1920 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

The 1920 Saint-Gaudens double eagle was the first struck since 1916, following a hiatus that coincided with World War I. 1920 Saint-Gaudens double eagles are named after the coin’s designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Saint-Gaudens was a famed sculptor who was commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to redesign the double eagle gold coin in 1907.

Mintages and values for 1920 Saint-Gaudens double eagles are below:

• 1920 – 228,250, $2,620

• 1920-S – 558,000, $20,000

*Values are for coins in Extremely Fine-40 grade, unless otherwise noted.

Note that while more than a half million 1920-S double eagles were struck, most were returned to the U.S. Mint and were melted in the 1930s, rendering the issue exceedingly rare. This is the case for many of the 1920s Saint-Gaudens issues, especially those from the last several years that the coin was minted. 

Below are specifics about the Saint-Gaudens double eagle:

• Face Value: $20

• Overall Mass: 33.436 grams

• Diameter: 34 millimeters

• Edge: Lettered, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”

• Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper

• Gold: .96750 troy ounces

Saint-Gaudens double eagles were mainly used for international trading purposes, given their high value at the times (their $20 face value is the equivalent of hundreds of dollars today). This coin is widely considered the most beautiful coin the United States has ever produced.