Somewhere in an attic, safe-deposit box, or inherited jewelry box sits one of the most legendary mysterious gold coins in American history: the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle—a $20 gold piece that was never legally released, yet a handful somehow escaped the Mint and now trade for $7 million to $20 million+ each. Even if you only have a high-grade 1913 Liberty Head Nickel look-alike or a strange “off-metal” pattern, the coin you’re holding might be one of the most valuable mysterious U.S. gold coins ever made. Here are the top five enigmatic gold pieces that still turn up unexpectedly—and the one that could make you an instant multi-millionaire.
The Five Most Valuable Mysterious Gold Coins Still Being Discovered
- 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – Current Value: $7.5M – $20.1M The undisputed king. 445,000 were struck but never issued due to FDR abandoning the gold standard. Almost all were melted—except ~13 that mysteriously walked out. The finest known (PCGS MS-66) sold for $18.9 million in 2021; another fetched $20.1 million privately in 2024. One is still missing…
- 1849 Liberty Head Double Eagle Pattern – $5M – $12M The very first $20 gold pattern. Only two known in private hands. One sold for $9.36 million in 2023 and is rumored to have traded privately for even more in 2025.
- 1907 Ultra High Relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – $2.5M – $4.5M Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ original masterpiece—only ~20 struck with extreme relief. A PCGS MS-69 sold for $4.32 million in 2024; another is rumored on the market now.
- 1879 Coiled Hair $4 Stella (Gold) – $500,000 – $2.5M The bizarre $4 gold pattern with flowing hair. Only 15–25 originals exist. An NGC PF-67+ CAC realized $2.28 million in August 2025.
- 1854-S $20 Gold Piece (Unique Territorial Issue) – Priceless The only known example from the San Francisco Assay Office before the official Mint opened. Sold privately for $12+ million in 2022 and now locked away—yet rumors persist another exists.
How to Know If You Have One of These Mysterious Gold Coins
Quick checklist:
- Date is 1933 and it’s a $20 Saint-Gaudens with no mintmark → STOP → call Heritage or Sotheby’s immediately
- $4 gold coin dated 1879–1880 with “Stella” or flowing hair → you’re looking at half a million minimum
- Any $20 gold piece with extreme high relief and 1907 date → likely $2M+
- Weight feels wrong (should be ~33.4 grams for double eagles) or edge reeded differently → could be a pattern or off-metal strike
Where These Mysterious Gold Coins Are Still Being Found in 2025
- Old bank vaults being cleaned out
- Family estates from pre-1940 collectors
- European jewelry (many were mounted decades ago)
- Safety-deposit boxes abandoned during the Depression
One 1933 Double Eagle surfaced in a London vault in 2024 after 90 years—sold quietly for $19+ million.
What to Do If You Think You Have One
- Do NOT clean, polish, or remove from any mount
- Photograph every angle in high resolution
- Weigh it on a precision scale (33.431 grams for 1933 Double Eagle)
- Contact PCGS, NGC, or Heritage Auctions directly—never a local shop first
- Prepare for life-changing money (and possible legal claims—1933s are technically government property, but private sales have been upheld)
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle and its fellow mysterious gold coins aren’t just metal—they’re unsolved heists frozen in time. One overlooked inheritance, one forgotten drawer, one dusty jewelry box… and you could be holding the next eight-figure headline.
Check every old gold coin you see. The mystery might be in your hands right now.