20 Dollars 1908 No Motto

Maybe someone knows US gold coins catalog,where is an info,how many coins were melted down ?

The first one is mine,the another from web.
I think different length sun beams are from 1907 coins,and some of 1908 have long sun beams,the others short .

I have the book you mention.

Type 5, Saint-Gaudens, no motto

Here is what it says, "the obverse rays are shorter than they would be on type 6 coins" (page 234).

The later date Saint Gaudens were heavily melted. I'm almost certain there was no accounting done at the time when these went to the melting pot after the Gold Recall of 1933.

Buying that book you mention would be a good start, if you want to learn about Double Eagles.

-MV

That's a cool difference! I had no idea the sun rays' length varied.


If you don't mind, another coin to compare the others to:

My 1908 St Gaudens. (The sunrays look like the short variety...)

I'm glad I was able to help. I wasn't aware of the slight differences either until I looked in the book for the answer.


Not to lead this thread off topic. Lex if you want a book that covers pre-1933 gold you might want to acquire Encyclopedia of US Gold Coins: 1795-1933 by Jeff Garrett. I don't own this book, but looking at the previews on Amazon it might be what you are looking for.

-MV

Great info, I learned something today.