What Theodore Roosevelt Wanted in 1907
The 2009 Ultra High Relief $20 Gold Coin is widely considered the most important modern U.S. Mint release of the 21st century—a numismatic tour de force that finally fulfilled Augustus Saint-Gauders' original 1907 artistic vision. When President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned Saint-Gauders to redesign American gold coinage, the sculptor created breathtaking ultra-high-relief models that pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible. The U.S. Mint in 1907 lacked the technology and production capacity to strike Saint-Gauders' design as intended, forcing artistic compromises. The 2009 Ultra High Relief represents the U.S. Mint's redemption—102 years later—of that unfulfilled promise.
Fabric-Like Realism in Precious Metal
Struck on an extraordinary 4mm-thick planchet (more than twice the depth of standard gold coins) in one full troy ounce of .9999 pure 24-karat gold, this coin required multiple strikes under immense pressure to bring up the sculptural depth Saint-Gauders envisioned. Liberty emerges with three-dimensional presence, her flowing gown rendered with fabric-like realism.
Prooflike Surfaces on a Business Strike
This example achieves the exceedingly rare MS70 Prooflike designation from NGC. "Prooflike" indicates the coin possesses the deeply reflective, mirror-like surfaces typically associated with proof coins, despite being struck as a business strike. The combination of MS70 technical perfection and prooflike surfaces is exceptionally scarce in the 2009 UHR population.
Book Coin During Cabral's Treasury Tenure
The Modern Numismatic Masterpieces label grants "book coin" status, while Anna Cabral's hand-signed autograph provides institutional provenance and a direct connection to U.S. Treasury history during the very year this coin was released.
