Lot 150 | Liberty Head Type, With Motto, Full Denomination
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Liberty Head Type, With Motto, Full Denomination Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Double Eagle, 1907, Roman Numerals, Extremely High or Ultra-High Relief Obverse: LIBERTY; in lower field right, M.C.M.VII above designer's monogram ASG. Liberty striding forward wearing flowing gown and with hair blowing in the wind; her left foot on a rock, at the base of which lies an oak branch; she holds a torch before her in her right hand, and an olive branch in her extended left hand. To the lower left, a small representation of the Capitol building; behind which 23 rays of sun emanate. Around, 46 stars (representing the states of the Union). Reverse: .UNITED.STATES.OF.AMERICA./ .TWENTY.DOLLARS. in two lines. Eagle flying left across 14 rays of rising sun. Edge: E*PLURIBUS*UNUM*********** in Roman Face letters, from triple segment collar. Weight: 33.41 g. Diameter: 34.3 mm. Thickness: 3.5-3.7 mm. Edge Alignment: Adopted style. Condition: GEM ROMAN FINISH PROOF. A diminimous scratch to the right of Liberty's head, an otherwise spectacular example with swirling die polish lines evident, as is normal. The sheen is as rich as could possibly be hoped for, and the depth of the strike brings up the sculptural quality the artist was striving for. Among the finest known. THE GREATEST ACHEIVEMENT IN UNITED STATES NUMISMATIC DESIGN: AUGUSTUS SAINT-GAUDENS' LAST MASTERPIECE - THE ULTRA HIGH RELIEF DOUBLE EAGLE. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the ideal individual to design a new United States coinage. The critical acclaim for his execution of the commemorative medal for the 1889 Centennial Celebration of George Washington's inauguration was extraordinary. Writing on April 27, 1889 in Harper's Weekly, critic Charles de Kay not only lauded Saint-Gaudens mastery, but was the first to compare his work to the numismatic marvels of antiquity. He went on to comment sharply about the "banality" of the then current United States coinage designs and concluded by hoping that the medal would serve as a catal
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