Proof American Gold Eagles

Minting Proof American Gold Eagles

There are three finishes offered for the American Gold Eagle Bullion coins: Brilliant Uncirculated, Proof, and Burnished. The American Gold Eagle minting process varies slightly depending on the ideal finish of the coin. The Burnished finish is only offered in 1 oz increments when production was halted in 2009, prohibiting other sizes to be minted to save money. The Proof American Gold Eagle has been minted alongside its Brilliant Uncirculated counterpart since 1986, although the 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz were slowly introduced in 1987 and 1988.

The US Mint prides itself on the high quality and precise production value of the Proof American Gold Eagle. To make the perfect coin, the process is extremely meticulous. The process begins with a blank put through a spinning drum. When that blank comes out, on the other end, a specialist handles the coin with white gloves to ensure maximum care. The coin is then placed, by hand, into the coin press, where a high pressure strike is released. For BU coins, the dies that strike the coin only come down once but for Proof coins, it happens a few times. This results in a crisper, dimensional image on the coin.

Design of the Proof American Gold Eagle

Featuring the most iconic US coin design, the American Gold Eagle design was reimagined by sculptor, Miley Busiek. The obverse follows the artistic design created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, for the $20 Gold Double Eagles, issued from 1907-1933. Saint-Gaudens was exclusively picked by president, Theodore Roosevelt, to design an image that would be a part of US history, while also reinvigorating US gold coinage. The Lady Liberty design has been used as a symbol of patriotism since the US began minting their own currency and her message of courage and power still reigns true.

The design features a fierce Lady Liberty carrying an olive branch in one hand and an ignited torch in the other. The olive branch represents the country's desire for ultimate peace. The torch is the symbol of enlightenment and has been used, in the United States, as a means to freedom and liberty; enlightenment births freedom. Lady Liberty is stressed in a loose and flowing robe, marching with the US Capital building behind her. Next to her is the coin's date of mintage; from 1986-1991, the coin's date was cast in Roman Numerals, instead of the familiar Arabic Numeral System. Along the rim are 50 stars, each representing a US state, a design that has been used on other emblematic US coins, such as the Morgan Silver Dollar. The original design featured only 46 stars, since that was how many states existed from 1907-1933.

The bald eagle is the king of the birds of prey and represents fierce beauty, strength, and independence. There are 3 bald eagles represented on the reverse design of the American Gold Eagle. The eagles have made a nest of olive branches and have started reproducing, with an infantile eagle represented under its mother. The coin's weight, purity, and monetary value are written underneath the eagle family.

Certified Proof American Eagles

Dr. William Sheldon was an American psychologist by trade and a numismatist as a hobby. In 1948, Sheldon developed the Sheldon Numeric Scale, which became the foundation of grading and certifying coins. The Sheldon Numeric Scale dictates that a coin's condition can fall between 1 and 70. Before this groundbreaking system, coins were graded mostly by physical appearance and could receive one of three grades.

Just like with the Brilliant Uncirculated American Gold Eagle, the Proof American Gold Eagle can receive a grade from 60-70. Grading companies use the prefix PF/PR to designate that a coin is proof, then they assign a number that's representative of the coin's quality. PF70/PR70 is the most sought after grade for the proof coins and proves that the coin has absolutely no imperfections. PF69/PR69 is the second best grade that collectors look for.

Investing in Proof American Gold Eagles

The Proof American Gold Eagle Coins offer investors and collectors a seamless asset to their longterm investment goals. Recognized by most retirement and IRA accounts, the Proof American Gold Eagle transcends its face value, while maintaining high intrinsic and numismatic value. The fractional Proof American Gold Eagles come in sizes: 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz. These smaller sizes represent a great entry level coin for nearly anyone. The Proof American Gold Eagle program is the official bullion coin of the US and its popularity is not surprising.

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