1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS
1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS65 PCGS. Ex: Simpson. In 1905, as the life of Augustus Saint-Gaudens was coming to a close, there remained one remarkable commission for him: the redesign of the nation's ten and twenty dollar gold coins. Completion of this commission brought his life to a glorious finish. It began over dinner at the White House with President Theodore Roosevelt. The president asked him to submit designs for the nation's largest denomination gold coins. Saint-Gaudens spoke to Roosevelt about designs in high relief. As Homer Saint-Gaudens later told of the encounter: {blockquote}"They both grew enthusiastic over the old high-relief Greek coins, until the President declared that he would have the mint stamp a modern version of such coins in spite of itself if my father would design them."{/blockquote} Later Saint-Gaudens confirmed their decision in a letter to the president: {blockquote}"You have hit the nail on the head with regard to the coinage. Of course the great coins (and you might almost say the only coins) are the Greek ones you speak of, just as the great medals are those of the fifteenth century by Pisanello and Sperandio."{/blockquote} The classical influence is abundantly evident in the design for the obverse of the High Relief twenty dollar, since the initial inspiration for the figure of Liberty is derived from the Nike of Samothrace, a statue that dates to the 2nd century B.C. It is this classical influence that gives the High Relief double eagle its sense of dynamic movement and sculptural rendering. This particular coin exemplifies both of those qualities. No significant contact marks are found on either side. The surfaces display thick, satiny mint luster, and of course the strike is complete in all areas. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2021), lot 3050. From The Kestrel Collection. HID10510052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
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1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS65 PCGS. Ex: Simpson. In 1905, as the life of Augustus Saint-Gaudens was coming to a close, there remained one remarkable commission for him: the redesign of the nation's ten and twenty dollar gold coins. Completion of this commission brought his life to a glorious finish. It began over dinner at the White House with President Theodore Roosevelt. The president asked him to submit designs for the nation's largest denomination gold coins. Saint-Gaudens spoke to Roosevelt about designs in high relief. As Homer Saint-Gaudens later told of the encounter: {blockquote}"They both grew enthusiastic over the old high-relief Greek coins, until the President declared that he would have the mint stamp a modern version of such coins in spite of itself if my father would design them."{/blockquote} Later Saint-Gaudens confirmed their decision in a letter to the president: {blockquote}"You have hit the nail on the head with regard to the coinage. Of course the great coins (and you might almost say the only coins) are the Greek ones you speak of, just as the great medals are those of the fifteenth century by Pisanello and Sperandio."{/blockquote} The classical influence is abundantly evident in the design for the obverse of the High Relief twenty dollar, since the initial inspiration for the figure of Liberty is derived from the Nike of Samothrace, a statue that dates to the 2nd century B.C. It is this classical influence that gives the High Relief double eagle its sense of dynamic movement and sculptural rendering. This particular coin exemplifies both of those qualities. No significant contact marks are found on either side. The surfaces display thick, satiny mint luster, and of course the strike is complete in all areas. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2021), lot 3050. From The Kestrel Collection. HID10510052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
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