1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

The story of the 1921

Output at Philadelphia climbed to 528,500 in 1921, from 228,250 the year before. The next year it made 1.4 million (1922).

No other mint struck it for circulation that year, so every 1921 you find is from Philadelphia. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1920-S (558,000) and the 1923 (566,000).

Philadelphia struck the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in 24 issues between 1907 and 1933. By mintage this one lands in the more common half, while the key for that mint is the 1907 (High Relief) (12,367). Within the 1920s it's 4th smallest of 21, between the 1926-D (481,000) and the 1920-S (558,000).

Postwar mintages and overseas hoards (1917 to 1928)

Double eagle production stopped from 1917 through 1919. When it resumed in 1920, much of the output went into Treasury vaults or abroad as reserves. The 1920-S and 1921 are rare because most were melted in the 1930s. The 1927-D is one of the great rarities of American gold, with only a handful known from 180,000 struck.

The Philadelphia coins of 1924 to 1928 are among the most common double eagles because many were shipped to European banks and later returned in quantity. Branch mint coins of the same years tell a different story. The 1924-D, 1924-S, 1925-D, 1925-S, 1926-D and 1926-S are scarce despite mostly large mintages because most were melted. Bag marks and rim nicks are the usual flaws on the repatriated Philadelphia coins.

Elsewhere in US coinage in 1921

Morgan dollar production resumed to replace the coins melted under the Pittman Act. In December the Peace dollar by Anthony de Francisci was introduced, struck in high relief that first year.