Numismatic

2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle MS-70 PL PCGS

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In 2009, the United States Mint realized a dramatic vision of coinage design with the release of the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle. This exceptional gold piece measures four millimeters in thickness, allowing the metal to rise into a deep, sculptural dimension that traditional modern coins rarely achieve. Struck at the West Point Minting facility, the coin contains exactly one troy ounce of 99.99 percent pure gold, serving as a showcase for both technical minting capability and artistic expression. The front of the coin presents a powerful depiction of Lady Liberty walking forward, illuminated by radiating beams of sunlight. In her hands, she carries a lit torch and a peaceful branch from an olive tree. The reverse side captures a majestic bald eagle soaring through the sky, surrounded by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS, along with the traditional motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The year is marked on the coin in Roman numerals as MMIX. This magnificent design was born from a historic creative partnership between President Theodore Roosevelt and the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Their shared goal was to elevate the aesthetic quality of American currency to match the beauty of ancient classical coinage, a feat beautifully realized in this modern ultra high relief issue.