What is a 1849 Liberty Seated dollar?

1849 Liberty Seated dollars areconsiderably scarce 19th-century type silver coins that are commonly collected by those who enjoy old United States coinage.

How fast did the mint strike coins in 1849?

At the Mint in 1849, the usual speed of striking coins was as follows: for silver dollars and half dollars, 60 pieces per minute; 75 per minute for the quarter dollar; 90 for the dime and half dime. (Information from The Bankers' Magazine, collected volume June 1848 through June 1849, p. 556.) The Mint had about 50 employees.

What happened to the $20 gold dollar in 1849?

Many were later melted as they were worth more than face value as bullion. In 1849 Congress authorized the production of two new denominations, the $20 gold (officially, double eagle) and the diminutive gold dollar. Gold dollars were minted in quantity during the year, but no $20 pieces were made for circulation until 1850.

What was the largest gold coin in 1849?

Prior to 1849, the largest denomination for a U.S. gold coin was $10. But after the California gold discoveries, so much bullion was being sent to the mint in Philadelphia that a more compact coin for large scale international and domestic transactions made sense. The new "double eagle" $20 gold piece was authorized.