A masterpiece of American numismatic art, the 1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle, designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, will be a centerpiece at the American Numismatic Association’s 2025 Oklahoma City World’s Fair of Money, held August 19-23. Graded PCGS Proof 68, this iconic coin, often hailed as America’s most beautiful coin design, is on loan from California collector Dan O’Dowd, owner of the prestigious Tyrant Collection.
O’Dowd, who acquired the $20 gold piece for $2,115,000 in 2015, expressed his enthusiasm: “It is not only the most beautiful coin America has ever produced, but it also rivals anything created by any other country.” Insured for $5 million, the coin features Saint-Gaudens’ intricate design, inspired by ancient Greek aesthetics, and bears inverted edge lettering of the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM and the designer’s initials, ASG. Commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to elevate early 20th-century U.S. coinage, this coin represents a pinnacle of artistic and historical significance.
The 1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle is exceptionally rare, with the United States Mint producing fewer than two dozen patterns. “It required multiple strikes in the coining press to bring up the design, and the coins could not be stacked due to the high relief,” explained Ira Goldberg, CEO of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, Inc., who has assisted O’Dowd in curating the Tyrant Collection, often regarded as the world’s most valuable rare coin collection in private hands. The high relief was later reduced for mass production, making these original patterns even more coveted.
This particular coin, presented to Saint-Gaudens’ widow, Augusta, in 1908 on behalf of President Roosevelt, was later inherited by their son, Homer. It was loaned to the American Numismatic Society in New York until 1950, then privately sold in the 1970s. O’Dowd purchased it at Heritage Auctions’ Florida United Numismatists sale in January 2015. Public sightings have been scarce, with only two prior exhibitions since 2015—at the 2021 ANA Chicago World’s Fair of Money and the 2022 Long Beach Expo—making its appearance in Oklahoma City a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts.
The coin will be showcased in the ANA’s Museum Showcase exhibits, offering attendees a chance to view a numismatic treasure that blends artistry, history, and rarity. For more details about the Tyrant Collection, visit www.TheTyrantCollection.com. Additional information about the ANA 2025 Oklahoma City World’s Fair of Money is available at www.WorldsFairofMoney.com.