Collectors anxiously awaiting delivery of the Ultra High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece will be pleased to hear that not only are collectors starting to receive them, but one has already been slabbed in the pinnacle of condition by the Professional Coin Grading Service.

The first 2009 Ultra High Relief $20 was certified by PCGS on Feb. 13. It was graded Mint State-70.

"We were thrilled to examine the first submitted example of this eagerly anticipated modern masterpiece. It's one of the finest designs ever created for United States coinage and a testament to the excellence of the United States Mint," said Don Willis, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc.

The coin was submitted by collector Charles Camp of Savannah, Ga., who said he was thrilled with the certification: "I've always been a big admirer of PCGS, and I think it's a great thing."

In addition to the MS-70 grade, the coin was given a First-Strike® designation by PCGS and encapsulated in the company's proprietary TriVue" holder, Willis explained.

"The TriVue" holder not only provides long-term storage protection, it allows the coin's obverse, reverse and edges to be easily seen. With the PCGS certification of authenticity and grade, the value could dramatically increase over an ungraded, 'raw' coin," said Willis.

The design of the 24-karat, one-ounce Ultra High Relief gold $20 is based on the famous and popular double eagle created by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens that entered production in 1907. The new coin, though, is smaller in diameter at 27mm as compared to 34mm for the circulation coin and much thicker.

"The original 1907 double eagle is considered by many to be the most beautiful coin ever produced by the United States. Despite Saint-Gaudens' artistic masterpiece, the minting process at the time did not allow for mass production of ultra high relief coins, and his artistic vision was never fully realized," according to the Mint.

The 2009 version has a similar obverse to the 1907-dated coins with Liberty personified by a woman striding forward and a young eagle flying during sunrise on the reverse. But there are differences: four stars were added to the design to represent the states added to the Union since 1907 and the inscription, IN GOD WE TRUST, has been added along with a small border in the design. The date in Roman numerals, MMIX, is 2009.