This new type of gold coin represents a departure from all precedents in United States coinage since its design features no raised edge and the main devices and legends are incuse- sunk below the surface of the coin. Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt was the designer of this and the similar half eagle piece and was a pupil of the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens, basing his "Standing Eagle" motif on the reverse from his teacher's gold ten-dollar coin of 1907. This design was initially not well received by the numismatic community, but has since risen in popularity due to the relative scarcity of higher grade examples.