1907 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, High Relief Flat Edge PCGS AU55

Here is an example of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ masterpiece—as it was meant to be: in High Relief. Even in its assigned grade of AU55, the High Relief elements are easy to view.  Plus it is a more affordable option in its AU grade. This stunning first year High Relief version was the result of an animated conversation between Saint-Gaudens and President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House in 1905. PCGS has graded 10 in AU55 with 798 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $16,000.00 in AU55.

Gold specialist David Akers writes, “The 1907 High Relief with the Flat Rim is … considerably more rare than the Wire Rim variety, at least two to three times as rare, in fact. Because of the beauty of the design and the fact that it represented the first significant design change in the 58 year history of the Double Eagle series, High Reliefs were saved in quantity …. As a result, many Flat Rim High Reliefs exist and a substantial portion of them are in choice or gem uncirculated condition. This issue is high priced but not rare; its history, beauty and low mintage have made it one of the most popular U.S. gold coins and this popularity, rather than any inherent rarity, has brought about the High Relief's comparatively high price.”

1907 $20 Saint-Gaudens High Relief edge comparison. The Flat Edge image is on the left. Photo: PCGS Coinfacts website.