Numismatic

1911-D $20 St Gaudens Gold Double Eagle MS-65 PCGS

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In 1911, the Denver Mint produced this twenty-dollar gold piece, a denomination with a rich heritage stretching back to 1849. This particular series, which ran from 1907 until 1933, represents a dramatic aesthetic shift in United States coinage. The legendary sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the original artwork, which was later refined by Charles E. Barber to make it more practical for large-scale minting operations. The front of the coin presents a powerful image of Lady Liberty stepping forward, illuminated by the rays of a rising sun. In her hands, she carries a torch to light the way and an olive branch representing peace. The word LIBERTY is inscribed above her, and the year 1911 is clearly visible at the bottom. On the reverse, a majestic bald eagle is depicted soaring through the sky. The inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS. Struck from 0.900 fine gold, each of these coins contains 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal. The entire series came to an abrupt end in 1933 when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the recall of gold coins, making surviving specimens like this certified Mint State 65 piece highly compelling objects of study.