Features of $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle

The price per ounce of both silver and gold has more than doubled since 2007. The value per ounce of gold was $1,756 and for silver was $34 on November 16, 2011. President of the Fort Myers Coin Club, Gary Lewis, feels that this has added a little shimmer to collecting coins because most people believe that the easiest way to store silver or gold is by buying coins such as the US Silver Eagle, the American Eagle or the $20 Saint Gaudens. “The people that are only interested in the price, they are not so much a part of the hobby because they are more like speculators… As an investment, it’s like anything. You can lose money just as easily as you can make money,” Lewis added.

Collecting gold coins is a hobby that has gained popularity over the years. It is not merely restricted to the wealthy. However, this hobby requires some knowledge of how to judge gold coins, which can be done by determining the mint at which they were made, the year of manufactur and other details that are necessary to correctly recognize genuine gold coins.

The $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle

Many rare gold coins minted in the Unites States are available for investors and collectors alike. These include Liberty Gold, Indian Head and American Eagle. Of the gold coins that have been minted over the decades, the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is considered as the most recognizable and popular. It is also among the most beautiful gold pieces to have been minted. These gold coins have been minted at three different places, namely:

• Philadelphia in 1907-1933
• Denver in 1908-1931
• San Francisco in 1908-1930

They are considered to be the coins of trade, as they played a very important role in the Industrial Revolution of the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Some aspects of these coins are:

Designer: The $20 Saint Gaudens coins are named after their designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who designed both the faces of the coin. His first interaction with the Mint was in 1891 when he joined a committee to judge entries for silver coinage. Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed this beautiful gold piece on a request from Teddy Roosevelt, President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. President Roosevelt marveled the designs of the ancient Greece coins and felt that America should have its own coins that were designed beautifully.

Design of the $20 Saint Gaudens: The obverse side of this coin has an image of Lady Liberty holding an olive branch and a torch. Behind this, there are rays of the sun and the US Capitol. On the reverse, the coin shows a flying eagle against the backdrop of bright sunrays. Both the sides of the coin were designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907. Initially, the coin was minted without any motto, but in 1908 the words ‘In God We Trust’ were engraved on it. This is why $20 Saint Gaudens is referred to as ‘with motto’ and ‘without motto’.

Gold Composition and Size: These coins are 33.43 grams in weight and have a diameter of 34 mm with reeded edges. These coins are 90% gold and 10% copper with the gold content in them being 0.9675 oz.

Most collectors have or desire to have the $20 Saint Gaudens as part of their collection. Recent years have seen these gold pieces being sold at record prices. These coins are still a rage among those who consider it as a symbol of a bygone era. These incredible coins have survived the rough course of time maybe just to be part of your priced possessions.