Gold, obverse, high relief, 1 5/16 inch (3.4 cm.) diameter,
The American Numismatic Society, New York

Gold, reverse, high relief, 1 5/16 inch (3.4 cm.),
The American Numismatic Society, New York

Saint-Gaudens told President Roosevelt that his idea for the design of the twenty-dollar gold piece was "to make it a living thing and typical of progress." The coin is considered by many collectors to be the most beautiful coin ever minted in the United States. A limited number of coins were produced using a high relief design, but the high relief made the coins difficult to stack. Charles E. Barber, the Mint engraver, insisted that a lower relief version be made. In December 1907 a "business issue" of the coin was first struck, and was minted until 1933.