The Saint‑Gaudens double eagle is a United States $20 gold coin that was minted from 1907 to 1933. It is named after its designer, the prominent American sculptor Augustus Saint‑Gaudens, who was commissioned by the U.S. Mint to create a new design for the nation’s highest‑denomination gold coin.
Overview
- Denomination: $20 (double eagle)
- Designer: Augustus Saint‑Gaudens
- Minting period: 1907–1933 (with a brief resumption for commemorative issues in later years)
- Composition: 90 % gold, 10 % copper alloy (standard for U.S. circulating gold coins of the era)
- Weight: 33.436 g (1.075 troy ounces)
- Diameter: 34 mm (1.34 in)
Design
- Obverse (front): Features a standing figure of Liberty, modeled after the Roman goddess, with a Phrygian cap and a torch. The figure is placed within a neoclassical architectural backdrop that includes a garland of oak leaves. The inscription "LIBERTY" appears to the left of the portrait, while the legend “IN GOD WE TRUST” is to the right. The word “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arches above the portrait, and the date is placed below.
- Reverse (back): Depicts a stylized American bald eagle in flight, carrying a laurel wreath in its talons. The eagle’s wings are spread forward, and a series of 13 arrows are shown behind the eagle’s body. The legend “TWENTY DOLLARS” appears above the eagle, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is inscribed below.
Historical Context
- The Saint‑Gaudens design replaced the earlier Liberty Head (also known as the “Coronet”) double eagle, which had been in circulation since 1850.
- The coin was introduced during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who advocated for artistic reforms in U.S. coinage. Augustus Saint‑Gaudens was selected for his reputation as a leading sculptor of the American Renaissance.
- Production began in 1907; however, a notable re‑issue of the 1907 reverse design with a slightly altered die was minted in 1916, known in numismatic circles as the “1916‑type” reverse.
Mintage and Production
- The coin was produced at the United States Mint facilities in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S).
- Total mintage for regular issues amounts to approximately 2.3 million coins, with the highest single‑year mintage occurring in 1920 (over 500,000 coins).
- The issuance ceased in 1933 following the United States’ abandonment of the gold standard and the subsequent recall of gold coins from circulation.
Collectibility and Value
- The Saint‑Gaudens double eagle is highly regarded by collectors for its artistic merit and historical significance.
- Values vary based on condition, mint mark, and specific year. Coins in uncirculated or proof condition can command premiums ranging from several hundred to many thousands of U.S. dollars.
- Certain varieties, such as the 1907 “High Relief” double eagle (originally struck with a high-relief design and later modified for mass production), are especially prized and rare.
Legacy
- The design set a precedent for artistic excellence in U.S. coinage and influenced subsequent coin designs, including the later Jefferson nickel and the modern Kennedy half‑dollar.
- The Saint‑Gaudens double eagle is frequently cited in discussions of American numismatic art and is displayed in many museum collections, including the National Museum of American History.
References
- United States Mint historical records.
- Bowers, Q. David. A Guide Book of United States Coins, Whitman Publishing.
- Smithsonian Institution, National Numismatic Collection.
