1907 Proof Double Eagle Pattern - J-1776/1905

Coin Details

Auction Record

$475,000 PR65 07-28-1981 Bowers & Ruddy

Description

Judd-1776 is one of the most celebrated pattern coins in American numismatics — an ultra-high relief experimental striking of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' revolutionary double eagle design. President Theodore Roosevelt personally commissioned Saint-Gaudens, America's foremost sculptor, to redesign the eagle and double eagle denominations, seeking to elevate American coinage to the artistic level of ancient Greek coins. Saint-Gaudens' obverse features a striding Liberty holding a torch and olive branch, inspired by his own 1903 inaugural medal for Roosevelt, while the reverse depicts a majestic eagle in flight above a rising sun. The ultra-high relief format required multiple strikes under extreme pressure to bring up the full sculptural detail, making these pieces impractical for mass production but breathtaking as works of art. Saint-Gaudens died on August 3, 1907, before seeing his designs enter full production, and these ultra-high relief strikings represent his original artistic vision at its most faithful. Chief Engraver Charles Barber, who clashed repeatedly with Saint-Gaudens over the practicality of the high-relief design, ultimately modified the relief for production coinage. The dual catalog number reflects different numbering in the Judd (J-1776) and PCGS (1905) reference systems.

Rarity Notes

R-8 (Extremely Rare). Ultra-high relief Saint-Gaudens patterns are among the most valuable American coins, with individual specimens realizing $1 million to $3 million+ at auction.

Cross References

Judd J-1776, also PCGS P-1905