1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS65 PCGS....

Description

1907 Flat Rim High Relief, MS65
Both Classical and American Design Elements

1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS65 PCGS. Ex: Simpson. Paul Bion was a former sculptor turned art critic and a close friend of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. In the numerous letters that survive from the 1880s and 1890s between the two Bion consistently urged Saint-Gaudens to return to Paris and work there. He also warned Saint-Gaudens of the danger of attempting to create "original American art." This was an unfair jab at the sculptor since Bion knew Saint-Gaudens was well grounded in Beaux-Arts training and classical sculpture, as well as being well informed on the Italian Renaissance and the works of modern French sculptors such as Rodin. Twenty years after Bion made these remarks to Saint-Gaudens, the sculptor based his design for the double eagle on his classical background by adapting the obverse of the coin on the Nike of Samothrace; the reverse was all-American depicting an eagle in flight. Both designs were rendered in high relief, giving each a lifelike quality. Thus, rather than accept Paul Bion's suggestion to not attempt an original American art, instead Saint-Gaudens used classical and American designs on the coin coupled with superior design and craftsmanship to appeal to a universal audience. The production process within the Mint was slow and laborious, as were all of Saint-Gaudens creations. One of the problems encountered during the striking process was a tiny gap between the die faces and the collar, which created a wire rim (or 'fin' in Mint parlance). Toward the end of the production run in December the fin was almost eliminated, as seen on this High Relief, a Gem example of the so-called Flat Rim variant. This is a bright, satiny High Relief that shows no apparent signs of contact with other coins and rich reddish surfaces.(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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