Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (1997) — United States

United States • 1997 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (1997) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike 50 Dollars non-circulating coin of the United States, minted in 1997 at West Point with a limited mintage of 32,999 pieces.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1997
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

Reverse

Family of eagles

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 32,999 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

During 1997, the United States Mint continued its legacy of producing gold bullion under the Gold Bullion Act of 1985, which required the metal to be sourced from newly mined domestic deposits. This period represented a steady era for the American Eagle program as it established itself as a primary competitor in the international investment market. This specific 50-dollar denomination served as a non-circulating legal tender piece, primarily targeted toward numismatists and collectors through the Mint's proof program.

Design heritage

The obverse features a modification of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' iconic 1907 Double Eagle design, depicting Lady Liberty striding forward with a torch and olive branch. The reverse was created by Miley Frost and depicts a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch to a nest containing a female and her chicks. This 'Family of Eagles' motif was unique to this series and symbolized American family values and tradition.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1997 issue was struck as a Proof at the West Point Mint, characterized by the 'W' mint mark located on the reverse. As a technical product of a milled process, the edge is reeded and the surfaces exhibit a sharp contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields. Collectors should examine the strike for any frost breaks or haze, which are common considerations for the high-purity alloy used in this series.

Survival and modern availability

The West Point Mint reported a relatively low mintage of 32,999 units for the proof 1-ounce gold coin in 1997. Due to their status as collector-grade bullion and their gold content, these coins have been largely preserved in their original government packaging or professional grading capsules. Unlike circulation coinage, attrition is minimal, though the coin's value remains closely tied to both the spot price of gold and its population in high-tier grades.

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