Get The Facts About Double Eagle Gold Coins At Gold-Eagle.org

December 1, 2009 – Double Eagle gold coins were first minted in 1849 by the US Mint. These $20 gold coins were our government’s way of commemorating the California gold rush. Before the $20 Lady Liberty gold coins were minted in 1849, the US Mint had never manufactured a coin with a face value over $10.

$10 gold coins produced by the US Mint between 1838-1907 were called Eagles, so the “double” in “Double Eagle” originates with the fact that the $20 coins were double the legal tender value of any existing American coin. The $20 Lady Liberty Double Eagle was a continuation of the Lady Liberty series, but the US Mint produced another $20 gold coin that did not have $10, $5, and $2.5 counterparts.

President Theodore Roosevelt mandated that a new Double eagle coin be designed in 1907, and he chose famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to fulfill his wish. The resulting Double Eagle gold coins, which were minted from 1908-1933, are now referred to as Saint Gaudens Double Eagles. Roosevelt decreed that Saint-Gaudens’ creation was the most breath-taking coin that he had ever seen, and Roosevelt immediately declared that Saint Gaudens gold coins were classic coins not meant to be circulated.

The Double Eagle market underwent some drastic changes in 1933, when Roosevelt’s cousin Franklin confiscated and melted down millions of American gold coins that were owned by US citizens. The remaining rarities have been examined and graded by either the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

These numismatic organizations have certified some gold Double Eagles as being in “Uncirculated Mint State” condition. The unique history of Double Eagle coins, as well as the numismatic value and inherent privacy of Mint State versions, have caused these coins to become highly sought by coin collectors and long-term gold investors alike.

PCGS and NGC have protected these historic rarities by placing them within a sonically sealed, tamper-evident holder, and each coin has been assigned a specific grade and individual serial number. If you are ready to add to your current holdings or if you are just getting started in the gold market, call us directly or contact us electronically for free, customized information on this exciting and rapidly-moving market. 

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Joshua Harris

Senior Staff Writer - Gold-Eagle.org