Numismatic

2008-W 1/2 oz Burnished American Gold Eagle MS/SP-70 NGC

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The 2008 Burnished American Gold Eagle represents a distinct chapter in modern United States coinage. Struck at the West Point Mint in New York, this half-ounce gold piece features a specialized burnished finish, giving the metal a soft, matte-like appearance that sets it apart from standard bullion and proof issues. With a limited worldwide mintage of 16,682 pieces, this specific release is a quieter, more elusive member of the popular American Eagle series. On the obverse, the coin displays a celebrated design adapted from Augustus Saint-Gaudens' classic Gold Double Eagle. Lady Liberty is depicted walking forward, bathed in the rays of a rising sun. In her hands, she carries a torch and an olive branch, symbolizing enlightenment and peace. The year 2008 is clearly inscribed alongside the word LIBERTY. The reverse of the coin features a detailed family scene of America's national bird. A male bald eagle is captured mid-flight, carrying an olive branch back to a nest that holds a female eagle and their young. This detailed design is accompanied by the traditional mottos IN GOD WE TRUST and E PLURIBUS UNUM, along with inscriptions detailing the weight and denomination, reading 1/2 OZ. FINE GOLD and 25 DOLLARS.