1916-S $20 Saint Gaudens NGC MS65 CAC
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Introduction
The 1916-S $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC MS65 CAC is a Gem Mint State example of one of America's most celebrated gold coin designs. Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 90% gold, the coin contains nearly one troy ounce of pure gold. Its MS65 grade reflects a high level of preservation, while CAC approval recognizes its quality and eye appeal within the assigned grade.
History
Designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle debuted in 1907 as part of President Theodore Roosevelt's effort to elevate the artistic quality of American coinage. The $20 gold piece remained in production through 1933 and is widely recognized for its bold interpretation of Liberty and dramatic flying eagle reverse.
The San Francisco Mint struck 796,000 Double Eagles in 1916. It was the only U.S. Mint facility to produce the denomination that year, and the 1916-S became the final Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle issued before production paused for three years. The denomination returned in 1920.
The availability of the 1916-S changed significantly after a hoard of more than 4,000 Mint State examples was discovered in El Salvador in 1983. Many coins from this group survived in high grades, making the issue an important example of how overseas gold holdings helped preserve classic U.S. Double Eagles that might otherwise have been lost to melting.
Design
The obverse features Augustus Saint-Gaudens' full-length figure of Liberty advancing forward while holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. Rays of the rising sun appear behind her, with the U.S. Capitol visible in the background. The inscription LIBERTY appears above, while the date 1916 is positioned at lower right.
The reverse depicts an eagle in flight above the rays of a rising sun. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS appear above the eagle, while the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears within the sun's rays. The S mintmark identifies the coin as a product of the San Francisco Mint.
| Year | 1916 |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Grade | MS65 |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Weight | 0.9675 |
| Fineness | .900 |
| Diameter | 34mm |
A LITTLE STICKER MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Within each number of the coin grading scale is a small range of condition from low-end to high-end. Certified coins of the same grade can be of varying quality. Many of today’s collectors want coins that are solid or premium quality for their assigned grade. CAC holds coins to a higher standard so you can be confident in the value of yours. We verify previously graded coins … and award our sticker only to those coins that meet the standard for today’s selective buyer.
WHAT THE CAC STICKER MEANS:
- Verified. Your coin has been verified as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade.
- Guaranteed. CAC stands behind our verification.
THE CAC STICKER IS BACKED BY EXPERIENCE.
CAC was founded by leading members of the numismatic community, including John Albanese, a respected authority on coin grading and the rare coin market.
Comparison Chart
