$20 St. Gaudens No Motto MS62 (Dates/Types Vary)

Introduction

The $20 Saint-Gaudens No Motto Gold Double Eagle MS62 (Dates/Types Vary) offers collectors an opportunity to own the earliest version of one of the most celebrated designs in American coinage. Certified Mint State 62, each coin contains approximately .9675 troy ounces of pure gold and features Augustus Saint-Gaudens' iconic design without the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. With dates and specific varieties varying according to availability, these coins combine substantial gold content with a distinctive early chapter in the history of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle.

History

The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle debuted in 1907 during President Theodore Roosevelt's campaign to elevate the artistic quality of American coinage. Roosevelt commissioned renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the nation's $20 gold coin, resulting in a dramatic departure from the more traditional Liberty Head Double Eagle it replaced and a design now regarded as one of the great achievements of American coinage.

The first Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles were issued without IN GOD WE TRUST, reflecting Roosevelt's belief that the name of God should not appear on circulating money. Congressional opposition led to legislation requiring the motto's restoration, and it was added to the reverse during 1908. The No Motto type was therefore produced for only a brief period spanning 1907 and part of 1908. Dates and applicable varieties vary according to availability.

Design

The obverse features Liberty striding forward while holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, symbols of enlightenment and peace. Rays of the rising sun extend behind her, with the United States Capitol visible in the background. Forty-six stars representing the states then in the Union surround the design, while the date appears at lower right.

The reverse depicts a bald eagle soaring above the rays of the rising sun, creating a powerful image of strength and freedom. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS appear above the eagle. Unlike later Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, these early issues omit IN GOD WE TRUST, providing the defining distinction of the short-lived No Motto type.