1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle

1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle. The 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is a landmark issue in American numismatics, representing the dramatic artistic renaissance of United States coinage spearheaded by President Theodore Roosevelt. Designed by the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this high-relief twenty-dollar gold piece broke from centuries of conservative tradition and is widely considered one of the most beautiful coins ever minted by the United States Mint. Its creation was fraught with technical challenges and political intrigue, resulting in several distinct varieties that are highly prized by collectors today.

Design and specifications

The coin's iconic design was executed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the personal urging of his friend Theodore Roosevelt, who sought to beautify American coinage. The obverse features a full-length figure of Liberty striding forward, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the United States Capitol visible in the background. The reverse depicts a powerful flying eagle soaring against a radiant sun, a motif inspired by Ancient Greek coinage. Saint-Gaudens originally intended an extremely high relief, akin to classical Greek sculpture, which proved nearly impossible for mass production using standard minting presses. The coin's specifications adhered to the standard for the Double eagle denomination, with a composition of 90% gold and 10% copper, a diameter of 34 millimeters, and a weight of 33.431 grams.

Mintage and distribution

Initial production in 1907 was extremely limited and experimental. The Philadelphia Mint struck only 11,250 of the coveted ultra-high relief pieces, often called the "Ultra High Relief" or "Roman Numeral" variety, using a painstaking process involving multiple strikes from medallic presses. Facing pressure from the Treasury Department and Congress for a coin suitable for commerce, Mint officials, led by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, quickly modified the design. They created a lower-relief version, known as the "High Relief" or "Arabic Numeral" type, with a mintage of 12,367. By the end of the year, a final, flat "Low Relief" version was adopted for mass production, with over 361,000 pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint alongside smaller mintages from the Denver Mint and San Francisco Mint.

Numismatic significance

The 1907 issue is the key to the entire Saint-Gaudens double eagle series and is perennially ranked among the most desirable of all United States coins. The Ultra High Relief specimens, in particular, are considered the pinnacle of American medallic art and command astronomical prices at auction, often compared to legendary rarities like the 1933 Double Eagle. The coin's artistic triumph directly influenced subsequent designs, including the Indian Head eagle and the Standing Liberty quarter, cementing the American Renaissance in coinage. Its status was further solidified by its prominent feature in popular culture, such as its depiction in the novel *The Maltese Falcon*.

Varieties and patterns

Several major varieties distinguish the 1907 coinage. The "Ultra High Relief" (MCMVII) pieces are the original artistic vision, with wire rims and requiring up to nine strikes from a hydraulic press. The "High Relief" (1907) variety has a lower profile and a rounded edge, struck with only three blows from a standard press. The definitive "Low Relief" business strike features a fully flattened design for rapid production. Additionally, unique pattern pieces exist, such as the single known "Extra High Relief" specimen struck in bronze, and experimental pieces with different edge lettering. The mint marks for the Low Relief coins appear on the obverse, with "D" for the Denver Mint and "S" for the San Francisco Mint.

Legal and historical context

The coin's genesis is inseparable from the progressive era and Roosevelt's Big Stick ideology. The President bypassed cautious Treasury officials by directly commissioning Augustus Saint-Gaudens, leveraging the authority of the executive order. The high relief initially violated the Coinage Act of 1873, which mandated coins be struck in a single blow, leading to conflict with Congress and Mint Superintendent Frank Leach. The subsequent mass-produced Low Relief coins entered circulation during a period of economic confidence under the Gold Standard Act of 1900. The entire series was abruptly terminated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 6102 in 1933, which recalled gold coins, making all Saint-Gaudens double eagles relics of the classical gold standard era.

Category:Double eagles Category:1907 works Category:Coins of the United States