Numismatic

1908 $20 St Gaudens Gold No Motto MS-66 PCGS (Wells Fargo)

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In 1908, the United States Mint in Philadelphia produced a striking version of the twenty dollar gold piece that captivates observers to this day. This particular issue of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle is notable for what it lacks, as it does not carry the traditional religious motto, leaving the expansive fields of the coin clean and uncluttered. Containing 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold within its overall 0.900 fine composition, the coin represents a high point in American numismatic art. The obverse presents a powerful image of Lady Liberty holding a lit torch and an olive branch as she walks forward, her hair and drapery flowing in the wind. On the reverse, a majestic bald eagle is captured mid-flight, soaring across the face of the coin. The elegant lettering on this side clearly spells out the issuing nation, United States of America, alongside the face value of Twenty Dollars. This masterpiece of design was envisioned by the celebrated artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens and struck by the Philadelphia mint during a production run that spanned from 1907 to 1933.