The Striding Liberty Design Wasn’t Saint-Gaudens’ Only Design for the Double Eagle
Saint-Gaudens’ first design for the large $20 Gold Double Eagle coin was the full-figure, striding Liberty that came to be used for the coin. But when Roosevelt suggested giving Liberty a distinctively American look by showing her in an Indian headdress, Saint-Gaudens found himself enthralled with the idea of a close-up Liberty bust accentuated by an elaborate headdress, and with that in mind, he soon produced a second masterpiece design for the $20 Double Eagle, the Indian Head Liberty. The intricate detail of Liberty’s feathered headdress was rivaled only by the incredible flying eagle design Saint-Gaudens sculpted for the reverse of the coin! In the end, the Striding Liberty design was selected for the $20 gold coin—and Saint-Gaudens’ magnificent Indian Head Liberty was used for the smaller $10 gold eagle coin. 

Officially Licensed by the National Park Foundation and Sculpted by John Mercanti
In 2017, the National Park Foundation (NPF), in partnership with the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in New Hampshire, approved the production of pieces commemorating Saint-Gaudens’ legendary designs. But who could be trusted to transfer the designs from the precious, original Saint-Gaudens’ plasters at the National Park to a useable format? 

As it turns out, one man was the perfect fit. John Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint. While at the Mint, he adapted Saint-Gaudens original $20 design to create the U.S. Mint’s first modern high relief coin: the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle. That effort made him the perfect candidate for the 2017 NPF project recreating Saint-Gaudens 1933 Double Eagle commemorative. Mercanti used original plasters and sketches from the Saint-Gaudens archives to hand-sculpt the legendary Saint-Gaudens design.

And now in 2024, for the very first time, the NPF has approved the production of another set of private issue commemoratives, this time with the legendary Saint-Gaudens Indian Head Liberty Design, struck in dual super incuse!

Saint-Gaudens’s Iconic Gold Indian Head Liberty Design “Sinks” To New Heights
These magnificent commemoratives have been inspired by the work of Bella Pratt, student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the renowned designer who continued Saint-Gaudens’ influence in coin design after the master sculptor’s death from cancer. Pratt was the sculptor behind the 1908 Incuse Indian Head Half and Quarter Eagles—the only American coins with an incuse design. 

These Saint-Gaudens Commemoratives are Super Incuse!
An incuse design is created when the design elements, which typically rise up off the fields of the coin, are instead struck down into the surface of the metal. These commemoratives take that idea to the extreme, by not just carrying designs struck a bit into their surfaces, but rather as far into their surfaces as possible. Fittingly dubbed “Super Incuse,” the effect becomes far more difficult to manufacture when done on both the obverse and reverse of the pieces—like these. 

Gorgeous Specimen Finish
These commemoratives were struck as specimens. Traditionally, specimen coins are perfect examples of a particular circulating coin issue. They are among the first pieces struck from a new set of dies, giving them clear strikes and pristine finishes. And similar to proof coins, these specimens are handled with extreme care and set aside, usually as gifts or valuable collectibles. This was a common practice in the early days of the U.S. Mint, and specimen coins are distinctive for their soft satin finishes achieved by such careful handling.

This same method of handling and finish was used on these commemoratives, resulting in a beautiful frosting on the surface of the pieces that allows light to be evenly diffused across the design. A perfect complement to the Super Incuse designs!

Collectors Covet for the Best Quality…
For any item, collectors want the finest quality available. Specimens and coins are graded on a 70-point scale, with a grade of 70 representing absolute perfection, even under magnification. These are the grades most sought-after by collectors. That’s what you have here. Each of these commemoratives boasts an NGC-certified perfect Specimen-70 (SP70) grade, which means it is perfect even under 5x magnification.

What’s Better than the Best?
These commemoratives have not only earned perfect grades, they’ve also qualified for the desired First Day of Issue (FDI) designation, which means they were purchased within one day of the first day the mint made them available. 

Exclusive Saint-Gaudens’ Labels Hand-Signed by a Numismatic Legend
John Mercanti added his signature to the exclusive Saint-Gaudens labels encapsulated with these impressive and historic commemoratives! Mercanti, who recreated the designs for these commemoratives, is a giant in the numismatic world, having produced more coin and medal designs than any person in U.S. Mint history.

Very Low Quantity Limited Editions
The maximum worldwide editions for these 2024 Saint-Gaudens Super Incuse Indian Head Liberty pieces are extremely limited: a miniscule 750 one-ounce gold pieces, only 1,776 five-ounce silver pieces, and just 2,499 two-ounce silver pieces were authorized.

Just take a look at these awe-inspiring commemoratives to see what all the fuss is about! 

Do not drag your feet on this. Authorized quantities are small for these outstanding 2024 Saint-Gaudens  Super Incuse Indian Head Liberty Commemoratives, in perfect condition with sought-after designations and hand-signed labels. Secure yours now—before they’re gone!

National Park Foundation has authorized the production of these special private-issue, non-denominated commemoratives.