Sam, here ya go. In my personal opinion this is the most beautiful coin design ever. Definitely a modern day "royal". The first coins ship on February 6th. Hopefully I won't have to wait long. From what I understand they had a tremendous response from the first day of sales last Thursday.
Others, sorry for the off topic post. More cobs to follow.....Stan
Obverse:
http://www.ultrahighrelief.com/images/2009_obv_lg.jpg
Reverse:
http://www.ultrahighrelief.com/images/2009_obv_lg.jpg
Ultra High Relief - The Design
The design of the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle is a high-tech re-creation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original 1907 high relief $20 Liberty Double Eagle. Below is an excerpt from an official United States Mint press release that discusses the method they used in achieving the most exact duplicate of the original.
"Through advancements in technology, the United States Mint can today produce the ultra-high relief coin envisioned by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in the early 20th century. A 27-millimeter diameter gold blank, more than 50% thicker than other United States Mint one-ounce 24-karat gold coins, will be used, because of its historical significance and the opportunity it provides to achieve the greater depth and relief to which Saint-Gaudens had aspired.
In most respects, the new legal tender gold coin will authentically reproduce the ultra-high relief gold piece. The obverse design (heads side) will be based on the obverse of the original Saint-Gaudens design executed in 1907. The reverse (tails side) also will be based on those pieces and will include 14 sun rays. The edge of the coin will feature the same raised edge-lettering as the 1907 pieces. The edge-lettering features the inscription "E Pluribus Unum" with stars serving as delimiters between the letters.
As approved by Secretary Paulson, the new coin will have several modern elements. The obverse of the new coin will feature 50 stars, instead of the original 46 stars on the obverse (heads side), which represented the 46 states in the Union in 1907. The CCAC recommended that the obverse design be modified in this manner to honor all 50 states in the Union today. Also, responding to the recommendation of the Commission of Fine Arts, the United States Mint will inscribe the Roman numerals "MMIX" (2009) in a style similar to the original Saint-Gaudens design. Additionally, the inscription "In God We Trust" will appear on the reverse design of the new coin because current law requires placement of this inscription on all U.S. coinage."