Numismatic

2003-W Gold $10 Commem First Flight Centennial PR-69 PCGS

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In 2003, the United States Mint released a ten dollar gold coin to mark exactly one hundred years since the Wright Brothers achieved their historic first flight. Struck at the West Point Mint, this modern commemorative coin contains 0.4838 troy ounces of actual gold weight. Its composition is 90 percent pure gold, representing a beautiful blend of precious metal and historical tribute. The obverse of the coin presents a dual portrait of Orville and Wilbur Wright, positioned side by side and looking directly forward. This side includes the inscriptions LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the dual dates of 1903 and 2003, alongside the names of the two aviation pioneers. The design captures the determination of the brothers on the eve of their world-changing breakthrough. On the reverse, the coin depicts the iconic 1903 Wright Flyer soaring above a sand dune in North Carolina, accompanied by an American bald eagle flying overhead. This aerial perspective is accompanied by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the face value of TEN DOLLARS. This specific specimen is graded in Proof 69 Deep Cameo condition, highlighting the sharp contrast between the frosted details and the mirror-like fields of the strike.