Double Eagle

Notes: Only 18 of the Ultra High Relief coins were produced in 3 batches. The first batch was produced between February 7-14 in which 3 coins were made - and also included the unique "Plain Edge" variety. These coins had a lettered edge with letters with stars between them: E★P★L★U★R★I★B★U★S★U★N★U★M★. Two of the coins had this style of lettered edge - although the die broke before the 3rd coin was produced and so it had a plain edge instead - not by design. The 2nd batch with 12 coins was produced from March to July and the 3rd and final batch with 3 coins was produced December 21 of 1907. These two batches had a lettered edge with stars separating each word and then a series of stars at the end: ★E★PLURIBUS★UNUM★★★★★★★★★★ . The 2nd batch had the words read when the reverse was up and the 3rd batch had the letters read when the obverse was up. All Ultra High and High Relief coins have the Roma Numerals "MCMVII" for the date (1907) - while the Low Relief coins had the normal "Arabic" 1907 date.

Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Composition: 90% Gold - 10% Copper

History:

The Saint-Gaudens double eagle is a twenty-dollar gold coin, or double eagle, produced by the United States Mint from 1907 to 1933. The coin is named after its designer, the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who designed the obverse and reverse. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful of U.S. coins.

In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt sought to beautify American coinage, and proposed Saint-Gaudens as an artist capable of the task. Although the sculptor had poor experiences with the Mint and its chief engraver, Charles E. Barber, Saint-Gaudens accepted Roosevelt's call. The work was subject to considerable delays, due to Saint-Gaudens's declining health and difficulties because of the high relief of his design. Saint-Gaudens died in 1907, after designing the eagle and double eagle, but before the designs were finalized for production.

After several versions of the design for the double eagle proved too difficult to strike, Barber modified Saint-Gaudens's design, lowering the relief so the coin could be struck with only one blow. 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. The coin was minted, primarily for use in international trade, until 1933. The 1933 double eagle is among the most valuable of U.S. coins, with the sole example currently known to be in private hands selling in 2002 for $7,590,020