US Mint to Display Gold Bars and Unveil 2009 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin

   

The United States Mint peaked curiosity further for the ANA World’s Fair of Money® convention by announcing their unveiling of the 2009 Saint-Gaudens double eagle designed gold coin and adding a display of six real gold bars that were refined at West Point.

The Mint previously announced they would show the modern $20 gold coin, but the latest announcement adds that their exhibit will:

Show the development of this modern masterpiece-from its origin as gold bars-through test strikes-to the finished, one-ounce 24-karat (.9999 pure) 2009 United States Mint Ultra High Relief Gold Coin.

For sure, an extra element of interest is added to the much awaited revelation of the 2009 Ultra High Relief, which is a modern version of the 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle often described as the most beautiful gold piece ever made.

Weighing in at 27.5 pounds each with 400 ounces of gold, the six gold bars for the exhibit are worth about $2.3 million dollars based on yesterday’s London gold closing of $959.75 an ounce.

By melting these bars, 2,400 of the 2009 gold coins could be minted. Each would contain an ounce of pure gold, have a diameter of 27 millimeters, and be about 50 percent thicker than other U.S. one-ounce gold coins.

The double eagles will not be available for purchase at the convention, although collectors will be able to touch an ultra high relief on a plaster of the coin. They will be available early next year and minted only in 2009. (If the U.S. Senate passes H.R. 5614, expect palladium versions to continue in 2010.)

Time and location for $20 Double Eagle unveiling and showing of gold bars

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle gold coin exhibit will remain on display throughout the week at the United States Mint booth on the bourse floor at the World’s Fair of Money. The following time, location and information was provided by the Mint for its initial official unveiling:

What: 

United States Mint Provides a Golden Moment, Unveiling   the 2009 United States Mint Ultra High Relief Gold Coin Exhibit, Including Real Gold Bars   

Who: 

United States Mint Director Ed Moy
ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd & Former ANA Executive Directors   

When:

9:30 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, July 30, 2008, (Follows Opening Ceremony of the World’s Fair of Money)

Where:   

United States Mint Booth
World’s Fair of Money
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

(View Google map of Baltimore Convention Center)