayes is ranked among our better Presidents.

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