1924-D St. Gaudens Double Eagle ($20 St. Gaudens) PCGS MS63. 1924-D $20 Saint-Gaudens, With Motto. Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle has long been proclaimed the most beautiful of all American coins. It was the intention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who hand-selected Saint-Gaudens to redesign the $20 gold piece, that our coinage should receive a face lift and be elevated to the level of artistry achieved by the ancient Greeks.

He believed that coinage was reflective of the society that produced it and wanted coins befitting our status as a major world power and leading democracy. Saint-Gaudens rendering of Lady Liberty on the obverse and a flying eagle on the reverse certainly achieved the desired result.

The 1924-D is a better date and considered to be a medium rarity within the series. The specimen offered here is simply gorgeous. Full and rich luster abounds as is characteristic for the issue. The strike is above average and is better than the majority seen for this date. The gleaming golden surfaces are greenish and orange over yellow and are absent of notable distractions. This is an extremely choice for the grade piece with PQ++ eye appeal. With the insatiable appetite for gold seen in the market, premium pieces such as this one are becoming increasingly scarce.