1915-S Saint Gaudens Double Eagle (1915-S $20 St. Gaudens) NGC MS64+ CAC. This satiny 1915-S Double Eagle with lively cartwheel luster is at the top of the grade as indicated by its plus designation, which is confirmed by CAC. A few marks in Libertys drapery and a couple on the reverse keep it from the gem grade. The strike is strong on both sides with all of the details easily observable.

After Saint-Gaudens death from stomach cancer in August of 1907, Engraver Charles Barber made a copy of the double eagle dies in regular relief with Arabic numerals for the date. From the beginning Barber advocated low relief because of practical considerations of banking and commerce. Both President Theodore Roosevelt and Saint-Gaudens had opposed him in these ideas. However, Barber maintained his point of view and ultimately prevailed. His new dies only resembled the originals, and Henry Hering, Saint-Gaudens collaborator and former student, refused to approve them.

The problem that this stalemate created was that Saint-Gaudens widow could not be paid without this approval. Later in the year Hering visited the Mint with the widows attorney and son. He showed the mint officials that Barbers design was inferior by producing the reductions he had made in Europe. After negotiations, the widow was paid. Despite Herings Pyrrhic victory, Barbers version of the double eagle with Arabic numerals and low relief was minted.