1907 Wire Rim St Gaudens $20 Double Eagle

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.