1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin

The 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin was originally struck in very small numbers, and only at the San Francisco mint. With only 74,000 ever made, the St Gaudens $20 Gold Coin became even more scarce still after most were returned to the U.S. government in the 1930s and melted, following the end of the gold standard in 1933.

The 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin is named after its designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a noted sculptor who was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to redesign the $20 gold coin. St. Gaudens are widely collected by numismatists and popular among investors as they contain nearly one full troy ounce of gold and feature a beloved, very patriotic design.

Grading the 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin

For coins that are as old as the 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin, the condition of the coin means everything to collectors. For this reason, you will see collectors carefully analyze every aspect of a coin looking to spot even the smallest signs of wear and tear. Having been on the open market for any number of decades, these coins have had ample opportunities to become damaged.

For most people, the best option is to have these coins sent away for grading at the hands of a professional company. This is not an option for everyone, and knowing this we have provided a listing of the different coin grades below.

Uncirculated: A coin that is graded as being Uncirculated is one that spent almost no time exchanging hands. Thanks to their being kept in a safe place, these coins will have avoided any and all damage. As such, these coins will look more like coins that have just been minted rather than coins that are more than a century old.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is graded as being Extremely Fine is one that has spent a good bit of time in circulation, but has avoided almost all damage. Under close inspection, you will notice some light wear and tear, but not so much that the aesthetic qualities of the coin are detracted from. For collectors, these coins are great because they are affordable and still in great shape.

Fine: A coin that is determined to be of Fine grade is one that has spent a good bit of time being circulated and has also incurred a bit of damage. In most cases, the damage you find on the surfaces of the coin will typically come in the form of surface wear such that the coin’s faces will feel smooth to the touch.

Good: Good is the grade given to coins that have been circulated for extended periods of time and have been heavily damaged during that time. You will notice that the surfaces of the coin will have been completely smoothed such that the imagery and inscriptions may no longer be able to be made out with the naked eye. Though affordable, these pieces are generally in pretty poor shape.

Pricing the 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin

If you would like to determine an accurate price for the 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin, you must first assess the condition of the coin. In addition to that, by paying attention to the type of coin you own you will be able to tell just how rare the coin you have is. Listed below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1930 St. Gaudens $20 Gold Coin given its condition.