1908 $20 Saint Gaudens No Motto NGC MS66

Add a precious addition to your coin collection today with this certified coin, a 1908 $20 Saint No Motto NGC MS66. These coins have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as having a mint state of 66; they are ‘appealing coins’ of at least average, though often sharper than average strike. They may have some marks but none that detract from the overall beauty of the coin, and they’ll have an attractive luster too. They’re made from 22 Karat gold or 0.9000 fine gold and have a diameter of 34 mm and a weight of 0.9675oz or 33.4400 grams. A must-have for any coin collector.

What’s the story behind Saint-Gaudens’ Gold Double Eagle? 
Inspired by coins of the ancient world, President Roosevelt was determined to create American coins which showed "some beauty," so he commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to design a new coin – the first time this had been asked of someone working outside of the mint. Augustus Saint-Gaudens worked on the design alongside his assistant Henry Hering - on whom he increasingly relied as his health declined. Saint-Gaudens passed away in August 1907, having only seen the proof coins, but his partnership with Roosevelt was to result in one of the most beautiful coins the U.S. has ever produced. Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint, Charles E. Barber has been held responsible for producing a poorer version of Saint-Gaudens’ design which has less clarity than originally intended, but today these coins are prized for their artistry and subtle beauty. 
 
The obverse side of the coin shows Liberty striding towards the viewer, holding an olive branch symbolizing peace in her left hand and with a torch representing enlightenment held aloft in her right hand. She is wearing a diaphanous gown, with her hair flowing loosely behind her right shoulder. Her left foot rests on a rock partially covered by a spray of oak leaves. The sun can be seen rising behind Liberty, and in the left-hand corner of the coin, you’ll see the U.S. Capitol buildings. The word LIBERTY arches across the top of the coin, though the torch interrupts the design separating the letters, I and B. In addition, 46 stars can be seen inside the rim of the coin, representing the 46 states of the United Sates. On the reverse of the coin, a majestic eagle is shown flying in front of the sun’s rays, with the wording “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “TWENTY DOLLARS” arching around the top of the design. 
 
There is much speculation as to the origins of the ‘no motto' version of this coin, whether it was merely an oversight later corrected or a deliberate decision on the part of President Roosevelt to leave out the phrase ‘In God We Trust.' It has been mooted that the President felt it was blasphemy to invoke God’s name on a coin, but the truth of the matter remains elusive. What is certain is that this is a coin much-prized by collectors across the globe.

Overview of the 1908 $20 Saint No Motto NGC MS66:

• Collectible 1908 ‘no motto’ version
• Certified coin
• NGC MS66
• Metal: Gold
• Purity: 0.9000 / 22 Karat
• Mint: U.S. Mint 
• Year of Issue: 1908
• Weight in oz: 0.9675oz
• Weight: 33.4400g
• Face value: $20