1915 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle NGC MS61

Here’s a more affordable example of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ masterpiece, the Striding Liberty double eagle, which has come to be called ‘the Saint’ in his honor. NGC has graded 441 as MS61 with 1,619 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $3,100.00 in MS61.

Jeff Garrett writes, "As the mintage [152,000] would suggest, the 1915 issue is ... scarce in all grades. It is … usually found in MS 60 to MS 63. Choice examples become quite scarce and at the Gem level the date becomes very rare and valuable.... The Smithsonian collection contains two coins that would grade MS 64."

The Third Philadelphia Mint, where this great collectible was struck in 1915. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

David Akers writes of this issue, “The 1915 is always very sharply struck. The surfaces usually have a satiny sheen to them and the lustre is invariably excellent. Color is also a strong point of this issue, usually a rich orange or coppery gold. From an overall "eye appeal" standpoint, the 1915 is an easy winner over the other Philadelphia Mint issues from 1908 With Motto to 1915.”