| The first gold coins in the United States were | | | | U.S. coins minted before 1933 with a $20 Double |
| issued back in 1795. The Unites States Mint set | | | | Eagle. Note that from 1849 to 1907 U.S. Mist |
| the value of the U.S. Dollar at 24 grains of gold. | | | | issued the Liberty series. The Mint then changed |
| The value was based in accordance with the | | | | the design of the Double Eagle into Saint-Gaudens. |
| world price on the precious metal, which at that | | | | The latter were minted in the period between |
| time was $19.39 per troy ounce. | | | | 1907 and 1933. |
| The U.S. gold coins started to be issued in seven | | | | Starting a collection of Pre- 1933 U.S. gold coins is |
| different mints around the country as the | | | | advantageous for several reasons: |
| Western Frontier of the Unites States began its | | | | "Pure Gold Content" - this means that each coin |
| expansion. The mints were set from Philadelphia | | | | includes almost 1 troy ounce of gold. |
| to San Francisco. The sizes of coins varied from | | | | "A Double Profit Opportunity" The gold market is |
| one dollar gold piece to fifty dollar denomination. It | | | | continuously changing and $20 Double Eagle gold |
| is worth mentioning that at that time the U.S. | | | | coins already have a history showing the |
| mints issued coins that were worth their weight in | | | | continuously rising value, which goes 2 to 3 times |
| gold. | | | | higher in value if compared to the gold bullion |
| In 1834 and 1837 U.S. Congress modified the gold | | | | alone. |
| specifications by setting the price of gold at a | | | | The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle Coin |
| mark of $20.67 per ounce. When the Great | | | | One of the most valuable, if not the most |
| Depression occurred in 1933, President Roosevelt | | | | valuable, coin is considered to be the 1933 |
| made gold an illegal asset for the citizens of the | | | | Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle1933 |
| United States. During this period, by Roosevelt's | | | | Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle. It actually was |
| order, all gold coins were returned to U.S. | | | | never officially issued. Still it appeared from 1907 |
| Treasury and the melted into gold bars. After | | | | until 1932. Although in 1933 there were 445,500 |
| that the value of the U.S. dollar coin was set to | | | | Double Eagle minted, none were released into |
| $35 per ounce. The global outcome was to | | | | circulation because of the changes made in |
| decrease by 40 percent the buying power of the | | | | currency laws during the Great Depression. |
| dollar | | | | The result of the Great Depression was that |
| When millions of gold coins were melted into gold | | | | president Franklin Roosevelt took America off the |
| bars, they became very rare and thus highly | | | | gold standard. The gold coins were drawn out of |
| sought by various collectors. According to money | | | | circulation and afterwards were not issued |
| experts only about one percent of gold coins can | | | | anymore. Besides, people had to return the ones |
| be found today. Each gold coin that survived till | | | | they had |
| nowadays is highly valued by collectors and | | | | Later, in 1933, the Double Eagle coins were |
| investors. | | | | declared illegal. It was prohibited to own any of |
| Every gold coins minted in the United States | | | | the gold coins, unless they had a collectible value. |
| before 1933, is valued on individual basis according | | | | The same year Gold Double Eagle coinsGold |
| to its date, rarity, appeal among various collectors | | | | Double Eagle coins were ordered to be melted by |
| and its grade. | | | | the U.S. Mint. By 1937 billions of gold bars were |
| What is Rare Coin Grading Worth? | | | | made out of these unique coins. |
| Coins that fall under the category "rare" are | | | | A few coins have escaped from being melted |
| graded on ANA (American Numismatic | | | | down. In1933 two of them were given by the |
| Association). The scale ranges from 1 to 70. Coins | | | | Mint to the U.S. National Numismatic Collection at |
| are certified authentic and then PCGS or NGC, | | | | the Smithsonian Institute. These two Gold Double |
| two leaders in providing coin grading services. For | | | | Eagle coins were known as the only legal |
| example a gold coin graded 1 has a slightly visible | | | | specimens to ever become part of a coin |
| date, very wear and its value is a little above its | | | | collection. Still by 1952, eight additional coins were |
| weight in gold or precious metals. Obviously the | | | | discovered. These were confiscated by the |
| better the coin is preserved the more a collector | | | | Secret Service. |
| or investor in willing to pay for it. | | | | Today 19 of the some of most valuable 1933 |
| Double Eagles | | | | Gold Double Eagle coins are owned by a |
| 1933_double_eagle_gold_coin_reverse - Very | | | | Philadelphian jeweler, Israel Switt. |
| often a collector starts his Gold Coin Collection of | | | | |