American Eagle Proof (PCGS graded)

American Gold Eagle Proof Coin

Proof coins were originally created as test pieces to check dies before mass production, but today they are struck primarily for collectors. Produced with specially prepared dies and polished blanks known as planchets, these coins are crafted with exceptional care. Each proof is struck multiple times under high pressure, resulting in sharper detail, crisp rims, and mirror-like fields that enhance the design.

Design
The obverse features Augustus Saint Gaudens’ iconic image of Walking Liberty, first seen on the $20 gold piece in 1907 after President Theodore Roosevelt’s call to revitalise American coinage. Liberty is shown in full stride with a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other, framed by 50 stars representing the states. The date appears to her left, inscribed in Roman numerals from 1986 to 1991 and in Arabic numerals thereafter.

On the reverse, Miley Busiek’s composition depicts a male eagle carrying an olive branch above a nest where a female eagle tends to her young. The inscriptions “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “In God We Trust” complete the design, while the weight and denomination of the coin are shown beneath the nest.

Craftsmanship and Presentation
The minting process for American Gold Eagle proofs is painstaking, with each coin carefully handled to ensure flawless quality. Supplied in an elegant presentation case, every proof comes with a U.S. Mint Certificate of Authenticity, which guarantees its weight, purity, and gold content on behalf of the United States government.