The 1933 Double Eagle coin holds a fascinating place in numismatic history due to its rarity, storied past, and massive value. Minted in 1933, this $20 gold coin features a design by the acclaimed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, portraying Liberty striding forward on one side and a flying eagle on the other. It became an iconic symbol of 20th-century American coinage.
However, the majority of these coins never entered public circulation. With the U.S. in the grips of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the U.S. off the gold standard to combat the economic crisis. This decision led to the recall and melting down of gold coins, including the newly minted 1933 Double Eagles. As a result, it is believed that only a few of these coins survived, though the exact number remains a subject of intrigue.
The lore around the 1933 Double Eagle grew over the decades, especially after a U.S. Secret Service investigation in the 1940s confirmed the existence of some specimens that had been smuggled out of the Philadelphia Mint. This backstory contributes significantly to its allure and astronomical value among collectors. In 2002, one of the few legally owned 1933 Double Eagles was auctioned off for over $7 million at Sotheby's, setting a then-record for the highest price ever paid at public auction for a single coin.
This record-breaking sale highlighted not only the coin's exquisite beauty and historical significance but also the incredible story of survival and controversy surrounding its legal ownership. Some other specimens have since surfaced in various circumstances, each adding a new chapter to the coin's mysterious legacy. Among collectors and historians, the 1933 Double Eagle is often considered the ultimate trophy in numismatics, embodying both a crucial period in American financial history and the enduring appeal of rare collectibles.
