The 1907 Saint-Gaudens $20 Gold Ultra High Relief is the most visually desirable coin of the Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin series. Many collectors and investors consider the 1907 Ultra High Relief coin to be finest example of what America has produced numismatically. Teddy Roosevelt was a coin collector and helped make its design a reality adding to its legendary status.

Collectors Dashboard has written about key date coins in our collector informative key date series. One aspect about collecting are the transactions that are not made by auction house sales but rather by two auction houses buying coins between each other. This was a transaction between Heritage Auctions and GreatCollections.

The GreatCollections press release showed how This $20 gold coin is one of America’s greatest coins, and the 1907 Saint-Gaudens Ultra High Relief changed hands for a record $4.75 million in a private transaction between GreatCollections Coin Auctions and Heritage Auctions. (Image via GreatCollections press release)

Ian Russell, president of Great Collections, said after purchasing the coin from Heritage:

“After our display of the legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens at the ANA in August, we had been searching for a superb Ultra High Relief for the same owner as the 1933 Saint. 20 years ago, he set his goal to own both of these coins and today he realized his dream.”

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Multi-million dollars for a single coin should scream “investment” that could have gone a long way in stocks, bonds or real estate. Collectors with a passion to own a collectible for years frequently have to compete directly against investors whose only desire is to make a profit in the future.

According to GreatCollections, fewer than 20 of the Ultra High Relief or Extremely High Relief were minted. To make scarcity even stronger, it is estimated that just 13 to 15 examples exist today. Separate from the Ultra High Relief is a High Relief that was issued for circulation in 1907. Popular among collectors, the High Relief 1907 varieties typically sell between $20,000 to $40,000 in mid grades to near uncirculated grades.

As for the provenance and history, the Great Collections press release said:

“The coin was owned by Bob R. Simpson, founder of XTO Energy and an owner of the Texas Rangers, who purchased it in 2007 for $1.84 million. Prior to Mr. Simpson’s ownership, its pedigree includes the famed J.F. Bell and Col. E.H.R. Green collections.”

Heritage Auctions has sold these 1907 Saint-Gaudens examples in 2021:

• 1907 $20 Ultra High Relief, Normal Edge Lettering, PR68 NGC sold for $3,600,000.00 on February 24, 2021 after 30 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, PR69 NGC sold for $660,000.00 on September 18, 2020 after 33 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS67 PCGS CAC PCGS #9135 sold for $312,000.00 on June 14, 2018 after 14 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS67 PCGS CAC PCGS #9136 sold for $312,000.00 on August 14, 2019 after 22 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS67 PCGS CAC sold for $264,000.00 on September 17, 2020 after 25 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS68 NGC sold for $264,000.00 on December 5, 2019 after 27 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim, MS67 PCGS CAC sold for $258,000.00 on January 9, 2020 after 23 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS67 PCGS sold for $252,000.00 on August 18, 2021 after 45 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim, MS67 PCGS CAC sold for $228,000.00 on January 9, 2020 after 17 bids.
• 1907 $20 MS68 PCGS “Single-Finest Certified Example” sold for $216,000.00 on August 18, 2021 after 30 bids.

After this last transaction, it seems rather safe to assume some of these lower sales might now fetch even higher prices.

The Ultra High Relief was never available to the general public or numismatists at the time. According to GreatCollections nearly all known examples can be traced directly to President Theodore Roosevelt or Chief Engraver Charles Barber. Saint-Gaudens was a renowned sculpture of the time. Owning what can be considered the prettiest coin has its perks.