For the first time since 2006 when the United States Mint introduced it as a yearly product, new imagery appears on an uncirculated American Gold Eagle which launches today at Noon ET.
In addition to a brand-new eagle design that is found on the gold coin’s reverse (tails side), its obverse (heads side) design features several refreshed elements like modifications to the Capitol Building, stars, torch, and sun rays. Also, a reeded edge variation has been added as an anti-counterfeit measure.
These changes will boost demand for the $50 gold piece despite its hefty $2,620 price and higher-than-typical mintage limit of 9,100.
Last year’s uncirculated American Gold Eagle was the last in its series to carry the classic design. It was limited to 7,000 pieces and has been unavailable for some time, with last reported sales of 6,284. Final (unaudited) sales of other prior-year issues include 5,851 for 2019; 8,518 for 2018; and 5,800 for 2017.
American Gold Eagle Designs
The United States Mint used its historical assets to update the coin’s obverse to better reflect Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ original intent for his much-loved rendition of Lady Liberty. The design offers a full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left.
This image was first seen on the 1907 $20 Double Eagle.
"To refresh the design for the 2021 gold coin, Mint medallic artists used a bronze cast of the 1907 coin to capture more details of the original design. The bronze cast includes higher relief than the Mint could replicate on coins at the time of the original $20 gold piece," the U.S. Mint describes. "Those details are added to the refreshed sculpt."
"To match Saint-Gaudens’ vision, the 2021 gold coins have modifications to the Capitol, stars, olive branch, and other elements. The shape and position of the sun’s rays are restored. The number of stars is returned to the number on the 1907 coin. Liberty’s eyes are enhanced for a stronger effect. The design also moves the position of Saint-Gaudens’ artist initials."
Obverse inscriptions include LIBERTY, 2021 and a W mint mark indicating the coin was produced at the U.S. Mint facility in West Point, New York.
As for the reverse, it features the new eagle design as created by Jennie Norris and sculpted by Renata Gordon. Reverse inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, the coin’s face value of 50 DOLLARS, its weight of 1 OZ FINE GOLD, and the artists’ initials.
The American Gold Eagle program dates back to 1986 when the U.S. Mint introduced the coins in investment-grade bullion and collector proof editions. The Mint added uncirculated Gold Eagles to the line-up in 2006. All types of the 1-ounce coins share the same basic specifications, like their 22-karat gold composition. This coin is struck in an uncirculated collector grade finish that is created by using burnished coin blanks and special coin dies.
Coin Specifications
| Denomination: | $50 |
| Composition: | 91.67% Gold, 3.0% Silver, Balance Copper |
| Weight: | 1.0909 troy oz. (33.931 grams) |
| Diameter: | 1.287 inches (32.70 mm) |
| Thickness | 0.113 inch (2.87 mm) |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Mint Mark: | West Point — W |
Ordering, Household Limit and Pricing
The 2021-W $50 Uncirculated American Gold Eagle may be ordered directly from the U.S. Mint’s webpage dedicated to gold coins, located here.
Orders are limited to one per household for the first 24 hours of sales.
Its pricing is subject to change weekly according to a matrix the U.S. Mint uses which ties its numismatic gold coin prices to market conditions.
I think we now know whether director Doone is going to change the systemic greed at the Mint, as exemplified by the pricing of current coinage, or simply go along as the ‘new girl’ and made no waves. I see the new Unc. 2021 W AGE is priced at $2620, that’s only $860 over spot price of Au. As a Biden (or whoever is running the asylum) appointment, I expect the Mint will be as dysfunctional as ever.
I’m sure these AGE Unc’s. will sell out as fast as the Proofs, but I’m going to pass on them.
I know your saving your money to honor the women in business lol
SENZA,
You see, the good thing about using CC’s for all of my purchases is that I will never get one of those ‘God ugly coins’ back as change.
Could you imagine the Mint making a coin to commemorate a man whose last name is ‘WOMANKILLER?’
I don’t believe this would ever happen.
WoW I just noticed that – great catch
I’ll take Wilma Flintstone not Wilma Mankiller – this just proves what over paid morons these executive level US Mint Employees are.
SENZA,
I don’t think it’s limited to the Mint, I’d say it’s currently the whole U.S. Government…way overpaid. Wilma and Betty, that brings back fond memories.
Larry T,
Yes, the US Gov in bed with Wall Street and both funding the puppet media – your so right about extending beyond the Mint – I think it’s all part of the Plan – Demic.
Greetings Kaiser I like how you sums things up
SENZA, it looks like Mankiller read George Orwell. Here is one of her best quotes: “Whoever controls the education of our children controls our future.”
Rich, you nailed it, I bet Biden got the idea from here ramblings to start kindergarten at age 2 so there are enough single Moms to wait on the wealthy.
“Whoever controls the education of our children controls our future.”
—————————————————————————–
Ummmm…shoveling ‘critical race theory,’ political correctness, ‘everybody gets a cookie (i.e.; entitlement),’ ‘climate change,’ etc… down kids’ throats in the public schools.
There is no justification for these exorbitant US Mint prices – I’ll pass on enriching the Government in this manner.
Scroll farther down to the Description and you will find this important nugget of information: “The newly designed reverse features a portrayal of an eagle.”
(As opposed to the Ostrich, which was depicted on the reverse of the original Gold American Eagle coins?)
It looks like a frigging Rooster on a bad hair day
Maybe the justification for the price is the “top shelf” black presentation case we collectors will be clamoring for. 😉
That is a real slap in our faces – I am now the proud NOT owner of several of those junk cardboard boxes – even the Gold WT……
The Real Deal – $20 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle XF (Random Year) can be had for $1970 from APMEX. That’s $650 less than the Mint’s ‘scalper-pricing.’
For a coin collector, it is a special feeling to hold one of these beautiful pieces of history in your hand.
A good eye for value and a real deal, Mammoth. For comparison: the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle XF (random year) for $1,970 from APMEX has a PCGS price guide value of $2,160 for XF type; whereas the 2021 $50 GAE Uncirculated with a Mint price of $2,620 only has a PCGS price guide value of $2,260 for type MS69. Not to mention the history…
The American liberty is available for $5 less.
Oops my bad. Only a hundred bucks off.
Funny how sales haven’t started and there are only 8,947 available of the 9,100 limit. Guess the ABP’s got theirs already.
Maybe employees get first dibs too. As Ricky Ricardo would say, I can’t splain it.
Wow! It when through the very first time.
Sounds like it was too easy.
Your just not watching enough MSNBC
The Scamazon Prime is trying hard to push the commercials on us but I reject them daily as well. I just couldn’t imagine even waiting a week between episodes of any non commercial series anymore either- so let’s go channel surfing
Still available at 12:30.
Are these low demand because of the 91.67% purity? The premium alone from the intrinsic value isn’t at all compelling for a small time collector – – sorry to say it but I’d rather pay a premium for an ASE and fight the internet all for the thrill of obtaining something I really want for my collection.
ADR to those who may have fought the US Mint internet recently and lost their battle.
I tried to buy one. The mint site charged my card and then reversed it for some strange reason and gave me an error message. Then I read the comments on this thread, and decided to pass. Just checked over an hour from launch and they are still not sold out. So it would seem plenty of others are passing as well.
At 1:15pm ET, 75 minutes past launch time, there are 1,347 (out of 9,100) still available for purchase (according to the “data-available” on the Mint product page).
I picked one up at two minutes after 12:00. If I choose I can sell it to my LCS for a profit of $100 cash.
I would buy 1 if US Mint load it with BTC. Eh eh? What say you?
Like it or not, as mistrust of our government grows, BTC becomes more popular.
As long as some hacker doesn’t;t steal them. You, as the owner have no recourse.
If US Mint gets into BTC instead of DUSD, the profits will be unbelievable for the mint. I’m sure as a result of that union, it would be in US best interests to create physical or cold wallets. Off the grid wallets. US ceases hundreds of bitcoins each year and mismanages their sales. So why not incorporate a certain btc fraction in gold or silver coin/medal?
Victor,
Heard today the price of Bitcoin is possibly staged to ascend towards the $100,000 level. Was on a Fox Business segment. My main concern is with security. Just think of those folks that bought it a few years ago and then lost their wallet passwords. If they bought 10 bitcoins at $100 each, they would be worth about $550,000 today. But I can’t remember my password. That would be a hard pill to swallow.
Problem is the little guys like me never got a chance to buy in at those low prices – hell we might as well make our own crypto currencies and I’ll make mine out of ice cream or disappearing ink because that’s what will happen to your cash if you buy in now
You maybe right. However, today SEC approved ETF for ‘bitcoin revolution companies’. BTC is getting institutionalized. Once btc starts getting included in retirement funds and other places the price will go up significantly. I think end of next year is going to be interesting where btc goes.
Victor, good points – that will make a difference as I didn’t get into it until I could buy a representation of it via GBTC which I believe is similar to an ETF – but I just keep having visions of every dollar going in ending up in Elon Musks wallet and I can’t bring myself to participate anymore.
Best Regards
Image please
That’s tough! I guess they should’ve bought Casascius coins and forgot about them in the drawer.
Still available and I still don’t want one – that bird is fugly too.
Senza,
Could be worse. Could be a rotisserie bird. Aka, Philadelphia Eagle.
I’m not stoked about using a bust of an eagle, but I much prefer the one riding Mr Ed’s back to the T2 AGE.
Phil,
There were some things I liked about Mr Ed by the way isn’t he working in Vegas now – oh wait the Grand Kids are…………..
And it’s not even an eagle – it’s an eagle’s mean-looking head! A half-eagle gold coin…Lol.
NumisdudeTX
Seth,
A real mean looking eagle head would be using the eagle from the Muppets, lol
I just applied my simple grocery store ethics – when I walk up to the meat counter and my $15.98 a pound Ribeye is $25.00 a pound – I tell the butcher that’s an insult to my limited intelligence please text me when the meat is no longer insulting me because I know my butcher would never insult me NOT
SENZA,
I don’t know about the cost of steaks, as I haven’t had one in over a year, but I just thank God that Biden and the Fed have inflation under control. If they didn’t, I think there would be hell to pay this winter for energy costs related to heating your abode. But at least we don’t have that bastard Trump in the WH sending out all those ‘mean and hateful’ tweets! For those of you that might be a bit IQ-challenged, I’m being sarcastic. But Biden really is the best we could ever ask for.
Larry, energy prices are going through the roof. it’s still early, just wait ’til people begin receiving their winter heating bills. The last time energy spiked – in 2008 – the inflated housing market crashed, the stock mkt. hit the skids, and the economy went south.
Watch for a repeat of all this.
Remember readers, you heard this from Mammoth first.
Will the near-ounce of 91.67% purity gold in this coin be worth $2600 at that point???
The coin is 1.0909 troy oz total. That is 1.0 troy oz of pure gold, plus 0.0909 troy oz of other stuff. So it is 91.67% gold, 3.0% silver, 5.33% copper. Overall, it is composed of 22-carat gold, which is 91.67% gold.
I heard it first from Steve Cortes. Just saying.
Collin – PM prices are a wildcard. Unless there is a Black Swan Event.
Victor – It is good to know other folks out there see what’s going on.
We are seeing End-of-Times like events for sure but Wall Street says it’s all “better than expected”
Sir Kaiser, thanks for sharing the cosmic joke and your universal humor. I am reminded that Carl Sagan once said, “Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. …”
Brings to mind the lines from Woodstock, “We are stardust, we are golden”
Kaiser,
The ego of man, lol. Everything you point to is correct until the math breaks down. & it’s broken. Will there be a bridge? We all hope so, I assume. Until then….
But what if we really are the Brains of the operation – what a waste of a Universe
I once attended a conference on uncertainty. A speaker posed a question to the audience, “What is uncertainty?” Someone raised their hand and answered, “I’m not sure.”
No longer available as of Friday morning at 9:00 Am.
check now
No Household Limit but NLA ???):
Mike, thanks for the confirmation. When I checked at midnight ET there were only 53 coins still available for purchase. Then when I checked again around 9am ET they were no longer available. So they became unavailable (aka sold out) about 20 hours after launch time/date, and thus they all sold within the first 24 hours under the household order limit of 1. Therefore, I think most of the coins ended up in the hands of individual collectors instead of the big dealers and flippers.
Well said, Sir Kaiser. BTW the same thing happened last year with the launch release of the 2020-W $50 GAE Uncirculated (Burnished). It too had a household order limit of 1 for the first day and sold out in about 16 hours under the constraints of the HOL. So most of the coins ended up directly in the collectors’ hands. As a result, there were hardly any of these coins subsequently offered for sale by the big dealers (since they hardly had any to sell) and the few that I saw for sale were priced at around $3,700 (PCGS First… Read more »
Worst change I’ve ever seen!
10/26/2021, These coins are now for sale again from the Mint. I placed an order for ten coins in my bag and it was excepted. There is now ‘No Order Limit’!
Ten of those coins that is alot of money.
How come nobody’s telling potential customers about the one new added feature is the CHIP so, if there’s a Gold confiscation in the Future you won’t be able hide it, you know if Licensed, you have an obligation to use integrity in a sale of a product, it’s called Disclosure