The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is the crown jewel of American numismatics. Originally minted during the Great Depression, this $20 gold coin never officially entered circulation. Although 445,500 pieces were struck, almost all were melted down after President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlawed gold ownership in 1933 to stabilize the economy.
Designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the coin features Lady Liberty striding forward with a torch and olive branch on the obverse, and a majestic flying eagle on the reverse. It’s widely considered the most beautiful U.S. coin ever made.
Only a few escaped destruction—two were legally transferred to the Smithsonian, while others surfaced illicitly over the decades. After years of legal battles, one specimen was officially sold at auction in 2002 for over $7.5 million, and again in 2021 for a staggering $18.9 million, setting a record for any coin ever sold.
Today, the 1933 Double Eagle is not just rare—it’s a symbol of art, controversy, and American monetary history. Its mystique continues to captivate collectors worldwide.