Types of St. Gaudens $20 Gold Pieces

There are two types of buyers of numismatic $20 gold pieces which include gold coin collectors and gold coin buyers who want one of the purest forms of an asset an individual can hold in their portfolio. Both of these dichotomies enhance the overall value of rare gold coins like the $20 gold pieces.

Twenty dollar gold coins are in essence rare as production was stopped in 1933 and many of the early years were melted down for their gold content. Depending on the mint state, year, and version of $20 gold coins you are looking for can run from just a handful in existence to a few thousand.

The other key aspect is that numismatic gold coins are still gold coins that are certified for their gold content by the US Mint. Gold today has value as a hedge against inflation and as a safe haven asset.

Both of these factors play a role in the price and demand for rare gold $20 pieces.

$20 St. Gaudens MCMVII High Relief

The Twenty Dollar Saint Gaudens MCMVII High Relief was only minted in 1907 and though it doesn’t have ultra-rare status from a supply side it does from the demand side. Most of 287 known in MS65 or better are owned by people who are not willing to trade them. They are one of the rarest numismatic gold coins to ever become available for sale. For this reason they are known as gold coin dealer’s “best friend” as the sale of these rare coins is often swift and valuable.

There are two unintended different kinds of $20 St. Gaudens MCMVII High Relief which are “wire edge” and “flat edge.” The gold coins were designed identical though in about 80% of the production extra metal was wedged creating a lip in the striking process, which is known as the “wire edge.”

There is one more version of this rare gold coin called the “Extremely High Relief” or “Ultra High Relief.” This version had only 24 or 22 coins (there is some debate) as part of the mintage. PCGS has only grade 4 different versions of this coin in mint state. Many experts believe more do exist though they have never brought for grading.

$20 St. Gaudens (No Motto)

The Twenty Dollar St. Gaudens (No Motto) was minted from 1907 to 1908. The key to this gold coin’s rarity is that in was minted in 1907 and part of 1908 without the motto “In God We Trust.” Many people believed this happened President Theodore Roosevelt was an agnostic though this has never been proven and it has been noted he simply didn’t want that motto engraved on any US coin.

There is a big difference in the value from 1907 to 1908. The 1908 $20 St. Gauden (No Motto) sells for what is called “type coin money” while the 1907 in mint state sells for three to one premium.

Majority of these gold pieces come just one place the Wells Fargo Nevada holding. This holding put over 8,000 PCGS certified mint state $20 S. Gaudens (No Motto) into the marketplace. This includes 90% of the MS66 graded, 100% of the MS67 graded, and 90% of the MS66 graded versions of these rare gold coins.

$2O St. Gaudens (With Motto)

The Twenty Dollar Saint Gaudens (With Motto) was minted from 1908 to 1933 which has become the most popular type of rare gold coin. The motto “In God We Trust” was added back in 1908 till the end of production, plus an updated version of the design made this coin one of the most attractive gold coins made. One key difference in the design is the trimmed down leg of Lady Liberty.

This rare gold coin is one of the most common with 349,000 available that have been certified by the PCGS. They still hold a rare demand due to their beauty and melting in the 1930s that reduced the available supply. These popular rare gold coins still have demand issues as they are a prize possession of gold coin collectors and numismatic gold coin buyers.

The most rare version is from 1927 where there are only 3 different coins to be graded MS65 or better. Other versions have more gold coins to choose from with the most quantity in the 1924, 1927, and 1928 versions of the gold coins.

One key issue that is still resolved is whether the 1933 version belongs as a numismatic gold coin which would make it legally part of a private ownership in gold. For this reason the PCGS doesn’t certified gold coins from that year.