![]() ![]() The United States Mint looks forward to the 21st century and a new era of modern coinage. Pure 24-karat gold is much more malleable than 22-karat or 90% gold coins, making it better material for striking the ultra high relief. The 2009 coin will be made of 24-karat gold. Using the digital design and die-making process, the Saint-Gaudens sculpture-in ultra high relief-has been updated to reflect the year 2009, an additional four stars to represent the current 50 states, and the inscription “In God We Trust,” which was not on the 1907 version.Īdditionally, a small border was added for a more consistent edge. Through 21st century technology and the vision of Director Ed Moy, original Saint-Gaudens coin plasters were digitally mapped by the United States Mint. The 21st century vision of the United States Mint, combined with technological advances, enabled the United States Mint to realize the previously unattainable goal of making the coin accessible to all Americans. ![]() The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin shows the Nation and the world the very best the United States Mint has to offer. This coin promises to fulfill Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ vision of an ultra high relief coin that could not be realized in 1907 with his legendary Double Eagle liberty design. In January 2009, the United States Mint issued the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin. #Double eagle gold coin watch fullAs a result, despite being considered one of the most beautiful gold pieces ever minted, Saint-Gaudens’ full vision for the production of an ultra high relief coin was never realized. Finally, in December 1907, a fourth variation was produced, an even lower relief 34-mm version, with Arabic numerals.ĭespite Saint-Gaudens’ artistic masterpiece, the minting process of the day was not conducive to high relief coins, which he and Roosevelt specifically desired. Because its relief was reduced, it did not require as much metal flow to fill the design, and was more suitable for mass production and approximately 12,000 were made. Its third attempt reduced the relief, and was struck in 34-mm version with Roman numerals. The coining process for the 34-mm version was too arduous, and the United States Mint would later find out it had no authority to mint the 27-mm version. The first two attempts were considered ultra high relief (also referred to as extremely high relief), a 34-mm version and a 27-mm version, both with Roman numerals. There were four variations of the 1907 Double Eagle. These stylistic elements represented the visual embodiment of America and made it the definitive American coin. The motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is on the edge of the coin, allowing a cleaner design on the obverse and reverse. This is America, young and strong, in its ascendancy with a bright future before it. ![]() The United States Capitol dome is also depicted in the background, meaning that through representative democracy, liberty has been fully achieved in America, strengthening her position to go forth throughout the world.Ī young eagle flying during a sunrise is depicted on the reverse. This design underscores that liberty is central to the American spirit, is beautiful and attractive to all, and wherever Liberty goes, inspired by enlightenment, peace follows. Liberty is leading the way with a torch in her front hand and an olive branch in the back hand. Liberty’s robe harkens back to our roots as a republic based on the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. On the obverse, Saint-Gaudens shows Liberty, personified by a statuesque woman striding powerfully forward. and perhaps the world - the 1907 $20 gold piece, also known as the Double Eagle. What emerged has been called the most beautiful coin ever minted in the U.S. In 1905, President Roosevelt personally invited Saint-Gaudens to redesign American coinage, specifically U.S. Saint-Gaudens was a renowned sculptor and an artist who shared the President’s vision for expressing America’s national identity visually through art. It was this sense of purpose that led Roosevelt to choose Augustus Saint- Gaudens to redesign America’s coins. Coins were one of the most visible, tangible representations of a country. And its coins should reflect that, Roosevelt felt. The United States of America, a bold experiment in liberty and representative democracy, had not only succeeded, it had come of age. He thought the coins of that era were unattractive and wanted them to instead embody our national identity and growing preeminence on the world stage. In the early 1900’s President Theodore Roosevelt called for a “renaissance” in American coinage. Courtesy of Dartmouth College Library, Rauner Special Collections Library. ![]()
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