In a letter to Augustus Saint Gaudens, one of America's most prominent sculptors, President Theodore Roosevelt suggested a new look for our gold coinage.  Roosevelt, being impressed with some gold coins from ancient Greece, requested St. Gaudens design coins with a high relief which would have a raised rim to protect the coins' rim and surfaces, therefore making the coins last longer.  Subsequently, the St. Gaudens $20 Gold Piece made its appearance in 1907.  The obverse of the coin bore the walking figure of Liberty with flowing-in-the-breeze drapery holding a torch while the reverse displayed a flying eagle.  The relief was very high, almost 3 dimensional in nature.  The date appeared in Roman numerals MCMVII.  Problems with striking occured immediately.  It took three or more blows of press to bring the relief up to the required sharpness.  Striking problems resulted.  The mint decided to strike only a limited number of these coins before modifying the design.  Only 11,250 high relief Roman Numeral $20 gold pieces were minted. 

 

Halfway through 1907, St. Gaudens design was changed to shallow relief.  Along with the change in relief, the Roman numerals in the date were dropped and replaced by the conventional Arabic numerals.  At the same time, President Roosevelt decided to omit the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.  In 1908, however, Congress restored the motto and coinage of the $20 gold piece continued through 1933.  Most issues of the late 1920's and 1930's did not circulate, but were kept in Treasury Vaults or shipped overseas in payment for international transactions.  This party explains the reason why so many uncirculated Saints are found overseas.

 

In 1933, the United States was taken off the gold standard and gold coins were recalled and subsequently melted. After World War II, Switzerland, Argentina, and other countries released quantities of Double Eagles and other American gold coins from their vaults.  They provided a bountiful supply of coins for collectors.