20 Dollar Gold Double Eagle - Saint-Gaudens

The $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the most highly regarded gold coins from the United States. It is struck in 0.900 fine gold (21.6 karat) and contains 30.09 grams of pure gold. This makes it an appealing historic alternative to modern standard 1 ounce bullion coins (31.1 grams).

The total weight is 33.44 grams. With a diameter of approximately 34 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm, the coin has a robust and instantly recognisable presence. The $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was struck as legal tender and genuinely circulated between 1907 and 1933. Coins may show signs of use and handling.

The coin’s face value was 20 US dollars (USD), but its gold value is many times higher. In the early 20th century, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle replaced the Liberty Head Double Eagle, at the initiative of President Theodore Roosevelt, who wanted to elevate the artistic standard of American coinage. Both coins share the same weight and gold content, yet they differ strongly in style and overall appearance.

Delivery and Packaging

• Insured shipping or collection by appointment in Alkmaar, Rotterdam or Tilburg
• Individually packed in a plastic coin sleeve or hard plastic capsule
• Secure and insured storage available via Holland Gold Safe

Why choose the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle?

• 21.6 karat gold (90% pure gold)
• American history
• Iconic and historic design
• The last major US circulating gold coin

Design of the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

The $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle features a strikingly different and innovative design compared to its predecessor. The obverse shows a standing Lady Liberty, depicted with a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. She strides forward against a background of sun rays, with the Capitol shown in the distance. Above her head are 46 stars, reflecting the number of US states at the time the design was created, with the date at the bottom.

The reverse depicts a flying American eagle above a rising sun, with the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination TWENTY DOLLARS. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was initially omitted, but was added from 1908 onwards after political and public criticism.

The design was created by the American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, at the direct initiative of President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt believed US coinage had become artistically uninspiring and ordered a far-reaching redesign. His ambition was for American coins to rival the classical coinage of antiquity in both beauty and quality. As a result, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is widely regarded as one of the finest coin designs ever issued.

The end of the coin and the 1933 gold confiscation

In 1933, the production and circulation of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle came to an abrupt end. That year, the US government, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, prohibited private ownership of gold. Citizens and businesses were required to hand in or sell their gold coins, bars and certificates to the US government.

In return, they received a fixed compensation of 20.67 US dollars per troy ounce—the official gold price at that time. Shortly after this large-scale surrender, the gold price was raised to 35 dollars per troy ounce, instantly making gold significantly more valuable. This revaluation meant a devaluation of the dollar and gave the government a substantial financial advantage.

As a result of these measures, most Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles disappeared from circulation and were melted down. Only a portion of the coins was preserved, which is why the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle today is not only a gold coin, but also a scarce and tangible remnant of a turning point in American monetary history.

Price and Buyback value

Looking to sell your gold coins? Holland Gold offers a buyback guarantee for this coin. We also purchase coins that were not originally bought from us. On our website, under the section ‘sell to us’, you can view the current buyback price.