$20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagles

Shop $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coins

The Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the most beloved gold coins in United States history. Produced from 1907-1916 and from 1920 until 1933, the coin was part of a larger effort to revitalize and beautify American coinage under President Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is among the most popular coins in American numismatics. Featuring 90% pure gold and an iconic set of designs penned by legendary sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens, the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin is an undeniable classic and a must-have for serious pre-1933 U.S. gold collectors.

On this page, shop $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagles online. Take advantage of industry-leading pricing, an extensive inventory, free shipping on qualifying orders, and more when you shop $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagles online with Hero Bullion!

About the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin

The $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is a gold coin that was produced by the United States Mint during the 20th century. Featuring an obverse depiction of a walking Lady Liberty and reverse-side artwork showing a bald eagle in flight, this iconic coin laid the groundwork for over a century of American coinage designs.

The Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle is an example of pre-1933 U.S. gold, a class of coins that were produced for general circulation by the U.S. Mint until gold was removed from American coinage in 1933. Investors tend to appreciate pre-1933 U.S. gold coins for their vintage designs, relatively high gold content, and the numismatic value they offer.

The United States Mint: An Overview

$20 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagles were produced by the United States Mint. Established in 1792 to produce currency for the United States, the U.S. Mint today makes circulating coins exclusively using inexpensive base metals.

Modern bullion coins minted by the U.S. Mint feature gold, silver, and other precious metals, but the days of circulating coins containing real gold and silver ended in the 20th century.

For circulating gold coins, the important date is 1933. In 1933, the U.S. Mint ceased the production of gold coins under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This year was also a very important one for the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle.

While the 1933 executive order from FDR required the treasury to stop minting coins with actual gold, a number of 1933 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagles had already been produced.

These coins were ordered to be melted down, but 14 survived after being smuggled out of the mint. Of these coins, only one survived. It is today considered the rarest and most valuable of all United States coins.

History and Details: The $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle

The Saint Gaudens Double Eagle was the second $20 denomination gold coin produced by the U.S. Mint, having been released to replace the $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle in 1907. Its release was part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts to beautify American coinage.

Aside from its gold content, the Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle is prized for its iconic designs, historical importance, and its added collectible value.

Design and Specifications

When Roosevelt approached Saint-Gaudens about creating a new gold coin, he mentioned his interest in ancient Grecian coinage. This inspiration helped create the initial designs for the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, as well as the high-relief version of the coin struck for one year in 1907.

The obverse of the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin features a walking Lady Liberty. She carries a torch and an olive branch and walks away from both the U.S. Capitol and a rising sun. A “Liberty” inscription and the coin’s date appear on the obverse side, and the design is encircled by 46 stars. This changed to 48 stars with a redesign in 1912.

On the reverse side, a bald eagle flies over the sun as sun rays surround it. The coin’s denomination ($20) and issuing country (the United States of America) also appear on this side of the coin. “In God We Trust” was added to the coin’s reverse side in 1908 due to public outrage concerning the slogan’s absence.

Saint-Gaudens’ work on the Gold Double Eagle laid the foundation for more than a century of designs on American coinage. The modern American Gold Eagle replicates the “Walking Liberty” design of the original coin, while the flying eagle was both inspired by earlier coin designs and itself inspired future coinage artwork from the U.S. Mint.

History of the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin

The Saint Gaudens Double Eagle was the second $20 denomination gold coin produced by the U.S. Mint, having been released to replace the $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle in 1907. Its release was part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts to beautify American coinage.

In 1904, Roosevelt wrote a letter to Leslie Mortier Shaw, Secretary of the Treasury, complaining about the appearance of existing American coinage. Calling U.S. coins “artistically of atrocious hideousness,” Roosevelt asked if it would be possible to “employ a man like Saint-Gaudens” to produce a beautiful coin without first consulting Congress.

The plan was successful, and legendary sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens began working on the new coin in 1905. The design was completed in 1906, with the first Saint Gaudens Double Eagles being released into circulation one year later, in 1907.

Saint-Gaudens’ work was an immediate success, although its high face value at the time meant that it was primarily used by financial institutions and to facilitate international trade. Over a century after its initial release, the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is widely considered one of the most beautiful coins in the history of the United States.

What is a Pre-1933 Gold Coin?

The $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is perhaps the most iconic example of classic pre-1933 U.S. gold. Pre ‘33 U.S. gold refers to gold coins produced in the United States for general circulation prior to 1933, the year that circulating gold production in the U.S. Mint ceased.

Why buy pre-1933 gold coins? Circulated U.S. gold coins offer an excellent combination of numismatic value and pure gold content. Minted with 90% pure gold, these coins feature vintage, iconic American coinage designs, and their historical value is unparalleled among modern bullion coins.

Pre-1933 gold coins often sell at an added premium over their melt value, making them a poor choice for investors who are trying to save as much money as possible for gold. But for collectors who appreciate rare coins with real historical value in addition to gold content, pre ‘33 gold is an excellent choice.

Shop Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle Coins Online | Hero Bullion

The Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the most iconic coins in American history. To some numismatists, it is the most beautiful coin ever produced by the U.S. Mint. Today, the coin combines 90% gold content with a set of iconic designs and unbeatable collectable value to make it a fantastic choice for dedicated gold collectors.

Hero Bullion sells a range of graded, ungraded, and certified $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coins for investors to enjoy. Shop Saint Gaudens Double Gold Eagles online with Hero Bullion on this page to take advantage of competitive pricing, free shipping on qualifying orders, and more!