All about Numismatic St. Gaudens Twenty Dollar Gold Coin

Although there are many types of numismatic coins available, the twenty dollar gold coin holds a special place due to its rich heritage. Designed and crafted by the famous sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens (commissioned by the US President Franklin Roosevelt in the 20th century), the first St. Gaudens coin was minted in 1907. Also called the Double Eagle, St. Gaudens has one of America’s best coinage designs through the $20 gold bullion. Notably, the first batch of these coins (minted in 1907 and the first part of 1908) did not have the inscription “In God We Trust,” as it was not mandatory by law then. However, the subsequent batches of coins had to have the motto, leading to the revision of the Eagle and Double Eagle coins.

Specifications of St Gaudens Twenty Dollar Gold Coins

The St. Gaudens coin weighs around 33.436 grams, with 2 mm thickness and 34 mm diameter. The gold content in each coin is around 90% (30.093 grams), with 10% being copper. The coin features Lady Liberty in the foreground with the Torch of Freedom and an olive branch and the US Capitol building in the background. The back of the coin features the Bald Eagle flying over the sun.

History and Current Worth of Twenty Dollar Gold Coins

Minted till 1933, large quantities of minted $20 St. Gaudens coins were melted down in the same year for their gold content. The remaining coins (just over a million) now enjoy a rare status. The trading value of St. Gaudens coins, therefore, is determined by their rarity and quality. For instance, in 2002, a 1933 batch gold coin was auctioned at $7,590,020 by Sotheby’s, New York City. In 2010, a coin purchased at $85,000 (in 1979) was auctioned off at $605,000. The worth of numismatic gold coins has been observed appreciate over the long-term, with the 1920-S Eagle appreciating at 11.35% annually.

A favorite of gold investors and collectors that seek the best gold assets in their purest form, $20 St Gaudens numismatic coins have always been popular. As they are also government certified for their gold content, they can also act as a hedge over inflation and as a safe asset in bad economic situations. These also contribute to their increasing worth.

Types of Twenty Dollar Gold Coins

Here are the different types of $20 St. Gaudens gold coins:

• Twenty Dollar St Gaudens “Ultra High Relief” or “Extremely High Relief” coins: There are only around 22-24 pieces of these gold coins, with only four graded variations. However, experts believe that there may be many pieces in private collections.
• Twenty Dollar St. Gaudens MCMVII High Relief coins: Produced in 1907, there are only 287 pieces of these special coins that are grade MS65 and higher. A rare type of numismatic coins available for purchase, they offer fast sales and high prices. Besides, two different types of these coins were also minted accidentally: the wire edge and flat edge design. The wire edge design has 80% more metal lodged in a remarkable lip shape.
• Twenty Dollar St. Gaudens with ‘No Motto”: Wells Fargo Nevada, in whose care these coins are placed, extends over 8,000 pieces of these coins for trading. Certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), this includes 90% MS66 grades and MS67 grades.

The twenty dollar St. Gaudens coins “with motto,” which were minted during 1908-1933 are considered rare coins. Large quantities of these coins were melted in 1933, and the remaining ones make up the current availability. The beauty and rarity of these coins, along with their limited supply, help in increasing their demand. Currently, there are around 349,000 pieces of PCGS certified St Gaudens “with motto” coins available.