Tag: Whitman Publishing

Collecting Strategies

Coin Collecting Strategies – Collecting By Die Variety

Background of the Saint-Gaudens $20 Doube Eagle The Saint-Gaudens double eagle is one of the most famous of all American coin types. Its existence came only at the insistence of President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought for years to beautiful America’s humdrum coin designs. Saint-Gaudens’ involvement in the process was meant to be more far-reaching than it turned out to be. The artist set out to redesign every denomination of America’s circulating coinage but fell seriously ill before this plan could truly come to fruition. In fact, what we have in the form of the Saint Gaudens-designed $10 and $20 gold coins were actually only made possible due to the work of Saint Gaudens’ assistant Henry Hering. The Mint’s first strikings of this $20 design came in the form of two dozen Proofs, which were struck in March, each coin requiring nine impressions to realize the full detail of Saint-Gaudens’ high relief design. The Mint’s engraving department, led by Chief Engraver Charles Barber, was adamant that the high relief models were completely impractical for use in striking circulating coins. Barber is often slandered in numismatic circles as being entitled, hard to deal with, and unprofessional to his peers in the U.S. Mint engraving department and to outside artists. This could not be farther from the truth, and in the case of the double eagle design, he was absolutely correct! All double eagles struck in 1907 and most struck in 1908 lack the motto "In God We Trust" and are referred to as No Motto types. "With Motto" double eagles were struck from 1908 through 1933 when production of the coin was terminated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive orders recalling all privately owned gold. Design The obverse features a full-length image of Liberty, facing forward, with an olive branch in her extended left hand and a raised torch in her extended right hand. Draped in a long, flowing gown, her hair is swept to the left. Some describe her as striding forward; the foot of her left leg rests on a large rock (in front of which are oak leaves), difficult terrain through which to be walking. To Liberty's right, at the bottom of the coin, the sun is visible behind a depiction of the United States Capitol building. Rays from the sun extend upward from behind the Capitol and Liberty to about the level of Liberty's waist. At the top of the coin is the word LIBERTY, the torch separating I and B. Forty-six tiny six-pointed stars (48 stars from 1912 forward) are arrayed just inside the flat rim, forming a circle broken only at the bottom. The date, in 'Arabic' numerals, is at the right bottom, above the rock, and a monogram of the designer's initials ASG is below the date. With Motto Saints were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco; D and S mintmarks are located above the date. The crest of the sun appears again on the reverse, at the bottom with rays extending upward nearly to the top of coin behind a majestic left-facing eagle, wings uplifted in flight. In an arc above the sun is IN GOD WE TRUST, the words separated by centered triangular dots. At the top is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in a concentric arc next to the flat rim, with TWENTY DOLLARS just below in another arc. The words of both phrases are separated by centered triangular dots, and the text is also in front of the sun's rays. E PLURIBUS UNUM in raised letters, with 13 separating raised stars, is on the edge of the coin.  
Coins and Kids

Submissions Accepted for ANA Young Numismatist Literary Awards

Whitman Publishes Q. David Bowers Guide Book of Quarter Eagle Gold Coins
US Gold Coins

Whitman Publishes Q. David Bowers Guide Book of Quarter Eagle Gold...

Q. David Bowers Retires Two Major Columns As Storied Career Continues to Reshape Numismatics
People

Q. David Bowers Retires Two Major Columns As Storied Career Continues...

So-Called Dollars From 1876 Centennial Exposition Included in 2022 Mega Red Book
Books & Supplies

So-Called Dollars From 1876 Centennial Exposition Included in 2022 Mega Red...

Jim Bisognani: In Memoriam - A Truly One-of-a-Kind Friend
In Memoriam

Jim Bisognani: In Memoriam – A Truly One-of-a-Kind Friend

American Numismatic Association (ANA)
American Numismatic Association

Exceptional Numismatic Writers Receive ANA Awards

Books & Supplies

As Red Book Celebrates 75 Years, a Look at How Today’s...

Background of the Saint-Gaudens $20 Doube Eagle The Saint-Gaudens double eagle is one of the most famous of all American coin types. Its existence came only at the insistence of President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought for years to beautiful America’s humdrum coin designs. Saint-Gaudens’ involvement in the process was meant to be more far-reaching than it turned out to be. The artist set out to redesign every denomination of America’s circulating coinage but fell seriously ill before this plan could truly come to fruition. In fact, what we have in the form of the Saint Gaudens-designed $10 and $20 gold coins were actually only made possible due to the work of Saint Gaudens’ assistant Henry Hering. The Mint’s first strikings of this $20 design came in the form of two dozen Proofs, which were struck in March, each coin requiring nine impressions to realize the full detail of Saint-Gaudens’ high relief design. The Mint’s engraving department, led by Chief Engraver Charles Barber, was adamant that the high relief models were completely impractical for use in striking circulating coins. Barber is often slandered in numismatic circles as being entitled, hard to deal with, and unprofessional to his peers in the U.S. Mint engraving department and to outside artists. This could not be farther from the truth, and in the case of the double eagle design, he was absolutely correct! All double eagles struck in 1907 and most struck in 1908 lack the motto "In God We Trust" and are referred to as No Motto types. "With Motto" double eagles were struck from 1908 through 1933 when production of the coin was terminated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive orders recalling all privately owned gold. Design The obverse features a full-length image of Liberty, facing forward, with an olive branch in her extended left hand and a raised torch in her extended right hand. Draped in a long, flowing gown, her hair is swept to the left. Some describe her as striding forward; the foot of her left leg rests on a large rock (in front of which are oak leaves), difficult terrain through which to be walking. To Liberty's right, at the bottom of the coin, the sun is visible behind a depiction of the United States Capitol building. Rays from the sun extend upward from behind the Capitol and Liberty to about the level of Liberty's waist. At the top of the coin is the word LIBERTY, the torch separating I and B. Forty-six tiny six-pointed stars (48 stars from 1912 forward) are arrayed just inside the flat rim, forming a circle broken only at the bottom. The date, in 'Arabic' numerals, is at the right bottom, above the rock, and a monogram of the designer's initials ASG is below the date. With Motto Saints were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco; D and S mintmarks are located above the date. The crest of the sun appears again on the reverse, at the bottom with rays extending upward nearly to the top of coin behind a majestic left-facing eagle, wings uplifted in flight. In an arc above the sun is IN GOD WE TRUST, the words separated by centered triangular dots. At the top is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in a concentric arc next to the flat rim, with TWENTY DOLLARS just below in another arc. The words of both phrases are separated by centered triangular dots, and the text is also in front of the sun's rays. E PLURIBUS UNUM in raised letters, with 13 separating raised stars, is on the edge of the coin.  
Coins and Kids

Submissions Accepted for ANA Young Numismatist Literary Awards

Whitman Baltimore Coin & Collectibles Expo

Baltimore Expo June 2021 Canceled Due to COVID-19 Prohibitions

CoinWeek Podcast #150: How R.S. Yeoman Changed the Coin Collecting Hobby Forever
CoinWeek Podcast

CoinWeek Podcast #150: How R.S. Yeoman Changed the Coin Collecting Hobby...

Whitman Baltimore Coin & Collectibles Expo

March 2021 Baltimore Expo Canceled Due to Mandated COVID-19 Restrictions

American Numismatic Association (ANA)
American Numismatic Association

Burnett Anderson Memorial, Booster Awards Presented by ANA at Virtual Event

American Numismatic Association (ANA)
ANA

Exceptional Numismatic Writers Receive ANA Awards

Shows & Conventions

Whitman Cancels Nov. Expo in Baltimore, Looking for Alternate Venue

Numismatic Books

First Read: 100 Greatest Modern World Coins… Review by Louis Golino

Book Releases

PennyBoard Press Publishes Latest Coin Album Book From David Lange

Books & Supplies

1892-S Morgan Dollar, Uncirculated, $15—No Haggling!

Numismatic Books

British Rarities Rank Among the 100 Greatest Modern World Coins

Coins and Kids

Jeff Garrett: The Great American Coin Hunt – 2020 Edition

The Red Book - Guide Book of United States Coins by Whitman Publishing
Book Releases

New 2021 Official Red Book Will Debut April 7

CoinWeek Podcast

CoinWeek Podcast #130: Discussing the 100 Greatest Modern World Coins

Errors & Varieties

Jeff Garrett: Coin Collecting by Die Variety

Numismatic Books

CoinWeek First Read: 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, Second Edition

Modern World Coin

Donald Scarinci on the 100 Greatest Modern World Coins: Whitman

Book Releases

New Whitman Book Explores 100 Greatest Modern World Coins

Treasure

Coin Hoards, Treasures, and Troves: Separating Truth From Taradiddles!

US Coins

Bill Bierly’s In God We Trust Shows Numismatic Research is...

Book Releases

In God We Trust: New Whitman Book Explores the Civil War,...

Numismatic Books

Capturing the Excitement of Lost and Found Coin Treasures

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