LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

3360

1908 $20 Motto MS66 PCGS

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:18,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1908 $20 Motto MS66 PCGS
<B>1908 $20 Motto MS66 PCGS.</B></I> Omitting the customary motto IN GOD WE TRUST was not a trivial matter for President Roosevelt. As early as April 1907, he asked Director Roberts for an opinion. According to Roger Burdette's research in the archives: "Roberts replied that it was not required by law, but that the Solicitor of the Treasury said that the motto had been in use for so long that that Congress may have lost the ability to prevent its use." Roosevelt decided to omit the motto on the new gold coin designs and all double eagles and eagles issued in 1907 lacked the motto. This simplified the designs and improved the overall artistic effect.<BR> When the first coins were released in early November 1907, the omission was noticed immediately. Within a few days, letters, telegrams, and petitions peppered the President, Congress, Treasury and the Mint Bureau. Roosevelt issued a lengthy statement explaining his view that, " ... to put such a motto on coins ... does positive harm ... and is in effect irreverence which comes dangerously close to sacrilege ... A beautiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily implies a certain exaltation of spirit." But public sentiment and the Congress were too much behind adding the motto, and by February 20, 1908, the mint had struck a pattern double eagle with the motto on the reverse for Roosevelt to approve. Legislation requiring the motto easily passed Congress and was signed on May 17. By May 23, the mint had made new patterns of both ten and twenty dollar coins for final approval. After June 17, 1908, all the new design gold coins carried the required inscription.<BR> This is an impressively struck MS66 example that has rich mint frost and gorgeous apricot-gold and mint-green patina with an overlay of beautiful, subtle rose and lilac. An outstanding, high grade With Motto twenty and a scarce opportunity to acquire this issue in the ultimate grade. Only 10 other pieces have been so graded by PCGS, and nine others by NGC, with none finer at either service (11/07). <BR><I>From The Jacob Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Augustus Saint-Gaudens<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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