The 1924 Double Eagle stands out as the most prevalent date within this particular series. A substantial portion, nearly 10%, of the vast mintage exceeding 4 million coins has undergone evaluation by prominent grading services. Remarkably, NGC alone has appraised over 100,000 coins in the MS 64 grade category. During this period, a significant portion of Europe grappled with financial instability, prompting the dispatch of substantial quantities of these dated Double Eagles and their kin for international financial dealings. Many of these coins lingered overseas for extended durations, with substantial quantities steadily making their way back to the United States annually. Fortunately, the abundant supply of these coins renders them a prime choice as a representative specimen of this issue.
NGC has assessed two coins with an MS 68 rating, with the most recent sale in 2005 fetching a notable $48,875 at auction. A 1924 St. Gaudens Gold Coin, displaying signs of circulation, commands a market value ranging from $2,075 to $2,175. Nevertheless, in pristine, uncirculated condition, 1924 Double Eagles have been known to secure prices as high as $100,000 when traded on the open market. It’s essential to note that encountering a Saint-Gaudens $20 double eagle gold coin in circulation, or any U.S. gold coin for that matter, is an exceedingly rare occurrence. In total, the United States Mint produced 4,323,500 examples, with the majority subjected to a recall by the federal government following Roosevelt’s executive order. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of specimens eluded confiscation efforts.
Within numismatic circles, this particular date is often referred to as “generic gold” by coin dealers and telemarketers. While the term “generic” might appear uninspiring to some, in the world of rare coin collecting, it typically denotes a coin that possesses a nominal numismatic worth exceeding its intrinsic value. In its raw, ungraded state, an About Uncirculated or Brilliant Uncirculated example typically trades at the prevalent spot price. In certified grades of MS63 and MS64, these standard Saint-Gaudens issues carry a premium of roughly 15% over the spot price.
When it comes to typically encountered grades, the market valuation for 1924 Saint-Gaudens $20 double eagles is quite consistent with our earlier analysis of the 1923 issue. However, a noteworthy distinction lies in the superior quality of the coins minted in 1924. While only a limited number of 1923 examples have received certification from either PCGS or NGC at the MS66 level, the 1924 issue boasts a more substantial presence in MS66, remains readily accessible in MS67, and only becomes scarce in higher grades. Up to the present time, PCGS has certified only one specimen as MS68, which was last sold at public auction in January 2006, realizing a sum of $63,250. Meanwhile, NGC has bestowed an MS68 rating upon three examples, with one of these coins fetching $48,875 when Heritage offered it for sale in November 2005. As of the time of this publication, no 1924 Saint-Gaudens double eagle has received approval from CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation). According to our assessment of the current rare coin market, we estimate the value of an MS68 specimen at $80,000 and $120,000 for an example bearing the coveted CAC sticker.