United States Mint Releases Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin on January 22

January 22, 2009
Digital Reproduction of Original 1907 Double Eagle Gold Piece is a Triumph in 21st Century Technology and Coin Design

WASHINGTON — The United States Mint is proud to announce the opening of sales for the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin on January 22, 2009, at noon Eastern Time (ET). Pricing for the 24–karat one–ounce gold coin will be based on the United States Mint’s new pricing structure–implemented January 12–and may change weekly. Information about the most current pricing for the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin will be posted on the United States Mint’s Web site, http://catalog.usmint.gov/.

Production of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin is subject to the availability of gold blanks. To ensure the broadest and most fair access to this coin, orders will be limited to one coin per household. The United States Mint will re–evaluate the order limit on a weekly basis and either extend, adjust or remove the limit as needed.

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin is a digitally reproduced version of sculptor Augustus Saint–Gaudens’ original ultra high relief 1907 Double Eagle gold piece, never issued into circulation. On the coin’s obverse, Saint–Gaudens shows Liberty, personified by a statuesque woman striding forward. A young eagle flying during a sunrise is depicted on the reverse. The original 1907 Double Eagle is considered by many to be the most beautiful coin ever produced in the United States. Despite Saint–Gaudens’ artistic masterpiece, however, the minting process at the time did not allow for mass production of ultra high relief coins, and his artistic vision was never fully realized.

Through 21st century design and technology, the original Saint–Gaudens coin plasters were digitally mapped, and the ultra high relief sculpture was updated to reflect the year “2009” in Roman numerals (MMIX). Four stars were added to the design to represent the last four states admitted to the Union. The inscription IN GOD WE TRUST, which was not on the 1907 version, also was added, along with a small border to provide a more consistent edge. Featured in raised lettering on the edge of the coin is the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, with each letter separated by a star.

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin is encased in a protective capsule mounted in a wood platform housed in a velvet–lined, highly lacquered mahogany wood box. The box bears inscriptions in a font similar to those used in the early 1900s when the original coin was produced.

Included with each coin is an official United States Mint companion book that chronicles the story of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin by describing the technology and processes used to perfect this unique legal tender United States coin. (The book is not sold separately.)

Internet and telephone sales will begin on January 22, at 12:00 noon ET. Orders will be processed on a first–come, first–serve basis, and may take up to six to nine months to fulfill based on gold blank availability. Credit cards will be billed as products are shipped from our distribution center. Because of possible fluctuations in pricing, no mail orders will be accepted.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on–sale date and time of noon ET on January 22, 2009, shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.

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Press Inquiries: Office of Corporate Communications (202) 354-7222
Customer Service Information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)

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