Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (1988) — United States

United States • 1988 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (1988) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike 50 Dollars non-circulating coin of the United States, minted in 1988 at West Point with a limited mintage of 87,133 pieces.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1988
Composition
Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053)
Weight
33.931 g
Diameter
32.7 mm
Thickness
2.83 mm
Mint
United States Mint of West Point, United States
Mintmark
W
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.
Issuer
United States

Design details

Obverse

Standing Liberty holding torch and olive branch Script: Latin Lettering: LIBERTY 2006 W ASG Engraver: Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Reverse

Family of eagles Script: Latin Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN GOD WE TRUST E PLURIBUS UNUM MB JW 1 OZ. FINE GOLD~50 DOLLARS Translation: United States of America In God We Trust Out of Many One MB JW 1 oz. Fine Gold ~ 50 Dollars Engraver: Miley Frost

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Miley Frost is credited as the designer for the Non-circulating coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: United States Mint of West Point, United States (mintmark W). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 87,133 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Precious metal content: Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The American Gold Eagle series was authorized by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 to compete with international bullion programs like the South African Krugerrand. The 1988 issue was produced during the third year of the program's existence, a period marked by the gradual stabilization of the U.S. Mint's precious metals marketing efforts. This proof version was specifically struck to meet the demand from collectors rather than investors seeking raw metal value.

Design heritage

The obverse features the iconic 'Standing Liberty' motif originally created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the 1907 Double Eagle, widely considered a masterpiece of American numismatics. The reverse, designed by Miley Frost, depicts a family of eagles representing American family values and tradition. The coin is composed of 22-karat gold, utilizing a durable alloy of silver and copper to increase wear resistance compared to pure gold coins.

Varieties and technical notes

This proof issue is distinguished by the 'W' mint mark, signifying its production at the West Point Mint. Collectors should look for the characteristic mirrored fields and frosted devices indicative of the proof striking process. The edge is reeded, and the technical specifications remain consistent with the standards established for the one-ounce gold eagle denomination.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of 87,133 for the proof version, this issue is considerably scarcer than its bullion counterpart produced for that year. Many specimens have been preserved in their original United States Mint velvet presentation cases, which helps maintain their high-grade condition. As a modern bullion-based coin, survival rates are high, although market availability is often dictated by the prevailing spot price of gold.

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