Bullion

1999-W 1/10 oz American Gold Eagle BU (W Variety)

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In 1999, the United States Mint produced a fascinating variety of the fractional five dollar gold coin. This tenth-ounce piece features the West Point Mint's "W" mark, a detail that sets it apart from standard issues of that year. Unlike proof coins, these specific pieces were struck using dies that did not undergo special polishing, resulting in a brilliant uncirculated finish. The official mintage numbers for this particular variety have never been released by the mint, adding an air of mystery to its distribution. The obverse of the coin displays a classic American image, adapted from Augustus Saint-Gaudens' famous double eagle design. It depicts Lady Liberty walking forward, holding a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other. Legible inscriptions on the coin include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." On the reverse, a design by Miley Busiek captures a family of bald eagles. One eagle is shown mid-flight, carrying an olive branch back to a nest where a female eagle and her young wait. The reverse also notes the coin's face value of five dollars and its gold content, marking it as a distinctive release from the late twentieth century.