The 5 Rarest Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coins Ever

Looking for the next investment for a coin collection? Every coin connoisseur would love to add a gold coin to theirs because the value is always more than the number it's stamped with. Gold coins are out of U.S. circulation now, but their history tells a unique story.

Because of their precious metal, gold coins are rare to acquire. With the rarity of how many exist now and the history behind their design, Saint-Gaudens double eagle coins are some of the world's most expensive coins. Recently, an August Saint-Gaudens designed gold coin sold for nearly $20 million!

Read on to learn more about the history of the U.S. gold coin, the designer August Saint-Gaudens, and what makes his coins stand out for serious collectors everywhere.

U.S. Gold Coin History

Gold has been used as currency for thousands of years in many different forms. While trading gold coins isn't part of our regular, modern currency, collectors still invest in bullion bars and bullion coins. A gold bullion coin is considered legal tender and minted by the government.

The U.S. Mint produced gold coins after the Coinage Act of 1792, which demonetized any foreign currency that was circulating, such as English guineas, Dutch gold ducats, and Spanish doubloons. The first coins produced were the $10 eagle, $5 half eagle, and $2.50 quarter eagle. A gold double eagle, with a $20 value, didn't get produced until the Coinage Act of 1849 was ratified.

The first double eagle was produced of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper alloy. These coins were regularly produced from 1849 until 1933 when President Franklin Roosevelt made owning gold illegal. Citizens were required to turn in their gold to the government, where they melted it down or stored it to keep it out of circulation.

This forced the price of gold to increase, encouraging foreign investment, and influencing inflation prices during the Great Depression.

The U.S. Mint has produced some commemorative runs of a quarter, half, and full eagle coins over the years. In 2009, they produced a collector run of gold double eagles and listed the initial price for $1,200. This price quickly rose in private sales due to the rarity and history of the coin and the overall value of gold.

History of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Coin

The gold double eagle is classified under two designs: Liberty Head and the Saint-Gaudens. The Liberty Head, the first design of the $20 gold coin, came about from the excess of gold being mined and circulated from the California Gold Rush in the 1800s. The Coinage Act of 1849 allowed for the authorization of two gold coins to regulate the new-to-market gold.

The $20 coins were crafted in the Liberty Head design from 1849 to 1907. They showed a bust of Lady Liberty, surrounded by 13 stars and the year below her. The back side showed an eagle carrying a stars and stripes shield, the text "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TWENTY D." surrounding it. James Barton Longacre, the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at the time, designed the Lady Liberty coins.

In 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt wanted the coins redesigned in a more artistic fashion. He hired the famous sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to redesign the $20 U.S. gold coin. Roosevelt wanted the currency to reflect the beauty and classic design of the old world, ancient coins.

The most first Saint-Gaudens gold coin shows the full body of Lady Liberty, holding a large torch in one hand and a branch of olives in the other. She is in motion as if about to step out of the coin's face, with sunbeams radiating behind her and her long hair freely flowing. The word "LIBERTY" is directly above her, the year below, and 46 stars border the coin.

The reverse side of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle depicts an eagle in flight, its large, detailed wings raised in a powerful swoop. Sunbeams rise from the bottom of the coin. The coins state "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TWENTY DOLLARS" above the eagle.

There Saint-Gaudens double eagle coins went through a few design changes, mostly altering the lettering original Roman numerals to Arabic numerals in 1907 and then adding the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the reverse side in 1908. In 1912, two more stars were added to the border on the face of the coin to include the new states of Arizona and New Mexico, equalling 48.

The beauty of Lady Liberty stayed consistent on all designs modifications.

With many factors contributing to the U.S. government's decision to come off the gold standard, including the public hoarding gold, President Roosevelt (FDR) ordered all gold coins, bullions, and certificates turned in for cash in 1933. This caused the already rare $20 double eagle to become more valuable.

Of the 445,000 Saint-Gaudens double eagles produced in 1933, only three are currently known to exist!

Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Legendary Artist

The master sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, rose to fame in the late 19th century when he finished large, high-profile commissions such as the statues of President Lincoln in Chicago. Born in 1848, in Dublin, Ireland, he immigrated to the United States with his family as an infant. They settled in New York, and at the age of thirteen, Saint-Gaudens began his stone cameo cutter apprenticeship.

Moving to Paris as a young man, he continued his sculpting studies by learning the old-world master techniques. These classical traditions greatly influenced his work and later made his art appealing to President T. Roosevelt, who believed the United States was destined as the heir to the ancient Roman and Greek influence on the world.

By 1900, August Saint-Gaudens had traveled the world. He returned to the United States and accomplished many significant and public sculptor projects. In 1905, President T. Roosevelt commissioned him to redesign the $10 eagle and $20 double eagle coins. These coins are regarded as the most beautiful ever designed for the U.S. Mint.

It took over two years to develop the Saint-Gaudens eagle designs, reworking details that were too impractical for mass production. Saint-Gaudens died from cancer in 1907 and never got to see his work completed. With the help of his assistant, Adolph Weinman, and the chief engraver, Charles Barber, the U.S. Mint put the final design into circulation.

The Popularity of the Saint-Gauden Design

The coin's design tells much of the history of the values and vision of the U.S. at the time. The history of the model for Lady Liberty is also a fascinating story.

Saint-Gaudens modeled his Lady Liberty off Hettie E. Anderson, a young Black woman. President T. Roosevelt and Saint-Gaudens discussed engraving a Native American woman in full headdress and carrying a shield, but for various reasons, this didn't come to fruition. Ms. Anderson became immortalized as the first African American woman featured on an American coin.

Described as the most beautiful coin ever designed for the U.S. Mint, the Saint-Gaudens eagle design stands the test of time. Ushered in to celebrate the Renaissance-like ambitions of the turn of the 20th-century leaders, the elegant and regal stance of Lady Liberty is famous in numismatic circles.

Because of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' status as America's greatest sculpture, the eagle coin design will always stand out as a small, yet popular, historical monument.

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

As previously discussed, in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard. The Saint-Gaudens double eagle was the last gold coin produced by the U.S. mint before this occurred. Since only 445,000 of these coins were created, the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle became instantly rare.

After the U.S. Mint created the coin, the government ordered them melted down in an Executive Order. Despite the coins' illegal status for circulation, some managed to disappear out of the Mint. It is rumored that the Mint cashier, George McCann, and local jeweler, Isreal Switt, smuggled the coins out. An investigation by the Secret Service in 1944 supposedly found all the coins and melted them down.

But, some 1933 Saint-Gauden double eagles escaped the government clutches again! Not for long though. In 2004, ten coins came to light from the family of Mr. Switt and were taken into government control, despite the family's long legal battles to gain them back.

The few coins that made it out of the mint in 1933 have gone through extensive global trading. For example, King Farouk of Egypt illegally purchased one in 1944. The U.S. government could only retrieve the coin after the King was overthrown in 1952.

The coin disappeared from the world for nearly 50 years! It reappeared and the Treasury Department seized it. After a lengthy legal battle, the coin sold.

The government allowed the sale of this coin to famed shoe designer and rare stamp collector, Stuart Weitzman, in 2002. He recently sold this extremely rare coin for $18,872,250, in March 2021, with proceeds helping his various charities and his Foundation. This is the only legal and monetized 1933 Double Eagle in existence.

Weitzman's 1933 Saint-Gauden's double eagle received a Brilliant Uncirculated rating. There are two more of these coins displayed at the Smithsonian Museum.

How Coins are Valued

There are various reasons how coins receive their value. The mintage of a coin is the number of the total supply available and what is left in circulation. As described, sometimes coins get returned to the government and melted due to rising or falling metal prices or to control inflation.

Demand also reflects the value of a coin. Both the mintage and the survival of Saint-Gaudens gold coins in circulation is so low, it creates a large demand on any existing specimen. The storied history of illegal gold, smuggling, and secret hoarding gives a further demand for any Saint-Gaudens eagle or double eagle coin.

Usually, the condition of a coin will add to its value, but in the case of such a rare gold coin, any kind of condition would likely result in a very high auction value.

Learning about how the scale of grading works for collectible coins will help your collection grow in value.

Valuable U.S. Eagle Coins

All gold U.S. eagle and double eagle coins are valuable due to their history of government seizure, the few left in circulation, and the market value of gold. Besides the record sale of the Weitzman coin and the two displayed in the Smithsonian, there are other extremely valuable eagle coins in the world. Here is a selection of some of the world's most valuable gold eagle coins:

1839/8 Proof Liberty Head $10 Gold Eagle

The mintage of this rare coin is only four! Christian Gobrecht designed this coin as the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He is most famous for designing the Seated Liberty coins.

The 1839/8 Proof Liberty Head coin used the older style Liberty Head with the date struck to the left of the bust at the bottom of the coin. Lady Liberty's hair covers her ear in this version of the coin, while in previous versions her ear is exposed.

The reverse side features an eagle clutching three arrows and an olive branch. A striped shield is across the eagle's chest and its wings outstretched. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TEN D." surround the eagle.

The grade of this valuable eagle coin is NGC PR67 Ultra Cameo. Before 1971, coins underwent a chemically etched or sandblasted treatment to give a frosted finish. Ultra Cameo means the coin still displays both sides of the cameo contrast.

This coin last sold in 2007 for $1,610,000.

1921 Roman Proof Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle

Hiding from the world until 2006, this 1921 Saint-Gaudens double eagle coin shocked coin collectors with its existence. A rare Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this proof coin is only the second known in existence.

Created at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 528,500. It features the walking Lady Liberty, holding her torch and olive branch.

The discovery of this coin shook the numismatic community because no coin of this quality was known to exist outside of museum collections. Graded as PCGS MS-63, this coin sold in August 2006 for $1,495,000.

1856-O Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle

Over 1.5 million Liberty Head coins went into circulation in 1856 but only 2,250 gold double eagles were created at the New Orleans United States Mint. A coin with the "O" mark means the New Orleans Mint produced it.

This coin is larger compared to other gold coins of its day. It weighs 33.44 grams with a gold content of nearly a full ounce, with 90 percent gold content and 10 percent copper.

James Barton Longacre designed the 1856-O Liberty Head, the fourth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He is most famous for designing the Indian Head cent and the Flying Eagle cent.

During the first discovery of this coin, researchers assumed it was a proof coin. Later they confirmed no proof coins were created at the New Orleans Mint, although perhaps a record of creating a proof failed to be made. This coin holds a classification of a "Specimen Strike."

Selling for $1,437,500 in May 2009 with a grade of PCGS SP-63, this rare coin is one every collector dreams about.

1829 Proof Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle

The United States Mint records show 57,422 Capped Bust $5 coins were created in 1829. This coin is one of the five proofs created. The coin's designer was John Reich at the Philadelphia Mint.

John Reich, a German-born American became the assistant to Chief Engraver Robert Scot. Tasked to redesign many of the coins, Reich created the Capped Bust look for Lady Liberty.

With a content of 92 percent gold and a mix of 8 percent silver and copper, the physical makeup of this coin is quite valuable. The year 1829 is when the Mint began ensuring the physical size of coins stayed consistent by producing them with a collar for uniform diameter.

This rare and old 1829 Capped Bust proof coin sold in January of 2012 for $1,380,00.

Top 5 Most Valuable U.S. Gold Coins

Every collector of coins should know the most valuable and rare U.S. cold coins. These are out of the reach of the average collector, but learning what makes them so desired can help with finding other treasures. Here is the list of the top five most valuable U.S. gold coins:

5. 1808 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle

Designed by Robert Scot, only 2,710 coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. With a content of 91.7 percent gold and 8.3 percent copper, this coin is extremely rare.

Robert Scot also designed the famous Flowing Hair dollar and the Draped Bust Lady Liberty. In the year of 1908, the Mint changed the design of the quarter eagle. 1808 is the only year this design got produced, adding to the rarity and value of this coin.

It last sold through Sotheby's in May of 2015. Graded at PCGS MS-65, the auction closed at $2,350,000.

4. 1880 Proof Stella Coiled Hair

The four-dollar coin is a rare example that never made it to circulation. Designed as a collector coin, it has a mintage of only eight. The coin's composition is a solid 85% gold and a mix of 15% silver and copper.

Charles E. Barber designed the $4 Stella coin. Barber, the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, also designed government medals.

Four dollar coins are extremely rare, only produced for one year between 1879 and 1880.

Sold in September 2013, this NGC PR-66 Cameo graded coin holds a value of $2,570,000.

3. 1795 Draped Bust Gold Eagle with 13 Leaves

As one of the first coin designs after the Mint Act of 1792, this Draped Bust coin holds historical importance. Historians predict less than 10 percent of the mintage exist today.

Robert Scot also designed this coin and it depicts the "Small Eagle" design before the it changed in 1977 with the Heraldic Eagle.

Since most of these coins got lost to history, this specimen holds a high value. In September of 2015, the Draped Bust gold eagle sold for $2,585,000 with a grading of PCGS MS-66+.

2. 1907 Proof Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra High Relief Lettered Edge

It is little surprise that the second-highest valued U.S. gold coin is an Augustus Saint-Gaudens. This first redesign of the double eagle features Roman numerals to enhance the ancient Greece feel of the coin.

The coin's raised texture is higher than most coins and required specialized striking. This technique proved unsuitable for mass production and required a modified design for later use.

Because of the beauty and rarity of this coin's design and its place in history, Saint-Gaudens gold coins fetch a high value at auction. This particular coin sold for $2,990,000 in November of 2005. Its grade is PCGS PR-69.

1. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle

As previously explained, the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is the most expensive and rare U.S. gold coin in existence. Pressed at the Philadelphia Mint, with only 445,500 in production, the double eagles were ordered to be destroyed before hitting circulation.

Because some specimens got smuggled out of the Mint, we now have a few coins left to appreciate for their rich history. With a few examples housed in the Smithsonian Museum, the only monetized 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is the one sold by Weitzman in 2021.

A gorgeous example of craftsmanship and heavy with historical importance, this coin fetched $18,872,250 through a Sotheby's auction. Its grade sits at Gem BU.