Ultra High Relief Twenty Dollar Gold 2009

About This Series

Realizing the artistic vision that eluded Augustus Saint-Gaudens a century earlier, the 2009 Ultra High Relief double eagle employed digital die-cutting and modern hydraulic presses to achieve extreme sculptural depth that 1907-era presses could not sustain in production. Each coin was struck multiple times under tremendous pressure for full design relief, producing medallic quality. Containing one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold at 27 mm diameter, the concave surface enhances the three-dimensional illusion of the striding Liberty. The edge is lettered with the date (MMIX in Roman numerals), mintmark (W for West Point), and mottoes. Saint-Gaudens' original 1907 ultra high relief required nine strikes per coin and proved impractical, leading to flattened versions for production through 1933. The Mint produced 115,178 pieces, each packaged in a mahogany presentation case. The coin stands as a triumphant demonstration that modern technology can fulfill the artistic ambitions of America's greatest coin designer.