2009 Ultra High Relief $20 Double Eagle Gold Coin - PCGS MS70PL

Buyback price:  $4,194.86
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $4,254.49

Product ID: BST-000733AAF2

Specifications

Year 2009
Precious Metal Type Gold
Bullion Coin Type Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
Format Coin
Country of Origin United States
Brand/Mint U.S. Mint
Mint Mark W - West Point
Purity 0.9999
Weight 1 oz
Thickness (mm) 4 mm
Diameter (mm) 27 mm
Grade MS70
Grading Service PCGS
Finish Prooflike

Product Details

Overview of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin (PCGS MS70PL)

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle is a one-ounce, .9999 fine gold coin issued by the United States Mint and struck at the West Point Mint. Priced as a numismatic piece rather than a standard bullion coin, it carries a nominal $20 face value and represents one of the most technically ambitious coins the United States Mint has produced in the modern era. This example has been graded MS70 Proof-Like by PCGS, indicating a perfect specimen with no post-production imperfections under magnification and a distinctive mirror-like surface quality that sets it apart from standard business-strike examples.

We carry this coin as part of our graded numismatic inventory, and it appeals to both collectors focused on technical perfection and buyers who appreciate the combination of one full troy ounce of pure gold with a world-class presentation.

History and Background

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle draws its design directly from Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original 1907 concept, which President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned as part of a broader effort to elevate American coinage to the artistic standards o

Overview of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin (PCGS MS70PL)

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle is a one-ounce, .9999 fine gold coin issued by the United States Mint and struck at the West Point Mint. Priced as a numismatic piece rather than a standard bullion coin, it carries a nominal $20 face value and represents one of the most technically ambitious coins the United States Mint has produced in the modern era. This example has been graded MS70 Proof-Like by PCGS, indicating a perfect specimen with no post-production imperfections under magnification and a distinctive mirror-like surface quality that sets it apart from standard business-strike examples.

We carry this coin as part of our graded numismatic inventory, and it appeals to both collectors focused on technical perfection and buyers who appreciate the combination of one full troy ounce of pure gold with a world-class presentation.

History and Background

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle draws its design directly from Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original 1907 concept, which President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned as part of a broader effort to elevate American coinage to the artistic standards of ancient Greek and Roman coins. Saint-Gaudens' initial designs were struck in ultra high relief, but the technical demands of mass production forced the Mint to reduce the relief depth for commercial circulation. The full artistic vision was largely shelved for over a century.

The 2009 coin was the Mint's first serious attempt to realize that original vision using modern production technology. Advanced coining presses and computer-aided design allowed the West Point Mint to achieve the extreme sculptural depth that Saint-Gaudens intended without the production limitations that constrained the 1907 original. Each coin was struck multiple times to fully bring up the high-relief design, resulting in a finished product that was limited to one per household at initial offering and sold out quickly.

The coin was issued as a one-year, limited-production piece with no ongoing series continuation, which contributes to its standing in the modern U.S. numismatic market as a distinct and self-contained collectible.

Design and Aesthetics

The obverse features Saint-Gaudens' iconic Liberty figure striding forward with a torch raised in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, set against a backdrop of the Capitol building and rays of sunlight. The depth of the sculptural relief gives Liberty a three-dimensional presence unlike virtually any other U.S. coin in modern production. The inscriptions "LIBERTY" and the year "2009" appear along with the Latin phrase "IN GOD WE TRUST," which is positioned within the field in a manner consistent with the original design intent.

The reverse depicts a perched eagle in flight, wings spread against a rising sun rendered in deeply sculpted concentric rays. The inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "TWENTY DOLLARS" complete the reverse design. The edge of the coin is lettered with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and a series of stars, a detail carried over from the original Saint-Gaudens concept.

The Proof-Like designation from PCGS reflects the coin's mirror-like fields that contrast sharply with the frosted relief elements. This surface characteristic, while not a result of the standard proof minting process, produces a visual effect similar to cameo contrast that makes the design stand out with exceptional clarity under light.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

This coin has been independently authenticated and graded by PCGS, one of the two most respected third-party grading services in numismatics. The MS70PL designation confirms both the perfect strike grade and the proof-like surface characteristic, and the coin is encapsulated in a tamper-evident PCGS holder that protects it from handling damage while preserving its certified condition. The encapsulation itself serves as a physical guarantee of the grade and authenticity assessment.

We are an authorized PCGS dealer, which means we work directly within PCGS-affiliated channels and can stand behind the authenticity of every graded product we carry. The .9999 fine gold content is also consistent with the United States Mint's specifications for this coin, which set a higher purity standard than the .900 fine gold used in pre-1933 circulating Double Eagles.

Condition and Packaging

An MS70 grade from PCGS represents a perfect coin with full, sharp strike and no post-production imperfections of any kind visible under 5x magnification. The Proof-Like designation adds the qualifier that the fields exhibit a reflective, mirror-like quality consistent with proof-style surfaces. Together, MS70PL is the highest attainable designation for a business-strike coin displaying these surface characteristics, and it is assigned to only a small fraction of coins submitted for grading.

This coin ships in its original PCGS slab, which is a hard, sonically sealed plastic holder that is industry-standard for graded coins. No additional handling or rehousing occurs after grading. The slab protects the coin's surfaces and preserves the integrity of the grade, and it arrives ready for display, storage, or safe deposit without any intervention required on your part.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 2009 Ultra High Relief in PCGS MS70PL is driven by two distinct components. The first is the intrinsic value of one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, which moves in real time with the spot gold market. The second is the numismatic premium associated with the MS70PL grade, the coin's limited one-year production run, and the sustained collector demand for perfect examples of a historically significant issue.

The numismatic premium for this coin tends to be more stable than typical bullion premiums but can shift based on PCGS population data, changes in collector demand, and broader trends in the high-end U.S. numismatic market. Our pricing reflects real-time spot conditions alongside current market pricing for this specific graded coin, giving you a transparent view of what you are paying for both the metal and the numismatic value.

Selling and Liquidity

The 2009 Ultra High Relief in PCGS MS70PL trades in a well-established secondary market that includes major auction platforms, dealer networks, and direct collector channels. The PCGS certification and population-verified grade mean that buyers in the secondary market can transact with confidence about what they are receiving, which supports efficient price discovery and reduces friction at the point of sale.

We operate a two-way market, meaning you can both purchase and sell graded coins within our platform. For a coin of this profile, understanding the bid side of the market before you buy is just as important as evaluating the ask. We display bid/ask spread information on our product pages so you can evaluate the full picture of ownership cost from the moment you consider a purchase.

Why Buy the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle (PCGS MS70PL)?

Few modern U.S. coins combine the artistic legacy of the Saint-Gaudens design, the technical achievement of ultra high relief striking, and a perfect certified grade in a single package. The 2009 issue was a one-time production run with no successor, which means the population of MS70PL examples is fixed. PCGS population reports show that perfect-grade examples represent a small percentage of the total coins submitted, which reflects the difficulty of achieving a flawless finish on a coin struck with this level of relief complexity.

For buyers who want one full troy ounce of .9999 fine gold in a form that carries both technical and historical significance, the 2009 Ultra High Relief in PCGS MS70PL occupies a category that standard bullion coins simply cannot replicate. It functions as a recognizable, liquid gold holding while also carrying numismatic characteristics that distinguish it from generic one-ounce gold coins.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a precious metals dealer since 2010, and our approach has always centered on transparency, accurate product representation, and building relationships with buyers who expect to be treated as informed adults. As an authorized PCGS and NGC dealer, we have direct access to graded inventory and can stand behind every certified product we carry. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau and active memberships in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect a consistent standard of professional conduct across every transaction.

For a purchase like this one, where the numismatic premium is a meaningful part of the total price, transparency matters more than it does with standard bullion. We display pricing that reflects both the spot component and the graded market premium, and we back that with competitive buyback pricing so you are not left without a clear exit option when it matters. Our support team understands graded numismatics and can answer specific questions about population data, market conditions, and certification standards rather than offering generic responses.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across our precious metals catalog, including graded numismatic products like this coin. For a piece where the total cost includes both a spot-linked gold component and a numismatic premium, having visibility into real-time wholesale pricing on both sides of the market provides a more complete picture of what the coin is actually worth at any given moment. Pro members can also view real-time portfolio valuation using live wholesale bid prices rather than estimated retail values, which is particularly useful when holding graded pieces that carry meaningful premiums above spot.

Beyond pricing, Pro members have access to proprietary market intelligence tools including premium analysis, bid/ask spread data, and liquidity metrics that help contextualize where a specific graded coin sits relative to broader market conditions. For a limited-production issue like the 2009 Ultra High Relief, these tools can help you understand how premiums have behaved over time and where current pricing stands relative to historical norms, without having to rely on marketing claims or incomplete data.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make every transaction as straightforward as possible. You can complete your purchase using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each method is processed through a secure transaction environment designed to protect your payment information at every step.

The same flexibility applies when you are ready to sell. Our two-way market model means you can initiate a buyback transaction through the same platform where you purchased, with the same emphasis on security and transparent pricing that defines the buying experience.

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