How to Identify the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
A guide to identifying the Saint-Gaudens $20 gold Double Eagle (1907-1933) by its striding Liberty design, flying eagle reverse, edge lettering, and mint marks.
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What It Is
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is a $20 gold coin struck by the U.S. Mint from 1907 to 1933, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt, and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs ever produced. Roosevelt hoped the new design would rival the high-relief coinage of ancient Greece, and the earliest 1907 strikes reflect that ambition before practical production concerns led the Mint to lower the relief for regular circulation issues.
Obverse (Front)
The obverse shows a full-length figure of Liberty striding forward, holding a torch aloft in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the Capitol building to the lower left and sunrays radiating around her. "LIBERTY" arcs across the top, and the date is at the bottom.
Reverse (Back)
The reverse depicts a bald eagle in flight above a rising sun, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TWENTY DOLLARS" arranged around the design. "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added starting mid-1908 and is absent on the earliest 1907-1908 issues.
Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge
The coin measures 34 mm in diameter, weighs 33.436 grams, and is struck in 90% gold and 10% copper. Uniquely among U.S. coins, the edge carries lettering: "E PLURIBUS UNUM" with stars separating the words, rather than a plain reeded edge.
Mint Marks
The mint mark appears on the obverse, above the date and below the Roman numeral or Arabic date, near the sunrays. No letter indicates Philadelphia; "D" is Denver and "S" is San Francisco.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
Very early 1907 issues used Roman numerals (MCMVII) for the date in high-relief and ultra-high-relief versions with a distinctly deeper, sculptural strike, while most coins use the standard Arabic numeral date in normal relief. Compared to the earlier Liberty Head Double Eagle (1849-1907), the Saint-Gaudens design is immediately distinguishable by its full-figure striding Liberty rather than a head-only portrait.
Grading at a Glance
Check the roundness and separation of the drapery folds on Liberty's gown, the detail in her hair, and the sharpness of the eagle's wing and tail feathers. Wear first appears on Liberty's breast, knee, and the high point of her extended leg, as well as the eagle's breast on the reverse.
Authenticity Red Flags
This series, especially the 1933 date, is a frequent target for date alteration and counterfeiting given its high gold value. Look for tooling marks or an unusual texture around the date, incorrect edge lettering or spacing, a strike that looks too soft or mushy compared to the sharp relief typical of genuine coins, and any deviation from the correct weight or diameter. Because the edge carries lettering rather than plain reeding, a coin with a smooth or reeded edge instead of raised letters and stars is an immediate sign that something is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the mint mark on a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle?
On the obverse, just above the date near the sunrays; no mark means Philadelphia, 'D' is Denver, and 'S' is San Francisco.
What's unusual about the edge of this coin?
Unlike most U.S. coins, it has lettering on the edge reading 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' separated by stars, rather than plain reeding.
How do I know if a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle has 'IN GOD WE TRUST'?
It was added to the reverse starting partway through 1908; the earliest 1907 and early-1908 coins were struck without it.
Why is this coin often connected to the 1933 date controversy?
The 1933-dated Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was never officially released and is extremely rare, making the date a common target for alteration from more common years.
Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle identified by the community
Recent Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coins identified with Coin Identifier.
