Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2008) — United States

United States • 2008 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2008) — United States

Overview

A Burnished Uncirculated 50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" bullion coin from the United States, minted in 2008 at the West Point Mint. Features Standing Liberty on the obverse and a family of eagles on the reverse. Composed of Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053) with a mintage of 11,908 pieces. Struck as Burnished Unc.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
2008
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
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

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

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 (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 11,908 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 2008 American Gold Eagle was issued during a period of significant global economic volatility, which drove increased demand for precious metals. This specific burnished uncirculated edition was produced at the West Point Mint specifically for collectors rather than for general bullion distribution. It represents one of the final years this specific finish was offered before a brief hiatus in the series due to high silver and gold demand during the Great Recession.

Design heritage

The obverse features Augustus Saint-Gaudens' celebrated 1907 design of Lady Liberty walking toward the viewer with a torch and olive branch. The reverse, designed by Miley Frost, depicts a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch to a nest containing a female and her eaglets. These motifs combine early 20th-century classical American artistry with modern symbolic themes of national family and peace.

Varieties and technical notes

This issue is distinguished by the 'W' mint mark located on the obverse to the right of the date, signifying its production at the West Point Mint. Collectors should note the burnished finish, which is achieved by treating the coin blanks in a specialized process before striking, resulting in a matte-like appearance compared to standard bullion or proof strikes. The edge is consistently reeded as per the technical specifications for the one-ounce denomination.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of 11,908 pieces, this burnished 2008 issue is significantly scarcer than the standard bullion version of the same year. Many specimens were housed in original government packaging, which has helped maintain their technical condition over time. Modern survival reflects its status as a numismatic product rather than a circulating coin, with high-tier grades being well-represented in third-party grading censuses.

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