The United States Mint today will stop selling UHR coins at 3:00 PM ET.
The high relief, 24 karat gold coins were released on Jan. 22 for $1,189.00. Then, gold prices were hovering around $860 an ounce. Today, gold is holding within the $1,100 range. As a result, the 2009 UHR will end with a final $1,489.00 price. 112,065 have been purchased as of Sunday, according to the US Mint.
The coins, which are digitally reproduced from the famed Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ designed 1907 $20 Double Eagle gold piece, will not be struck again. They are a special one-year-only issue, and that makes today the last chance for collectors to own a unique piece of history.
The following is the coin’s design information as provided by the Mint:
On the coin’s obverse, Saint-Gaudens shows Liberty, personified by a statuesque woman striding powerfully forward. A young eagle flying during a sunrise is depicted on the reverse. The original 1907 Double Eagle is considered by many the most beautiful coin ever made in the United States. But despite Saint-Gaudens artistic masterpiece, the minting process at the time did not allow for the mass production of ultra high relief coins, and Saint-Gaudens’ artistic vision was never fully realized.
In 2008, through 21st century design and technology, the original Saint-Gaudens’ coin plasters were digitally mapped and the ultra high relief sculpture was updated to reflect the year 2009 in Roman numerals (MMIX), an additional four stars were added to represent the last four states admitted to the Union and the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST, which was not on the 1907 version, was added, along with a small border to provide a more consistent edge. Featured on the raised edge-lettering of the coin is the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM with the letters separated by stars.
The UHR’s may be ordered directly from the US Mint Web site located here, or by calling their toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
