$20 Double Eagle (St Gaudens and Liberty): specifications, value and where to buy

Before 1933, Americans spent gold. The double eagle, worth twenty dollars, carried nearly an ounce of it. Millions were melted after gold was recalled in 1933, but enough survived that ordinary dates still trade today at prices close to bullion. This page covers both designs, what they are worth, what dealers charged this morning, and the tax rules in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

What are the Double Eagle's specifications?

Sources: numismatic references listed below. The two designs were struck to the same legal standard, so small differences in quoted weights reflect rounding.

The Liberty Head comes in three types: Type 1 with no motto and "TWENTY D." (to 1866), Type 2 with IN GOD WE TRUST added in 1866, and Type 3 with the denomination spelled out as "TWENTY DOLLARS" from 1877. The Saint-Gaudens, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and adapted for production by Charles Barber, began with an ultra high relief version in 1907; about 12,000 high relief coins were struck before the design was flattened for practical coining. The motto was added in 1908 after a public outcry. The same Liberty design lives on today on the obverse of the US Mint's American Gold Eagle.

What is a Double Eagle worth today?

Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. Last updated: Loading. Our coin melt value calculator handles any mix of US gold coins.

What do dealers charge? Bullion vs numismatic pricing

Pre-1933 coins have two possible prices. A bullion price follows the gold content, with a small premium. A numismatic (collector) price depends on rarity and condition, and can be many times the gold value. Common-date double eagles in ordinary grades sit in the first group. We captured SD Bullion's random-year prices with an automated check on 11 October 2026 between 11:28 and 11:30 UTC, with spot at $4,195.60 (gold-api.com). The gold in each coin was worth $4,059.24.

Lowest quantity tier on each SD Bullion product page. Random-year coins: the dealer chooses the date. Grades: AU = about uncirculated, BU = brilliant uncirculated, MS-62 = mint state 62 on the 70-point scale, certified by NGC or PCGS.

Two things stand out. First, these premiums were lower than for a modern coin: a 1 oz American Gold Eagle cost 3.33% over spot at the same dealer that morning. Per ounce of gold, a BU Saint worked out at $4,308.75 against $4,335.39 for the Eagle. Second, grade made only a small difference at this level, because these are common dates. The picture changes completely for scarce dates, high relief 1907 coins and higher certified grades, where collector demand drives the price. Read bullion vs numismatic coins and our guide to PCGS vs NGC grading before paying a collector premium.

How are Double Eagles taxed?

Canadian buyers face the same issue as with 22-carat coins; see why 22ct coins are taxed in Canada. In the UK, the 180% test is what matters for rare dates: a scarce double eagle selling for more than 1.8 times its gold value falls outside the investment gold definition, so VAT treatment depends on how the seller handles it.

Are Double Eagles IRA eligible?

No. Section 408(m) of the US tax code treats any coin as a collectible inside an IRA unless it is one of the listed US coins, such as the American Eagle gold coins, or bullion meeting the fineness required for futures delivery. A 90% gold coin from before 1933 is neither, so buying one in an IRA is treated as a distribution. If you want US gold in an IRA, the modern American Gold Eagle is the usual route.

Which years and varieties matter?

How do you spot a fake Double Eagle?

• Weigh and measure: about 33.43 g and 34 mm. A coin that is light, heavy or the wrong size is suspect.
• Check the colour and lustre. Genuine 90% gold has a warm, slightly reddish tone from the copper. Fakes can look too yellow or have a greasy, soft look.
• Look at the edge. Saints have raised lettering and stars; Liberty coins are reeded. Uneven or mushy edges are a warning sign.
• Prefer certified coins for higher grades. Pre-1933 gold has long attracted counterfeiters, and a holder from NGC or PCGS adds protection, though fake holders also exist.

Our guide to how to tell if gold is real covers home tests.

Where can you buy Double Eagles?

Large US online dealers sell random-year double eagles by grade. SD Bullion had both designs in stock in every grade we checked, and APMEX and Money Metals Exchange also sell pre-1933 US gold. In the UK, some specialist coin dealers stock US gold, but VAT, CGT and import costs make it a less obvious choice than CGT-free Sovereigns. Our guide to buying from the US Mint explains why the mint itself only sells modern coins. New buyers may prefer the lower-risk options in our best gold coins for beginners, and gold coins vs gold bars compares costs. See all gold coin guides for related coins, including Indian Head gold coins.

Check Double Eagles at SD Bullion

Pros and cons

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.