High Relief Double Eagles
1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim MS63 PCGS. Augustus Saint-Gaudens' MCMVII High Relief double eagle is widely regarded as America's most beautiful circulating coin. Unfortunately, the high relief of the design elements made it impossible to bring up all the details of the design with just one strike from the coin press. Each coin required multiple blows from the medal press, with the planchet annealed between each blow, to complete the striking process. The design was clearly impractical for high-speed modern coinage, but President Roosevelt was determined to strike at least a limited mintage to show-case the design for posterity. In the end, a modest mintage of 12,367 High Relief double eagles was produced. The design's relief was lowered considerably for the regular double eagle production run, which featured the 1907 date in Arabic numerals.
About 80% of High Relief twenties, including the present coin, show a high fin, or wire rim, around the edge of the coin. This feature was caused by metal extruded through the tiny gap between the dies and collar when the coin was struck. Around the middle of December, the Mint technicians succeeded in eliminating the fin by altering the dimensions and milling of the planchets. Although considered undesirable at the time, collectors prize the Wire Rim double eagles today.
The present coin is an attractive Select specimen, with the sharply detailed central design elements expected of this issue. The pleasing orange-gold surfaces are lightly marked, with vibrant mint luster on both sides and a few highlights of reddish patina. Eye appeal is outstanding. Housed in a green label holder.
HID02901242017