1927-D Saint Gaudens Double Eagle
The 1927-D Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is considered a major rarity due to the mass melting of gold coins after the recall of federal gold in 1933. Other issues of the series from 1920 onwards are also rare due to melting, but the 1927-D is the most extreme case. Out of the total mintage of 180,000 coins, it is estimated that only twelve to fifteen pieces are still in existence in all grades.
After the 1933 Double Eagle, this coin is considered to be the rarest gold coin of the 20th century. In all, this is a true trophy coin which is only offered with great rarity at public auction.
The finest known example of the 1927-D Gold Double Eagle is graded MS67 by PCGS. This coin sold at auction in November 2005 for $1,897,500. More recently, an example graded PCGS MS66 sold for $1,495,000 in January 2010.