Numismatic

1908 $20 St Gaudens Gold No Motto MS-66+ NGC

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In 1908, the Philadelphia Mint produced a stunning twenty-dollar gold coin that remains a high point of American numismatic artistry. This particular issue contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, struck during an era when precious metal coinage circulated as a standard medium of exchange. Because these pieces were minted in Philadelphia, they carry no mint mark, leaving the fields of the design clean and uninterrupted. The obverse of the coin presents a powerful depiction of Lady Liberty, standing tall as a symbol of freedom. On the reverse, a magnificent bald eagle is captured mid-flight, soaring across the face of the coin. The reverse also bears the essential inscriptions denoting the issuing authority as the United States of America, along with the face value of Twenty Dollars. Notably, this early 1908 version lacks the religious motto that would appear on later issues of the series. Even the edge of this gold piece received meticulous artistic attention. Rather than simple reeding, the border features the raised Latin phrase meaning "Out of Many, One," with stars separating the words. This distinctive edge lettering adds a three-dimensional depth to a coin that is already celebrated for its sculptural beauty.