A type set of coins by Mint in both Motto and No Motto varieties is also possible at a modest price. Golden Eagle Coins specializes in a wide variety of gold bullion products. The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin closes one chapter of American coin design and begins a new one. The legacy? The value of the High Relief coins puts most of them virtually out of reach of the average collector. Although Mint records show an original mintage of 312,500; almost all of them were confiscated and melted into ingots and became part of the nations reserve bullion supply. Its a coin that many claim to represent the epitome of U.S. coin design, a claim given to a coin most deserving, one that is often boasted as the most beautiful numismatic work ever struck by the United States Mint. Libertys robe harkens back to our roots as a republic based on the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. The NGC Green Label posses a variety of collector-friendly attributes, including attractive eye appeal, a strong strike, impressive luster or great color. To My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere. The 2009 coin will be made of 24-karat gold. We stock an enormous inventory of silver coins from all of the major mints of the world. Perhaps half of the 161,282 double eagles struck at Philadelphia that year display the overdate. Saint-Gaudens' participation in coinage designs dated from 1891, when he first sat on a committee reviewing designs for silver coins. I think our friend [Saint-Gaudens] is playing a game but our willingness, nay more, our desire to let the work tell its own story has rather called his hand, and he is not prepared to show it, and therefore is sparing for wind, or time. We highly value your opinion. As a result, despite being considered one of the most beautiful gold pieces ever minted, Saint-Gaudens full vision for the production of an ultra high relief coin was never realized. [17] Saint-Gaudens's health worsened through 1906, as the cancer which would kill him forced him to have his assistant, Henry Hering, deal with many of the details of the work. The 1920 Double Eagle is the ultimate condition rarity of the series. When the coins were finally released, they proved controversial as they lacked the words "In God We Trust", and Congress intervened to require the motto's use. ALL COIN PROGRAMS, National Purple Heart Hall of In all grades below Mint State, the 1925 Philadelphia Saint-Gaudens Double eagle sells either for melt (currently $1,631.46) or for a 3-5% premium. In 1905, President Roosevelt personally invited Saint-Gaudens to redesign American coinage, specifically U.S. gold pieces. [12] In May 1906, the sculptor wrote to Roosevelt that he had sent an assistant to Washington to obtain the technical details of the redesign, but "if you succeed in getting the best of the polite Mr. Barber or the others in charge, you will have done a greater work than putting through the Panama Canal. Its third attempt reduced the relief, and was struck in 34-mm version with Roman numerals. [33] Barber wrote to Preston, "Upon examination it was found that the relief of the models was so great that it would be a waste of time to make reductions for coinage, as it would be quite impossible to coin when the dies are made. This two-coin variety set should be affordable, where date collecting of this series may not be. $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Coins (1907-1933). The highest mintages recorded are 8,816,000 for 1928; 4,323,500 for 1924; and 4,271,551 for the 1908 No This is America, young and strong, in its ascendancy with a bright future before it. Created by reknown sculptor Augustus Saint WebThe Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle has a face value of $20 USD, weighs 33.431 grams and measures 34.1 millimeters in diameter. [49] On March 15, 1933, 25,000new double eagles were delivered to Mint Cashier Harry Powell, and by longstanding Mint custom, were available for paying out. Another 10 1933 double eagles turned up in 2003 when Joan Switt Langbord, daughter of Philadelphia jeweler Israel "Izzy" Switt, claimed she found them in a family safe deposit bank box. Over the past century, the Saint-Gaudens coin has become widely considered the most beautiful United States coin ever produced. [47] The onset of the Depression in 1929 did not halt the minting of double eagles, but the coins were for the most part held in Treasury vaults, and few were released. Circulating Despite having the lowest mintage, some other issues of the series have fewer surviving specimens. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. [27] On May 8, 1907, the President wrote Saint-Gaudens, "It has proved hitherto impossible to strike them by one blow, which is necessary under the conditions of making coins of the present day. The Mint chief engraver alleged that he could take no action with respect to the double eagle. Coins with low figures are generally the scarcest and correspondingly carry the highest values. 1913 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: PCGS Coin of the Month, 1878 8 Tailfeathers Morgan Dollar, PCGS Coin of the Month, 1821 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, PCGS Coin of the Month, 1886-O Morgan Dollar: PCGS Coin of the Month, Two Young Numismatists Receive ANA Scholarships, Tapping Into Virtual Experiences: Numismatic Organizations Deliver, My Two Cents Worth: Uncle Sams Art Disease, PCGS Coin of the Week: 1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar, 1913 Barber Half Dollar: PCGS Coin of the Month. Shaw did not immediately reply, but instead met with Roosevelt, who wrote that there was no objection to have the coins, many of which would be stored in bank vaults and not circulated, "as artistic as the Greeks could desire". Total circulating coin production for the series was 70,290,763 across the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mint facilities. After the gold recall, many of the Gold Double Eagles minted during the 1920s were melted, forever reducing the number of coins in existence. Another popular coin in the series is the 1909/8 overdate. The Saint Gaudens $20 gold double eagle coins are either called a St. Gaudens or the Double Eagle were produced by the United States Mint from 1907 to 1933. This coin promises to fulfill Augustus Saint-Gaudens vision of an ultra high relief coin that could not be realized in 1907 with his legendary Double Eagle liberty design. The figure is surrounded by 46stars, one for each of the states in 1907. In August 1907, Roosevelt nominated San Francisco Mint Superintendent Frank Leach as Director of the Mint; he took office on November 1, 1907. Market Analysis: Affordable coins at Bass II sale, Canadas mint uses transitional effigy on first coin of 2023, Auction firm offers third-of-its-kind error national bank note, West Point Mint producing Proof 2023-W gold American Eagles, Coin World Thought Leaders Series: Chris Arbutine of Belleair Coins. The observe depicts Lady Liberty holding a staff and an olive branch as she walks from the sun. Therefore, St. Gaudens is named after its designer who designed the obverse(front) and reverse(back). The 1913 Saint-Gaudens proof double eagles carry a handsome sandblast finish, giving it a distinctive matte appearance. "[29], A second set of dies was produced with the relief reduced somewhat, but still proved too high relief for practical coining, requiring three strokes of the press to fully bring out the design. After litigation, a compromise was reached to allow the coin to be auctioned, with the proceeds to be divided equally between the government and the private owners. Ideas, Gifts for [36] In his memoirs, Leach recalled his initial interview with Roosevelt on the question of the double eagles: Before I had become familiar with my surroundings the President sent for me. The 1933 double eagles were ordered to be melted in 1937 and for years government officials believed all had been destroyed. [35] In spite of the modifications, according to R.S. The coin became the subject of a prolonged court battle and in an unprecedented action, United States Mint officials reached an out-out-court agreement with the British coin dealer to permit the seized coin to be sold at public auction and the proceeds to be split evenly between the dealer and the Mint. Despite a mintage of 180,000 pieces, it has come to be recognized as one of the major rarities of the 20th century as well as for the entire Double Eagle denomination. Stay Informed of Our Special Offers. Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The highest mintage coin was the 1928 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle at 8,816,000. [6], In 1892, Saint-Gaudens was asked to design the official medal of the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago; it would be presented to prizewinning exhibitors. NGC encapsulation guarantees the coins MS-65 condition. [65], In 1907, the Mint had experimented by striking about two dozen pieces of the same weight as the double eagle, bearing Saint-Gaudens's design, but which had a smaller, thicker planchet. Holders of gold coin, such as banks, refused to pay them out at par value, and they vanished from circulation. Qty Add to Cart. This highly collectible coin is a great addition to any numismatic The coin was claimed to be the 1933 double eagle once owned by Egyptian King Farouk, who was granted an export license for the coin by the Treasury Department in 1944. Both men wished to see a higher quality of U.S. coinage designs. Privacy Policy | The survival rate of this date in Proof is significantly lower. St Gaudens Double Eagle makes an excellent choice for someone who wants a bullion type investment but is worried about government confiscation. Whether you're new to Precious Metals, or just new to APMEX, we're glad you are here. Market Loss Policy | Presidential Coins, Kennedy Half "[13], Saint-Gaudens wrote to Roosevelt later in January, "Whatever I produce cannot be worse than the inanities now displayed on our coins. Bowers also notes that Secretary of the Treasury William Woodin was a numismatist who in addition to collecting coins, had written books on the subject. "[7] Roosevelt had Mint Director George E. Roberts write to Saint-Gaudens, who replied, "I am extremely interested in the matter of the new designs of the coinage it will I assure you give me great pleasure to assist in the procuring of good work. Coins remaining in bank vaults in the United States were melted after 1933; coins in bank vaults overseas were not. In this talk he suggested some details of action of a drastic character for my guidance, which he was positive were necessary to be adopted before success could be had. In sculpture, the term "high relief" is rather imprecise, but is typically used to describe reliefs where 50% or more of the notional volume of the subject projects from the background, something that almost never happens in coins. Engraved Prints, Shop All Gift WebUntil a sizable hoard of several hundred were discovered in Central America, the 1908-D Motto was one of the series' most underrated issues. Because its relief was reduced, it did not require as much metal flow to fill the design, and was more suitable for mass production and approximately 12,000 were made. On December 28, 1933, Acting Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau ordered Americans to turn in all gold coins and gold certificates, with limited exceptions, receiving paper money in payment. Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper. Thank you for signing up with United States Mint! Akers notes, "It is not a particularly rare one," but the clear overdate makes the coin attractive to collectors.