How to Identify the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle

Start with relief and thickness, the single most telling diagnostic. A true ultra high relief coin is dramatically sculptural: Liberty and the eagle rise far above the field and the coin feels notably thick with a heavy edge compared to a standard double eagle. If the design looks flat or shallow, you are looking at a regular-relief piece, not the ultra high relief version.

Check the obverse for a full-length Liberty striding forward, torch raised in one hand and olive branch in the other, with rays behind her, a small Capitol at lower left, and stars around the border. The reverse should show an eagle flying left above the sun and its rays. On the earliest 1907 pieces the date is rendered in Roman numerals as MCMVII; a coin dated in ordinary Arabic numerals is a later relief type.

Confirm the physical specs: this is a $20 denomination, roughly 34 mm across, struck in 90% gold at close to an ounce of gold weight. As a special pattern the 1907 original carries no mint mark, so an added mint letter is a red flag. A lettered edge with stars is normal for the design.

Be alert to look-alikes. The U.S. Mint's official 2009 reissue uses the same design but is dated MMIX, struck in modern .9999 gold, and is common; it is not a 1907 rarity. Ordinary 1907-1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagles share the imagery in shallower relief. Given the enormous value gap, never accept a claimed original on appearance alone.

Because genuine 1907 ultra high relief coins are worth extraordinary sums, authentication by a recognized grading service is essential. Weight, dimensions, edge, and die characteristics all matter, and counterfeits and altered pieces exist, so treat any un-certified example with caution and seek professional verification before buying or valuing one.