The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of the rarest U.S. gold coins and has set many sale records because of how unique it is and how important it is to collectors.
At a Heritage Auction not long ago, this gold $20 coin from the Bob R. Simpson Collection sold for an amazing $4.44 million, breaking the old record of $2.16 million set in 2020.
Numismatists all over the world continue to place high bids on the 1927-D Double Eagle because of its beautiful form and interesting history.
History and Design
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle series was first made in 1927. It was created by the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt, who wanted U.S. coins to show how grand the country is.
On the front, Lady Liberty walks forward with confidence while holding a torch, and on the back, an eagle flying. Many people think this is one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs ever made.
180,000 of the 1927-D Double Eagle were made when it was first released in Denver. But because gold coins were recalled in the 1930s to stop people from storing them, almost all of the Double Eagles that were made at that time were melted down.
Because of this, only 15 to 20 of these coins are thought to still exist, making it one of the rarest numbers in the Saint-Gaudens series. Both the fact that the coin is rare and the way it looks have made it very valuable.
Auction Performance and Value
The 1927-D Double Eagle continues to set record sales time and again. The coin was recently sold for $4.44 million in August 2022 and this evidence proves that fans still care for the coin.
The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) attributed this coin an MS66 grade that places it among the finest known and increases its desirability much more.
Here is a list of some of the most important sale prices for the 1927-D Double Eagle:
| Date | Auction House | Grade | Price Realized |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2020 | Heritage Auctions | MS65+ | $2.16 million |
| August 2021 | Heritage Auctions | MS66 | $3.09 million |
| August 2022 | Heritage Auctions | MS66 | $4.44 million |
Why Is the 1927-D Double Eagle So Valuable?
There are three main things that determine how much the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is worth:
- Rarity: The 1927-D is a rarity set because of it is estimated that only a few of the total minted 180,000 pieces are existing today. He added that it was a highly sought after coin for anyone who is into collecting coins in general.
- Condition: Again, the majority of the coins that have survived to this date are very well preserved and graded by professional services as Mint State (MS). Coins with the high grade such as the MS66 coin is usually highly valued because of their state, which is almost always perfect.
- Historical Value: It featured in the early American economic history because it is among the last set of gold coins produced before the government took the gold coins, melted them and prohibited the minting or circulating of gold coins in the 1930s.
FAQs:-
Q. Why is the 1927-D Double Eagle rare?
A. In the 1930s, most 1927-D Double Eagles were melted down, leaving few survivors. This scarcity increases its worth.
Q. What does the “D” mint mark mean?
A. Other Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles were minted elsewhere, but this one was minted in Denver.
Q. How does coin grading affect value?
A. Higher grades, such MS65 or MS66, indicate the coin’s outstanding condition and increase its auction value.