1997 American Gold Eagle Coins
The 1997 American Gold Eagle Coins returned a meteoric increase in the bullion mintage of the coins while the collectible Proof Gold Eagles saw mintage declines.
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| Mintage: 664,508 One Ounce Bullion, 32,999 One Ounce Proof eBay Listings Authorizing Coin Law U.S. Mint Online Site |
Perhaps fueling the intense interest in the bullion Eagles was a drop in the average price of gold during the year. It fell to only $331.02 an ounce for 1997, coming off of the 1996 average of $387.81. This was a drop of 14.6%
To celebrate the inaugural year of the Platinum Eagles, the US Mint created a special Impressions of Liberty Set in 1997. It contained the One Ounce Proof versions of the Platinum Eagle, the Gold Eagle and the Silver Eagle.
1997 Gold Eagle Mintage
Bullion Gold Eagle Mintage
Bullion Eagle mintage shot through the roof in 1997 with the one ounce strike leading the pack with a jump of 475,360 coins. This is especially interesting when one considers that only 189,148 of the strikes were sold the previous year.
The chart below shows the total mintage of 1997-dated Bullion Gold Eagles:
One Ounce Bullion Gold Eagle 664,508 1/2 Ounce Bullion Gold Eagle 79,605 1/4 Ounce Bullion Gold Eagle 108,805 1/2 Ounce Bullion Gold Eagle 528,515
Proof Gold Eagle Mintage
Proof Eagle mintage saw its second successful annual decrease with all three fractional sizes of the coin returning lower numbers. The one ounce Proof showed a total increase, but only because it was included in the special Impressions of Liberty Set.
The chart below shows the total mintage of 1997-dated Proof Gold Eagles which includes the number sold as part of the Gold Eagle 4-Coin Set (of which 20,005 were sold). It also includes the 4,965 One Ounce Proof Eagles sold as part of the Impressions of Liberty Set.
One Ounce Proof Gold Eagle 32,999 1/2 Ounce Proof Gold Eagle 26,344 1/4 Ounce Proof Gold Eagle 29,805 1/10 Ounce Proof Gold Eagle 34,977
Issue Information
The 1997 Gold Eagles marked the twelfth year for the strikes which debuted back in 1986.
Release Date
The US Mint sold the Bullion Gold Eagles for most of the year through it’s network of authorized purchasers.
Issue Price
Bullion Eagles were sold by the Mint through it’s network of authorized purchasers for a small premium above the current spot price of the gold contained within them. Proof Gold Eagles remained at the same price point set the year before of $589 for the One Ounce Gold Eagle, $299 for the 1/2 Ounce Gold Eagle, $159 for the 1/4 Ounce Gold Eagle and $75 for the 1/10 Ounce Gold Eagle. The 4-Coin Set sold for $1,025.
U.S. Mint Production Facility
All of the Proof Gold Eagles were struck at the US Mint’s facility in West Point and show the appropriate ‘W’ mintmark.
Designer & Sculptor
Lady Liberty with her flowing hair is shown on the obverse (heads side of the Gold Eagles). It was originally designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the 1907-1933 Double Eagle Coin. The reverse (tails side) shows Miley Busiek’s family of Eagles with the male soaring above the nest.
Coin Specifications
| Face Value: | $50 |
| Finish: | Bullion, Proof |
| Composition: | 91.67% Gold, 3% Silver, 5.33% Copper |
| Standard Weight: | 33.930 g |
| Standard Diameter: | 32.70 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |