Whitman Publishes Stunning New Edition of Double Eagle Gold Coins

Whitman Brands™, a leading full-service provider of data, media, and product distribution for the numismatics and collectibles marketplace, announces the official release of Double Eagle Gold Coins by Q. David Bowers, the most recent release covering some of the most famous (and infamous) coins of the last two centuries. More than twenty years after the first edition helped establish Whitman’s Red Book Series, this fully updated second edition returns with new research, modern pricing, and a stunning full-color presentation for collectors and gold enthusiasts alike.

Part of Whitman’s acclaimed Red Book Series, Double Eagle Gold Coins explores the history, artistry, and collecting appeal of America’s $20 gold pieces—from the Liberty Head design introduced in 1849 during the California Gold Rush to the iconic Saint-Gaudens double eagle struck until 1933. Now presented in full color and illustrated with more than 550 high-resolution photographs, the new edition offers collectors an immersive look at one of the most celebrated series in American numismatics.

Featuring updated market values derived from Greysheet–based pricing, easy-to-use GSID catalog numbers, and an insightful new foreword by renowned gold-coin expert John “JD” Dannreuther, the book delivers authoritative research alongside modern market insight. With more than 275 listings, date-by-date analysis, mintage data, grading guidance, and collecting strategies, the volume provides both beginning and advanced collectors with the definitive reference for Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens double eagles.

America’s Most Famous Gold Coins

Double eagles have long captivated collectors due to their beauty, rarity, and connection to the economic forces that shaped American history. Struck during periods of rapid expansion, financial upheaval, and artistic innovation, these large gold coins reflect the nation’s evolving identity—from the Gold Rush era to the artistic renaissance of the early 20th century.

Among the notable coins explored in the book are historic rarities and key dates such as the 1850 Type 1 Liberty Head, linked to the surge of California gold; the elusive 1856-O, with a tiny mintage of just 2,250 coins; the legendary 1870-CC from the first year of the Carson City Mint; and the 1907 Liberty Head, marking the final year of that classic design. The book also delves deeply into the celebrated Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, including the breathtaking 1907 High Relief, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the United States, along with later issues such as the 1920-S, 1921, and 1927-D—coins whose rarity and mystique continue to fascinate collectors.

Interest in double eagles has grown in recent years as higher gold prices have spotlighted historic U.S. gold coinage. While their gold content is substantial, the series’ artistic beauty, rich history, and rarity often place these coins far above simple bullion value—creating excitement and sustained demand among collectors.

“Few coins capture the blend of artistry, history, and enduring value like the double eagle,” said Patrick Ian Perez, Chief Publishing Officer at Whitman Brands. “With the gold market drawing renewed attention to historic coinage, collectors are rediscovering these remarkable pieces of American history. This new edition brings the scholarship, imagery, and modern market insight collectors need to fully appreciate and pursue the series.”

A Story Rooted in American History

The story of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle—arguably the most famous American gold coin—is deeply intertwined with the vision of President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought to elevate the artistic quality of U.S. coinage at the beginning of the 20th century. Working with acclaimed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Roosevelt pushed the U.S. Mint to produce coins that would rival the great classical works of antiquity.

Author Mike Moran explores this dramatic chapter in American numismatic history in greater depth in Whitman’s When Coins Were King, which chronicles the cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped U.S. coinage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Moran’s work—praised by readers far beyond traditional numismatic circles—highlights the creation of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle as one of the defining moments in American monetary and artistic history.

Rod Sullivan, a respected lawyer and active member of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, wrote in a recent review of When Coins Were King:

“Where the book truly shines is in its portraits of the personalities behind America’s most famous coins. Moran’s sketches of Theodore Roosevelt—the reforming president who demanded beauty as well as utility in national coinage—and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens give flesh to what might otherwise be cold metal.”

Sullivan further observed:

“When Coins Were King is neither nostalgic lament nor crypto-skeptical jeremiad. It is something rarer: a calm, deeply informed tour through the long arc of American money, inviting readers to ponder what has been gained—and what may have been lost—as currency shifted from substance to symbol.”

Expert Insight from Leading Authorities

The second edition of Double Eagle Gold Coins includes a new foreword by John “JD” Dannreuther, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on rare gold coins.

“Few coin series capture the imagination of collectors quite like the double eagle,” said Dannreuther. “Their scale and story alone make them unique in American numismatics. Whitman has once again provided collectors with an indispensable reference for understanding and appreciating these remarkable coins.”

A Landmark Entry in the Red Book Series

Double Eagle Gold Coins represents the second volume in the original Bowers-authored entries of Whitman’s Red Book Series, which now spans nearly 30 specialized volumes exploring the coin types and programs featured in A Guide Book of United States Coins—the iconic “Red Book.” The series includes enduring collector favorites such as Morgan Silver Dollars and Double Eagle Gold Coins, along with recent additions like Private and Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States. Future releases will explore additional classic series including Lincoln Cents, including updates to a collector favorite U.S. Modern Proof Sets,and a new entry, Half Eagle Gold Coins, planned for mid 2026.

About the Authors

Q. David Bowers is the most prolific and celebrated numismatic author in U.S. history. Over the course of his career he has written more than 60 reference works, including numerous volumes in Whitman’s Red Book, Guidebook, and Encyclopedia Series’, covering virtually every area of American coinage. A past president of both the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild, Bowers has received nearly every major honor in the hobby for his scholarship, integrity, and dedication. His books, lectures, and mentorship continue to shape generations of collectors and researchers, making him one of the most influential figures in numismatics worldwide.

John West Dannreuther is one of the most respected experts in American numismatics. A professional coin dealer since 1973, he was a founding member of the Professional Coin Grading Service and served for a decade as a grader while continuing as a consultant. Dannreuther is widely known for his research on rare U.S. coins and has authored several award-winning books, including Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties and The Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection. He has received numerous honors, including the ANA Numismatist of the Year Award and the PNG Lifetime Achievement Award.

Michael F. Moran is an award-winning numismatic researcher and author whose work has earned honors from the American Numismatic Association, Professional Numismatists Guild, and Numismatic Literary Guild, including Best Specialized Book for U.S. Coins for 1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold. He is currently serving his fourth term on the U.S. Mint’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and played a leading role in securing Congressional authorization for the 2021 Morgan and Peace silver dollars. Moran also serves on the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, where he is treasurer and chairs multiple committees

Book Details

Double Eagle Gold Coins, Second Edition

By Q. David Bowers

Softcover | Full Color

More than 550 images | 275+ listings

Greysheet-based pricing and GSID catalog numbers

When Coins Were King

By Michael F. Moran

Hardcover | Black & White

520 pages | Richly illustrated

Sweeping narrative on America’s monetary and political landscape of the late 1800s and early 1900

Published by Whitman®, the most trusted name in numismatic literature, available now from Whitman.com and booksellers nationwide.

For more information about upcoming releases, as well as numismatic folders, albums, and supplies, visit whitman.com.