American Eagle Proof (PCGS graded)

Proof coins were historically made for the purpose of checking dies were correct before coins were mass-produced, but now they are often produced specifically with collectors in mind. Most proof coins are produced with special dies that are manually fed with with blanks or 'planchets'. The dies are often pre-polished and pre-treated to yield shaper designs and rims, as well as smoother 'fields' - the areas of the coins not carrying a design. The proofs are struck multiple times under high pressure so that designs are properly registered.

The obverse of this beautiful coin features a depiction of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ breathtaking Walking Liberty, first introduced on the $20 gold piece in 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt authorized Saint-Gaudens and others at the time to redesign coins in an attempt to beautify U.S. coinage. To Liberty’s left, you will find the date, and 50 stars representing the 50 states encircle her body. From 1986 to 1991, the date was in Roman numerals. Since then, the coin has used Arabic numerals for the date.

The design on the reverse is by Miley Busiek, which shows an eagle in flight, delivering an olive branch to a nest that holds its young. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arches across the top, while “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” (left) and “IN GOD WE TRUST” (right) balance the design. Beneath the nest, you will find the weight of gold in the coin, and its face value, or denomination.

The process of creating an American Gold Eagle proof coin is meticulous. Mint experts use special dies and manual feeding of the blank coins. To ensure a detailed coin design, the blanks are struck multiple times. Each American Gold Eagle proof is presented in an elegant presentation case with an official U.S. Mint Certificate of Authority that represents the U.S. government’s guarantee of the coin's gold content, weight and purity.