I absolutely love the design on the Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle! These coins are easily one of the most beautiful Gold coins produced in the history of the United States Mint. It is among the most popular Gold coins on the market today and sought after by many collectors and enthusiasts.
This Gold coin was produced by the U.S. Mint from 1907 to 1933. The coin is named after its renowned designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The Saint-Gaudens $20 Gold coin was produced due to President Theodore Roosevelt’s dissatisfaction with the artistic level of designs seen in United States coinage.
President Roosevelt felt that Saint-Gaudens was the man who could help him beautify American coinage to the level of true art. Sadly, Saint-Gaudens passed away before the designs were finalized for production. The coin’s high relief made the coin difficult to strike and Chief Engraver Charles Barber modified the design slightly, allowing it to be struck in a single blow.
Design and Design Changes
In 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens redesigned the $20 piece, employing as the obverse motif the figure of Miss Liberty striding forward. The initial Saint-Gaudens design was high relief, giving them a sculptured appearance almost. The date was expressed in Roman numerals, MCMVII. Some 11,250 of these coins were struck, afterward, the design would be changed in order to have production take place on newer and faster coin presses.
Valuation Chart
Year | Mintage | VG–F | VF–EF | AU | MS60–62 | MS63–64 | MS65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1907 | 239,406 | $2,000 | $2,400 | $3,200 | $3,800 | $5,000 | $6,500 |
1908 | 2,290,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,000 | No motto, still quite valuable |
1909 | 2,240,000 | $1,800 | $2,300 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,200 | A common year but in demand |
1910 | 1,400,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,700 | $3,100 | $3,800 | Lower mintage, somewhat scarcer |
1911 | 1,200,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,700 | $3,200 | $3,800 | Consistent with earlier years |
1911-D | 55,680 | $8,500 | $11,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $22,000 | Key date, very rare |
1912 | 1,250,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,700 | $3,200 | $3,800 | Regular production |
1913 | 2,500,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,000 | Higher mintage, still popular |
1914 | 600,000 | $1,800 | $2,300 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,200 | Scarcer year, desirable |
1915 | 1,500,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,100 | Common but still solid demand |
1916 | 1,700,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,100 | Good for type collectors |
1917 | 3,000,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,300 | Large mintage, still collectible |
1918 | 1,200,000 | $1,900 | $2,300 | $3,000 | $3,600 | $4,300 | Scarcer, in demand |
1919 | 1,000,000 | $1,900 | $2,300 | $3,000 | $3,600 | $4,500 | Popular in both low and high grades |
1920 | 550,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,200 | $3,800 | $4,800 | Low mintage, great value |
1921 | 1,000,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,100 | Regular production |
1922 | 1,000,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,500 | $4,200 | Similar to 1921 |
1923 | 1,100,000 | $1,800 | $2,300 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,300 | Common date, still collectible |
1924 | 1,200,000 | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,200 | Regular, affordable type coin |
1925 | 2,100,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,000 | A solid option for collectors |
1926 | 2,100,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,000 | Regular mintage |
1927 | 1,400,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,000 | Good for those looking for a later-year example |
1928 | 1,500,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,400 | $4,200 | Similar to 1927 |
1929 | 1,100,000 | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,200 | Steady production year |
1930 | 640,000 | $1,900 | $2,400 | $3,100 | $3,700 | $4,500 | Scarce year, good for type collectors |
1931 | 1,200,000 | $1,800 | $2,300 | $3,000 | $3,600 | $4,500 | Popular, solid value |
1932 | 800,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,300 | $3,900 | $4,800 | Another good year for collectors |
1933 | 445,500 | $15,000+ | $18,000+ | $25,000+ | $50,000+ | $100,000+ | Extremely rare and mostly melted — an iconic rarity |
Notable Pieces
High Relief pieces are hard to come by today, although an estimated 2,000 or 3,000 exist. Nearly anyone who aspires to form a set of gold coins desires to own at least one Saint-Gaudens $20 coin, but you are talking SERIOUS money in cost. Nevertheless, when these coins are seen in the sales market and auction houses, there is always a buyer ready to scoop it up!
Saint-Gaudens double eagles of the later modified design offer quite a few rare and valuable specimens among them. Specifically, mint mark varieties of the 1920s. Any issue of the Saint-Gaudens coin after 1928 are also really rare and valuable. Look for these as well!
Particularly hard to find is the 1927-D, of which 180,000 were minted, but only 12 or so are know to still be around today. A majority of these were melted down for redistribution of the metal content.
Final Thoughts
In the 1940s, one of the most fascinating and intense chapters in U.S. coin history unfolded, centered around the famous 1933 Saint-Gaudens $20 Gold Coin. These coins had been minted but never officially released to the public. The U.S. government, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, took a bold stance on gold during the Great Depression. In 1933, the U.S. was struggling with economic turmoil and rampant inflation, and Roosevelt made the controversial decision to take the country off the gold standard and call in most of the nation’s gold.
This meant that any gold coins still circulating, including the newly minted 1933 Saint-Gaudens pieces, had to be recalled and melted down. A massive push was made to round up gold coins, and the government took the position that no 1933 $20 pieces were ever officially released. Even though the coins had already been struck by the U.S. Mint, the plan was to have them sent back for destruction.
In a dramatic move, the government requisitioned all these coins, demanding that they be returned to the Treasury. Some collectors were legally required to surrender their 1933 $20 coins, while others were pressured into giving them up. Those that did were sent to the melting facilities where they were obliterated and rendered into gold bars. The government essentially wiped out nearly all of them, leaving only a handful of surviving examples.
Interestingly, not all of the 1933 $20 pieces were surrendered. A few managed to escape the melting pot — some were quietly kept by private individuals or smuggled out of the country. The remaining examples, now regarded as some of the most iconic and valuable coins in history, became a rare treasure for collectors. It wasn’t until much later that the government began to focus on retrieving those last few “illegal” pieces, and a dramatic legal battle began in the 1990s, when one of the surviving 1933 $20 coins came to light and was eventually sold at auction for millions of dollars.
When it comes to Saint-Gaudens coins, it’s important to understand that these coins — all of them, not just the famous 1933 issues — are incredibly rare and valuable. Designed by the talented sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this series represents some of the finest coinage ever produced by the U.S. Mint. Their beauty, historical significance, and gold content make them highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. Whether you’re talking about the 1907 High Relief coins, the 1927-D or 1933 pieces, or other rare dates and varieties, these coins have an aura of mystery, prestige, and financial potential.
So if you come across any Saint-Gaudens $20 coins, whether it’s a 1907, a 1924, or even a surviving 1933, grab them if you can. These coins have proven time and time again to be fantastic investments and carry an undeniable allure. With their connection to the U.S. Mint’s history, artistic mastery, and the dramatic tale of the 1933 coins, owning a Saint-Gaudens $20 is like owning a piece of American numismatic legend.
Simply put, any Saint-Gaudens coin is super rare, super valuable, and worth adding to your collection or portfolio.
