The Saint-Gaudens $20 joins a striding Liberty to a flying eagle, moving from experimental 1907 reliefs to regular No Motto and With Motto production.

This guide covers the 1907–1933 classic double eagle. The separate 2009 Ultra High Relief reinterpretation has its own bullion-category guide.

Core specifications

Issue period
1907–1933
Catalog mints
3
Reported catalog mintage
70,291,470
Composition
90% Gold - 10% Copper
Diameter
34 mm
Weight
33.44 g

Sculptural ambition is adapted for the coining press

President Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens sought a more sculptural national coinage, culminating in the 1907 double eagle experiments.

Relief was lowered for regular production, IN GOD WE TRUST was added in 1908, and the design continued until gold coin distribution ended during the Depression.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Liberty strides forward holding a torch and olive branch, with rays and the Capitol behind; stars ring the rim.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

An eagle flies above the sun and rays; the later major type adds IN GOD WE TRUST in the field.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933; 34,907,045. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
  • S — San Francisco: 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930; 23,738,925. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
  • D — Denver: 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1931; 11,645,500. Confirm the D mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.

Representative issues that explain the series

Start with regular No Motto and With Motto types before entering High Relief, branch-mint keys, or late dates.

  • 1907 P - Ultra High Relief - Lettered Edge - MCMVII — 17. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1927 D — 180,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1932 P — 1,101,750. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1933 P — 445,500. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 1 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 1 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - Ultra High Relief Pattern - Plain Edge - MCMVII - Unique1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - Ultra High Relief - Lettered Edge - MCMVII1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - High Relief - Roman Numerals MCMVII - Plain Edge1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - High Relief - Roman Numerals MCMVII - Wire Rim1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - High Relief - Roman Numerals MCMVII - Flat Rim1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - Arabic Numerals - Large Letters on Edge - Unique1907 P St. Gaudens $20 - Arabic Numerals - Small Letters on Edge1908 P St. Gaudens $201908 D St. Gaudens $201908 P St. Gaudens $201908 D St. Gaudens $201908 S St. Gaudens $201909 P St. Gaudens $201909 D St. Gaudens $201909 S St. Gaudens $201910 P St. Gaudens $201910 D St. Gaudens $201910 S St. Gaudens $201911 P St. Gaudens $201911 D St. Gaudens $201911 S St. Gaudens $201912 P St. Gaudens $201913 P St. Gaudens $201913 D St. Gaudens $201913 S St. Gaudens $201914 P St. Gaudens $201914 D St. Gaudens $201914 S St. Gaudens $201915 P St. Gaudens $201915 S St. Gaudens $201916 S St. Gaudens $201920 P St. Gaudens $201920 S St. Gaudens $201921 P St. Gaudens $201922 P St. Gaudens $201922 S St. Gaudens $201923 P St. Gaudens $201923 D St. Gaudens $201924 P St. Gaudens $201924 D St. Gaudens $201924 S St. Gaudens $201925 P St. Gaudens $201925 D St. Gaudens $201925 S St. Gaudens $201926 P St. Gaudens $201926 D St. Gaudens $201926 S St. Gaudens $201927 P St. Gaudens $201927 D St. Gaudens $201927 S St. Gaudens $201928 P St. Gaudens $201929 P St. Gaudens $201930 S St. Gaudens $201931 P St. Gaudens $201931 D St. Gaudens $201932 P St. Gaudens $201933 P St. Gaudens $20

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
  • Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 57 issue records, 1 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. Gold Eagle Coins and Their History — United States Mint
  2. St. Gaudens $20 category reference — PCGS CoinFacts