Numismatic

1986 1/4 oz American Gold Eagle MS-69 PCGS

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The year 1986 marked the debut of a legendary United States coinage tradition. This quarter-ounce gold piece represents the very first year of the American Eagle series, struck in a purity of 0.9167 fine gold. Certified in an exceptional Mint State 69 condition, this particular specimen displays the crisp details and original luster of a nearly flawless strike. One of the most distinctive features of this inaugural issue is the way the date is displayed. Rather than standard Arabic numerals, the year of production is rendered in classic Roman numerals as MCMLXXXVI on the obverse. This side of the coin showcases a legendary design adapted from Augustus Saint-Gaudens, depicting Lady Liberty striding forward with strength against a backdrop of radiant sunbeams. The reverse side, designed by Miley Busiek, presents a powerful family scene of America's national bird. A male bald eagle is depicted in mid-flight, carrying an olive branch back to a nest where a female eagle and her hatchlings wait. This detailed illustration is surrounded by the traditional national mottos, "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM," alongside inscriptions detailing the ten-dollar face value and the quarter-ounce gold weight.