Finest Known High Relief Saint with PCGS Specimen Designation
The 1907 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle in High Relief occupies a singular place in United States numismatics. The issue stands at the crossroads of circulating coinage, experimental Mint production, and early twentieth-century presentation strikings. Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens envisioned the design as a medallic work of art, and the Mint briefly attempted to translate that vision directly into coinage.
To achieve the design’s dramatic relief, Mint officials struck these coins on medal presses using multiple blows. This demanding process limited production and ultimately proved impractical for circulation. As a result, the High Relief Double Eagles represent a short-lived and historically significant experiment rather than a standard issue.
Special Strikings and the Question of Classification
Within the already limited population of 1907 High Relief Double Eagles, an even smaller group displays characteristics that clearly separate them from standard production examples. These coins exhibit exceptionally sharp detail, squared rims, and surfaces that range from deeply mirrored to satin-like in appearance. The Mint struck these pieces from specially prepared dies and planchets.
Importantly, the Mint did not produce these coins as part of a formal Proof program. Instead, evidence suggests that officials created them as experimental or presentation strikings. That distinction explains the long-standing debate surrounding their proper classification.
Professional grading services approach these coins differently. Professional Coin Grading Service designates such examples as Specimen (SP), emphasizing their non-standard method of manufacture. Numismatic Guaranty Company, by contrast, classifies comparable pieces as Proof (PF) based on observable surface finish and strike quality.
Despite the difference in terminology, advanced collectors and the broader marketplace generally treat these elite High Reliefs as a single category. Value depends far more on strike, surface preservation, originality, and provenance than on the specific label used by a grading service.
Die Diagnostics Associated with Proof and Specimen Strikings
Documentation from Stacks Bowers Galleries provides critical insight into the dies associated with these special strikings. According to cataloged research cited by NGC, the dies used for Proof-designated High Relief Double Eagles show a consistent set of diagnostics.
These include a prominent die line running through the base of the Capitol dome on the obverse. The right obverse field displays swirling die polish lines, including two that form an inverted V just below the lower portion of Liberty’s laurel branch. Additional die lines appear within the raised rays of the sun on the reverse. Heavy die polish lines also concentrate in the recessed area between the eagle’s neck and wing, as well as along the periphery from approximately 9 to 11 o’clock.
NGC further reports that these dies paired with the so-called Edge 3, or “Edge B-II,” collar. The Mint used this collar to strike Ultra High Relief Double Eagles from March through April 1907 and again on December 31, 1907. Diagnostic features of this collar include diagonal die lines between the letter S in PLURIBUS and the adjacent star, evidence of repunching on the letter B in PLURIBUS, and a notched upper serif on the U in the same word.
While these edge characteristics remain obscured on examples housed in PCGS holders, they remain central to NGC’s methodology for identifying Proof High Relief Double Eagles.
Rarity Within the Specimen Population
NGC has certified a substantial number of Proof High Relief Double Eagles struck from these dies. PCGS, however, has taken a far more conservative approach. To date, PCGS has certified only seven examples in its Specimen category. All received their designations within the past several years.
The present coin, graded Specimen-65 by PCGS, belongs to this extremely limited group. PCGS reports fewer than 20 examples of this issue graded across all numeric levels, underscoring its exceptional rarity.
Another confirmed PCGS Specimen, graded Specimen-63, further supports the existence of a distinct class of special strikings. Close examination of that coin reveals extensive swirling die polish lines in the fields on both sides.
Attribution and Scholarly Support
These surface characteristics align with diagnostics proposed by numismatic scholar Walter Breen in his 1988 Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins. Breen identified such die polish patterns as key indicators of special strikings for the 1907 High Relief Double Eagle, including examples later certified as Proofs by NGC.
While classification terminology continues to differ among grading services, the physical evidence remains consistent. These coins represent the highest expression of Saint-Gaudens’ original artistic intent and rank among the most important gold coins ever produced by the United States Mint.
NOTE: – A 1907 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle High Relief PCGS SP-65 example is coming up for sale at GreatCollections auction on Sun, Feb 22, 2026. Bidding is open now!
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Wonderful article on the 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief gold coin.
What a coin. Love to find one.
Always enjoying learning something new!
Great coin
Where can this coin be found?
I love all the knowledge I am able to obtain from this website… Thank you
Really appreciate the craftsmanship of these coins.
What a beautiful coin! I am sure the auction price will reflect how special this specimen is!
I sold all my Saint Gaudens 15 years ago used the proceeds other ares. But I still love the look of the coin
A very fine example of quality they did in design.
If you are going to cite numismatists and researchers, you should start with Roger Burdette, the author of RENAISSANCE OF AMERICAN COINAGE, 1905-1908, as well as the definitive guide on Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles.
Burdette’s work leans strongly against the notion that any proofs or special strikings took place with the MCMVII High Reliefs. All of the coins appear to have been made in the same fashion.
Just because a coin may LOOK like it was struck differently or in a special fashion does NOT mean it was in fact struck that way. Polished dies, multiple strikings per coin, and the use of a metal press might have differentiated the coins from normal business strikes such that some people though they were special but no such definitive proof has been presented to date.
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. CoinWeek routinely cites Roger Burdette and in fact, Roger contributes articles to CoinWeek on a regular Basis. The main takeaway from the 1907 HR artile was that there is a total difference of opinion amoung the Third Party Grading servies as to the proper designation, not just between numismatic researchers. PCGS considers them Specimen Strikes while NGC calls them Proofs. As such, when a collector comes across a coin like this, they need to understand where the TPG’s stance is when looking at the coin. A more in depth article would of course include more details and specific opinions from more sources. In fact a great future article would be to come up with 5 designation on different coins where the TPG’s disagree on classification. This happened with the 1841 Quarter Eagle being a Proof only issue or if it was struck as both a Business strike and as a Proof.
The situation is not analogous to 1841 quarter eagles. For the MCMVII double eagles we have clear, specific documentary evidence that no “proofs” or so-called “specimens” or any other special pieces were struck for anyone or by anyone. We have facts. For 1841 QE the core question is speculation — no factual support — just loose opinions.
Roger: I agree with you on your observtions. My point was that often the TPG do not agree on Classifications until researchers like yourself and other root out the facts from the myths and auumptions and clarify what indeed the thre truth is.