1933 SAINT-GAUDENS DOUBLE EAGLE FOR SALE

Will we know the name of the buyer this time?

- R.W. JULIAN

1933 SAINT-GAUDENS DOUBLE EAGLE FOR SALE

When the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle was sold at auction in 2002 for $7.59 million plus a $20 re-monetization fee, there was widespread speculation in the numismatic world as to the buyer. Numerous names and entities were floated as candidates for the honor, including the Mint itself, but in the end no one guessed correctly. The buyer turned out to be Stuart Weitzman, the iconic fashion footwear manufacturer and entrepreneur.

The present owner is selling this great rarity at Sotheby’s in June 2021 along with two other special items: a plate block of the famous 1918 Inverted Jenny air mail stamp and the unique British Guiana one-cent magenta. The three items together will bring many millions of dollars, but there is an added measure of honor that goes to Mr. Weitzman: the proceeds will be donated to worthwhile charities.

Over the past several years, there has been a continuing fascination with the 1933 double eagle. English dealer Stephen Fenton brought one of these coins into the United States in February 1996, with the intention of selling it to an American dealer, but the piece was seized by the U.S. government and was the subject of a lengthy legal dispute. An agreement was made by which the Fenton coin was declared legal and was sold at public auction in July 2002, the government and Fenton splitting the proceeds of the $7.59 million.