Disclaimer: We are reader supported. We may be compensated from the links in this post, if you use products or services based on our expert recommendations. Please read our Advertising Disclosure.
An 1888 $20 gold coin, likely a Liberty Head double eagle, is worth well above its face value today. Its value depends mainly on condition and mint mark. In worn, circulated condition, it's generally valued close to its gold content, often several thousand dollars given current gold prices.
In better, uncirculated condition, or if it's a rarer mint mark (like the 1888-S), it can be worth significantly more, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, based on rarity and collector demand.
To get an accurate value, you'd need to know the exact mint mark, grade the coin's condition, and check current gold spot prices along with recent auction results for comparable coins. A professional appraisal is recommended for high-value pieces.