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MINT STATE U.S. GOLD: "Bullion with Muscle"
$20 Saint-Gaudens 1908 No Motto
$20 Saint-Gaudens Certified
$20 Liberty Certified Type 3
"THE EVIDENCE THAT GOLD IS A BETTER HEDGE AGAINST INFLATION THAN, SAY, RARE COINS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DATA. IN FACT, DURING EXTENDED PERIODS, RARE COINS WERE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER HEDGE THAN GOLD."
- Lombra, Raymond E., PhD., The Investment Performance of Rare U.S. Coins, Penn State University, November 2004
$20 ST. GAUDENS
N/M CERTIFIED
MS 63
$20 SAINT-GAUDENS 1908 NO MOTTO
One of the most memorable coins of the classic early 20th century designs is the $20 double eagle designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The 1908 date is unique as it is the only year when the United States Mint struck both "With Motto" and "No Motto" Saint-Gaudens coins. During development, Saint-Gaudens and President Theodore Roosevelt decided to omit "In God We Trust" from the first of the new double eagles to be issued in 1908. The motto, previously located just above the sun on the back of the coin, was removed, as it was considered that the phrase violated the Constitutional amendment requiring separation of church and state. Due to the poor response the coin received, Congress passed a law requiring "In God We Trust" be reinstated on all United States coinage. In the middle of 1908, the United States Mint halted the production of "No Motto" Saint-Gaudens. The coin's reverse design was changed and "In God We Trust" added just below the flying eagle.
$20 ST. GAUDENS
CERTIFIED
MS 64
$20 SAINT-GAUDENS CERTIFIED
At the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt, Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the new design for the United States $20 Double Eagle. Minted from 1907 through 1933, the coin was originally produced without “In God We Trust” as the motto. Congress passed a law in 1908 requiring the motto to be reinstated on all coins. The obverse design depicts Liberty carrying forward a torch against the backdrop of a rising sun. The reverse displays a soaring eagle again against the backdrop of a glorious sun. In 1986, the U.S. Treasury honored the classic design by placing the obverse on the American Eagle bullion coin.
"GOLD COINS... WILL BE VASTLY BETTER WAYS TO PRESERVE AND/OR GROW WEALTH THAN DOLLAR-DENOMINATED BONDS, STOCKS, OR BANK ACCOUNTS."
- Turk, James and Rubino, John, Authors, (2004)The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit From It
$20 LIBERTY
CERTIFIED
MS 63
$20 LIBERTY CERTIFIED TYPE 3
The Type 3 Liberty double eagle was the largest mintage of the three types of $20 double eagles with 64,137,477 coins minted from 1877 through 1907. Millions of Type 3 Liberty double eagles were shipped overseas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to be used as bank reserves. This coin was also shipped out of the country in large masses during 1933 when Americans were required to turn over their gold due to the suspension of gold production. Today, those coins - the "overseas Liberties" - are highly sought after rarities.
The $20 Liberty double eagle was designed by James B. Longacre, based on a previous $10 Liberty design. The obverse features the head of Liberty facing left, with hair tied in a bun and curls flowing down to the base of the bust. She is wearing a coronet inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars surround the bust with the date positioned below. The reverse depicts an eagle with outstretched wings holding an olive branch and arrows. In 1877, the third and final version of the coin, known as Type 3, was released. It replaced the denomination TWENTY D. with TWENTY DOLLARS and Miss Liberty's portrait on the obverse was refined, now showing more delicate detail in the face and hair.
In recent years, average circulated, common date Liberty double eagles have been used as a hedge against inflation and as an alternative bullion coin to the Krugerrand, Maple Leaf and American Eagle.
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