1907 High Relief Double Eagle, Flat Rim NGC MS67. The 1907 high relief double eagles are generally considered to be the most artistically executed regular issue United States coin. In this offering, we have a coin that illustrates that exactly. A splendid uncirculated survivor from an original mintage of 12,367 pieces, the very first St. Gaudens double eagle that was produced for regular circulation.

The first patterns were struck in ultra-high relief, when the designer, Augustus St. Gaudens was still alive. He passed away in early August, and his workers continued finishing the design, which was considered to difficult to strike. The relief was thus lowered, among with some other improvements and regular mintage began. The design was soon altered again, creating this separate and beautifully executed design.

Most of the mintage of this issue consisted of pieces with a so-called wire-rim. The flat rim, as on the present coin, only constitutes about 1/3 of the total mintage. Because of its distinction as a separate type, as the relief was lowered later in the year, examples are always in demand in any grade. In lower Mint-State, up to MS-65 pieces are generally available, although not without costs. MS-66 graded pieces are scarce, and anything higher than that is a rarity. Less than two dozen pieces are known in MS-67, and only a handful number of pieces have graded MS-68. Unbelievably, there is also one MS-69 known, which is the finest known for the type.

The present piece is a premium survivor, graded by NGC as MS-67. The fields are virtually flawless, and all the design elements are well struck. The coin is slightly toned near the rim on both sides to a red-yellow color, which adds to the effect of the coin in general. A wonderful, high grade and rare St. Gaudens double eagle. This is a con that is very suitable for inclusion in a high grade type set, or for the investor seeking a varied portfolio with beautiful and popular coins included.