To say that double eagles are historic is an understatement. A very strong subject can be made that the United States $ 20 gold duplicate eagle has its roots in the discovery of gold in California ’ s streams back in the late 1840s .
anterior to the discovery of gold, there were no “ Doubles, ” and no talk of creating a gold coin larger than the $ 10 eagle. In fact, gold eagle production had been suspended for closely 35 years thus that the mint was loose to strike smaller denominations. even when gold coin production was resumed, the two outgrowth mints at Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dahlonega, Georgia, ( which lone made gold coins ) never struck a appellation higher than $ 5, as there was very small commercial habit for a $ 10 mint at the time.
Approval for a $ 20 double eagle and a aureate dollar came promptly, although other proposals for $ 25, $ 50 and $ 100 aureate coins never passed. The Liberty Head double eagle debuted in circulation in 1850, struck primarily from large amounts of aureate shipped from California – an area that would not have an official mint until 1854 .
The first type of double eagle was produced from 1849-1866 ( 1849 was not released for circulation ) with the denomination shown as TWENTY D. Most of these doubling eagles are found in circulate grades, as most collectors at the time could not afford a solicitation of $ 20 coins. The few Uncirculated exceptions were broadly from recovered shipwrecks like the S.S. Central America and S.S. Brother Jonathan, which preserved many of the dates they were carrying after they slipped below the waves. The majority of the other examples found today are circulated, as the Type 1 duplicate eagle tended to circulate in most areas of the state anterior to the Civil War .
The Type 2 Liberty Head double eagle appeared in 1866 with the addition of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. During the time they were produced, the Type 2 doubly eagles, like all other gold coins, did not circulate in much of the area ( California and early western areas were the major exception ). The bulk of Type 2 Coronet Head double eagles available today are lower Mint State grades, which were found in european hoards. For a sturdy date like the 1870-CC, the few examples that are known are about never seen in Mint State circumstance .
The final examination type of Liberty Head double eagle appeared in 1877 with the denomination written out as TWENTY DOLLARS. This type is promptly available today, with boastfully numbers of some dates known ( even in Mint State ) thanks to abroad holdings. When issued, many of the Type 3 double eagles, as the largest aureate coin of the United States, were about immediately shipped out of the country. Discovered after decades of sitting in extraneous bank vaults, the supply of the final type of Coronet Head double eagle is impregnable specially in lower Mint State grades, making it a perfect choice for anyone wanting a decent type mint. This is the most easily acquired of the three Liberty Head types.
The Saint-Gaudens double eagle made its debut in 1907. The inaugural design was a especial coin, and the most challenge of all the double eagle types. Produced curtly after Saint-Gaudens ’ s death in August of 1907, this high Relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle is precisely that – it features a higher stand-in than the issues that followed. The relief was actually slenderly lower than in the first attempt, which resulted in roughly 20 pieces known today as Ultra High Relief. obviously after that minor production, the die cracked, so it was clearly not possible to continue minting in this manner .
As it turned out, despite a mintage of 12,367, the senior high school Relief Saint-Gaudens bivalent eagles were not feasible either. The design took three strikes, meaning it was impossible to achieve significant mintages. however, those that were minted were released – roughly two-thirds featured a “ electrify rim, ” while the other third had a “ flat rim. ” ( The wire rim was formed when, due to pressure, metallic element was forced between the collar and the die. A collar holds the planchet in place during striking. ) Most collectors are content with either exercise, as the High Relief duplicate eagle is the closest to what Augustus Saint-Gaudens and President Theodore Roosevelt had in mind when they created the design. With the modest mintage and meaning demand, the 1907 High Relief is a coin that fetches agio prices – and collectors are glad to pay those premiums to own an exemplar of what many consider to be America ’ s most beautiful coin .
The fifth double eagle design clearly shows President Theodore Roosevelt ’ s influence. While it had a normal arabic date, as opposed to the earlier issues which had roman numeral dates, the original Saint-Gaudens plan does not have the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Based on his read of the Bible, Roosevelt felt that God should not be associated with coins. Congress would see that the motto was restored, but in 1907 and function of 1908, there was no motto. lone three coins were issued without the motto – the 1907, 1908 and 1908-D. Fortunately for those wanting a in truth decent example, there was an extraordinary hoard of about 20,000 pieces discovered some years ago. Known as the Wells Fargo Hoard, it has basically provided enough of the “ no motto ” 1908 pieces to make it possible for most collectors to own a nice example at a fair price.
The final double eagle blueprint began in 1908. This separate type once again features the motto IN GOD WE TRUST in the change by reversal invention. The type would continue until the final double eagle was produced in 1933. What many do not know is that there was besides a exchange to the type in 1912. The total of stars on the obverse was increased to 48, reflecting the addition of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union. Whether you would like to include an example of the 46 and the 48-star versions in your collection is up to you. But thanks to significant numbers found in extraneous banks, this last double eagle design is besides available, specially in lower Mint State grades .
Whether the price of gold goes up or down, the fact remains that a type set of double eagles is always impressive. rich in history and featuring some of the best designs in the history of american neologism, the double eagle is a coin virtually everyone loves. If you complete a type set of this fascinate mint, you will probably love them even more. A double eagle is a mint you will constantly feel good about owning and showing off to your friends and class .
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