What is the value of a $20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) gold coin today?
From our trusted partner
$20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) price history
Intrinsic value based on the gold price
How much does a $20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) gold coin weigh?
The $20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) coin has a total weight of 33.4400 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 30.0960 grams of pure gold.
What is the purity of a $20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) gold coin?
The $20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens) coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine gold.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in United States between 1907 - 1933. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The obverse of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is considered one of the major masterpieces of American numismatics. Designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, it depicts a conquering Liberty facing forward, draped and striding forward dynamically.
Artistic composition and strike variants
Iconography: Liberty holds a flaming torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand. She advances across a radiant field, with the Washington Capitol emerging at the bottom of the field.
Symbolism and legends: The inscription LIBERTY dominates the design, bordered by stars arranged in an arc representing the states of the Union and the date at the bottom of the field.
The High Relief version (1907): The first examples from 1907 were struck in very high relief. Too complex to produce industrially, these rare strikes are today museum pieces of exceptional numismatic value.
The evolution of the relief (1908–1933): From 1908 onward, the U.S. Mint adopted a flatter relief (Flat Relief) to allow regular mass production strikes.
"No Motto" variant (1907–1908): The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is absent from the first dates by Roosevelt's choice, before being reinstated by Congress during 1908.
Reverse
The reverse features a majestic and highly dynamic composition: an American eagle captured in full flight toward the left, soaring above the rays of a rising sun.
Artistic composition and engraving details
Sculptural treatment: The eagle's plumage, chiseled with great refinement, illustrates the unique style of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The sun rays at the bottom of the field provide exceptional visual depth.
Main inscriptions: The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA runs along the upper arc, while the face value TWENTY DOLLARS is inscribed at the base of the design.
National motto: On issues struck from 1908 onwards, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the rising sun.
Mints and mint marks
Location: The mint mark is located on the reverse, just below the eagle, above the sun rays.
Issuing mints: Struck primarily at Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D) and San Francisco (S).
Edge stars: The lettered edge bears 46 stars (then 48 from 1912 with the admission of Arizona and New Mexico into the Union), a key security and authentication feature.
Versions and mintage
$20 Double Eagle (Saint-Gaudens)
History of the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Coin
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was born of a strong political and artistic vision. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign American coinage, which was considered too dull compared to ancient Greek coins.
Technical specifications and major mintage milestones
Metallurgical specifications: Fineness of 900/1000 (90% gold, 10% copper), gross weight of 33.436 grams and diameter of 34 mm. It contains 0.9675 troy ounces of fine gold (i.e. 30.09 grams of pure gold), making it the largest gold coin ever struck for circulation in the history of the United States.
The inaugural 1907 edition (High Relief): Struck shortly after the sculptor's death in August 1907, this version required up to nine successive strikes. Incompatible with industrial production rates, it was quickly replaced by a reduced relief version (Flat Relief).
The Executive Order of 1933: Regular production came to an abrupt halt under Franklin D. Roosevelt with the prohibition on private gold ownership. The 1933 mintages were almost entirely melted down; the extremely rare surviving examples are today among the most expensive coins in the world.
Price evolution of the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle over the past twenty years
Containing nearly one ounce of pure gold, the price of common-date examples in MS-60 to MS-63 grades is strongly indexed to the spot price of the yellow metal.
Price history and market dynamics
2005–2011: The surge in gold from $500 to over $1,900/oz pushed the value of common-date coins beyond the $1,000 threshold.
2012–2018: A phase of correction and consolidation, offering buying opportunities at moderate premiums on common-date examples.
2019–2026: The successive breakthroughs of $2,000, $2,500 and then $3,000/oz mechanically revalued Double Eagles. For a common-date example, the premium generally ranges between 5% and 15% above its raw gold value.
Why invest in the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle?
The $20 Double Eagle combines a significant gold content in a single coin (0.9675 oz) with exceptional international liquidity, particularly on North American and European markets.
Strategic advantages and purchasing precautions
High gold exposure: Allows a physical gold reserve to be built up quickly with a reduced number of coins.
Worldwide recognition: A historical standard traded daily by specialized dealers and auction houses.
Key points to watch:
Authentication and condition: Prefer coins encapsulated and certified by PCGS or NGC to guarantee the grade (MS) and rule out cleaned coins.
Taxation: In France, buying and selling fall under the general regime for investment coins (subject to the TFMP or the optional capital gains regime with supporting documentation).
Frequently asked questions
Why is the $20 Saint-Gaudens considered the most beautiful American coin in history?
The $20 Saint-Gaudens is the result of a direct collaboration between American president Theodore Roosevelt and the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Eager to renew the style of American coins to rival the beauty of ancient Greek coinage, Saint-Gaudens created a masterful work: the obverse depicts Liberty walking face forward, holding a torch and an olive branch, against a backdrop of sun rays with the Capitol building in the background. The reverse features a majestic eagle in full flight.
This coin is universally acclaimed as the masterpiece of modern numismatics.
What is the fascinating history of the mythical 1933 $20 Double Eagle?
The year 1933 marks the definitive withdrawal of gold from circulation in the United States by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Executive Order 6102).
Although nearly 500,000 $20 coins were struck that year, they were never officially put into circulation and were almost all melted down into ingots.
Only a handful of examples clandestinely escaped melting. One of them, legalized decades later after a lengthy legal dispute with the U.S. Treasury, became the most expensive coin ever sold at auction worldwide.
What are the major graphic variants of the Saint-Gaudens series (1907-1933)?
In addition to the mint mark (D for Denver, S for San Francisco, or no mark for Philadelphia), the series features engraving variations that are highly sought after by collectors:
High Relief (High Relief - 1907): The very first examples featured such deep relief that they required multiple strikes from the press to be produced. Rendered impractical for mass circulation, they were quickly modified to low relief.
Roman Numerals (MCMVII - 1907): The 1907 date was expressed in Roman numerals on the first series before switching to Arabic numerals from 1908 onwards.
No Motto (No Motto - 1907-1908): The first strikes did not bear the inscription "In God We Trust" above the setting sun on the reverse, which was subsequently added by act of Congress.
Why is the $20 Saint-Gaudens an essential coin for the physical gold investor?
The $20 Saint-Gaudens combines the best of both worlds: the volume of a large prestige gold coin and a very attractive historical premium.
Extremely popular with international savers, it benefits from universal liquidity and trades very easily anywhere in the world.
It is the quintessential heritage asset for diversifying physical savings beyond modern bullion coins while taking advantage of the numismatic appreciation potential of period currency.
Similar coins
