Saint-Gaudens
Double Eagles - A Four Coin Type Set
The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of 1907 High
Relief, Flat Rim - 1907 High Relief, Wire Rim - 1907 Saint
Gaudens - 1909 Saint Gaudens
Artist, sculptor, designer
Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed a new double eagle in 1907
at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. The first,
the Ultra High Reliefs, are patterns that are beyond most
collectors’ means. The first modification was to lower
the relief from Ultra High to High Relief. These coins are
found with Roman numerals for the date, no motto, and Wire
or Flat Rims. Considered by many America’s most beautiful
coin, 12,367 Wire and Flat Rims were minted. Later in 1907
the relief was lowered. The next year the motto IN GOD WE
TRUST was added to the reverse. A tribute to the design’s
appeal is the modern gold American Eagle bullion program,
which uses a modified version of Saint-Gaudens’ work.
A type set includes two
High Relief coins, a Wire and a Flat Rim; a Low Relief,
No Motto coin, and a Low Relief, With Motto piece. The Wire
Rim, also called the Wire Edge, is a rim or flange around
half or more of one or both sides of the coin. It was made
when metal was squeezed between the collar and the die.
Most researchers believe that the flange was made unintentionally
since it caused problems in ejecting the coins as they were
struck.
1907
High Relief, Flat Rim - Flat Rim,
NGC MS63 CAC. Of the two High Relief varieties, the
Flat Rim coins are at least four to five times scarcer
than their Wire Rim counterparts. This lovely coin
is an even yellow-gold color on both the obverse and
reverse. The coin is lustrous, especially on Liberty’s
outstretched leg and drapery and on the rays of the
sun.
On the reverse, we see luster on some
of the feathers and between the sun’s rays behind
the eagle’s beak. The coin is free of contact
marks usually associated with the grade. In fact while
grading MS 63 and confirmed by CAC, this coin could
easily reside in a holder a point or two higher. The
strike is full in that we see every detail on the
obverse, including the drapery lines on Liberty’s
knee. On the reverse, we see every line in every feather
of the eagle. A full strike is unusual for this issue,
which is most often seen with weakness on some details
of the hair, drapery, face, oak leaves, sunburst,
or tail feathers.
Later in 1907, after the death of
Saint-Gaudens, Chief Engraver Charles Barber’s
views prevailed. Barber was allowed to lower the relief
of the double eagle and change the date from Roman
numerals to Arabic numbers. In essence the coin changed
from what is recognized as a work of art to a coin
that would meet the requirements of mass-produced
commercial coinage.
1907
High Relief, Wire Rim - This near
gem, High Relief, Saint-Gaudens double eagle shows
muted mint luster on Liberty’s upper body, arm,
and knee making it look as if she has just stepped
into the sun light. Similarly, the eagle seems to
be lit from below with luster. A few wispy marks on
the reverse keep this coin from a gem grade. The strike
is above average with some obverse central weakness
and reverse weakness on the sun’s rays.
The Flat Rim is actually a correction
of the Wire Rim “error.” When Wire Rim
coins got stuck in the ejection process, Mint officials
realized that the pressure had to be adjusted so the
flange was eliminated. The result is the Flat Rim
High Relief coin.
1907 Saint
Gaudens - This choice mint state 1907
Saint-Gaudens double eagle shows a considerable amount
of mint luster within its devices. A few wispy marks
on the obverse and a small scratch on the reverse at
the sun’s rays keep this coin from a gem grade.
The strike is above average on the obverse with slight
central weakness and weakness on the sun’s rays
on the reverse.
The next year, mintage
of the low relief double eagles continued. However,
pressure mounted to have the motto IN GOD WE TRUST returned
to the double eagle. So in 1908, 156,258 With Motto
double eagles were struck in Philadelphia, and more
than double that number were struck in Denver and San
Francisco. (Note: the 22,000 struck in San Francisco
is the lowest regular mintage of the series.)
1909
Saint Gaudens - This near-Gem, eye-appealing
1909 double eagle has subtle, satiny mint luster and
is well struck. We see full details on Liberty’s
drapery, the Capitol building, and the eagle’s
feathers, especially the tops of the wings. The surfaces
are original and show light abrasion marks in keeping
with the grade. Were it not for these the coin would
surely have graded Gem or better.
