We wouldnt be anything without our customers. This 1908 $20 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle has been certified as MS-66 by NGC, one of the top two coin grading services. In 1908 the motto In God We Trust was added to the reverse of the coin. Qty Add to Cart. PRICE IMPROVEMENT! It is considered by many to be the most beautiful of U.S. coins. 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. Therefore, St. Gaudens is named after its designer who designed the obverse(front) and reverse(back). [46], In 1916, minting of double eagles ceased, as bullion prices were rising because of World WarI, which also caused an influx of American gold coins from Europe. Holders of gold coin, such as banks, refused to pay them out at par value, and they vanished from circulation. The double eagle, due to its very high face value, equivalent to several hundred dollars today, did not widely circulate, but was the coin most often used for large international transactions, in which settlement was to be in gold. [d], In response to Barber's letter, Preston wrote to Saint-Gaudens, "there are no presses anywhere, in mints or in use among silversmiths, which can bring up your proposed relief at a single stroke. But then there are the proofs and the proof is in the pudding when it comes to the rarity of these gorgeous, large gold coins in special proof state. There are sufficient expensive key dates in the series that few collectors have been able to assemble a collection complete through 1932. Coins were one of the most visible, tangible representations of a country. The coin is a uniquely American artistic expressioncreated by an American sculptor and crafted by an iconic American institution. [19] The edge bears the lettering "E Pluribus Unum". COIN & MEDAL PROGRAMS, History of U.S. Mint Medals, Shop All Paper Mint officials could find no record of any issuance of the coins, and decided those in private hands must have been obtained illegally. A type set including Roman numeral dates and High Relief coins will be more expensive to complete. NGC encapsulation guarantees the coins MS-65 condition. Minted 1907 1916 & 1920 1933 $645,000. Golden Eagle Coins specializes in a wide variety of Silver Bullion products. Kids, Gifts for The great majority of the large mintage was held in government storage until the Gold Recall took effect the following year, and subsequently melted. Your browser is out of date. Make this your new home just in time for the holidays! This highly collectible coin is a great addition to any numismatic collection! The 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle was sold July 30, 2002, in New York City in a one-lot auction conducted by Sotheby's in conjunction with Stack's for $7.59 million plus $20. [60] That ruling was vacated by the full court on July 28, 2015, and the case set for further argument. This two-coin variety set should be affordable, where date collecting of this series may not be. Simply click the link, enter your email address and start receiving the bombest discounts and deals this side of the Mississippi. Coins with low figures are generally the scarcest and correspondingly carry the highest values. SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES AND TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS ABOUT PRODUCTS. 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. [37], In 2009, the Mint struck a similar piece in .999 gold, using Saint-Gaudens's original ultra high relief design for both sides of the coin, though modified to a 50-star obverse. The United States of America, a bold experiment in liberty and representative democracy, had not only succeeded, it had come of age. Many of the great rarities of the Saint-Gaudens series stem from its final years. The Denver Mint would not strike Double Eagles in 1928, We handle all of the major manufacturers of silver bars. Disregarding 1933 coin and the pricy 1907 varieties, collectors seeking this series must still contend with such low mintage key dates as 1913-S (34,000 mintage), 1914 (95,230 mintage), 1915 (152,050 mintage), 1930-S (74,000 mintage) and 1931-D (106,500 mintage). [31] When Saint-Gaudens died on August 3, 1907, Hering was working on a third model. Pre-33 $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle Coin (MS61, PCGS or NGC) Mintage Years. As with most Proof coins in this time period, they were struck in extremely low quantities and can be quite expensive. Write a Review. Surely this is so when looking at the absolute key dates, including the It is the only 1933 double eagle approved for private ownership. Several major versions of the coin may be included in a type collection: the Extremely High Relief, Roman Numerals, Lettered Edge coin of 1907; the High Relief, Roman Numerals, Wire Rim coin, also 1907; the High Relief, Roman Numerals, Flat Rim coin, 1907; the Arabic Numerals, Low Relief, No Motto coin, 1907 and 1908; and the Arabic Numerals, Low Relief, Motto coin, 1908 to 1933. Keep reading from our "Know Your U.S. [64], The obverse has appeared on American gold bullion coinage issued since 1986. [58] Judge Legrome D. Davis confirmed that jury verdict on August 29, 2012. In 2002 this coin sold at auction by Sotheby's for $7,590,020. Mintages were never very high on any Saint-Gaudens double eagles. [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. Ideas, Gifts for Nevertheless, I will stick at it, even unto death. The most significant examples of coins with high reported production, but low survival rates are the 1927-D and 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagles. Uncertain where to find Hering, Roosevelt ordered the new Secretary of the Treasury, George Cortelyou, to have the Mint finalize the design and put the coin in circulation by September 1. All rights reserved. In the early 1900s President Theodore Roosevelt called for a renaissance in American coinage. Although the mintages are important to study, the number of surviving coins is the key determination of rarity. St. Gaudens mark appears on the obverse of the coin under the date. Liberty is leading the way with a torch in her front hand and an olive branch in the back hand. Coins from the Philadelphia mint feature no mintmark. For the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle series: Proof and Uncirculated Gold Buffalo Mintage. "[8] Roosevelt caused the Mint to engage Saint-Gaudens to redesign some of the coins which could be changed without the need for Congressional approvalthe cent and the four gold coins. Golden Eagle Coins specializes in a wide variety of Silver Bullion products. A better date issue that takes an astronomical jump in value in the next grade. In 2002, the last 1933 St. Gauden was sold for $7,590,000. These pieces contain one ounce of gold, slightly more than the original double eagle.[66]. The Mint chief engraver alleged that he could take no action with respect to the double eagle. One piece, however, wound up in the hands of King Farouk of Egypt, who even obtained a U.S. export license for the coin. As a series, the Saint-Gaudens double eagle offers an impressive array of challenges for collectors. Population of {$Population} coins at this grade level with {$GradedHigher} graded higher. It is simply splendid. Year - Total Mintage: 429000 - Estimated Population: 3742 - .9675oz. Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens. This highly collectible coin is a great addition to any numismatic [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. We have perfected what has been called one of the most beautiful coins in the world, but, like America itself, there is much more on the horizon. The lower relief variety of his coin struck later in that year and throughout the rest of the series was actually prepared by U.S. Chief Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber. [12] Shaw wrote to the sculptor on January 13, reproducing a copy of a letter from Roberts which warned, "the judgement of the authority of all countries is that modern coins must be of low relief", but as the President disagreed with Roberts's view, Saint-Gaudens could go ahead with a high-relief design. Territories quarter dollars, Buy & Sell Coins Online at the Coin World Marketplace. "[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. The obverse of Saint-Gaudens's design, showing Columbus coming ashore, was noncontroversial; his reverse, which featured a torch-bearing naked youth carrying wreaths to crown the victors, was attacked by the censoring postal agent, Anthony Comstock, as obscene. I certainly believed him when he declared he was 'delighted'. To subscribe to COINagemagazineclick here. Medals, Treasury and Two 1933 double eagles were sent by the Mint to the Smithsonian Institution for the National Coin Collection, where they remain today. User Agreement. [53] In 1944, a journalist enquired of the Mint regarding the 1933 double eagles. One outstanding example of the 1913 Saint-Gaudens double eagle traded hands in an August 2021 Stacks Bowers Galleries sale and stunned bidders with Proof-66 surfaces simply immaculate by every measure. [5] Leech responded to the failed competition by directing Barber to prepare new designs for the dime, quarter dollar, and half dollar, resulting in the Barber coinage,[4] an issue which attracted considerable public dissatisfaction. Be the first to The coin is named after its designer, the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who designed the obverse and reverse. Treasury agents declared the coins to be genuine and also confiscated them in 2004. [24] At that time, the Mint was intensely busy generating designs for new coinage for Cuba and the Philippines, and Barber was reluctant to waste time on what he considered an experimental piece which would never be coined for circulation. Medals, Email & [68] By way of example, the 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagle was once thought to be rare although 4,323,500 were struck; when the Mint offered a list of coins available at face value plus postage in 1932, the 1924 was not on that list. St Gaudens Double Eagle makes an excellent choice for someone who wants a bullion type investment but is worried about government confiscation. Precious Metal Composition: 0.9675 ounce. Using the digital design and die-making process, the Saint-Gaudens sculpturein ultra high reliefhas been updated to reflect the year 2009, an additional four stars to represent the current 50 states, and the inscription In God We Trust, which was not on the 1907 version. $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Coins (1907-1933). The 1933 Double Eagle in particular had production of 445,500 coins, but only a few pieces still exist. The coin was minted, primarily for use in international trade, until 1933. "[3] Over 12,000 of these "High Relief" pieces were struck and were released into circulation in 1907 and 1908. The design for the obverse of the coin is reproduced from the Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle, designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens. The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens double eagle claims a smallish mintage of 180,000 pieces. WebThe Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle has a face value of $20 USD, weighs 33.431 grams and measures 34.1 millimeters in diameter. 5 Baths. Perhaps half of the 161,282 double eagles struck at Philadelphia that year display the overdate. This is not the case for the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle series. After the gold recall, many of the Gold Double Eagles minted during the 1920s were melted, forever reducing the number of coins in existence. These "checker" pieces were destroyed (except two placed in the Mint's coin collection) when it was discovered that the consent of Congress was needed to change the diameter of any coin. The Mint authenticated them, and refused to give them back. Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. [25] Experimental dies were made from the plaster model. Thank you for signing up with United States Mint! The United States Mint looks forward to the 21st century and a new era of modern coinage. "[37] In January 1908, the President wrote to his friend, Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow: I am very much pleased that you like that coin. [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. Metal Composition: 90% gold; 10% copper. Market Loss Policy | All High Relief coins struck during 1907 met with objections from bankers, who said the coins could not be stacked. All Content Copyright 2004-January 2023 Golden Eagle Coins, LLC. Gross Weight: 33.346 grams WebMintages were never very high on any Saint-Gaudens double eagles. Total circulating coin production for the series was 70,290,763 across the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mint facilities. Although perhaps not reflected in their mintage figures, 1931 and 1932 are also difficult dates to obtain. Note: The 2009 Ultra High Relief was minted in the West Point Mint, but has no mint mark. Fineness: .900 Facilities, Production Talkers Medals, Military The coin itself rarely circulated in the United States. The world LIBERTY arcs above her. [2], Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens's first association with the Mint was in 1891, when he served on a committee judging entries for the new silver coinage. [21] She strides across a rocky outcrop; behind her are the United States Capitol and the rays of the Sun. It was confiscated from a a British Coin Dealer and after a long legal battle between a British coin dealer & the US government, the proceeds of the auction was split 50/50. User Agreement. Coins remaining in bank vaults in the United States were melted after 1933; coins in bank vaults overseas were not. [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. The government confiscated at least nine specimens in the 1940s and destroyed them. Free shipping . [11] Roosevelt secured Shaw's support for the redesign, although as the President wrote to Saint-Gaudens, "of course he thinks I am a crack-brained lunatic on the subject". Mintage: 2,831,750. Saint-Gaudens replied agreeing with Roosevelt, and proposing a design for the double eagle, some kind of a (possibly winged) figure of Liberty, striding forward as if on a mountaintop, holding aloft on one arm a shield bearing the stars and stripes with the word Liberty marked across the field; in the other hand perhaps a flaming torch, the drapery [of Liberty's dress] would be flowing in the breeze.