Your independent source for Harvard news since 1898 and a view of Mount Ascutney | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE SAINT-GAUDENS HISTORICAL NATIONAL PARK/NPS “The park is important because art and culture are transformative [forces].” Farragut’s remarkable naval career spanned 60 years (starting as a midshipman at age nine) but he’s best known today for winning decisive battles in the American Civil War When Saint-Gaudens’s monument was unveiled in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park in 1881 deep rendering of realistic detail and emotionality He brought an imaginative liveliness to his sculptures capturing figures in motion: Farragut stands strong The commissions flowed from there. In 1885, when the couple began spending summers at the Cornish property, Saint-Gaudens was already well known and began working on his Abraham Lincoln: The Man, which was revealed in Chicago’s Lincoln Park two years later The 12-foot bronze statue depicts a contemplative Lincoln getting up from a ceremonial chair It stands on a pedestal within an exedra designed by renowned architect Stanford White Saint-Gaudens greatly admired Lincoln and had seen him during his inauguration and viewed his body lying in state; the statue captures a stateliness but also a powerful human sensibility his hand almost tenderly holding his jacket lapel Saint-Gaudens first rented the Cornish home as a summer residence from his friend and lawyer Charles C Beaman drew the artist north as part of his plan to form what became the Cornish Art Colony the community counted more than a hundred artists including Maxfield Parrish and Isadora Duncan many of whom had bought property from Beaman Saint-Gaudens himself purchased the property and house which had become a hub of the colony’s social life and creativity (Augusta later formed the Saint-Gaudens Memorial which in 1965 donated the property to the National Park Service.) visitors touring the 1817 Federal-style brick house named Aspet for the French birthplace of Saint-Gaudens’s father and personal effects just as they were when the family was present Packed with evidence of their aesthetic taste and worldliness and works by friends—all mixed in with hand-me-down furniture (from Augusta’s upper-class family) and classical elements the couple added Views from the porch sweep across the lawn and surrounding countryside “Individuals and friends rallied together” over time to support buying land around the site and throughout the area to save it from development “We are grateful for the families that helped preserve the beautiful land because it could have been very different.” Saint-Gaudens was involved in all the planning and development of the landscaping Perennials bloom throughout the season—peonies in June delphiniums in July—framed by pine and hemlock hedges A walkway through the garden and under the columned pergola leads to Saint-Gaudens’s studio: one huge open room with high ceilings and windows facing north amid smaller sculptures and studies and casts of the Parthenon frieze an 1892 version of Saint-Gaudens’s Diana will be returned to the space after being part of a recent traveling exhibit iconic statue of the nude goddess poised to release an arrow was commissioned by Stanford White as a weathervane; it topped the tower of New York’s Madison Square Garden from 1892 to 1925 (The goddess’s head was based on that of the sculptor’s longtime model and lover Davida Johnson Clark In all, the park highlights more than 120 works, about 75 by Saint-Gaudens that include recastings of four major sculptures. Closest to the studio is the Adams Memorial, a bronze funerary sculpture commissioned by historian Henry Adams for his wife the Shaw 54th Memorial anchors what was once a bowling green while the Farragut and Lincoln monuments are part of a complex of newer outbuildings connected by a Roman-style atrium with reflecting pool—another lovely spot to take a break The buildings’ galleries feature some of Saint-Gaudens’s earliest works: miniature relief sculptures known as cameos He apprenticed as a cameo-cutter for six years delicate art and later making use of it to craft details in his massive monuments President Theodore Roosevelt asked him to redesign a $20 gold “double-eagle” coin he paid homage to classical Greek and Roman culture creating a heroic figure of Liberty backed by bold sun rays reflecting a belief in what the nation stood for rendered in an abiding blend of realism and idealism In his February 1992 ad in The Numismatist coin dealer Jay Parrino advertised the finest known example then graded PCGS MS66 #6431397 (certification number no longer active) probably the former Museum of Connecticut History specimen Only 14 coins from this issue had been traced at the time of the Heritage Auctions’ April 22 Part IX sale of the Bob Simpson Collection The most recent example to appear at auction, The Fox-Duckor specimen in PCGS MS65+ CAC was purchased by GreatCollections for $3.84 million and joins an historic collection that also contains the famous 1933 Double Eagle In addition, four Gem Mint State examples of the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle are impounded in museum collections. The National Numismatic Collection has three examples. One was likely acquired directly from the Denver Mint, while the other two were acquired from the Josiah K. Lilly Collection in 1968 The fourth example is held in the Museum of Connecticut History and is pedigreed to the Donald E The obverse features a full-length image of Liberty facing forward with an olive branch in her left hand and a raised torch in her right hand. Draped in a long, flowing gown (a chiton) but she appears instead to be in a pose; the foot of her left leg rests on a large rock (in front of which are oak leaves) difficult terrain through which to be walking the sun is visible behind a depiction of the U.S Capitol building at the bottom of the coin Rays from the sun extend upward from behind the Capitol and Liberty to about the level of Liberty’s waist At the top of the coin is the word LIBERTY Forty-six tiny six-pointed stars (48 stars from 1912 forward) are arrayed inside the flat rim forming a circle broken only at the bottom The D mintmark of the Denver Mint is positioned above the date The crest of the sun appears again on the reverse, at the bottom, with rays extending upward nearly to the top of the coin behind a majestic left-facing eagle, wings uplifted in flight. In an arc above the sun is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST the words separated by centered triangular dots At the top is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in a concentric arc next to the flat rim with the denomination TWENTY DOLLARS just below in another arc Centered triangular dots separate the words of both phrases and the text is also in front of the sun’s rays E PLURIBUS UNUM in raised letters and website in this browser for the next time I comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 2025 © CoinWeek DISCLAIMER: All content within CoinWeek.com is presented for informational purposes only Commentary and Opinions are contributed by the author(s) who are solely responsible for the content CoinWeek does not buy or sell coins or numismatic material and No endorsement or affiliation to or from CoinWeek.com is made CORNISH — The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is in the beginning stages of a plan to improve pedestrian crossings on Route 12A in the area of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park and Blow Me Down Farm DOT officials will hold the first public meeting to review the project area and the study’s goals and seek input from the public on Tuesday in the Cornish town hall on Townhouse Road “The initial intent of this Study is to review alternatives to address safety of all users along NH 12A in the area of the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park,” Leah Savage which originated from a request from park officials will review how visitors access the park’s attractions on both sides of Route 12A The area under consideration for a potential pedestrian crossing is north of the access road to the park and adjacent to the southern edge of the 42-acre Blow Me Down Farm where the Blow Me Down Brook crosses beneath the road While the park’s access road is not directly across from the area under consideration for improvements which is connected to two other trails originating in the park The National Park Service has owned the farm since 2010 and leases it to Opera North The farm is open to the public for guided tours and special events Opera North has scheduled three theater performances at the site this summer Entrance to the farm on Beaman Road is north of the study area there is very little pedestrian traffic crossing the road between the historic site and the farm because the farm is only open for special events But if they are able to open the farm more regularly they want to be able to ensure visitors’ safety "That section of Route 12A that runs through the park is high speed and a lot of it is on a curve with poor sight lines,” Kendall said “So finding ways to get visitors safely across the road was the impetus for reaching out to the DOT." Kendall does not expect any construction to begin for a few years DOT wants public input to ensure the recommendations align with “transportation needs and community goals and protect and enhance the environment,” according to a news release from the department Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish will temporarily close a section of the park bordering Route 12A and Saint Gaudens Road to protect sensitive plant species The floodplain forest between the Connecticut River and Route 12A north of the Blow-Me-Down Brook and the forested areas on either side of Saint Gaudens Road at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park will be closed to all entry through May 31 “The National Park Service is mandated to protect national parks and conserve natural systems to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations,” said superintendent Rick Kendall “These closures help to protect sensitive plant species and alert visitors that collecting fiddleheads and other plant species is not permitted on park lands.” ramps and other plant materials that are not fruits or berries is prohibited within park boundaries Fiddleheads and other spring ephemerals are sensitive plant species that typically emerge during the months of April and May these plants are an important resource for wildlife when other food resources and ground cover are scarce as well as critical to soil stabilization in riparian areas To learn more about Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, natural resource stewardship, and park programs and events, go to www.nps.gov/saga Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go bestsellers best books Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Print Puritans the religious fanatics of the 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony were part of a political movement that flopped.Centuries later the Trump administration is institutionalizing Christian nationalism with echoes of Puritanism.For clues about how this push may play out look to “The Puritan” — the famous bronze statue by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens — and the ninth great-grandfather of The Times’ art critic The tyrannical doctrine of Christian nationalism which falsely claims that the United States is a country founded by and for Christians comes and goes — a recessive trait in the body politic that has reared its ugly head throughout American history the scourge is on the dangerous brink of being fully institutionalized in Washington which looks back to a fiasco from 375 years ago The great American Beaux-Arts sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned in the 1880s to create a memorial statue to Deacon Samuel Chapin a pious mover and shaker (not that kind of Shaker) in the original Massachusetts Bay Colony Chapin was my ninth great-grandfather — a colonial transplant the artist hired a professional model to pose for the commemorative statue Saint-Gaudens’ square-jawed fellow is dressed as the sartorial epitome of colonial sobriety chunky strapped shoes and a tall felt hat with a buckle in the hatband a likely nod to a biblical shepherd’s staff it also has a practical function: The cane helps support and stabilize one side of the weighty bronze Chapin is enveloped by the voluminous folds of a massive cloak He looks like some intrepid 17th century Batman standing in front of the Plaza Hotel at an entrance to New York’s Central Park This scaled-down version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ hugely popular “The Puritan” is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Museum Associates / LACMA) But it was “The Puritan” that caught the popular imagination like no other embedding the icon in the national consciousness Saint-Gaudens began pumping out scaled-down versions each about 2½ feet tall and in a choice of different bronze patinas — black Puritans were religious fanatics — the Christian nationalists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Most know they came by the boatload from England in the early 1600s Few know why they disappeared less than a century later Puritans said religion and government don’t mix based on the repression their combative sect experienced in Europe It’s hard to back off when you’ve decided you’re speaking for God.) Not until the whole thing collapsed a hundred years on did space open for a fledgling radical experiment in democratic government Chapin — with lawyer and future colonial governor John Winthrop savvy business entrepreneur William Pynchon and other British-born Puritans — left England in the 1620s as part of the Great Migration a small band traveled deep into the Connecticut River Valley and established rural towns through a covenant with the Pocumtuck Indians which Pynchon wrote was not the true source of sinners’ redemption — the larger example of the prophet’s life was The book was banned in Boston — a phrase for suppressive moral outrage that survives to this day Noting condemnation by the colony’s leading government officials the judges ruled that all the books should be torched on Boston Common for everyone to see Just four copies of the reviled heresy survived the flames Weaponizing religion, the Puritan government unleashed social chaos. The book-burning spectacle caused a split between Pynchon, who fled back to England For the 250th anniversary of Springfield’s founding Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to create a monument — not to Pynchon but to Chapin Advocates of Christian nationalism now permeate Trump’s government. Pete Hegseth, the Cabinet secretary with control of the U.S. military, has a big tattoo across his right bicep in a Gothic font spelling Deus Vult — the Latin term for “God wills it” — a holy-war motto of Europe’s 11th century Christian Crusades On his chest he tattooed the Crusader’s cross born as a heraldic symbol of the recaptured Kingdom of Jerusalem Trump’s rambling, often incoherent remarks at the recent National Prayer Breakfast a supposedly interfaith annual event in Washington boasted his administration’s Christian nationalist commitments Followers of that corrosive doctrine had been instrumental in organizing the violent 2021 attack on the United States Capitol to keep him in power now given the reins of the powerful Office of Management and Budget Art from ancient Thrace is often flashy and brusque The archaic society was known for the prowess of its soldiers and its brawny militarism In a recently released hidden-camera video can we get people that actually believe in Christianity?” In an emailed response to a reporter’s subsequent request for clarification really were persecuted by the Roman Empire beginning in the 1st century adults and 87% of Congress identify as Christian the absurd persecution claim is just culture-war shtick The America First Policy Institute has partnered with Lance Wallnau, a venomous Christian nationalist evangelical leader who publicly accused Vice President Kamala Harris of using witchcraft to win the 2024 presidential debate Forty years after William Pynchon’s books were burned in Boston with the state murdering 14 women and five men and tormenting nearly 200 others for demonic sorcery The death knell was the wretched failure of Christian nationalism as a governing style A green patina marks Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ scaled-down sculpture “The Puritan” at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (Metropolitan Museum of Art) Government submitting to the coercion of weaponized religion in the colony was as disastrous as faith submitting to government coercion in England Puritanism shattered into multiple feuding sects and collapsed and 18th century Enlightenment values of cosmopolitan secular government were ushered in Secularism permeates the nation’s liberal founding documents — the Declaration of Independence Constitution and Bill of Rights — even as the history of Saint-Gaudens’ statue of my pious ancestor demonstrates the idealistic tenacity of religious faith Unlike the Christian faithful, Christian fanatics have been a recurrent danger throughout American history They have driven the modern culture wars that have roiled the nation at least since 1979 when televangelist Jerry Falwell organized fundamentalists into a political movement to protect Jim Crow segregation in schools the politics behind those White House appointments get reactionary: To retain power the small Christian nationalist MAGA sect must be served Pew also found that a slim majority of U.S adults say they have heard or read “nothing at all” about fanatical Christian nationalism As the Trump administration gets into high gear “banned in Mar-a-Lago” may well become the new standard for authoritarian moral outrage World & Nation Entertainment & Arts Hollywood Inc. Television Music Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map Park ranger Kerstin Burlingame speaks on the life of Augustus Saint-Gaudens whose home and gardens were transformed into a national historic site and national park Park Ranger Kerstin Burlingame speaks on the life of Augustus Saint-Gaudens there is a state park dedicated to the home and studio of the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens an artist whose monuments still decorate Boston Common Chicago’s Grant Park and New York’s Central Park During Friday’s Amos Fortune Forum in Jaffrey park ranger Kerstin Burlingame of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park spoke about Saint-Gaudens’ life and legacy in a talk titled “America’s Preeminent Sculptor You’ve Never Heard Of: Augustus Saint-Gaudens.” While many in the crowd had heard of Saint-Gaudens Burlingame said his name is not as known as other famous artists of their time despite being commissioned to immortalize some of the most-famous heroes of the Civil War and creating the 1907 $10 and $20 gold coins Saint-Gaudens’ art was “far-reaching,” and “helped set the tone for art renaissance” in the states who moved to Boston and then New York to escape the Irish Potato Famine Saint-Gaundens was already an accomplished artist by the time he hit his teenage years After completing the eighth grade – at that time completing his compulsory education – his father arranged apprenticeships with cameo carvers Saint-Gaudens was given $100 from his father and $100 from one of his cameo-carver masters to pursue further art study in Paris Saint-Gaudens did not want to marry Augusta until he could prove he could provide for her he sought his first real public commission – a full-size sculpture that would grace a public site He entered a competition to sculpt a monument to David Glasgow Farragut an admiral in the Union Navy during the Civil War One of Saint-Gaudens’ lasting legacies is his work designing U.S one of which remains the most-expensive collector coin ever sold with his $20 piece considered by collectors one of the most-beautiful coins ever issued Saint-Gaudens and his wife began summering in Cornish in 1885 and moved there permanently after a cancer diagnosis in 1900 The house and grounds acted as an art colony house and gardens were preserved as the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site there was no more need for Saint-Gaudens to compete for commissions – people came to him Other famous sculptures by Saint-Gaudens include “Abraham Lincoln: The Man,” known as “The Standing Lincoln,” and a relief of Robert Gould Shaw and members of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry the second African-American regiment formed in the Northern states to fight in the Civil War The final speaker in the Amos Fortune Forum is former New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, on the topic “Will the 60th U.S. Presidential Election be the Last?” His presentation will be at 8 p.m. at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse. Lectures are taped and available on the Amos Fortune Forum YouTube channel Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 This example is graded PCGS MS65+ and is pedigreed to the Duckor Collection A rare $20 gold coin issued by the Denver Mint in 1927 was acquired by GreatCollections for $3.84 million after spirited bidding on January 16th The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of only a few in private hands. It was graded MS-65+ by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and approved by Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) the two leading third-party grading services for rare coins "We are thrilled to have won this Grail of American numismatics essential for completing a collection of the Saint-Gaudens series It might be many years before another appears on the market so it worked out perfectly," said Ian Russell Only about a dozen 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles are known today, out of an original mintage of 180,000. Four are in permanent museum collections, including three examples in the Smithsonian and another in the Museum of Connecticut History The balance of the original mintage was likely melted following President Franklin D Roosevelt's 1933 executive order banning private gold ownership The coin has a pedigree dating back to the 1940s before being acquired by Orange County resident and respected numismatist Dr the rare coin market has increased significantly The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the most iconic and celebrated coins in American numismatic history It was commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt as part of his effort to beautify U.S The design is considered a masterpiece and still routinely ranks worldwide as one of the most iconic coin designs ever and assembled one of the finest collections long before third-party coin grading services such as PCGS and CAC changed the market “The Duckor pedigree for Saint-Gaudens is one we value; many of the coins in his former set are currently in the finest collections owned by clients of GreatCollections including the all-time #1 set - the Elite Collection,” continued Russell GreatCollections manages wantlists and assists collectors with all aspects of numismatics aside from their own weekly auctions of certified coins and paper money the finest 1943-S Lincoln Cent struck in error on a Steel planchet realized $490,500 and semi-unique 1975 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime realized $506,250 - both all-time records For more information, contact GreatCollections at 1-800-442-6467 or visit www.greatcollections.com Download the Greysheet app for access to pricing Subscribe to The Greysheet for the industry's most respected pricing and to read more articles just like this Source: Great Collections Coin and Currency Auctions The silver dollar was consigned to GreatCollections by the descendants of the original Rhode Island family who had saved the coin over 200 years ago Coin discovered in $375 WitterBrick mystery box purchase Owned by the same family since 1978; one of two known examples Email: support@greysheet.com Keep up with information updates and partner information Enter your e-mail and subscribe to our newsletter 25 airing of the television show “Pawn Stars” were treated to a variety of items offered for proposed transactions There was a flag allegedly flown over Independence Hall on July 4 to commemorate the Bicentennial; a miniature model of Disneyland’s Main Street; a screen trailer for the movie presentation of Battlestar Gallactica; and a pair of Air Jordan 5 Metallic shoes signed by the designer It looked like the usual fare of products parading through the doors of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas as proprietor Rick Harrison moved to a downtown location for the next item This was one that couldn’t be brought to a bustling tourist attraction/business Harrison’s response was “that’s amazing.” the two talked about Teddy Roosevelt’s desire for improving coin design which led to Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ work Harrison made a point that it was one Roosevelt The non-numismatic public was treated to the story behind the coin from its creation to the export license granted to Egypt’s King Farouk to the discovery and confiscation of other examples leading to the conclusion that the coin in Russell’s possession was This one has a James Bond international intrigue.” Russell was acting on behalf of the coin’s anonymous owner and seeking interest in a sale “We’re looking for offers for over $30 million,” said Russell Harrison had an interested buyer and needed to consult with the owner As he picked up his phone to call his client a customer at the store brought in a Testors gasoline powered toy car that had never been played with After the two sides could not reach a deal the owner kept the car and the scene shifted to the Circa who has appeared in past episodes of the show for his expertise Garrett noted that whole books have been written about this coin prominently features the coin.) Garrett noted that many billionaires and multi-billionaires have started to collect coins “At least one of them is interested in a goal of having every coin The uniqueness of this coin is what makes it very special.” Garrett verified the authenticity and the grade of MS-65 All that was left to be determined was whether a deal could be made that was agreeable to buyer and seller watch for re-airings of episode 10 of season 22 of “Pawn Stars.” You’ll also see a guy who took in a miniature gun asking $300 who ended up getting a lot more but that’s all of the spoilers you’re going to get Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Access our Dealer Directory Like us on Facebook Follow us on X (Twitter) Whether you’re a current subscriber or new, you can take advantage of the best offers on magazine subscriptions available in digital, print or both! Whether you want your issue every week or every month, there’s a subscription to meet your needs Voices US Coins brought the total for the events to $65,447,919 bringing Heritage’s FUN numismatic events to $78,279,240 combined with the NYINC World & Ancient Coins Auction that concludes this week will help lift Heritage’s numismatic auction events past $100 million in the first three weeks of 2025 “I am always astounded by the popularity of Heritage’s FUN sale and impressed by the depth of our bidder base to absorb so many wonderful numismatic rarities at solid prices,” says Todd Imhof “From the seven-figure coins to the records set and the extraordinary featured collections these events underscored Heritage’s position as the premier destination for the most serious collectors of rare coins and currency.” The 1798 Small Eagle half eagle is among the rarest and most enigmatic issues in all of American numismatics; of the seven known examples two are included in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution forever out of reach of even the most advanced collectors and the Choice AU coin offered here is the single-finest certified example the chairman and principal owner of the Miami Marlins assembled a collection considered among the elite assemblages in all of numismatics This remarkable trove produced numerous trophy-level coins in the auction including three more that yielded seven-figure results surpassing the previous auction record of $1,997,500 set at Heritage in 2016 the 1894-S Barber dime is often grouped with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel as “The Big Three” of United States numismatic rarities and elusive coin in the entire Barber series No more than nine examples of the 1894-S are known to collectors today and the coin sold in this auction is tied for finest-certified at PCGS an important consideration for Registry Set purposes more than double the previous auction record of $690,000 — a standard that had stood for 20 years this beauty is a magnificent example of one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the U.S the third-finest of just 10 known specimens sold for $1.14 million to tie the auction record set at Heritage in 2019 Its scarcity puts it alongside the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel among elusive American coins This coin previously held a spot in several well-known collections who compiled one of the finest collections of silver dollars ever assembled Other top results from the Sherman Collection include The second-finest among 92 proof-only examples surfaced first in Ed Frossard’s catalog of the Howard Newcomb and Edmund R It previously was a part of the collections of John M It was the second-finest among just 59 Specimens struck a stellar example of this rare Type Three Liberty double eagle PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population to be 15-20 examples in all grades One of the rarest and most popular of the Type Three series the 1887 was produced only in proof format after the Philadelphia Mint was required to devote most of its resources to striking large numbers of Morgan dollars throughout the 1880s This shifted the production of high-denomination gold coins to the San Francisco Mint A mintage of 121 proof Liberty double eagles was struck in 1887 Other top results from the Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles included an extremely rare issue in proof format from a reported mintage of just 30 John Dannreuther and PCGS CoinFacts estimate the surviving population to be 10-12 specimens Two are in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution and another is included in the collection of the American Numismatic Society which achieved $336,000 in its first auction appearance since 1979 PCGS and NGC have combined to certify 74 examples of this issue in all grades including a number of resubmissions and crossovers The piece sold at FUN was the former Garrett coin Other highlights from the collection included: The FUN events kicked off January 9 with this magnificent collection featuring every Sheldon number variety from 1796 through 1814 The famous “Abbey” cent has a provenance of 180 years one of the longest unbroken ownership chains for a US large cent it is the finest that CAC has approved and has been called the most important 1799 cent a trove of nearly 400 lots that featured one of the foremost collections of California Nationals and notes including California Gold Bank Notes and Federal Reserve Notes ever assembled The archive once belonged to Albert Grinnell whose collection was believed to be one of the finest and most complete ever assembled; he considered this set the “Crowning Masterpiece” of his collection “This archive is one of a kind,” says Dustin Johnston Vice President of Currency at Heritage Auctions “Heritage has sold presentation sets of Federal Reserve notes before but the denominations in those stopped at $100 $5,000 and $10,000 denominations that are so eagerly collected by top collectors Those would have a lot of appeal even if they were broken out into separate lots but to have them all in one set like this is absolutely a unique prize.” PMG has graded 22 Series 1928 $5,000 notes with only one earning a higher or equal grade 2 notes examined by PMG and stands alone as the highest PMG-graded example by 25 grade points PMG has graded from among all districts only seven Series 1928 $10,000 notes: Richmond (2) PMG has graded just two equal and only one higher … and that by a single grade point Declared Finest Known, 1794 Dollar is Now Graded CACG MS67 And Insured For $15 Million Rare 1870-CC Double Eagle Lifts Heritage’s US Coins Auction Above $5.6 Million Carson City Mint Double Eagle Takes Flight in Heritage’s US Coins Auction © 2025 Active Interest Media All rights reserved SearchAccountCart0Shop AllShop U.S Gold Bureau Precious Metals The Ed Moy Signature SeriesLearn More About This ExclusiveDo you also have metals you'd like to sell Do you also have metals you'd like to sell How to use your retirement to invest in precious metals View Our Retirement PageLearn MoreRetirement guidance is just a page turn away Leverage your retirement account to grow your savings Resources & Assistance for Investing in Precious Metals Precious Metals News & InsightsVisit the blog >>Our Precious Metals Experts are only a phone call away. We've been helping investors for more than two decades. Description & SpecificationsAt the insistence of President Theodore Roosevelt, America's most famous 19th century sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to design new gold coins. The goal was to change the outdated Liberty look, used since 1838, with new, updated, highly detailed designs. What evolved were unique works of art, miniature sculptures created in fine gold. In honor of their designer, they are widely known as Saint-Gaudens $20 coins. Dates and mint marks are our choice. Based on availability. Orders placed for products that are not a specific year will be fulfilled with coins of any date, based on availability. Orders of multiple coins may be filled with the same year or a variety of years. United States Gold Bureau (USGB) is a private distributor of Gold Platinum & Palladium coins from the U.S Information on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be used as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or trade any asset that requires a licensed broker As with all investments there is risk and the past performance of a particular asset class does not guarantee any future performance and representatives do not guarantee to clients that they will realize a profit or guarantee that losses may not be incurred as a result of following its coin collecting recommendations or upon liquidation of coins bought from the United States Gold Bureau All content and images are owned by USGB and may not be reproduced without written authorization All calls may be monitored for quality assurance Saint-Gaudens Memorial executive director Jackie Rocha at the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish Rocha is the first executive director hired to run the organization funds a yearly artist fellowship and holds contemporary art exhibitions (Valley News - Alex Driehaus) Alex Driehaus (Valley News - Alex Driehaus) valley news — Alex Driehaus Jackie Rocha’s longest job was a 14-year stint at the history center of The Statue of Liberty — Ellis Island Foundation The foundation is the nonprofit organization that raises money and operates programs in support of Ellis Island the port of entry for countless immigrants to the United States that’s now a national monument she heard daily the stories of visitors who came in search of their family origins “It was part of their bucket list to share their immigration stories with someone,” Rocha said Storytelling is going to be essential to Rocha’s new job as the first executive director of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial which acts in the same capacity as the Ellis Island Foundation it will be Rocha who will be telling the story of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens of the national park in Cornish that bears his name and of the programs the Saint-Gaudens Memorial underwrites at the park the memorial was set up as a nonprofit in 1919 to safeguard Saint-Gaudens’ home in Cornish and to protect and promote his work representative of a time when America was coming into its own as a global power The memorial donated the Cornish property to the federal government in 1964 and the following year it became the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site It was redesignated as a national park in 2019 The memorial’s primary function is to underwrite programs at the park exhibitions of contemporary art and a yearly artist fellowship It also pays for some art conservation and occasional acquisitions of art to display at the park The board decided now was the right time to hire an executive director who could both raise the profile of the park and of the programs the memorial sponsors and raise money “There’s a lot we can do in terms of just local fundraising and public awareness of the park,” said Tolles who’s been on the memorial’s board since 2003 and is a longtime curator of American art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York comes to the job with two unusual qualifications Part of her upbringing took place in Sunapee where she and several members of her family live now; she’s a 1999 graduate of Kearsarge Regional High School And she spent years working for a “friend” organization of a national park and one of the things that’s particularly wonderful about her is that she has long experience with the National Park Service,” Tolles said “I kind of speak that park language,” Rocha said in an interview where her parents met and lived before relocating to Sunapee Rocha moved back recently to help look after her father the Saint-Gaudens Memorial has had an administrative director Though some of the organization’s board members have Upper Valley roots to expand awareness in the Upper Valley of Saint-Gaudens and the park and its programs It’s not an exaggeration to say that New Hampshire’s only national park is someplace Upper Valley residents should visit once a summer if only to spend some time looking at the memorial to Col who was killed while leading a regiment of African American soldiers in the Civil War People can go on about the Orozco murals at Dartmouth but the Shaw memorial is the greatest work of art on permanent display in the Twin States The Saint-Gaudens Memorial remains a relatively small nonprofit with an annual budget of $250,000 (though that’s expected to increase this year) Greater awareness of the park and the memorial’s work would lay the foundation for stronger fundraising “I think we will get more local funding when we can communicate the need,” Rocha said For more information abou the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, go to saint-gaudens.org Norwich artist and filmmaker Viktor Witkowski will screen “In My Words,” a film he directed that mixes experimentation and documentation Witkowski’s grandmother and aunt (his grandmother’s oldest daughter) still live in the director’s native Poland He interviewed his grandmother about her experiences during the Holocaust and both women about how Poland has changed over the decades something I think residents of rural places don’t talk about enough history often seems to happen elsewhere until It’s been brought to my attention that Lake Street Dive’s drummer The band was nominated for a Grammy Award for “best traditional pop vocal album” for “Good Together,” released last June The band is currently on tour and won’t be at Sunday’s awards ceremony Alex Hanson can be reached at ahanson@vnews.com or 603-727-3207 The Denver Mint struck 3,049,500 1924-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles Most of the issue was held in reserve and melted down in the late 1930s Those that survived largely were exported to foreign banks and repatriated only after the Federal Government eased restrictions on private gold ownership As these survivors were held by institutions and not collectors many show evidence of handling and bag marks in his once-standard reference United States Gold Coins: An Analysis of Auction Records since most known 1924-D twenties are uncirculated The 1924-D ranks 34th overall in terms of certified survivors while the 1908-S (35th overall) and 1909-D (33rd overall) remain scarcer in Mint State Where the 1924-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle differs from those dates is in the number of known high Mint State examples The 1924-D is scarcer in Gem by a factor of two The combined certified population from CAC and PCGS puts the number of uncirculated grading events at just over 1,050 and CAC MS66 population has remained stable since at least October 2024 The obverse features a full-length image of Liberty, facing forward with an olive branch in her extended left hand and a raised torch in her extended right. Draped in a long, flowing classical gown (the ancient chiton) the foot of her left leg resting on a large rock (in front of which are oak leaves) Forty-eight tiny six-pointed stars are arrayed just inside the flat rim The date in Arabic numerals is near the bottom on the right; a monogram of the designer’s initials ASG is below the date The crest of the sun appears again on the reverse with rays extending upward nearly to the top of the coin behind a majestic left-facing eagle In an arc above the sun is IN GOD WE TRUST At the top is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in a concentric arc next to the flat rim with TWENTY DOLLARS just below in another arc The words of both phrases are separated by centered triangular dots The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM in raised letters that alternate with 13 raised stars local and national leaders dedicated the Memorial on May 31 This thing of Saint-Gaudens strikes me as real perfection Funds began pouring in to establish a monument to Col near the site where the colonel fell and was later interred in a mass grave along with soldiers from his regiment the first efforts to establish a memorial did not succeed Charles Sumner now gave rousing support for the endeavor: After the committee determined the monument would be an equestrian statue of Col. Shaw, fundraising began in earnest. Rich and poor, Black and White, from Boston and beyond—those of all backgrounds donated to the cause. Shaw Memorial fund treasurer Edward Atkinson recalled, "I believe that no one was ever asked to subscribe; all the contributions have been of a purely voluntary character, most gladly given."[7] Despite this earnest reaction to the cause the creation of the Memorial stalled for over a decade and Smith passed away during this standstill the committee commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create an equestrian statue to commemorate Col An Irish-born sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens immigrated to the United States at a young age He returned to Europe to study sculpting at the École des Beaux-Arts in France Saint-Gaudens won his first major public commission in 1876 with a monument to Admiral David Glasgow Farragut in New York This well-received work boosted his status as an artist and Saint-Gaudens became a sought-after sculptor When Saint-Gaudens won the commission for the Shaw Memorial there appeared to be a general consensus that the memorial would be an equestrian statue Early drawings and sketches reflect this concept it soon became clear that an equestrian statue did not please interested parties From about 1883 to 1897, Saint-Gaudens methodically worked on the bas relief. To him, working on the monument "became a labor of love."[11] During this time Saint-Gaudens fulfilled other smaller commissions much to the chagrin of the Memorial committee considering the longevity of a public monument like the Shaw: Although the final inscriptions remark on the historic nature of the regiment the original names included only the white officers This later became rectified in the early 1980s At 11:17 a.m. two young nephews of Robert Gould Shaw unveiled the memorial. The crowd cheered, a band struck up "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and an artillery battery on the Boston Common fired a 17-gun salute. Simultaneously, three warships in Boston harbor each fired a 21-gun salute.[15] Watching the events of the unveiling and the procession of the 54th veterans deeply moved Saint-Gaudens While honoring the past efforts of the historic regiment and its fallen leader, some speakers remarked on the regiment's lasting legacy. Booker T. Washington noted that "this monument [stands] for effort, not victory complete. What these heroic souls of the 54th Regiment began, we must complete."[17] Following the dedication of the Memorial, accolades came from around the country and beyond. Author Henry James, whose brothers fought in the 54th, wrote, "How I rejoice that something really fine is to stand there forever for R.G.S. and all the rest of them. This thing of Saint-Gaudens strikes me as real perfection."[18] Many members of the 54th revered it as a fitting tribute to their fallen leader and comrades. 54th member Burrill Smith Jr. wrote to the Boston Herald that it should be protected: Throughout the 1900s, the Memorial served as a place of commemoration and protest It provided a sacred space for veterans of the famed regiment to remember their fallen comrades It became a site of demonstration as activists fought for civil rights it continues to uphold the regiment's ongoing legacy of fighting for social justice [1] Kathryn Grover, To Heal the Wounded Nation's Life: African Americans and the Robert Gould Shaw/54th Regiment Memorial (Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park [2] As quoted in Grover [3] Grover [4] Grover [5] Grover [6] Grover [7] Grover [8] Grover [9] Grover [10] Grover It is unclear whether or how Saint-Gaudens compensated the Black men he used as models for the soldiers It must also be noted that in correspondence the artist used demeaning and racist language when recounting his work with these models Please see Grover's work for a more comprehensive discussion on his language and possible views [11] Grover [12] Quote retrieved from Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park's webpage The Shaw Memorial [13] Grover [14] Grover [15] Grover [16] Grover [17] Grover [18] Letter from Henry James to Miss Frances R. Morse, June 7, 1897, in Henry James, The Complete Works of Henry James (2017) [19] Grover [20] Roger Ebert, "Glory," RogerEbert.com, accessed May 2022, https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/glory-1989 2024 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagle Acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and artistic numismatic designs ever realized in the United States the Saint-Gaudens $20 gold double eagle is one of the most famous American coin types Its existence came only at the insistence of President Theodore Roosevelt who sought for years to beautify America’s humdrum coin designs The coin’s design was inspired by classic Greek coins and depicted in the beaux-arts style of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens the coin project was one of his final commissions as he was stricken with cancer and getting weaker as he was working on the project The artist set out to redesign every denomination of America’s circulating coinage but was only able to provide two designs: this $20 gold coin design and the beautiful $10 Indian Head design Assisting Saint-Gaudens in making necessary modifications was sculptor Henry Hering The Saint-Gaudens double eagle design was highly technical and unsuitable for coinage. The United States Mint’s first strikings of this $20 design came in the form of two dozen Proofs struck in March of 1907 each coin requiring nine impressions to realize the full detail of Saint-Gaudens’ high-relief design This led the Mint’s engraving department, led by Chief Engraver Charles Barber to flatten the relief and make other modifications so that the coin’s presses could strike the new design efficiently Barber is often slandered in numismatic circles as being ruined of other artist’s work but a better understanding of his role in the manufacture of this coin and other coins from outside artists must take into account the technical knowledge that Barber brought to his revisions and that these revisions were typically necessary The 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is one of a handful of commonly encountered issues of the late circulating $20 gold coin series The Federal Government recalled most of these coins through President Franklin D but hundreds of thousands of examples escaped confiscation Regarding this date, coin dealers and telemarketers refer to the issue as “generic gold,” however the coin may not be referred to as such by an individual trying to sell you the coin The term “generic” may be offputting to some, but in the rare coin industry, “generic” is routinely applied to a coin with only a basic numismatic value over the coin’s intrinsic worth. An About Uncirculated or Brilliant Uncirculated example would routinely trade at the prevailing spot price in the raw these generic Saint-Gaudens issues carry a premium of approximately 15% over the spot price In typically found grades, the market value for the 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagles is about on par with what we’ve already seen in our analysis of the 1923 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is that the quality of coins struck in 1924 tends to be much higher an attractive example with different shades of gold toning brought $90,000 at an August 2022 Heritage sale A more recent GreatCollections offering of an unpedigreed MS67+ CAC brought nearly $80,000 Our read on the current rare coin market would put an estimated value of $160,000 for an MS68 and $200,000 for an example with a CAC sticker With 30 CAC-approved coins and over 200 coins certified at the MS67 level the 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is easily acquired in grades MS65 through MS67 the coin’s price increases just beyond the $10,000 threshold at the bottom with rays extending upward nearly to the top of the coin behind a majestic left-facing eagle Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) was a European-educated American sculptor notable for numerous public monuments and other works in the Beaux Arts style Working with President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt he is responsible for some of the most beautiful numismatic designs in American history such as the gold $10 eagle and the gold $20 double eagle New scholarship expands the story of the Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial The memorial continues to stand along Boston Common and is now part of Boston African American National Historic Site Augustus Saint-Gaudens continued refining his sculpture even after the "final" version was unveiled in Boston This full-size bronze sculpture is among the hedges at the sculptor's former estate Intimately experience this art in its place of creation BOSTON AFRICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE In early 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt charged sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens with beautifying America’s coinage This revolt against the status quo was characteristic of the energetic head of state who leaned into America’s emerging role as a global power The president’s intention to have Saint-Gaudens design ultra-high relief coins in the fashion of the coins of the ancient Greeks was laid out in a November 1905 letter Saint-Gaudens was not eager to work with the United States Mint or have outsiders interfere with his design process. The artist’s prior experience with the Mint regarding the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition medal had permanently spoiled the relationship who dubbed his coinage rejuvenation project his “pet crime,” conferred with Treasury Secretary Leslie Shaw to find a way to pay for the new coin designs without involving Congress Shaw pointed to $85,000 earmarked for the Mint’s General Fund he was one of the most in-demand artists in America which heavily referenced classic Greek and Roman art If Roosevelt’s goal was American coins styled after the coins of ancient Greece then Saint-Gaudens was a logical choice to carry out the work First diagnosed with and treated for intestinal cancer in 1900 when much of the design work for the gold $10 and $20 coins was underway at this point having no choice but to honor the president’s wishes but technical and artistic difficulties persisted Roosevelt’s wish to create a new coinage based on the high-relief coins of Ancient Greece discounted the technical realities of modern coin production and coins made for circulation had to be designed so that the complete impression could be imparted on a planchet with just one blow of the coin dies Saint-Gaudens had his assistant Henry Herring work with the Mint to make the necessary adjustments to the coin designs the Ultra High Relief Saint-Gaudens design test strikes were delivered to Mint Director George Evan Roberts on February 15 Each finished coin took a total of seven strikes to complete Over the artist’s final months, the work to modify the design to make it suitable for production continued. Herring took the lead, as Saint-Gaudens was barely able to move. Chief Engraver Charles Barber continued to be critical of the design but approached the mandate professionally the design was modified to lower relief and put into production Augustus Saint-Gaudens did not live to see his work completed and likely would not have approved Moy tasked the Mint to use 21st-century technology to realize Saint-Gaudens’ vision The original coin plasters were digitally mapped by the United States Mint and digital design tools were used to create new ultra-high relief dies Four additional stars were added to the design to reflect the admission of the states of New Mexico not present in either the 1907 issues or the original design was added to the reverse (where it appeared from 1909 onward) In November 2008, the entire mintage of 2009 Ultra High Relief $20 gold coins was struck at the West Point Mint The finished product was the closest approximation of the original design and is considered by many to be the most beautiful coin struck by the United States The 2009 Ultra High Relief was offered for sale on January 22, 2009, with an issue price of $1,189. At that time, the gold spot price was close to $860 an ounce meaning that the coins were selling at a 38% premium over spot with an initial order limit of one per household, meaning that most of the coins were purchased by collectors But before collectors took delivery of their coins several dealers already had standing orders to purchase coins from them at premiums of up to $1,650 per coin they began submitting the 2009 Ultra High Relief in bulk to NGC and PCGS Demand for the 2009 Ultra High Relief at the time of release was quite strong by third-party grading service label programs and the industry’s leading coin marketing companies The third-party grading companies created First Strike and Early Release labels These dealers immediately marketed the coins for prices over $2,000, depending on the grade and label design. In the post-release bubble, prices pushed past $2,500 for MS70s Unlike in most instances when a popular sell-out turns into a resale market the Ultra High Relief sold for $3,000 to $4,000 The 2009 Ultra High Relief represents the pinnacle of Beaux Arts coin design and is the closest approximation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ vision for his eponymous double eagle gold coin Demanding coin collectors may prefer having a certified coin graded “70” roughly 50% of the coins certified have earned a 70 grade NGC has graded more than 22,000 examples and has given a 70 grade to more than 60% of them CACG has yet to have certified sufficient coins as of February 2025 for us to compare More scarce than the 70s are coins marked Prooflike (PL) Roughly 20% of the coins submitted to NGC earned the designation while fewer than 2% earned the Deep Prooflike (DPL) designation PCGS has also designated several coins from the issue as having Prooflike surfaces The PCGS population in PL represents 17% of the total number of submissions PLs are more likely than coins in the general population to earn the 70 grade A note on the final paragraph: I’ve just submitted a sealed 03/10/09 MMIX to PCGS today Now it’s a First Release and odds for them is 2:1 for MS70 (Mint took extreme care for the first release) Going to another level on the grading chain: PL submissions POST 2011 grading was @20% of the initial labeling a bit in favor at 5:4 for MS69 I’m not sure what coins make the “PL” grade but the population is different than before PL designation started being used (I’m hoping I get it) I follow-up in a month Got the results of PCGS Grading: MS70 (Yea) Not a “PL” which would be a big value jump Had it labeled “First Strike” as I submitted it in the unopened 15 year old shipping box along with a receipt from US Mint I took part of the sting off by submitting 2 other coins: 2008-W 1/2oz Burnished Buffalo and Eagle Probably broke even but their values will be preserved Thank you very much for the informative and thorough article In the “Coin Specifications” data listed at the end of the page the “Diameter“ and “Weight” data needs to be flip flopped The weight should read 31.1 g and the diiameter should read 27.0 mm Currently the weight is listed as 27.0 g and the diameter is listed as 31.1 mm You’re welcome and I’m impressed by the swift fix Beautiful coin indeed loved the st galdens series of old very beautiful coins,Thanks for sharing Precious Metals News & InsightsVisit the blog >>Our Precious Metals Experts are only a phone call away We've been helping investors for more than two decades Description & SpecificationsPresident Theodore Roosevelt wanted to refresh the gold coin design in America so he turned to Augustus Saint-Gaudens to get the job done The obverse features Lady Liberty surrounded by stars two more were added with the addition of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union The reverse features a bald eagle flying over a rising sun The design also varies slightly here depending on the year of minting Coins struck in 1907-1908 feature no motto along the rim while all other years have the words "In God We Trust" Extremely Fine (XF) condition has light wear over the high points only These coins are extremely rare due to the recollection effort by the federal government in 1933 Orders placed for products that are not a specific year will be fulfilled with coins of any date Orders of multiple coins may be filled with the same year or a variety of years 2025 at 1:40 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Park advocates fear permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks understaffed (Shutterstock)NEW HAMPSHIRE — The Trump administration’s firing of hundreds of newly hired National Park Service employees could limit operating hours and cut a range of services at the Appalachian Trail and the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens which brings in about $1.7 million in tourism dollars to New Hampshire about 30,000 recreational visits are connected to the trail and Saint-Gaudens The approximately 1,000 employees who were fired provide services such as maintaining and cleaning parks and staffing visitor education programs The firings weren’t publicly announced but were confirmed by Democratic senators and House members to The Associated Press The firings come amid what has been a chaotic rollout of an aggressive program to eliminate thousands of federal jobs led by billionaire Elon Musk and the new Department of Government Efficiency a Trump administration effort to slash federal spending the park service said it is reinstating about 5,000 seasonal jobs that had been rescinded as part of the hiring freeze ordered last month by President Donald Trump These are seasonal workers routinely added during the warm-weather months to serve more than 325 million visitors to the nation’s 428 parks historic sites and other attractions each year Park advocates fear that permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks — including heavily visited treasures such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Grand Canyon National Park — understaffed and facing tough decisions about operating hours senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association predicted in an interview with The AP that trash will pile up “pushing an already overwhelmed Park Service to its breaking point.” “It puts the park service in an untenable position,” she said The firings may force small parks to close visitor centers and other facilities while larger parks will have to function without cultural resources workers who help visitors interpret the park fee collectors and even wastewater treatment operators National Park Service-managed facilities in New Hampshire bring in about $1.7 million a year in visitor spending and add about $2.7 million to the state economy, according to agency data 23 people are employed by the Park Service with an annual payroll of about $1 million Brengel told The AP the cuts are “basically knee-capping” employees needed to train seasonal workers 16 of 17 supervisory positions at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park were eliminated train and supervise dozens of seasonal employees expected this summer fee collectors and trail maintenance employees were laid off potentially making trails at the Washington D.C.-area park unpassable after heavy rains The AP said a spokesperson for the Interior Department A separate email to the park service received no answer A freeze on spending under a five-year-old law signed by Trump also jeopardizes national parks passed with bipartisan support in 2020 and signed by Trump authorizes $6.5 billion over five years to maintain and improve national parks The program is crucial to whittling down a massive maintenance backlog at the parks and is frequently hailed as a success story by lawmakers from both parties The freeze could slow road and bridge improvements at Yellowstone National Park which is in the midst of a $216 million project to improve safety The project is mostly funded by the Great American Outdoors Act The Associated Press contributed reporting Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. a nonprofit organization that promotes the legacy of the great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) and partners with the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Par in Cornish announced the appointment of Jackie Schalk as the organization’s first full-time executive director “We are pleased to have Jackie join us in this important leadership role,” said SGM Board President Thayer Tolles “She has years of experience with nonprofit fundraising and operations that align well with the needs of our organization She will play a pivotal role in building our capacity and impact both regionally and nationally.” Schalk’s career began in New York City at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation a nonprofit organization that augments National Park Service operations at the iconic site Jackie served as Director of the American Family Immigration History Center a department of the Foundation that has long been at the core of the Ellis Island experience and helps about 100,000 people per year research their family histories She subsequently held senior development positions with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum “I am eager to join Saint-Gaudens Memorial and raise the profile of the artist and promote his living legacy,” said Schalk I am well aware of the wonderful work this organization does to support the cultural fabric of the region.” Tolles added that Schalk will increase SGM’s connection with the Upper Valley community and deepen its ability to engage audiences through its exhibitions as well as augment support to the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park “The Saint-Gaudens Memorial has been steadfast in its support for Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park advancing programs that bring vitality to our mutual efforts to operate the park as a living memorial to the life and legacy of Augustus Saint-Gaudens,” said Rick Kendall “I am pleased to welcome Jackie to this new role and look forward to working with her to carry the partnership between SGM and the Park to new levels.” Schalk’s hire culminates a nationwide search that began earlier this year and was conducted by Dan Yaeger Senior Search Consultant for Museum Search & Reference an executive placement firm specializing in the North American museum field there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular collections Description & SpecificationsAt the insistence of President Theodore Roosevelt America's most famous 19th century sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to design new gold coins The goal was to change the outdated Liberty look they are widely known as Saint-Gaudens $20 coins The marvelously detailed Saint-Gauden's designs feature a standing Miss Liberty lighting the way to freedom as dawn rises over the capitol and the words "In God We Trust" for coins minted after 1908 These are not medallions or other reproductions $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins minted from 1907 to 1933 I think our coinage is artistically of atrocious hideousness to employ a man like Saint-Gaudens to give us a coinage that would have some beauty So wrote President Theodore Roosevelt to Secretary of the Treasury Leslie Mortier Shaw in December 1904. The drama between artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens and United States Mint Chief Engraver Charles E Barber dominated the later months of the sculptor’s life as his assistant Henry Hering labored over a series of necessary revisions to satisfy Roosevelt’s request to produce a more beautiful coinage The first examples were produced in what is described as “Ultra High Relief“ extraordinary pattern pieces of which fewer than 20 likely survive today Saint-Gaudens lived long enough to see only the striking of the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle patterns The first low-relief version of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was minted in 1907 Unlike the Ultra High Relief and High Relief versions the low-relief coins used Arabic numerals to display the date As intended, the coin did not display the motto IN GOD WE TRUST 1865 mandated that the motto be placed on the double eagle denomination but Roosevelt opposed its use on the new coins Many members of the general public and Congress were offended by this omission Congress passed legislation requiring the motto to be placed on all coins Most double eagles produced in 1908 at both the Philadelphia and Denver mints are of the No Motto type All 1908-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles include the motto Thousands of business strike No Motto Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles have been certified Prices are modest for examples through MS62 often trading for not much above bullion value while coins graded MS63 and finer are expensive to very expensive (MS67 and finer) The 1908-D becomes very expensive in the grades of MS65 and finer Fewer than seven Proofs of the type have been certified These are dated 1907 and designated by some as having either a satin or a matte finish; all are prohibitively expensive The obverse features a full-length image of Liberty, facing forward with an olive branch in her left hand and a raised torch in her right hand. Draped in a long, flowing gown (a chiton) Forty-six tiny six-pointed stars (representing the number of states) are arrayed just inside the flat rim forming a circle broken only by the rock and oak leaves The date (in ‘Arabic’ numerals rather than the original Roman style) is at the right bottom above the rock and a monogram of the designer’s initials ASG is below the date No Motto Saints were minted in Philadelphia and Denver; the D mintmark is above the date The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM in raised letters Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing –. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins –. A Guide Book of United States Double Eagle Gold Coins Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as Illustrated by the Phillip H The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins Description & SpecificationsThe Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is considered by many to be the most beautiful coin in the history of United States These coins are highly sought after by collectors and are a great addition to any investment portfolio Each gold coin contains .9675 Troy oz of gold The reverse of the coin is an iconic image of a bald eagle in flight with "United States of America" and the denomination "Twenty Dollars" above The obverse is a depiction of Lady Liberty walking with rays of sunshine at her back The edge of the coin has inscribed the motto "E Pluribus Unum." These gold coins were minted in San Francisco Dates for the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle are random and based on availability at the time of order President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to make American coinage more aesthetically pleasing sculptor August Saint-Gaudens was appointed to design a new coin Saint-Gaudens had difficulty in designing the coin based largely on his declining health Another contributing factor to the delay of the coin was his high relief design was very intricate and complex after completing the designs for the eagle and double eagle coin The designs had yet been approved for production A few attempts were made to produce the double eagle coin as Saint-Gaudens had originally designed it but the design was too complicated to strike made some changes to the design and lowered the relief so the coin could be struck. When released the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle proved to be controversial because the coin omitted the words "In God We Trust." Despite the change in design and perceived shortcomings the coin is considered one of the most beautiful coins in the history of American coinage The 1933 Double Eagle enjoys a mysterious lore among collectors and is one of the most valuableU.S AU in coin grading stands for Almost Uncirculated or About Uncirculated The higher points of coins in AU condition have some slight wear This condition designates coins that have seen minimal circulation This wear can be so small that is indistinguishable to the naked eye By CoinWeek … On Sunday, September 1, GreatCollections sold a 1909/8 overdate Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded MS66 by PCGS and approved by CAC A pop five coin with only one finer at PCGS–and only one of three at that grade with CAC approval–the winning bid was a strong $217,600 This price is not far from the auction record for the grade which is $336,000 for one of the other PCGS MS66 CAC examples in a May 2022 auction The specimen GreatCollections just sold has original surfaces with a lustrous creamy gold color. Like the CAC green bean implies the strike is mostly solid though the lettering in LIBERTY is a little soft the numeral “8” is clearly visible beneath the second “9” in the date and judging by the bidding and hammer price collectors were clearly enthusiastic about the opportunity to add such a high-quality important overdate to their collections To search through GreatCollection’s archive of over 600,000 certified coins and notes the company has sold, please visit the GreatCollections Auction Archives Very Fine (VF) condition features light to medium wear These coins are incredible in person and a welcomed addition to any investment portfolio or collection The reverse of the coin shows the iconic bald eagle in flight with "United States of America" and the denomination "Twenty Dollars" above Park ranger Kerstin Burlingame from Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish will present “America’s Preeminent Sculptor You’ve Never Heard Of: Augustus Saint-Gaudens” at the Amos Fortune Forum Friday and brought international recognition to American art Among his best-known works are the Shaw Memorial Saint-Gaudens NHP is the only National Park Service unit in New Hampshire and the only one specifically dedicated to a sculptor Burlingame’s career with the National Park Service started with an internship at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands in North Dakota where she was bitten by the travel bug and wooed by the NPS mission statement “to protect and preserve for future generations” She has since worked as a park ranger at several national parks Admission is free. For information, go to amosfortune.org. People can also view completed presentations on the forum’s YouTube channel Fuljenz ranked the 1930-S fourth in overall rarity Fuljenz didn’t explain the date’s scarcity he appeared to confuse it with the extremely common 1932 and his last paragraph for the date begins ..” Values in CM for the 1930-S range from $14,000 in VF20 to $139,700 in MS65 Now that I’ve discovered that I need a $10 Indian Head gold piece without a motto for my gold-type set my task will be to find one that’s reasonably priced My Favorite Coins: The Buffalo Nickel How Do You Learn to Be a Coin Collector? My Favorite Coins: Oregon Trail Commem Some terrific $20 gold double eagles are standout lots in Heritage Auctions’ Dec Most exciting to many is one of around 50 to 60 known 1870-CC gold $20 double eagles This one is graded Extremely Fine 45 by Numismatic Guaranty Co and is among the nicer survivors from a mintage of just 3,789 It represents the first year of operation for the Carson City Mint in Nevada established to strike silver and gold coins in response to the Comstock Lode discovery These first CC-Mint double eagles are considered “trophy coins” in today’s market collectors must contend with lightly circulated examples The one offered has a bright yellow-gold patina and Heritage writes “many coins are distinctive for their own unique contact marks that can be used as pedigree markers,” while recognizing “two small short marks in the field near star 13 and another on the top-back of Liberty’s cap.” Rusty Goe advised collectors in 2020 that those seeking an example to add to their collection should recognize that few relatively attractive examples exist and that buyers must pay a hefty premium for those few handsome survivors Heritage sold a similarly graded NGC example for $384,000 and a year later Stack’s Bowers Galleries sold one in this grade by Professional Coin Grading Service for $810,000 The more expensive one carried a green Certified Acceptance Corp seeming to confirm Goe’s 2020 statement that collectors seeking a high-end example within the grade must be prepared to pay more than what is perhaps expected Another rarity of a different sort in the session is a 1924-S Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle graded Mint State 65 by PCGS that is from a hearty mintage of 2,927,500 of which Heritage estimates that around 1,100 survive Nearly all of that San Francisco Mint production was melted before it was released and in the mid-20th century collectors considered it among the rarest Saint-Gaudens double eagles additional examples have returned from bank holdings in Europe and South America but most of these show bag marks and are not in “gem” grades Heritage cites the research of Roger Burdette who suggests that the few high-end examples of this date “likely came out of leftover pyx coins sent to Philadelphia (and distributed through the Philadelphia Mint Cashier) or from the San Francisco Mint Cashier directly in 1924.” The offered coin is one of just 20 in this grade at NGC bested by one in MS-65+ and another in MS-66 at that service with one in MS-65+ and a sole MS-67 that’s the finest-known for the issue and observes a few trivial marks before concluding “Some die cracks and peripheral die erosion suggest an advanced die state.” Another similarly graded 1924-S double eagle sold for $69,000 at Stack’s Bowers’ Nov Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Access our Dealer Directory Like us on Facebook Follow us on X (Twitter) The collector is a long-time client of GreatCollections and consigned it within days of his discovery The first series of the WitterBricks sold out within minutes. The consignor purchased two of the cheapest versions for just $375 each. WitterBricks contain only high-quality coins graded by CACG with special labels each hand-signed by Seth Chandler Their guarantee is that buyers will receive at least 70% of the purchase price in CACG Price Guide value some lucky buyers will receive much higher-valued coins such as this 1907 Gold High Relief Saint-Gaudens “It is great to see such a windfall for a client of ours – and so far especially being a gold coin with a custom gold label,” said Ian Russell who is the founder of the WitterBrick commented to have opened the WitterBrick and discovered the 1907 High Relief – he has generously agreed to donate part of the proceeds to the Witter Coin University and I will match whatever he donates personally.” The 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief Double Eagle ($20 coin will be on display at the Baltimore Coin Expo, November 14-16, 2024 (at the GreatCollections table #345), and also by appointment at the Irvine offices of GreatCollections. For more information, visit www.greatcollections.com or telephone 800-442-6467 2024 Brian Hendelson of Classic Coin Company with the rare proof Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles at the ANA 2023 Pittsburgh World’s Fair of Money (Photo by Donn Pearlman.) Described by researchers as “one of the most important recent discoveries in 20th-century American numismatics,” the finer of the two known 1921 Satin Finish Proof Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles–along with the unique Experimental Finish Proof 1910 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle–will make only their third public appearance together Insured for $10 million, they will be a featured exhibit in the Museum Showcase area (booth #434) at the American Numismatic Association (ANA) 2024 Chicago World’s Fair of Money These two multi-million-dollar double eagles will be displayed at the ANA courtesy of Brian Hendelson President of Classic Coin Company of Bridgewater Hendelson will also have another extremely rare U.S. gold coin in an exhibit at his booth (#414) during the convention: one of the three known Proof 1839/8 overdate Type of 1838 Liberty Head Eagle $10 gold coins The rare Double Eagles ($20 denomination gold coins) were first exhibited together at the 2022 ANA in Chicago and then at the ANA 2023 Pittsburgh convention The 1921 Satin Finish Double Eagle is graded PCGS SP64+ CAC and was discovered in 2006 a half dozen years after the first known example was found designed by acclaimed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens It is the only known example of this type of Experimental Finish with surfaces that are lighter and more reflective than Satin Finish Proofs and brighter than Matte Proofs of that era The Satin Finish was used for 1909 and 1910 Double Eagle Proofs; however experimental pieces with satin finishes from different years are now known The 1839/8 overdate Eagle with the short-lived 1838 design is graded PCGS PR62 The coin was discovered in Europe as part of a three-coin Proof set in the early 1980s I am fortunate to have one in my personal collection and I am happy to share this historic rarity with the public at the ANA convention,” said Hendelson For additional information about Classic Coin Company, call (908) 725-5600 or visit www.ClassicCoinCompany.com. For information about the ANA 2024 Chicago World’s Fair of Money, visit www.WorldsFairOfMoney.com A lucky coin collector from the East Coast opened a $375 WitterBrick mystery box and discovered a valuable 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief double eagle ($20) CACG MS-64 inside That coin has now been directed to GreatCollections the coin has already attracted more than 30 bids the winning bid stood at $37,000 (The coin sold for $44,606.25 with the buyer's premium) The first series of the WitterBricks sold out within minutes when it was released earlier this year The consignor purchased two of the cheapest versions for just $375 each WitterBricks contain only high-quality coins graded by CAC Grading the innovative owner of San Francisco-based Witter Coin The WitterBrick program guarantee is that buyers will receive at least 70% of the purchase price in CACG Price Guide value “It is great to see such a windfall for a client of ours - and so far especially being a gold coin with a custom gold label,” said Ian Russell who is the founder of the WitterBrick program commented to have opened the WitterBrick and discovered the 1907 High Relief - he has generously agreed to donate part of the proceeds to the Witter Coin University and I will match whatever he donates personally.” the world can often feel as if it’s spiraling toward dystopia The artists in this group exhibition present their own ways of staring down the doom. Using difficult they wield darker themes as empowering forces The smaller-sized “rattler” holders — named because the coins often rattled a bit in the holders — were used in the first years of PCGS GreatCollections offered a 1927-S Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle graded Extremely Fine 40 at its Oct The holder was used from February 1986 through September 1989 and the label is pale green printed on green-ribbed cardboard stock with perforated edges. The 1927-S $20 coin inside is a significant rarity as most of the 3,107,000 coins minted were melted and the offered example is the lowest-graded survivor at PCGS with around 300 estimated to have survived in all grades. Precious Metals Description & SpecificationsDiscover the captivating design of the 1 Troy oz of .999 fine Silver coin, embodying the essence of freedom and strength. On the obverse, Lady Liberty stands tall, holding a torch and olive branch amidst sun rays, while stars adorn the medallion's outer edge, enhancing its allure. Flip to the reverse side to witness an eagle perched majestically on a branch, with the silver's weight and purity inscribed alongside the SilverTowne trademark logo beneath the eagle's talons. This meticulously crafted replica pays homage to Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original striding-Liberty design, renowned for its presence on modern American Eagle Bullion coins. With its impressive detail and symbolic imagery, this silver coin is a timeless tribute to liberty and resilience. Whether you're a collector yearning for numismatic history or an investor seeking portfolio diversification, this coin is a cherished addition resonating with America's enduring spirit. A GOLD coin may be worth thousands of dollars if you look for the right details In Mint State condition, a $20 gold coin is worth an impressive $97,200 The 1908-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ($20 gold coin) has long captured the attention of gold collectors but what truly elevates this coin to a high-value status is its combination of rarity and aesthetic appeal The 1908-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle boasts a mintage of 22,000 pieces making it one of the lowest-produced coins in the entire Saint-Gaudens series it's the rarest "With Motto" coin in this line To put that in perspective, of the 1,100 coins certified by grading giants NGC and PCGS, a large percentage — about 66% — exist in circulated conditions, Heritage Auctions reports For a coin to reach the $97,200 mark, it needs more than just rarity—it needs visual excellence. The MS66 version of the 1908-S Saint-Gaudens is a collector's dream, thanks to its honey-gold patina, with hints of mint-green, rose, and apricot hues. This thickness in the frost, a highly sought-after characteristic, gives the coin an extra layer of appeal. Mint State coins are graded on a scale from MS60 to MS70 with higher numbers indicating fewer blemishes The difference between a coin graded MS65 and one graded MS66 may seem slight to the untrained eye the 1908-S coin represents the pinnacle of preservation and aesthetics for this issue Small imperfections — like faint marks on Liberty’s breast or the eagle’s left wing — are almost negligible Numbers 60 to 70 are generally the most sought-after by collectors and are known as Mint State coins Pieces that fetch thousands at auction are commonly found in MS67 An MS-70 is near-impossible to find among older coins this coin has consistently proven its value at auction A similar MS66 coin was sold during the Long Beach Signature auction in 2009 and later in the Dallas Signature auction in 2017 If you're fortunate enough to own a 1908-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle it's worth keeping a close eye on market trends and the particularly "thick" frost detail that collectors adore While the coin's worth today is pegged at $97,200 its rarity and visual appeal may well push it even higher in the future with the closing live session scheduled to be held on Heritage Live at 8 pm CT on Monday A particularly outstanding example of the high-quality offerings featured here is a 1923-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, graded MS67 by NGC The Denver Mint struck a substantial production of 1,702,250 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles in 1923 making the issue relatively available in high grade and a favorite choice of type collectors This spectacular Superb Gem exhibits sharply detailed design elements with some interesting die cracks through the letters in LIBERTY The virtually flawless orange-gold surfaces are lustrous and appealing Take a look at some of the other highlights from this auction: Bid on the Premium Gold in this auction from Heritage through August 26, exclusively at Coins.HA.com Saint-Gaudens was initially appalled by the place Before long the family established a summer home and studio there Saint-Gaudens conceived a host of projects Here he became the leader of the art colony and community that grew around him And it was here that he battled cancer and sought release and health through vigorous physical activity after having operated at the height of his career four studios—one in Paris and the Cornish site—he would choose to be buried here The lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file, "Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site" (with photographs) The Reminiscences of Augustus Saint-Gaudens a social studies teacher at West Springfield High School in Virginia The lesson was edited by the Teaching with Historic Places staff by the Cultural Resources Training Initiative and Parks as Classrooms programs of the National Park Service This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into the classrooms across the country Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site: Home of a Gilded Age Icon relates to the following National Standards for History: Standard 1A- The student understands the connections among industrialization Standard 1D- The student understands the effects of rapid industrialization on the environment and the emergence of the first conservation movement Standard 2C- The student understands how new cultural movements at different social levels affected American life Standard B - The student explains how information and experiences may be interpreted by people from diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference Standard G - The student describes how people create places that reflect cultural values and ideals as they build neighborhoods Theme IV: Individual Development and Identity Standard B - The student describes personal connections to place - as associated with community Standard A - The student demonstrates an understanding of concepts such as role and social class in describing the interactions of individuals and social groups Standard A - The student examines the origins and continuing influence of key ideals of the democratic republican form of government Davis Fandiño is a professional sculptor living and working in Bentonville He began his artistic studies early in life as an assistant and apprentice in sculpture studios and mold-making shops before moving to Los Angeles to work as a sculptor for special-effects studios in the film industry where for over a decade he was involved in the production of major blockbuster movies During that time he continued to pursue his fine-art studies spending months between projects working in stone-carving sculpture studios in Carrara Italy and creating portraits of friends and celebrities alike He now has a personal studio practice doing private commissions and is working towards creating a body of work that encompasses all his experiences and studies over the past 20 years and looks forward to his residency at the park contributing towards this endeavor In design review for silver companion medals to accompany “Best of the Mint” gold coins to be issued for the U.S the Commission of Fine Arts July 18 mainly agreed with the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee’s picks two days before The CFA favored only one pair of designs that differed from those the CCAC preferred for the five .999 fine medals The proposed designs receiving CCAC support are illustrated with the cover article in this week’s issue The “Best of the Mint” program recognizes five coin designs collectors picked in a U.S Mint survey selected from among 21 classic issues reviewed The winners were the Class I original 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar; 1907 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold double eagle; 1916 Winged Liberty Head silver dime; 1916 Standing Liberty silver quarter dollar; and 1916 Walking Liberty silver half dollar All five coins to be issued in the celebratory 2026 program will be struck in .9999 fine gold with weights and diameter as detailed in the text of this issue’s cover article the Mint is issuing silver medals thematic of the coins to which they are linked The CFA picks that differ from those the CCAC supports are for the silver medal paired with the gold coin replicating the 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle Mint’s narrative for the CFA-favored designs for that silver medal notes the designs “pay tribute to dual suns on the obverse and reverse of the 1907 $20 Gold Coin and to sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ broader body of work inspired by Saint-Gaudens’ ‘Diana of the Tower.’ “The designs are meant to evoke Classicism and encapsulate its essence through the inscription VIRTUS which translates to ‘virtue’ in Latin.” Examples of Saint-Gaudens’ Diana of the Tower sculpture are found in many major museums across the United States including the National Portrait Gallery in Washington the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City the Brooklyn Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art Diana was unveiled atop Madison Square Garden’s tower on Sept According to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s website “When installed in 1893 on the tower of New York’s Madison Square Garden to serve as a weather vane Diana ruled the highest point in Manhattan The sculpture’s gilded form caught the sun during the day and was illuminated at night by the city’s first electric floodlights “Madison Square Garden was demolished in 1925 and the Philadelphia Museum of Art adopted the [second] sculpture in 1932 with support for conservation and shipping from the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art) Diana has reigned as the goddess of the Museum’s Great Stair Hall ever since.” The Diana weather vane was commissioned by architect Stanford White Model Julia “Dudie” Baird posed for the body of the statue Saint-Gaudens’s long-time model and mother of his son Louis Whether you’re a current subscriber or new, you can take advantage of the best offers on magazine subscriptions available in digital, print or both! Whether you want your issue every week or every month, there’s a subscription to meet your needs Some rare gold $20 double eagles are set to be top lots at Heritage’s Aug 14 American Numismatic Association Platinum Night auction held the week after the World’s Fair of Money with lot viewing at the convention Proof Coronet double eagles have been especially popular with well-off collectors in the last few years An 1883 double eagle graded Proof 65 Deep Cameo by Professional Coin Grading Service carries a green Certified Acceptance Corp sticker recognizing quality within the grade and is among the finest of 92 examples struck John Dannreuther estimates 28 to 32 coins survive from that mintage which is the first of three Proof-only dates for this denomination in the 1880s the others being the 1884 and 1887 Proof issues Dannreuther also notes that the production quality for this year is uniformly high “This spectacular Gem proof exhibits razor-sharp definition on all design elements and the impeccably preserved canary-gold surfaces include deeply mirrored fields that contrast profoundly with the richly frosted devices.” A similarly-graded example offered without a CAC sticker sold for $336,000 at Heritage’s January 2021 Florida United Numismatists auction The 1887 Coronet gold $20 double eagle is another Proof-only issue of 121 pieces of which Dannreuther estimates that as many as 40 survive today graded Proof 65 Deep Cameo by PCGS with a green CAC sticker realized $420,000 when presented at Stack’s Bowers August 2022 sale of the Mocatta Collection Dannreuther explains that the mintage was struck from a single die pair “With so many coins struck from a single die pair we should see many coins with diminished frost on the devices and there are examples without deep cameo contrast.” Not so on the subject coin which has richly frosted devices that stand out against deeply mirrored fields The final decade of issues within the Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle series are often characterized by moderate mintages and extremely low survival rates Among the “melt-rarity” issues at Heritage’s Platinum Night session is a handsome PCGS-graded Mint State 66 1931-D $20 coin one of the finer survivors from a mintage of 106,500 pieces Heritage estimates that 125 or so exist today as the majority were melted after President Franklin D Roosevelt’s great Gold Recall of 1933 It’s considered the second rarest example of the issue struck at the Denver Mint Heritage calls the luster of this example spectacular “Only two small marks can be used as pedigree identifiers: One is located on the obverse across ray 7 in the left field; the other is a short diagonal mark on the top of the sun.” It most recently sold at Heritage’s Jan FUN Platinum Night session for $156,000 and had previously sold at its January 2010 FUN sale The 1932 Saint-Gaudens $20 coin is the final collectible date in the series with a sole 1933 double eagle available for private ownership Roger Burdette’s archival research indicates that just 113 1932 double eagles were paid out by the Treasury department though a few might have been released through other channels and today Burdette estimates that fewer than 100 survive from an original mintage of 1.1 million coins and in both offerings Heritage’s catalogers praise its tremendous luster It is one of three graded MS-64+ with 42 finer at PCGS a number that is likely inflated by resubmissions of the same coins record 148 submissions in their population records Contact: Rick Kendall Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go.