1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS64 PCGS....

Description

MCMVII High Relief Double Eagle, MS64
Scarcer Flat Rim Variant

1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS64 PCGS. Augustus Saint-Gaudens' double eagle design was executed in a high relief format previously reserved for medals rather than circulating coinage. The coins required multiple strikes on the hydraulic press to bring up the full detail of the design. While this process succeeded artistically, it introduced significant mechanical challenges for the Mint. As metal was repeatedly forced outward between the dies and the collar, it extruded along the rim, forming a sharp, elevated edge now known as the "Wire Rim" or "Knife Rim." These rims were often uneven and prevented the coins from stacking properly, a critical requirement for commercial coinage.

To address the stacking problem, the Mint altered the planchet upset -- the angle and dimensions of the raised rim on the blank coins -- resulting in a later variant with a flatter, more uniform rim. These so-called Flat Rim High Relief pieces resolved the immediate stacking issue, but they did not overcome the more fundamental obstacle: the High Relief design was too time-consuming and labor-intensive for mass production. Consequently, production of High Relief double eagles ceased in late 1907 after a total mintage of just 12,367 pieces, encompassing both Wire Rim and Flat Rim variants. Mint engraver Charles E. Barber, working with Saint-Gaudens' assistant Henry Hering, subsequently modified the design into a lower relief format suitable for regular coinage, albeit at the expense of much of the sculptural depth Roosevelt had championed.

The current Flat Rim near-Gem boasts sharp definition throughout the central devices and border stars, with straw-gold luster that has only a few light marks consistent with the grade. Eye appeal is excellent, and finer pieces will be out of reach for many collectors. Among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins.(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26F2, PCGS# 9136, Greysheet# 10133)

Weight: 33.44 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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