The twenty-dollar Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle is a gold coin that has historical appeal and modern style. Originally minted in the U.S. from 1907 to 1933, this gold coin with two eagles on it is considered one of the most beautiful American coins. Since 1986, the design has been reprinted on official U.S. gold bullion coins, and is a valuable and popular coin among investors and numismatics.
The Design and Designer
The highly regarded sculptor of the relief, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was asked by President Theodore Roosevelt to design a beautiful U.S. coin in 1905. Because of Augustus’s health issues and the high relief of the coin’s design, the finished product was delayed until 1907. Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens never got to see the success of the coin. He passed away in 1907, before the design was finalized for production.
Several different versions of the coin were designed, but each one was a bit too difficult to mint. Charles E. Barber, who was the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at the time, changed the design by lowering the relief, which made it so it could be produced with only one strike. Unlike other coins of its time, the phrase “In God We Trust” was not anywhere on these coins. This made the coin controversial. Therefore, aCongress deemed it necessary for the words to be on subsequent versions of the coin somewhere. The coin was mainly used for international trade up until its demise in 1933.
Significance of Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle
The Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle coin might not seem too different from other collectible coins, but it has a rich history, a beautiful design and a wide appeal. In the early 1940s, there were only about 8 to 10 copies of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold coin with the double eagle that had been identified. Two of these 1933 double eagle coins were sold by a dealer in Texas by the name of B. Max Mehl. Officials were unable to find record of any issuance of the pieces of money, so it was thought that any coins that were obtained were done so illegally. The Secret Service took ahold of many of the coins over the next few years. The coins were then melted down, so there’s a few remaining specimens from 1933, which makes the coin quite a rarity. The 1933 double eagle coin is considered one of the most valuable coins minted in the United States; one sold in 2002 for over $7.5 million.
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin’s design, which is consistently popular among investors and collectors, was reminted as a gold bullion coin in 1986 and is available today. The twenty-dollar Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is a wonderful coin to add to a collection, especially for those who know the story behind it and appreciate its beauty. Contact Scottsdale Bullion and Coin to add one to your collection today.