In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt sought to beautify American coinage, and proposed Augustus Saint-Gaudens as an artist capable of the task. Meredith and was later sold as part of his estate-the present location of this coin remains unknown. The second was presented to Treasury Secretary William M. The first now resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. In that year, the mint produced two pieces in proof.

The production of the first double eagle coincided with the 1849 California Gold Rush. Before, the most valuable American coin was the $10 gold eagle, first produced in 1795, two years after the United States Mint opened. Since the $20 gold piece had twice the value of the eagle, these coins were designated 'double eagles'. Likewise, the double eagle was created by the Coinage Act of 1849. The eagle, half eagle, and quarter eagle were defined by name in the Act of Congress originally authorizing them. (Its gold content of 0.9675 troy oz (30.0926 grams) was worth $20 at the 1849 official price of $20.67/oz.) The coins are 34 mm × 2 mm and are made from a 90% gold (0.900 fine = 21.6 kt) and 10% copper alloy and have a total weight of 1.0750 troy ounces (33.4362 grams).

Longacre The 1907 high relief double eagle designed by Augustus Saint-GaudensĪ double eagle is a gold coin of the United States with a denomination of $20. For the device in heraldry, see Double-headed eagle.

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