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HISTORY
The $20 Saint-Gaudens Gold piece is one of the most beautiful coins ever minted by the United States. It was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and minted from 1907 to 1933. There are two specific design types minted as business strikes: the No Motto Type (1907-1908) and the With Motto Type (1908-1933). While there are several very expensive dates within this series, the 1933, which is the last year of issue, is considered as non-collectible since none were placed into circulation. This was the year the U.S. government began confiscating gold coins from the public. In 1907, the first coins struck were High Reliefs; there were 11,250 minted with the Roman Numeral date MCMVII. Later that same year, the government began striking Saints with Arabic numerals (361,667 minted in 1907).
MINTS
There were three mints used to produce the $20 St. Gaudens. Philadelphia began minting coins in 1907 and minted the last one in 1933. The Denver Mint began in 1908 and their last issue was 1931. San Francisco also began minting in 1908 and completed their last mintage in 1930. All of the mintmarked issues dated 1924 and after are considered rarities and somewhat expensive in MS60 and higher grades. While this an exciting series to collect, it is also one of the more difficult to complete.
TERMINOLOGY
Roman Finish - An experimental proof surface used primarily on U.S. Gold coins in 1909 & 1910. The surface reveals more reflectivity than Matte Proofs, but less than Brilliant Proofs.
Saints - Numismatic shorthand for $20 Saint-Gaudens Gold pieces struck from 1907-1933.
Double Eagle - Official terminology of the $20 Gold piece. It is exactly two eagles, which is twice the denomination of the eagle or $10 gold piece. The eagle and the dollar were the basis of the U.S. currency system up until the early 1970s.
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, by Walter Breen
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, by John Dannreuther
Buyer's Guide to United States Gold Coins, by Q. David Bowers
Photograde, by James F. Ruddy
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Series
$20 Saint-Gaudens
Series Run
1907-1933
Designer
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Weight
33.436 grams
Net Weight
.96750 ounces pure gold
Composition
.900 gold
.100 copper
Diameter
34 millimeters
Edge
Lettered Edge
E PLURIBUS UNUM
Mints
Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mink Mark Location
obverse above date
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