Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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High Relief Double Eagles
1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim AU58 NGC. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mid-18th century led to the widespread revival of interest in Greek art, architecture, and sculpture. The Neoclassicists were aware that Greek artists combined elements from a variety of observations to create a general, idealized beauty. Augustus Saint-Gaudens also was aware of this use of a variety of observations. The figure of Liberty in the Sherman Group (now at the southern entrance to Central Park) was a combination of two of his favorite models, Davida Clark and Hettie Anderson. Davida Clark had facial structure and features that can be seen as an ideal of beauty in any age. Likewise, Hettie Anderson, a model from Georgia, possessed a body that Saint-Gaudens considered the finest he had ever worked with. By combining the head of one and the body of the other, Saint-Gaudens produced a figure of idealized beauty that was inspiring enough for the Sherman Monument and one that would successfully translate onto the obverse of the twenty dollar gold piece. The same figure (slightly altered) is still in production today on U.S. gold bullion coins, proving the timelessness of Saint-Gaudens concept of idealized beauty. Struck in high relief, the figure appears to stride toward the viewer and reinforce the confidence of America at the dawn of the 20th century. The (partial) wire rim remains despite a short time in the channels of commerce. A few small marks are noted on the eagle's wing; otherwise, the fields are quite clean. Certainly an affordable alternative to a much more expensive Mint State specimen.
Ex: Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2006), lot 4437.
1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim AU58 NGC. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mid-18th century led to the widespread revival of interest in Greek art, architecture, and sculpture. The Neoclassicists were aware that Greek artists combined elements from a variety of observations to create a general, idealized beauty. Augustus Saint-Gaudens also was aware of this use of a variety of observations. The figure of Liberty in the Sherman Group (now at the southern entrance to Central Park) was a combination of two of his favorite models, Davida Clark and Hettie Anderson. Davida Clark had facial structure and features that can be seen as an ideal of beauty in any age. Likewise, Hettie Anderson, a model from Georgia, possessed a body that Saint-Gaudens considered the finest he had ever worked with. By combining the head of one and the body of the other, Saint-Gaudens produced a figure of idealized beauty that was inspiring enough for the Sherman Monument and one that would successfully translate onto the obverse of the twenty dollar gold piece. The same figure (slightly altered) is still in production today on U.S. gold bullion coins, proving the timelessness of Saint-Gaudens concept of idealized beauty. Struck in high relief, the figure appears to stride toward the viewer and reinforce the confidence of America at the dawn of the 20th century. The (partial) wire rim remains despite a short time in the channels of commerce. A few small marks are noted on the eagle's wing; otherwise, the fields are quite clean. Certainly an affordable alternative to a much more expensive Mint State specimen.
Ex: Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2006), lot 4437.