Double Eagle - (born Double Eagle) - U.S. gold coins in denominations of $ 20, which were minted from 1849 to 1933. They have several varieties. Double Eagle 1933 is the most expensive coin in the world.
At the end of the Civil War in the United States in connection with aggravated by religious feelings of many Americans who have lost relatives or who are tired of war deprivation, March 3, 1865 a law was passed, whereby all the silver coins of more than 10 cents and gold - more than $ 3 must contain the motto «IN GOD WE TRUST». From 1866 began to mint coins with the motto on the reverse.
In 1877 appeared the third type of coin. Engraver Charles Barber had made minor changes in the images of Liberty and the bald eagles. Also, the denomination «TWENTY D.» was replaced by «TWENTY DOLLARS».
Design of a new type of coin was designed by personal request of the 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's famous American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, whose name it got its name. The first coin minted in high relief, different images, dating Roman numerals and the absence of the motto «IN GOD WE TRUST». Release of "godless" coins was deliberate, as Roosevelt saw mention of the word «GOD» on the coins of sacrilege. However, placing the motto «IN GOD WE TRUST» on the gold coins more than $ 3 has been determined yet Coinage Act of 1864. Several members of Congress insisted on a cease-release of "godless" coins.
In 1933, in connection with the economic crisis, dubbed the "Great Depression" of the U.S. were forced to abandon the gold coin standard. Gold coins are subject to removal from circulation and melted. Coined somewhat earlier 445 000 500 copies were melted.
20 coins of production in 1933 is still survived. All of them were stolen from the Mint and bought a jeweler Israel Svittom. With nine of them, he parted, having sold to private collectors, one of whom was King Farouk of Egypt. Selling such a rare currency could not go unnoticed, and special efforts. services in the U.S., these coins were confiscated (except for instance, got the King of Egypt). In 1991, Briton Steven Fenton managed to capture this instance. The coin was also confiscated by the U.S. secret services. After lengthy litigation the court held an auction to sell the coin, and the money divided between the U.S. Treasury and Stephen Fenton. The coin was sold in 2002 an anonymous collector for $ 7,590,020.00. In 2004 the heirs of Yisrael Svitta was discovered 10 instances of 20-dollar coins in 1933, which were confiscated and placed into Fort Knox.
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Below the photo is the most expensive coin is presented to the public:
