1933 Saint Gaudens Gold $20 Double Eagle

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle is one of the most famous and valuable coins in the world. Designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the Double Eagle features Lady Liberty striding forward on the obverse and a majestic eagle in flight on the reverse.

However, the 1933 Double Eagles never entered circulation. Most of the coins were melted down after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order in 1933 halting the redemption of gold coins, as part of the government's response to the Great Depression.

Only a few were legally released, and those that were later became the subject of legal disputes and investigations.

In 2002, a single 1933 Double Eagle was sold at auction for over $7 million, making it the most valuable gold coin ever sold at the time.

Later, in 2021, another 1933 Double Eagle was sold for nearly $19 million, setting a new world record for the highest price ever paid for a coin.

The 1933 Double Eagle is not only sought after for its rarity and historical significance but also for the controversy surrounding its ownership and the legal battles it has sparked over the years.

The saga of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle extends beyond its exquisite design and rarity, delving into a tale of intrigue, legal battles, and numismatic fascination.

Following President Roosevelt's executive order halting the redemption of gold coins in 1933, the vast majority of the 445,500 Double Eagles minted that year were ordered to be melted down.

However, a few specimens managed to escape destruction through various means, leading to a mystery surrounding their whereabouts.

In the mid-20th century, the clandestine appearance of some 1933 Double Eagles sparked legal disputes and investigations. One notable case involved the United States Secret Service tracking down and seizing ten of these coins from a British coin dealer, Stephen Fenton, in 1996.

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