History of coins · 1933
1933: The Double Eagle that never circulated
The US withdraws gold coins from circulation – and the 1933 Double Eagle becomes the world's most famous coin.
In April 1933, President Roosevelt's Executive Order 6102 required Americans to hand in most of their gold coins. The 1933 20-dollar 'Double Eagle' had already been struck, but the coins were never officially released and were melted down.
A few escaped. After years of legal disputes, one legally owned specimen sold at Sotheby's in June 2021 for 18.9 million dollars – one of the highest prices ever paid for a coin. Earlier Double Eagles and other US gold coins are widely collected, and counterfeits are common.
Find out what your own coin is worth – Coin Value English
Find out what your coin is worth
Upload a photo and get a free estimate in about a minute. No sign-up needed.