By Roger Burdette

The MMIX ultra high relief gold double eagle was inspired by the original extremely high relief experimental pieces struck in 1907. Mint Director Edmund Moy commented on several occasions that he wanted the U.S. Mint to right the wrong done to Saint-Gaudens’s design in 1907. He wanted to make this magnificent design available to coin collectors in all its original glory.

The design itself was first shown to President Theodore Roosevelt in December 1906. At the time, Roosevelt ordered the Mint to produce experimental examples exactly following the artist’s models. Mint engraver Charles Barber took his job seriously, and although he and Saint-Gaudens despised one another personally, Barber had considerable respect for the sculptor’s artistic talent and reputation. To a remarkable extent, this was accomplished by Barber during the first week of January 1907, with considerable assistance from Henri Weil. The two not only prepared hubs for a normal 32-millimeter diameter double eagle, but another set that were 27-millimeters in diameter – the size of the current $10 gold eagle.

Experimental pieces in both diameters were intended to determine how many blows it took to fully express Saint-Gaudens’ high relief design. Everyone, including Saint-Gaudens, knew that a coin with such high relief could not be struck with one blow from a normal press, but no one knew how many it would take. Barber hoped that the small diameter pieces would allow more of the force of the press to be concentrated and result in fully struck coins with fewer blows.

During the second week of February fifteen small diameter pieces were struck, although we do not know how many blows it took. Each coin was 27-millimeters in diameter but contained the same gold as a $20 coin. The result was a small, very thick coin with a decided “lump-like” feel. As was common, the mint director, George Roberts, took a couple specimens of normal and small diameter experimental pieces back to Washington. He gave one pair to Mint Auditor (and former Director) Robert Preston, and kept one pair for himself after showing the pieces to the President. (more…)