Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2006) — United States

United States • 2006 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2006) — United States

Overview

A Burnished Unc strike 50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion coin issued by the United States. Minted in 2006 with a mintage of 45,053 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
2006
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 45,053 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 2006 marked the 20th anniversary of the American Gold Eagle program, which led the United States Mint to introduce a new finish for collectors. This specific issue reflects a shift in USGS strategy to provide specially handled, burnished strikes for the numismatic market alongside standard bullion and proof editions. These coins were produced on specially polished planchets and carry a distinct mint mark not found on standard investment-grade eagles.

Design heritage

The obverse features the iconic Standing Liberty motif originally created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the 1907 Double Eagle, widely considered one of the finest designs in American numismatics. The reverse transition to a family of eagles was designed by Miley Frost, symbolizing American family values and tradition. The composition utilizes a 22-karat standard, following the historical tradition of the crown gold alloy used in earlier circulating coinage.

Varieties and technical notes

This specific release is distinguished as a Burnished Uncirculated issue, recognizable by the 'W' mint mark signifying production at the West Point Mint. Collectors should examine the reeded edge and the clarity of the date for any machine doubling, although production standards for this series are typically high. As a specialized strike, it is intended for collectors rather than general bulk bullion investment.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of 45,053 pieces, this burnished version is significantly scarcer than the high-volume bullion strikes produced in the same year. Many examples have been preserved in original government packaging or submitted for professional grading, maintaining a high survival rate in Mint State condition. Because these were sold at a premium over spot price, they have generally escaped the melting cycles associated with standard gold bullion.

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