Art Mint creates an homage to ten of the greatest coins in US history starting with the iconic 1833 Double Eagle

We’re big fans of coins that celebrate the history of numismatics, from CIT’s incredible homage to the ancient coin world, to the National Bank of Poland’s reliving of their own nation’s numismatic legacy. Joining them is Parisian producer, Art Mint, who have just debuted the first in a new ten-coin series, to be released two-per-year over the next five years. The title, ‘Greatest United States Coins’ should tell you exactly what the focus of these coins is.

The first issue is starting the series off at the very peak of desirability, with the legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle, a coin that in 2021 sold at auction for a simply mind-boggling $18,872,250. The reason for that is simple. The coin was never actually issued, a victim of the US abandoning the gold standard, but a few examples did leak from the mint, escaping the ignominious fate of being melted down. Only one is in private hands, hence the value.

The design wasn’t a 1933 original, actually dating back to the Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed coin from 1905 which had a difficult early life, not coming to market in a practical form until 1907. It actually ended production in 1933, although the Liberty obverse continues to grace the American Gold Eagle bullion coin to this day.

That Lady Liberty obverse features the American icon holding a torch and olive branch, said to symbolise peace and enlightenment, and behind her is a stylised sunburst, and a small depiction of the US Capitol. The original design is bordered by a silver ring holding the issue inscriptions, giving an effect similar to a British £2 coin, but far more attractive, with its hard transition from the gilded centre.

The reverse face has a similar setup, with the border having the series title, and a small US flag in it. The central gilded area reproduces that gorgeous eagle in flight, with a more detailed sunburst behind it. The way the original inscriptions were integrated into the design was expertly realised, keeping the whole thing as clean as can be expected of practical currency. A stunning coin.

Kudos to Art Mint for a sympathetic, and very high quality homage to a numismatic legend. Virtually nobody is ever going to hold an original, but that doesn’t mean collectors can’t bathe in a little reflected glory. The series has huge potential, and it’s clear from this first issue that it will be realised. Tomorrow, we’ll be looking at the second 2025 issue, the even prettier 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar. I don’t cover much current US Mint product, simply because it’s covered so extensively elsewhere, but this coin has made me realise that may be a mistake, so expect a little more moving forward. Available to order now, just 500 will be struck.