The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the rarest U.S. Gold cash of the 20 th century. In January 2025, a PCGS graded MS65 CAC coin sold for $3.84 million, reflecting its awesome cost among collectors.
Understanding the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, designed by means of renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, changed into minted from 1907 to 1933. The 1927-D range become minted at the Denver Mint, and is in particular rare, as simplest an estimated 14 to 15 coins are regarded to exist nowadays. This coin nevertheless holds an important place in American history and numismatics.
Key Specifications:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Year of Issue | 1927 |
| Denomination | $20 (Double Eagle) |
| Mintmark | D (Denver Mint) |
| Mintage | 180,000 coins |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper |
| Weight | 33.436 grams |
| Diameter | 34 mm |
| Edge | Lettered: “E PLURIBUS UNUM” |
| Designer | Augustus Saint-Gaudens |
Factors Contributing to Rarity
Although the whole manufacturing of the 1927-D Double Eagle turned into 180,000, the coin is extraordinarily rare today. Its rarity is generally due to the gold don’t forget of 1933, while most gold cash, such as the 1927-D, had been melted down and reclaimed. Because of this, most effective a handful of the coins now continue to exist, and those continue to be in man or woman collectors and institutional collections.
The coin’s rarity has earned it a coveted status among collectors, and it is still seen today as an investment with high value.
Market Performance and Major Sales
The 1927-D Double Eagle has always fetched high prices at auction, indicating how much demand it has among collectors. Its auction value has steadily increased over time, and its rising prices are making it even more valuable.
In 2025, a 1927-D Double Eagle that received a PCGS MS65+ CAC grade sold for $3.84 million. This sale proved that this coin is an attractive asset not only for collectors but also for investors.
Noteworthy Sales:
| Date | Grade | Price Realized | Auction House |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | MS65+ CAC | $3,840,000 | GreatCollections |
| January 2020 | MS65+ | $2,160,000 | Heritage Auctions |
| January 2006 | MS66 | $1,900,000+ | North American Certified Trading |
| August 2005 | MS67 | $1,897,500 | Heritage Auctions |
These sales highlight the coin’s enduring appeal and investment potential.
Institutional Collections
Several major institutions hold examples of the 1927-D Double Eagle in their collections, helping to preserve the coin’s historical and cultural significance:
- Smithsonian Institution: This institution owns three examples, which are important for public numismatic education.
- Connecticut History Museum: This museum owns one coin, which further enriches regional historical collections.
This coin is not only important as a financial asset, but it is also an important part of American history, which attracts collectors and investors alike.
1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: A Historical Heirloom
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin is not only a great investment option, but it is also a wonderful example of American history and art. This coin symbolizes the art, monetary policy, and economic history of its time. Its rarity and history make it not just a coin, but an important historical heirloom.
Design and Artistic Legacy
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which includes the 1927-D variety, is extensively considered one of the maximum stunning and nicely-designed coins in U.S. Records. Its design turned into conceived by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a celebrated American sculptor, whose work had already earned him acclaim through his design of the Indian Head $10 coin.
The obverse of the coin features a powerful depiction of Lady Liberty strolling expectantly across the panorama, protecting a torch in her proper hand and an olive department in her left. The reverse showcases an imposing eagle in flight, symbolizing power and freedom. The elegant layout, with its difficult info and symbolism, makes the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle a masterpiece of numismatic artwork.
Historical Context and the Gold Recall of 1933
The 1933 gold don’t forget became one of the most widespread occasions in U.S. Monetary records. In the midst of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an government order that required American residents to surrender their gold coins, gold bullion, and gold certificates to the government.
This was a part of a broader attempt to fight the monetary crisis and stabilize the state’s banking gadget. As a end result, most of the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, together with different gold coin minted throughout this era, have been melted down. The coins that survived the don’t forget had been both misplaced, stored privately, or finally resurfaced within the arms of collectors and traders.
The Significance of the 1927-D Variety
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is specially noteworthy because it turned into one of the remaining years the coin was minted earlier than the government’s keep in mind of gold. Additionally, it become minted in rather small numbers at the Denver Mint, making it even scarcer. While the full mintage for the 1927-D Double Eagle was a 180,000, the truth that simplest around 14 to 15 examples are recognized to exist nowadays highlights the rarity and desirability of this coin. It is one of the key highlights of any critical numismatic collection.
Notable Auction Sales and Their Impact on the Market
The excessive auction prices of the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, inclusive of the $3.84 million sale in January 2025, reflect not handiest the coin’s rarity however additionally the developing hobby in numismatic property as alternative investments. As a end result, coins just like the 1927-D Double Eagle have become a famous investment choice for those seeking to diversify their portfolios.
Over the beyond few a long time, the coin market has seen an boom in hobby from institutional buyers, private creditors, and even worldwide consumers, in addition boosting the value of iconic coins just like the 1927-D.
Impact on the Broader Coin Market
The high call for and great charges accomplished through the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle have inspired the wider coin marketplace. Coins from the early 20th century, specially people with limited mintage or ancient significance, have received greater attention from collectors and investors.
Other rarities, together with the 1933 Double Eagle (that is taken into consideration the most luxurious coin ever bought), have additionally visible a surge in fee because of their connection to the historical occasions surrounding the gold don’t forget and their rarity in surviving form.
Cultural Importance and Educational Value
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is not just a economic asset however an crucial piece of American cultural heritage. Its layout, the ancient context of its creation, and its connection to key moments in U.S. History make it a precious aid for historians, numismatists, and the overall public.
Museums, which include the Smithsonian Institution and the Connecticut History Museum, play a important function in keeping these artifacts and teaching the general public about the kingdom’s economic records.
Future Prospects and Investment Potential
When the demand for rare coins continues, the fate of 1927-D. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is still strong. The coin combination of creative skill, historical significance and freeness makes it a high candidate for strong praise. With the possibility of its limited supply and several examples seen in private collections, 1927-d Double Eagle is probably a prestigious asset for each number and traders.
In precis, 1927-D. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is not always just a rare and precious coin, but a symbol of American posts and artistry. Its deficiency, rich items and permanently enchanting make it a prominent piece in the world of numismatics, and its excessive auction prices reflect the fame as one of the most sought after American coins in the twentieth century.
FAQs
1. What is the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle?
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is a rare U.S. gold coin minted in 1927 at the Denver Mint, famous for its design and historical significance, with only 14-15 known surviving coins.
2. Why is the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle so rare?
The coin is rare due to the 1933 gold recall, where most coins were melted down. Only 14-15 examples are known to survive, making it highly valuable to collectors and investors.
3. What factors contributed to the rarity of the 1927-D Double Eagle?
The rarity is due to the 1933 gold recall, the small mintage at the Denver Mint, and the fact that most coins were melted down, leaving very few in existence today.