$20 Saint-Gaudens Tribute – 1 Troy Ounce .999 Fine Silver Round

Liberty strides toward the viewer as an eagle glides through rays of sunlight. This silver tribute brings together the two celebrated sides of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ double eagle, translating a landmark of American gold coinage into one troy ounce of .999 fine silver.

A Sculptor’s Vision for American Coinage

Born in Dublin in 1848, Saint-Gaudens became one of America’s leading sculptors. His work ranged from intimate relief portraits to major public monuments, making the small surface of a coin a particularly compelling artistic challenge.

President Theodore Roosevelt wanted American money to possess greater artistic distinction and enlisted Saint-Gaudens in the effort. The resulting $10 eagle and $20 double eagle designs were among the sculptor’s final major commissions before his death in 1907. The double eagle’s advancing Liberty and soaring eagle remain enduring expressions of that ambition.

The design’s depth also created a practical problem. Early high-relief versions demanded more work to strike than ordinary circulating coins, and the relief was reduced for regular production. The familiar double eagle design continued through 1933. Its story captures the meeting of sculptural beauty and the demands of a working mint.

Obverse Design

Lady Liberty steps forward carrying a torch and an olive branch. Rays rise behind her, while the U.S. Capitol appears at the lower left. Stars surround the scene and LIBERTY stretches across the upper portion, framing an energetic figure whose forward movement gives the design its distinctive presence.

Reverse Design

A left-facing eagle flies above a rising sun, with rays spreading across the field. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA follows the upper rim, with ONE TROY OUNCE beneath it. The mint mark and hallmark complete this modern silver interpretation of the historic gold-coin design.

Specifications

• Weight: 1 troy ounce
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: 3.10mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.