1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

Historical Notes

Key date with strong collector appeal and moderate rarity.

The United States Mint began striking the $20 Double Eagle in 1849 following the discovery of gold in California. Congress authorized the coin to handle the massive influx of gold bullion into the economy. James B. Longacre designed the initial Liberty Head type, which features a portrait of Liberty on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. This design remained the standard for the series for over 50 years. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the gold coinage. The resulting Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle depicts a full-length figure of Liberty holding a torch and an olive branch. The series ended in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, which effectively recalled gold coins from circulation and halted production for public use.

Focus your collection on the Saint-Gaudens type if you want the most iconic design, or the Liberty Head type for a more traditional look. Common dates like 1924, 1927, and 1928 are excellent starting points because they are readily available in high grades. Check your coins for signs of cleaning or artificial smoothing, as these actions destroy numismatic value. Always buy certified coins from reputable grading services like PCGS or NGC to avoid the many high-quality counterfeits that plague this series.

This series includes key dates — check individual coin pages for rarity details.