Description
The American Gold Eagle is a highly sought-after gold coin in the global market. Introduced in 1986, the series has been available annually in the BU range ever since. The Proof Gold Eagle had a unique debut in 1986 and is considered the most prestigious coin in the proof series as it bears the first date mark in the long-standing collection.
The American Gold Eagle coin is the official gold bullion coin of the United States, available in bullion, proof, and burnished versions. The bullion and proof options offer four weights, while the burnished series features only a 1 oz gold coin. On the obverse, the Proof American Gold Eagle boasts an iconic design considered one of the greatest in American coin history, displaying impressive visual brilliance.
Coin Highlights:
- Contains 1 Troy oz of actual gold content.
- Issued a face value of $50 (USD) by the United States.
- On the obverse is Lady Liberty.
- The reverse includes American bald eagles.
- W mint mark from the West Point Mint.
While the American Gold Eagle was introduced in 1986, not all of the coins now offered were issued in that first year. The four weights were struck in the bullion version that year, but the Proof American Gold Eagle featured only these 1 oz Proof Gold Eagles. The burnished coin was not introduced until 2006.
The 1986 1 oz Proof Gold Eagle is, by far, the most widely available coin in the series. Its mintage of 446,290 coins that year is indicative of the popularity of first-year-of-issue collector coins. The next closest mintage figure to that year and the only other to surpass 100,000 in a single year is the 1987 coins 147,498 coins.
On the obverse of all Proof American Gold Eagles is the image of Lady Liberty. Designed in 1907 by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this image features Liberty free of any constraints as she walks away from the national capital with her torch held high as a guiding light for the nation and a large olive branch in her left hand as a symbol of the nations desire for peace.
The reverse of 1 oz Proof Gold Eagle Coins includes a family of American bald eagles. This design is exclusive to the American Gold Eagle collection and was created in 1986 by Miley Busiek. The image includes a male eagle flying over the nest as a female eagle guards the hatchlings within.
