2026 Silver Eagle FDI Jeff Garrett Red Book

Description

1908 $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle, No Motto, Wells Fargo Discovery Hoard. This exceptional 1908 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle represents one of the most significant numismatic discoveries of the modern era. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint and graded NGC MS70, this coin exemplifies the extraordinary quality of the legendary Wells Fargo Discovery hoard. Composed of 90% gold and 10% copper, this piece weighs 33.4 grams and displays the iconic design by Augustus Saint Gaudens, featuring the distinctive No Motto variety characteristic of early Saint Gaudens issues. The Wells Fargo Discovery, uncovered in the early 1990s by dealer Ron Gillio, consisted of approximately 9,900 remarkably preserved 1908 No Motto Saints discovered in a Las Vegas Wells Fargo bank vault. This hoard fundamentally altered the collector's understanding of Saint Gaudens coinage, as these coins displayed exceptional eye appeal in stark contrast to the typically worn examples previously encountered. The discovery yielded thousands of superb gems graded MS66, nearly 1,000 coins at MS67, 101 examples at MS68, and an unprecedented ten coins graded MS69—the only Saint Gaudens Double Eagles ever certified at that grade by PCGS as of 2009. The present example, certified with the prestigious NGC MS70 designation, represents the pinnacle of quality from this historic hoard. With a mintage of 4,271,551 pieces and NGC population data showing only 974 coins graded higher, this specimen is extraordinarily rare in such pristine condition. The coin's lettered edge and exceptional preservation make it a cornerstone piece for advanced collectors of Saint Gaudens coinage and American gold rarities.