The Saint Gaudens Double Eagle $20 Gold Coin is one of the most beautifully designed coins ever minted. Coinage began in 1907 with a very limited number of ultra high relief patterns. Coinage was switched to high relief coins in 1908, with a mintage distribution of 12,367. Low relief coins were issued from 1907 until 1933 when the production of all gold coins was halted by Presidential order. The Coinage Act of 1965 restored legal tender status to the Double Eagle coin. Proof coins of the Double Eagle were also available from 1908-1915 in matte, sand blast, satin or Roman finish.
DESCRIPTION
The obverse or front side of the 1911 coin shows a full length image of Liberty stepping forward with the words LIBERTY above her head and stars circling around the coin's border. In her left hand is the torch of enlightenment and in her right hand is the olive branch of peace. In the background is the dome of the Capitol Building.
The reverse side of the coin displays the double eagle in flight through the sun's rays with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS in arcs above the eagle. The low relief coins had Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is displayed beneath the eagle.
The size of the coin is 34 millimeters. It is 90% gold and 10% copper with a weight of 33.436 grams.
HISTORY
President Theodore Roosevelt asked sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens to redesign the $20 Double Eagle in 1905. The president wanted the coins to be more beautiful, inspired by coinage of Ancient Greece. The model for Liberty was taken from St. Gaudens' Fame sculpture which is in the front of the General Sherman statue in Central Park, New York.
The original high relief coins were very time consuming to produce and did not stack well. Following the death of Gaudens in 1907, engraver Charles E. Barber modified the design, lowering the relief. The double eagle was modified to have 9 tail feathers instead of 8 and there were 33 sun rays instead of the original 34. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was restored on the coinage by Congress over the President's objection.
DISTRIBUTION
In 1911, The Philadelphia mint created 100 rare, matte finish Double Eagles with a distinctive mustard color. Apparently all 1911 proofs were in the matte finish. An auction in 2005 reported a proof coin selling for $184,000. Philadelphia, Denver and San Fransisco were mints for the Double Eagles that were in circulation in 1911.