A double eagle is a United States gold coin that holds a face value of $20.
- Denomination: $20 USD, [according to Great American Coin Company].
- Metal Content: Typically 90% gold and 10% copper alloy, [notes the U.S. Gold Bureau] . The 2009 Ultra-High Relief Double Eagle contained 0.9999 fine gold.
- Designs: Two main designs were minted:
– Liberty Head (Coronet) Double Eagle (1849–1907): Features Lady Liberty wearing a coronet on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse.
– Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle (1907–1933): Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and regarded as a masterpiece of US coinage, depicting Lady Liberty with a torch and olive branch on the obverse and a flying eagle on the reverse.
- Born from the Gold Rush: The Coinage Act of 1849, which established the double eagle, coincided with the California Gold Rush, [says American Mint].
- The 1933 Double Eagle: This particular year is exceptionally rare due to Executive Order 6102 issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which forbade gold hoarding and ordered the melting of most of the newly minted coins. A single 1933 double eagle sold for $18.9 million in 2021.
- The Saint-Gaudens Legacy: President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the nation’s coinage, resulting in the iconic Saint-Gaudens double eagle, [according to Monex Precious Metals].
The value of a double eagle coin can vary greatly depending on its year, condition, and rarity. Some rare examples, like the 1933 double eagle, can be worth millions of dollars. However, other double eagles can be more accessible to collectors.
Double eagles are more than just valuable gold coins; they represent a significant piece of American history and numismatic artistry.
What makes a coin a double eagle?
The eagle, half eagle, and quarter eagle were defined by name in the Act of Congress originally authorizing them. Likewise, the double eagle was created by the Coinage Act of 1849. Since the $20 gold piece had twice the value of the eagle, these coins were designated “double eagles”.
Can you own a double eagle coin?
Because the coin was never released to the public, it is illegal to privately own any of the 1933 double eagles, with the exception of the Weitzman Specimen. The United States Secret Service is said to investigate reports of the existence of other specimens that come to light.
How rare are double eagles?
From my experience, Most sports writers quote the odds to be 1,000,000/1 or 6,000,000/1. Please advice”. Looking at professional data, there are very few double eagles. According to the PGA Tour there have been 32 double eagles (so roughly 3 per year on average) in the last 10 years.