Today at noon EDT, the United States Mint will release their 1-ounce, 22-karat 2022-W $50 Uncirculated American Gold Eagle.
Struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point, New York, and limited to a mintage of 9,000 pieces, the uncirculated coin may be poised for a relatively quick sell out as that happened with the prior two issues.
Bullion and proof versions of American Gold Eagles debuted as annual issues in 1986. The uncirculated edition joined them in 2006. All depicted the same basic imagery until 2021 when the U.S. Mint updated the obverse (heads side) and replaced the reverse (tails side).
Uncirculated Gold Eagle Designs
Obverses bear one of the most popular designs to have ever graced American coinage — Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ full-length figure of Liberty. This likeness was first seen on 1907-1933 $20 gold coins.
It reappeared in 1986 on American Gold Eagles and basically remained unchanged until 2021 when legacy design elements, like the Capitol Building, stars, torch, and sun rays, were restored using the original bronze cast. Obverse inscriptions include "LIBERTY" and "2022."
As for the series’ original reverse design, it was completely replaced last year. Gone is Miley Busiek’s family of eagles design. The new image, instead, depicts the head of an Eagle as created by Jennie Norris and sculpted by Renata Gordon.
Reverse inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "50 DOLLARS," and "1 OZ. FINE GOLD."
Anti-counterfeit measures were also added in 2021, including a reeded edge variation, which is also on this year’s coin.
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 2022-W $50 Uncirculated American Gold Eagle may be ordered directly from the U.S. Mint’s gold coins page located here.
Orders are limited to one coin per household during the first 24-hour sales period.
Pricing is $2,670.00. That is subject to change weekly based on a matrix the U.S. Mint uses that ties its gold coin prices to market conditions.
