1907 $20 Saint-Gaudens, High Relief SP(PCGS#908549)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3160

Grade

SP61

Price

31,200

Lot Description

This is a particularly desirable example of an issue that is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful ever produced in the United States Mint. Softly frosted surfaces are further adorned with vivid honey-orange and wheat-gold colors. Strike detail is razor sharp from the rims to the centers, the in-hand appearance pleasingly smooth for the assigned grade.<p>While there is no federal record for the production of Proof MCMVII Saint-Gaudens double eagles of the High Relief design type, numismatists have long been recognizing select examples for superior characteristics. Walter Breen proposed several diagnostics to distinguish these Proofs from circulation strikes in his <em>Encyclopedia</em> (1988). These diagnostics include:<p>1 - Sharp inner borders on both the obverse and the reverse.<p>2 - Extremely sharp strike detail that extends to all of the olive berries and pillars in the Capitol Building on the obverse.<p>3 - Crisp, distinct ends to all feathers in the eagle's tail at the right reverse border.<p>4 - Countless swirling die polish lines, or striations in the fields on both sides.<p>For many years NGC was alone among the leading third-party certification services in recognizing certain 1907 High Relief double eagles as Proofs based on Breen's criteria. More recently, however, John W. Dannreuther concluded that there are sufficient differences between coins that meet this criteria and "regular" circulation strikes of this issue. As such, PCGS now also recognizes that the former are distinct from the majority of High Relief double eagles that the Mint produced and now certifies these special strikes in their Specimen category. The example offered here is one of only 17 Specimens certified by PCGS as of this writing. A thoroughly wonderful representative of an iconic numismatic design, and an important rarity, it is sure to be a crowning jewel in an advanced collection of 20th century U.S. Mint gold coinage.