Sale 46: The Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Collection

Lot 1369

1907 $20 St. Gaudens, High Relief, Roman Numerals, Wire Rim. PCGS graded MS-63+. Executing the design for what would later be termed "the most beautiful coin ever struck for circulation" was among the final activities of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Sadly, the great artist and sculptor died before any of the double eagle coins of his magnificent conception were ever released to the public. This was the culmination of a two-year project initiated in 1905, when Saint-Gaudens and President Theodore Roosevelt discussed the artistic impoverishment of American designs, and instituted a plan to upgrade the appearance of our national coinage. Ultimately, the two men hoped to produce coinage with sufficient aesthetic merit to compete, artistically, with the beautiful high relief pieces of ancient Greece.

The High Relief coins represented a transitional step between the Ultra High Relief design and the Arabic Numerals version, which featured a further-lowered design relief that became the standard for the series after 1907. Mintage 12,367 (All Types).
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

Realized: $29,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1370

1907 $20 St. Gaudens. Flat Relief, Arabic Numerals. Choice Uncirculated. Mintage 361,667.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,700

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1371

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Choice Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1372

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Choice Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,700

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1373

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1374

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,600

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1375

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,600

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1376

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1377

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. Uncirculated. A couple tiny nick on reverse. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1378

1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No Motto. About Uncirculated. Mintage 4,271,551.
Estimate $1,250 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,600

email this lot to a friend