Numismatic

2008-W 1/4 oz Burnished American Gold Eagle MS/SP-70 PCGS

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In 2008, the West Point facility of the United States Mint produced a special burnished edition of the quarter-ounce American Gold Eagle. This particular coin, containing a quarter ounce of fine gold, carries a face value of ten dollars and stands out for its exceptionally low production run, with only 8,883 pieces minted. The burnishing process gives the coin a distinct matte finish, highlighting the intricate details of its classical and modern artistry. The obverse displays a celebrated figure of Lady Liberty, an adaptation of the historic early twentieth-century design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. She strides forward carrying a lit torch and an olive branch, set against a backdrop of radiating sunbeams. The word LIBERTY is inscribed above her, and the year 2008 is clearly visible to her right. On the reverse, the artwork created by Miley Busiek depicts a family of bald eagles. A male eagle is shown in flight, bearing an olive branch back to a nest where a female eagle and their offspring wait. This side is inscribed with the phrases UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the coin's weight, metal content, and the 10 DOLLARS denomination.