Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2000) — United States

United States • 2000 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2000) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike 50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion coin issued by the United States. Minted in 2000 with a mintage of 33,007 pieces, it features Standing Liberty holding a torch and olive branch on the obverse, and a family of eagles on the reverse. The coin is composed of Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053) with a milled reeded edge.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
2000
Composition
Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053)
Weight
33.931 g
Diameter
32.7 mm
Thickness
2.83 mm
Mint
United States Mint
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 (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 33,007 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 year 2000 American Gold Eagle was issued during a period of relative economic stability following the concerns of the Y2K transition. As part of the American Eagle Bullion Program established by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, this issue continued the tradition of providing investors and collectors with a government-guaranteed gold asset. This specific proof edition was produced by the West Point Mint to cater to the numismatic market rather than for pure bullion trade.

Design heritage

The obverse features the iconic Standing Liberty design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally created for the 1907 Double Eagle, modified here to include the date and additional stars. The reverse displays a family of eagles motif designed by Miley Frost, depicting a male eagle carrying an olive branch to a nest containing a female and her hatchlings. This combination bridges the artistic legacy of the early 20th century with modern American symbolism.

Varieties and technical notes

This 2000 issue is a proof strike, characterized by a frosted cameo effect on the raised motifs against deeply mirrored fields. The coin features the 'W' mint mark on the obverse to signify its origin at the West Point facility and possesses a reeded edge. Collectors often inspect these strikes for haze or milk spots, which occasionally occur due to the mint's cleaning processes during that era.

Survival and modern availability

The mintage for the one-ounce proof Gold Eagle in 2000 was limited to 33,007 pieces, making it significantly scarcer than the standard bullion version. Because these were sold as premium collectibles in protective capsules and velvet cases, the vast majority remain in high-grade condition. A significant portion of the original mintage has been submitted to third-party grading services, where Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo designations are the expected standard for the issue.

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