1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS67 PCGS....

Description

1907 Flat Rim Double Eagle, MS67
The Finest Example We Have Seen With a Completely Flat Rim

1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS67 PCGS. As an homage to the centennial of President Theodore Roosevelt's birth year, the November 1958 issue of The Numismatist included an article entitled "Theodore Roosevelt and our Coinage," by Elston G. Bradfield (LM 266). Indeed, Roosevelt's numismatic accomplishments are impressive. He was one of the driving forces behind the redesign of the ten and twenty dollar gold coins in 1907, and was in office when Victor David Brenner's Lincoln cent was introduced, replacing the long-standing Indian Head design. Specifically, Bradfield touches on Roosevelt's distaste for the coins in circulation, his hiring of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the president's thoughts on the motto IN GOD WE TRUST (he believed including it on coinage was sacrilegious), and how Roosevelt used his influence to secure a commission for Brenner to redesign the cent. The takeaway is just how significant President Roosevelt's contributions were in initiating the so-called Renaissance of American Coinage. Even in the face of other presidential duties, Roosevelt found the time to make a lasting impact in numismatics, arguing in his autobiography:

" ... certain things were done of which the economic bearing was more remote, but which bore directly upon our welfare, because they add to the beauty of living and therefore to the joy of life. Securing a great artist, Saint-Gaudens, to give us the most beautiful coinage since the decay of Hellenistic Greece was one such act."

This is one of the coins for which President Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens are directly responsible. This MCMVII High Relief double eagle exhibits sculptural, three dimensional design elements, with razor-sharp definition on the central devices. Unlike majority of High Reliefs, this coin features a flat rim around all of the rims on both sides. This is a rarity because even after adjustments were made to the die faces and collar in mid-December to suppress the extruded metal that created the so-called Wire Rim twenties, almost all subsequent coins still show some traces of "finning" or the wire rim. However, on this piece we do not see any trace of finning, which could very well mean at the MS67 grade level this coin may be the finest known Flat Rim with a completely flat rim. The basined fields give extra depth to the central figures and the impeccably preserved orange-gold surfaces are awash in satiny mint luster. Eye appeal is terrific. From a limited mintage of 12,367 pieces, this iconic American issue is prized by numismatists of all collecting disciplines. Population: 13 in 67 (3 in 67+), 1 finer (7/22).
From The Saranne Collection. (Registry values: N10218)

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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