In the Saint-Gaudens series there are several great rarities. The greatest of all for the time being is the 1933, which is believed to have never officially been released. A single coin is legal to own from this final year of issue, which we (Stack's) sold in 2002 for a record price of more than $7 million. Next in line of the virtually unobtainable rarities is the 1927-D, of which a mere 15 to 18 specimens are known. Followed close on its heels in the third position of great rarities is the 1930-S.

The San Francisco Mint produced top quality coins in this era, most seen from the Saint-Gaudens series have sharp strikes, ample luster and happen to come well preserved. Trouble is finding one at all, as this issue was never common to begin with as the mintage was a mere 74,000 pieces. Furthermore, about 99.9 percent were melted in the years that followed, leaving an estimated population today of only 50 to 75 pieces. Thankfully for collectors of this series, most of those that do survive are in Mint State, or very close to it, so the eye appeal and surface quality is usually more or less intact for this key issue.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the August 2019 Rosemont ANA Auction, where it realized $372,000.