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The $20 Double Eagle gold piece designed by
Augustus Saint-Gaudens, with the strong backing of President Theodore
Roosevelt, is considered by many to be the most artistically superior
coin ever produced by the United States.
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was first minted in 1907. A total of
11,250 pieces were manufactured in “high relief”, meaning the coin’s
features protrude outward further compared to normal coinage, providing
greater depth and beauty than could otherwise be achieved.
Unfortunately, mass production of the high relief style proved to be
impractical; up to five strikes were required to flow the metal
accordingly, resulting in extended manufacturing cycle time and
shortened die life.
A very small “wire rim” was formed along the obverse and reverse
perimeter of many of the 1907 high relief pieces, caused by metal being
forced up between the dies and the restraining collar during repeated
strikings. Pieces lacking this characteristic are called “flat rim”
examples.
Later in 1907, the relief of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was reduced
to more ordinary heights, as it remained until production ended in 1933.
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle theme was so widely admired that it was
resurrected for gold bullion coinage issued by the US Mint starting in
1986.
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