Description

In 1907 the $20 gold piece was redesigned by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The obverse features Lady Liberty standing in front of the sun while the reverse portrays a bald eagle with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS above. The first coins issued in 1907 are considered ultra high relief and high relief which give the coins an almost sculpted look. The high relief coins have a lettered edge and the date, 1907, is expressed in Roman numerals. Later in 1907 a shallow or low-relief design was adopted to permit high speed production and the date was converted to Arabic numerals. After a public outcry in 1908 the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the reverse side of the coin. This variety (Type 3, with Motto) continued until 1933.