The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: America's Most Beautiful Coin
A President's Vision for Beautiful Coinage
In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt was embarrassed by American coins. The nation had the world's strongest economy and most powerful military — but its circulating coinage looked like the work of bureaucratic mediocrity compared to ancient Greek coins or contemporary European designs. Roosevelt wrote to his Treasury Secretary: "I think our coinage is artistically of atrocious hideousness." He wanted something worthy of the American Republic at the height of its power.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens: America's Greatest Sculptor
Roosevelt turned to the man widely considered America's greatest sculptor: Augustus Saint-Gaudens, creator of the Shaw Memorial in Boston and the Farragut Monument in New York. Despite Saint-Gaudens being terminally ill with cancer, he accepted the commission with enthusiasm. The result — unveiled for the $20 Double Eagle and $10 Eagle gold pieces in 1907 — is universally considered the finest coin design in American history and among the most beautiful ever struck anywhere in the world.
The Design: A Vision of Liberty in Motion
The obverse of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle features a full-length figure of Liberty striding forward, torch raised in her right hand, olive branch in her left, against a background of sunburst rays with the U.S. Capitol building visible in the lower left. She is powerful, dynamic, and triumphant — a radical departure from the staid bust portraits of previous American coinage. The reverse shows a magnificent eagle in flight against sunrays, with "TWENTY DOLLARS" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in clear, classical letterforms.
The Ultra High Relief Versions (1907)
Saint-Gaudens intended his design to be struck in ultra-high relief — the raised elements of the design would stand dramatically above the fields, creating a sculptural, three-dimensional effect. The 1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagles, struck from specially prepared dies requiring multiple blows from the press, are numismatic masterpieces. Only 22 were struck for distribution (and 11 more pattern pieces). Today, these are among the most valuable and sought American coins, with examples selling for $2 million–$5 million at auction.
The high-relief standard production (1907 wire rim and flat rim) was also struck in limited quantities before practical considerations led to the relief being lowered for mass production.
Regular Issue Date Guide
The standard-relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles were struck from 1907 through 1933 (when gold coinage was discontinued). Key dates:
- 1907 Ultra High Relief: The ultimate rarity. $2M–$5M+.
- 1907 High Relief: The transition. MS-62 examples: $8,000–$15,000.
- 1908 No Motto: First year of the standard relief design. Common, but beautiful in gem condition.
- 1927-D: Exceptionally rare. Most known examples are in European hoards, making MS-65 specimens worth $1M+.
- 1929: Most examples are repatriated European hoard coins. Common in MS-63 but rare in MS-65+.
- 1930-S, 1931, 1931-D, 1932: Very low mintage depression-era issues, extremely rare in any grade.
- 1933: The famous never-officially-issued issue. (See our separate article: "The 1933 Double Eagle.")
Collecting Strategy
The Saint-Gaudens series offers accessible entry points alongside extreme rarities:
- Type collector: One high-relief 1907 and one standard-relief MS-63 example covers the major design types for $15,000–$20,000.
- Date collector: A complete set of all 24 regular-issue dates (excluding the 1907 high relief) in circulated condition can be assembled for $50,000–$150,000. The same in MS would require millions.
- Grade collector: Building a "registry set" of gem examples (MS-65+) is a serious investment requiring significant capital but offers registry set competition prestige.
Current Market Values
| Coin/Grade | Typical Value Range |
|---|---|
| Common date (1910–1928), MS-62 | $2,200–$2,800 |
| Common date, MS-65 | $5,000–$9,000 |
| Key date (1927-D), any grade | $100,000–$1,000,000+ |
| 1907 High Relief, MS-62 | $8,000–$15,000 |
| 1907 Ultra High Relief | $2,000,000–$5,000,000+ |
Conclusion
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle stands as the apex of American coin artistry — the result of a President's ambition, a dying sculptor's genius, and a nation at the height of its Golden Age. Whether you collect for beauty, history, or investment, the Double Eagle series rewards serious study. Browse current Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle auction lots at AuctVault.
Never Miss a Rare Find
Get curated lots, price alerts, and market insights delivered weekly.