NNP Encyclopedia data is provided in cooperation with Whitman Brands, based on catalog data organized by the Greysheet Identification System (GSID).
Entry Details
PCGS Number: 9140 Coin Date: Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle Denomination (Short): $20 Denomination (Long): $20 Gold Variety: No Motto Variety 2: 1907-1908 Desg: MS Composition: 90% gold; 10% copper Strike Type: Business Coinage Type: Twenty Dollar Gold Double Eagle Coinage Years: 1907-1908 Mint Location: Philadelphia Diameter: 34 Fineness: 0.9 Weight (Grams): 33.436 Weight (Ounces): 1.075 Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens Edge: Reeded Obverse Description: Liberty is portrayed standing on a rock, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The word LIBERTY appears on the top periphery surrounded by stars. The date is stamped on the right side of the coin, just above the rock. Reverse Description: A crescent sun appears at the bottom as if rising on the horizon with long rays extending to the top of the coin. A flying eagle covers the central portion, atop the rays. The words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA, TWENTY DOLLARS appear on the top periphery. General Notes: The 1907 and 1908 No Motto $20 Saint-Gaudens' double eagles appear much like the first 1907 Saint-Gaudens' double eagles in overall design but feature -- much flatter strike than the original Saint-Gaudens' $20s struck earlier in 1907. The reason == Saint-Gaudens' preferred -- very high-relief design, which numismatists and art critics alike agree made for one of the most beautiful coins ever produced.
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However, the high-relief design was impractical to mass produce, requiring multiple high-pressure strikes and proving quite time consuming to strike and difficult on the longevity of the dies. Therefore, Charles Barber made some modifications to flatten the high-relief design.
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The 1907 and 1908 No motto Saints lack the detail of the high-relief Saints. This is due to how the dies were made and is not caused by poor strike. The contrary is true, as most 1907 and 1908 No motto Saints are very well struck. In general, the 1907 No motto Saints enjoy more popularity as -- first-year type coin and are relatively common. The 1908 No motto Saints are even more common than the 1907 No Motto $20s. PCGS #: 9140
