1907 High Relief Double Eagle (1907 High Relief $20), Flat Rim, NGC MS64. This impressive double eagle gleams with warm mint luster. On the obverse, Libertys head, face, and upper torso shimmer. On the reverse the tops of the feathers on the eagles wings, neck and head are bathed in shining light. The coin has a few contact marks hidden in Libertys drapery and the eagles feathers. Perhaps these keep the coin from the gem grade. The strike is above average on the obverse but shows some typical weakness on the reverse sunburst and ends of the tail feathers.

Considered by many to be Americas most beautiful coin, the Saint-Gaudens High Relief double eagle with Roman numeral date, has been popular with collectors and investors since its release. Saint-Gaudens was clearly influenced by ancient Greece in his selection of devices for the design and the use of high relief. The coin shows a full figure of Liberty striding towards the viewer, her hair in the wind blowing to the side. In one hand she holds the torch of Liberty and the other, the olive branch. She is wearing a loose fitting flowing gown that exposes her arms and her left knee and leg. Behind her are thirteen rays of the sunburst. She is surrounded by forty-six stars, symbolizing the states in the Union at the time. The date in Roman numerals is on the right, below the olive branch. On the reverse, Saint-Gaudens placed a large eagle flying to the left above the rising sun. Above the eagle are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY-DOLLARS.

President Theodore Roosevelt convinced his friend August Saint-Gaudens to design new coinage to improve the eagle and double eagle. He wanted to restore the beauty and dignity of American coinage. At Roosevelts instance, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was left off the coin. He felt that it was blasphemous to have Gods name on circulating coinage. Unfortunately Saint-Gaudens was in failing health, and he didnt live long enough to see his design in circulation.

Struck in high relief, the double eagle took many blows from the press to bring up the design. Bankers and others objected to the coin because it would not stack. After Saint-Gaudens death, Barber lowered the relief to remedy this problem. Another strike-related problem was that many pieces had a thin raised flange around the edge of the coin. This raised edge was caused by metal being squeezed between the die and the collar, perhaps because of the extra blows required. Those coins that have the flange visible are known as Wire Rims. Those without the flange, such as the present coin, are Flat Rims. The Wire Rim coins caused ejection problems during striking, which was another reason for Barber to change the relief of the coin.
A testament to the popularity of the Saint-Gaudens design is its use today, with modifications, on bullion American eagles, which have been struck since 1986.