The coin was designed and minted by Ephraim Brasher, a goldsmith and silversmith from New York City. Brasher produced the coin in response to the need for a gold coinage in the United States at the time. The federal government had not yet established a mint, so private individuals and companies were producing their own coins.
The Brasher Doubloon is made of gold and weighs about 26.6 grams. It has a diameter of about 30 millimeters. The obverse (front) of the coin features a bust of George Washington facing right, with the inscription "GEORGIUS WASHINGTON." The reverse (back) of the coin features an eagle with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons. The inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is also on the reverse.
The "n l w" initials on the coin are those of the assayer, Nathaniel L. Woodward. Woodward was a prominent New York City assayer who certified the weight and purity of the gold used to make the coin.
The Brasher Doubloon is one of the most famous and valuable coins in American history. It is considered to be a numismatic masterpiece, and it is highly sought after by collectors. The coin has been sold at auction for millions of dollars in recent years.