Vintage Guide12 min read

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: A Collector's Guide

Widely called the most beautiful US coin, the $20 Saint-Gaudens (1907–1933) is also one of the most collectible pre-1933 golds — common dates trade near bullion, while a few keys reach seven figures.

Bottom Line: Most collectors pursue a type set — a High Relief (or a common No Motto and With Motto) — rather than a full date set, which the great rarities make impractical. Common dates are an affordable, liquid way to own a piece of the Renaissance of American coinage.

The major types

Type	Notes
1907 Ultra High Relief	Saint-Gaudens' original vision — a pattern, a handful known, a museum-tier rarity.
1907 High Relief	A glorious one-year sculptural type. Hard to strike, so it was flattened for production.
No Motto (1907–1908)	Early issues without "In God We Trust" — the first regular-relief type.
With Motto (1908–1933)	The motto was added in 1908; the bulk of the series. Common dates are the affordable ones.

The famous keys

1933 Double Eagle

Almost none were legally released; the government considers nearly all of them not legal to own. One legally-owned example sold for $18.9 million. A legend more than a collectible. Read the full story.

1927-D

One of the rarest collectible double eagles — most were melted. A seven-figure coin when it appears.

1920-S, 1921, 1930-S, 1931, 1932

The Depression-era issues were largely melted, making them genuine condition rarities worth well into five and six figures.

Buying common dates well

Dates like 1924, 1927, and 1928 (Philadelphia) survive in quantity and trade close to their gold content. For these, buy on eye appeal and a tight premium — and always graded, since counterfeit pre-1933 gold is the most common fake. See how to spot a fake and our pre-1933 gold guide.