High Relief Gold Returns to High Demand

Peter Rexford
Wed, 14 Oct 2015 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Artists/sculptors have long known there's only so much they can do with a coin. After all, it's just a small piece of metal maybe an inch or two in diameter. You can only squeeze so much into a design on that small space.

That was especially true several thousand years ago. Then, there was precious little technology for those making coins to create intricately detailed images. That being said, it's nothing short of amazing what they were able to do, including crafting images remarkably reflective of an emperor or iconic persona.

One thing that has helped, though rarely done, is thinking beyond the flat dimension. Most often, designs don't have much physical depth. For U.S. coins, that changed dramatically 108 years ago when the U.S. Mint created the 1907 High Relief St. Gauden's $20 gold piece. That particular coin featured a design with an exceptionally deep strike. The image of Walking Liberty on the obverse was more like a deep sunken relief with the image jumping out of the background.
Updated: Thu Oct 15, 2015

Artists/sculptors have long known there's only so much they can do with a coin. After all, it's just a small piece of metal maybe an inch or two in diameter. You can only squeeze so much into a design on that small space.

That was especially true several thousand years ago. Then, there was precious little technology for those making coins to create intricately detailed images. That being said, it's nothing short of amazing what they were able to do, including crafting images remarkably reflective of an emperor or iconic persona.

One thing that has helped, though rarely done, is thinking beyond the flat dimension. Most often, designs don't have much physical depth. For U.S. coins, that changed dramatically 108 years ago when the U.S. Mint created the 1907 High Relief St. Gauden's $20 gold piece. That particular coin featured a design with an exceptionally deep strike. The image of Walking Liberty on the obverse was more like a deep sunken relief with the image jumping out of the background.

Because of the difficultly in making the coins, only about 12,000 were produced. Today, collectors eagerly seek them out and regularly pay $15,000 to $25,000 for nice specimens. After that striking, the series of 20-dollar coins continued but with the designs the same as most any other issue.

Fast-forward a little over a century later, and the Mint has again created a high-relief gold coin collectors are clamoring over. Curiously, there are a few overtones that make the design similar to the sought-after gold release of 1907.

The new coin took over a year to create from original concept to the actual strike. The mission proposed by those involved was to create a 'modern' Liberty that reflects the nation's diversity. That meant that the allegorical figure of Liberty on the obverse needed to blend several racial profiles. The successful result shows a more complex female figure with a crown of leaves holding a torch in one hand and an American flag in the other. In the field is the word "LIBERTY" and "In God We Trust."

The reverse design is what is so similar to the 1907 version created by Augustus St. Gaudens. It features a majestic eagle in flight from right to left with a pronounced olive branch in its talons. On it is the inscription "E Pluribus Unum," the legal tender denomination "One Hundred Dollars" and "1 OZ. .9999 Fine Gold." That purity level is one of the highest available in any gold coin.

As of last week, the popularity of the coin is more than evident. The issuance is limited to just 50,000 coins and, of those, 43,000 have already been sold. That leaves a paltry 7,000 still available to collectors. I agree that it's too early to start thinking about Christmas, but in this case ...?

The 2015 High Relief Gold Coin is available exclusively directly from the U.S. Mint. As of this writing, the cost is $1,540 but that can fluctuate with the spot price of gold. Gold prices change on the Mint's website on Wednesdays should the value of gold move up or down.

The 24-karat coin comes packaged in a black velvet protective box and comes with a certificate of authenticity. For more information or to see enlarged images of the coin log onto www.USMint.gov. Phone orders are also available at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

If you log onto the Mint's website, be sure to click on the "LEARN" tab. There, the Mint has put together invaluable and extensive information on topics ranging from: coin and medal programs, collecting basics, how to find a coin club, how coins are made, coin history and profiles of the artists. Best of all, should you find yourself laid up after breaking an arm — as happened to loyal reader Anne in Springfield — the site can still be easily enjoyed without a problem. Get well!

Under that same tab, another section entitled "For Educators, For Kids" features fun and interactive games guaranteed to involve kids and let them learn without realizing it. Now that has more value than any collectible.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the front and back of the new 2015 High Relief Gold Coin has been sent with this column.