***Auction Highlight*** 1866-s Motto Gold Liberty Double Eagle $20 Graded Unc+ By USCG. Experimentation with a motto expressing national trust in God first appeared on patterns in the early 1860s, and in 1864 IN GOD WE TRUST debuted on a circulating issue via the the two cent denomination. Two years later, a legislative change mandated the motto on all medium-diameter and larger silver and gold coins. Double eagle coinage at San Francisco in 1866 reached 120,000 pieces before the new With Motto reverse dies were received. The new type was then coined to the extent of more than 842,000 pieces. The No Motto 1866-S double eagle is scarce in all grades today, and the With Motto coin is available in circulated condition but rare in Mint State. This is an unworn example of the first Type Two S-mint double eagle issue, softly struck through the centers but with solid detail on many of the obverse stars. Some light hairlines are present. Dusky yellow-orange surfaces show marks and scrapes but also rich luster that blossoms on lightly patinated surfaces. Only a handful of finer coins are known.