The American Gold Eagle coin has not experienced the same drastic ebbs and flows in its proof mintage that its silver counterpart has seen. Entering the 21st century, the Proof American Gold Eagle was struck in roughly the same figures each year from 2000 to 2006. Today, the 2003-W 1/4 oz Proof American Gold Eagle coin is available as a perfect specimen from JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- 18th annual striking of the Proof American Gold Eagle.
- Ships in a plastic slab to protect the coin’s condition.
- Contains a true gold content of 1/4 oz of 22-karat gold.
- Face value of $10 (USD) is fully backed by the US government.
- Earned a grade of PR70 from the Professional Coin Grading Service.
- Bears a Deep-cameo finish.
- The “W” mint mark identifies the West Point Mint as the origin facility.
Proof American Gold Eagle coins saw a total mintage in the 1/4 oz. weight in 2003 of just 30,292 coins. This was down from a recent high of 36,000 coins in 2000, but significantly higher than the previous two years. Much of the change in mintage was the result in the shifting preference of collectors.
While the 1 oz and 1/2 oz coins were often the favorites of collectors in the first 15 years of production, the late 1990s and early 2000s saw collectors stray more towards the 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz Proof American Gold Eagle coins. The drop for the 1/4 oz weight from 2000 was not nearly as far as other weights.
Each 2003-W 1/4 oz Proof American Gold Eagle coin in this listing from JM Bullion earned a perfect certification from the PCGS. Coins in this listing boast a PR70 grade, which indicates the presence of full, original mint luster and no detracting flaws of any kind.
The Deep-cameo designation for these proof coins means there is a stark contrast between the design set and background field. On the design set there is a strong, frosted finish, while the background field has a deeply-mirrored, clear finish.
On the obverse is Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ iconic Lady Liberty image, which was created in 1907. The American bald eagle on the reverse was created in 1986 by Miley Busiek, and is featured only on the American Gold Eagle coin.
If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to us. A JM Bullion associate is available on the phone at 800-276-6508, online using our live web chat, and via our email address. Be sure to check out similar coins like the 1998-W 1/4 American Gold Eagle PCGS PR70 DCAM and the 1996-W 1/4 oz American Gold Eagle PCGS PR70 DCAM.