1907 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, High Relief Wire Edge PCGS MS63

This is an absolutely beautiful and quite rare example that could serve as the centerpiece of a proud numismatist’s collection. Due to technical issues at the U.S. Mint, there were only 11,250 pieces struck in 1907. PCGS has graded 997 as MS63 with 1,574 finer. Collectors Universe prices this rarity at $30,000.00 in MS63.

Gold specialist David Akers writes, "The 1907 High Relief Double Eagle is, in my opinion, the most beautiful coin the United States ever issued for normal circulation. Unfortunately, it was not as practical as it was beautiful; the high relief of the standing figure of Liberty and the eagle made the coin impossible to stack properly and thus unpopular and unsuitable for commercial purposes. Minting was also impractical since it reportedly required five blows of the minting press to fully bring up the design making high speed, mass production impossible."

1907 $20 Saint-Gaudens High Relief edge comparison, courtesy PCGS Coinfacts website.

Jeff Garrett writes,

The 1907 High Relief Double Eagle is one of the most popular coins ever struck by the United States Mint. The coins are sculptural in appearance and are considered by many to be the most beautiful regular issue gold coin ever produced. Unfortunately, the design was also impractical and redesigned by Charles Barber later in the year. The date is given in Roman numerals (the coins nickname by some) and lacks the Motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. President Roosevelt believed that money could easily be used for ungodly pursuits such as gambling and thus the name of the Lord should not be used on coinage. The 1907 High Relief is categorized by most as either Wire Rim or Flat Rim. The coins are identical except for raised metal around the rims. This is probably the result of some tinkering by the Mint while they struggled to produce coins with such extreme relief.