Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933)

Gold	$3,875.63
Silver	$49.46
Platinum	$1,434.23
Palladium	$976.61

The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, struck 1907 to 1933, is a 90% gold $20 coin widely called one of the most beautiful American coins.

Obverse (Front) Design

Liberty striding forward holding a torch and an olive branch, with the Capitol building behind her and rays of the sun.

Reverse (Back) Design

A flying eagle with the rays of a rising sun, with the denomination TWENTY DOLLARS.

Coin Specifications

Date Range

1907–1933

Denomination

20 Dollars (Double Eagle)

Designer / Engraver

Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Mints

Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco

Composition

90% gold, 10% copper

Precious Metal Content

About 0.9675 troy oz of pure gold

Weight

33.436 g

Diameter

34 mm

Edge

Lettered (E PLURIBUS UNUM, with stars)

Mintage

—

History & Background

President Theodore Roosevelt asked sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign United States gold coins and make them more beautiful. The result was the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, first made in 1907.

The first coins, known as Ultra High Relief pieces, were struck in only very small numbers because each one needed several blows of the press. A high-relief coin with a Roman numeral date (MCMVII) followed, and then a flatter regular-relief coin that was easier to make. The first regular coins had no motto, and IN GOD WE TRUST was added in 1908 after public discussion.

Production ended in 1933 when the government recalled gold coins. The 1933 double eagles were never released into circulation, and one legally owned example sold at auction in 2021 for more than 18 million dollars.

Collecting Tips

Common dates are often priced near their gold value; rarer dates and higher grades sell for much more.
Check the edge for lettering and stars, which is a feature of the series.
Be careful with 1907 high relief and 1933 coins; buy only from trusted sources and expect certification.

Photographs by Grade

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) MS62 obverse — MS62

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) MS63 obverse — MS63

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) MS64 obverse — MS64

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) MS65 obverse — MS65

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) MS66 obverse — MS66

Frequently Asked Questions about the Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933)

How much gold is in a Saint-Gaudens double eagle?

About 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold.

Why is the 1933 double eagle famous?

The 1933 coins were never released, and most were melted. Legal ownership of the few survivors was disputed for years, and one sold for more than 18 million dollars in 2021.

Who designed the coin?

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

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