A 1908 Double Eagle Without the Motto
This is a 1908 No Motto $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, struck at Philadelphia and graded MS63 by NGC. It is the version of the 1908 coin without IN GOD WE TRUST, from the months before Congress put the motto back. Each coin holds 0.9675 troy ounces of gold in a 90% gold, 10% copper alloy.
Roosevelt’s Missing Motto
President Theodore Roosevelt wanted a more beautiful coinage and brought in the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to design it. Roosevelt also had IN GOD WE TRUST left off the new double eagle, because he felt the name of God did not belong on money that could be spent for any purpose. Congress disagreed, and by act of Congress the motto was added in mid-1908. That is why 1908 comes both ways: an early No Motto coin like this one, and a With Motto coin struck later in the same year.
One of the Most Common Saints
The 1908 No Motto is not a rare date. Philadelphia struck 4,271,551 of them, and PCGS CoinFacts quotes the numismatist David Akers calling it one of the really common issues of the series, with thousands of Mint State examples. What sets this coin apart is its grade and its date in the motto story, not scarcity.
MS63 sits in the middle of the Mint State range. On NGC’s scale it means no trace of wear, with a slightly weak or average strike and moderate abrasions and hairlines of varying sizes. Expect some visible marks under the holder. This is a collectible, and its value comes from its grade, its date and its gold rather than its metal weight alone.
What You Will See on This Coin
Liberty strides forward with a torch raised in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, rays of sun behind her and the Capitol at lower left. The rim carries 46 stars, one for each state in the Union before 1912. The reverse shows an eagle in flight above a rising sun, with no motto in the field. The edge is lettered, not reeded, and the NGC holder carries the date, variety and grade on its label.
1908 No Motto Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Specifications
Each coin is 34 mm across, weighs about 33.4 grams and holds 0.9675 troy ounces of gold at .900 fine, with a $20 denomination and a lettered edge. This listing is graded MS63 by NGC. Full current specs are on the Specifications tab above.
1908 No Motto Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle FAQ
Why is there no IN GOD WE TRUST on this coin?
Roosevelt had the motto left off the original design. Congress restored it in mid-1908, so coins struck earlier that year, like this one, carry no motto.
Is this coin from the Wells Fargo hoard?
No claim is made that it is. PCGS lists coins from the 1990s Wells Fargo discovery of 1908 No Mottos under a separate designation, and most of them graded MS66 or higher. This coin is graded MS63 by NGC.
Is a 1908 No Motto rare?
No. It is one of the most common dates in the series, with a mintage of over four million. Grade and eye appeal decide its value more than the date does.
What does MS63 mean?
Mint State 63 on NGC’s scale: no wear, but moderate abrasions and hairlines, with an average or slightly weak strike.
Is it IRA eligible?
No. A U.S. gold coin outside the specific coins named in the federal tax code counts as a collectible in an IRA, and this .900 fine double eagle is not one of the exceptions.
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