Proof Gold Coins represent the ultimate
in terms of beauty when it comes to gold coins. No other manufacture
or striking of coin can compete with the beauty of a Deep
Ultra Cameo Proof Gold Coin. Proof Gold coins are considered
among the best of the best of all numismatic coins and actually
go beyond numismatics and are considered real art in metal
form.
Rarity: Classic Proof Gold Coins range
from scarce to extremely rare. Some dates in classic proof
gold coins have single digit mintages. Some proof gold
coins have mintages in the hundreds at most. Compare this
with modern proof coins which have mintages in the thousands-millions.
It is therefore possible for a collector or investor to own
a quality proof gold coin, with less than a couple
dozen known for a few thousand dollars and it is here where
we can see the stability in such proof gold coins.
There are extreme rarities in the proof
gold coin series that can be purchased for as little as
5 figures which are finest known. Others which are one of
a kind numismatic proof gold coin rarities run into
the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. Every investor,
large or small can enjoy the ownership of these great proof
gold coins, and put a few of these coins away for a rainy
day or even help with a child's college education. Shown here
are hand picked examples of exquisite proof gold coins,
chosen for their rarity, eye appeal and/or value.
United
States Proof One Dollar Gold Coins: Beginning in
1854, proof one dollar gold coins were struck almost continuously
through 1889. Utilizing designs by Chief Engraver of the Mint
James B. Longacre, three distinct types were produced.
These are the Liberty Head (Type
1), the Indian Princess Head, Small Head (Type 2) and the
Indian Princess Head, Large Head (Type 3). The original Type
1 pieces were a tiny 13mm in diameter and had to be modified
to better facilitate the minting process as well as to differentiate
them from small silver coins also in circulation. In 1854,
Type 2 pieces were issued and enlarged to 15mm.
On the Type 2, the obverse design
was changed to that of an Indian Princess but the height of
relief on the coin proved problematic and the design was again
modified in 1856 with the Type 3.
Reich’s
Capped Head Proof Quarter Eagle (1821-1834): In 1808
John Reich designed a capped draped bust quarter eagle. This
one-year type is extremely rare and there was no proof mintage.
However, in 1821 Robert Scot, despite advanced age and failing
eyesight, designed a quarter eagle, which resembles Reich’s
earlier design.
The new Liberty faces left wearing a smaller Phrygian cap
inscribed with LIBERTY. She is surrounded by thirteen stars
with the date below. Because the effigy is truncated at the
neck, the head is larger than on the previous issue. Also
the stars form a complete arc above Liberty, unlike the 1808
design where the cap interrupted them. The reverse is similar
to the 1808 issue. It shows a heraldic eagle facing left holding
arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The legend UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA is interrupted by the wing tips and arcs
above. The denomination 2½ D. is below. The motto E
PLURIBUS UNUM is on a ribbon that arcs from one wing tip to
the other. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the
coin.
In 1823 Robert Scot died, and the Mint hired William Kneass
to take his place. Kneass was a bank-note engraver. He was
hired to improve the existing designs of all coinage series.
In 1829 he did this for the quarter eagle. The new design
had smaller stars, smaller letters, a redrawn Liberty, and
a redrawn eagle. It also had a high, plain raised rim because
of the use of a closed collar. The new collar imparted a reeded
edge and gave the coins a standard diameter. More
Details >>>
Longacre’s
Proof Three Dollar Gold 1854 to 1889: In 1851 a law
was passed that authorized a three cent piece and also made
the postage rate three cents. Two years later a new law was
passed authorizing a light weight silver three cent coinage
and three dollar gold coin. Evidently lawmakers believed that
the gold coin would be useful to buy rolls of three cent coins
and sheets of stamps. It’s closeness to the quarter
eagle, which was widely used, made the denomination somewhat
illogical, and the public proved indifferent to them.
James Longacre designed the three dollar
gold coin using an Indian Princess motif. He had to create
a motif that would be distinctly different from the quarter
and half eagle coronet designs. The design, similar to his
Gold Dollar Large Head, shows a Caucasian Liberty facing left
wearing a stylized headdress. Inscribed on the headband is
LIBERTY. She is surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
In using the Indian Princess motif, Longacre felt that he
was designing something that was uniquely American rather
than an adoption from the classics. The reverse shows an open
wreath of corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco tied at the bottom
with a bow. The denomination 3 appears at the top center of
the wreath, with DOLLARS and the date below within the wreath.
Longacre liked the wreath design so much that he adopted it
for use on the small cent of 1856.More
Details >>>
Stellas
1879-1880: The four dollar “Stellas”
were developed from the mistaken idea that international trade
would be facilitated if the United States had a coin that
was roughly the equivalent in value to certain coins of other
trading nations. It was felt that the four dollar coin would
be approximately equal to the Austrian 8 florins, Dutch 8
florins, French 20 francs, Italian 20 lire, and Spanish 20
pesetas. This idea was mistaken because currencies fluctuate
in value. Also gold coins would be valued by their weight
and fineness not their denomination for international trade.
Nonetheless, John A. Kasson, the United States Ambassador
to Austria-Hungary, prevailed and convinced Congress of the
need for these coins.
There were two types of Stellas. The first
was designed by Charles Barber. It is called the Flowing Hair
Type. It shows Liberty facing left with her hair loosely tied
behind wearing a band inscribed LIBERTY. The words of the
inscription 6 G .3 S .7 C 7 G R A M S separated by stars surround
Liberty. The reverse, which was common to both types, shows
a large five pointed star inscribed with ONE STELLA followed
by 400 CENTS. Surrounding the star are the words DEO EST GLORIA
and E PLURIBUS UNUM. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arc above the
star and previous inscription, and words FOUR DOL. are below.
The second obverse type was designed by George Morgan. It
has the same inscriptions as the Barber type, but Liberty
is seen with her hair stylishly coiled.More
Details >>>
Reich’s
Capped Head Proof Half Eagles 1813-1834: John Reich
designed the half eagles of 1813 to 1834. They are known as
the Capped Heads. Only the 1813 to 1815 were designed by John
Reich. Although the 1818 to 1829 were done by Robert Scott,
he copied Reich’s earlier design.
The obverse shows Liberty
facing left wearing a cap inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded
by thirteen stars with the date below. Scott’s copies
were not nearly as artistic as Reich’s. Liberty’s
features are coarse and thick. His eagle is more defiant with
its opened mouth and aggressively curved neck. The heraldic
eagle is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Below is the denomination, 5 D. E PLURIBUS UNUM is on a banner
over the eagle’s head between its wings. Dentils border
both sides of the coin.
No proof mintage for this
series is listed in the Red Book, A Guide Book of United States
Coins. Obviously any that are seen are prohibitively rare.
The population reports of both grading services list 6 proof
coins in all conditions for all dates of this design type.
NGC has 1 for 1830 and 3 for 1833, and PGCS has 1 for 1832
and 1 for 1833.More
Details >>>
Scott’s
Proof Eagles 1795-1804: The early eagle coins have
no denomination because gold was valued by its weight and
fineness as was the European coinage of the time. As seen
on contemporary Large Cents, dentils are at the edge of both
the obverse and reverse of these coins.
The obverse design shows Liberty
facing right. Below her is the date which is off center to
the left. Between the date and the word LIBERTY on the left
side of the coin are eight stars. Another eight stars follow
LIBERTY down to the bust. (There were other arrangements of
the stars including ten and five, and twelve and four.) Liberty
wears a large, soft cap. Her hair flows down and also shows
on her forehead. The design was probably taken from a Roman
engraving of a Greek goddess. Liberty’s cap was certainly
not a Phrygian or liberty cap. The liberty cap, emblematic
of freedom, was worn by freed slaves and freed gladiators
in Roman times. It was a close fitting cap used to cover a
shorn head, which was one of the way slaves were identified.
The oversized cap worn by Liberty has been called a turban,
and the design has been called the Turban Head because of
it.
The Type 1 reverse shows a
rather scrawny eagle standing on a branch holding a wreath
in its mouth as it looks right. For some, the eagle looks
like a chicken with oversized wings. In an arc around the
eagle are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.More
Details >>>
Longacre
Proof Double Eagles 1849-1907: The Double Eagle of 1849-1907 was designed
by James Barton Longacre. For all dates the total proof mintage
was 2,426 coins. Therefore, all proof double eagles of this
type are rare, and some are exceedingly rare.
With the Gold Rush of 1849
in California, there was a large increase in the amount of
gold coming into the Mint for coinage. Consequently, a bill
was introduced in the House to coin $20.00 denominations called
double eagles. Mint Director Robert Patterson tried to use
this new coinage bill as an excuse to terminate James Longacre
as the Engraver because of political and other differences.
The Chief Coiner, Franklin Peale, with Patterson’s approval
and help, was making medals on the side. Patterson was afraid
that Longacre would interfere with Peale’s profitable
business. Therefore, Peale would not cooperate with Longacre;
however, Longacre prevailed and was able to retain his position
and complete the dies for the double eagles.More
Details >>>
Saint-Gaudens’
Proof Double Eagles: Many consider the Augustus Saint-Gaudens
1907 high relief Roman Numerals double eagle to be the most
beautiful United States coin ever made. Reminiscent of the
coins of ancient Greece, these coins were designed by Saint-Gaudens
at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt, his friend.
Roosevelt felt that the contemporary coinage was “atrociously
hideous.” He had what he called his “pet crime.”
Now that he was president, he could get rid of the ordinary
look of the current coinage and fulfill his dream of having
a national coinage that would be both beautiful and dignified.
Saint-Gaudens, who created his 1905 Inauguration Medal, agreed.
“Whatever I produce cannot be worse than the inanities
now displayed on our coins.” Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens
was in failing health and never lived to see his new double
eagles in circulation. He died on August 3, 1907.More
Details >>>
United
States Proof One Dollar Gold Coins: Beginning in
1854, proof one dollar gold coins were struck almost continuously
through 1889. Utilizing designs by Chief Engraver of the Mint
James B. Longacre, three distinct types were produced.
Reich’s
Capped Head Proof Quarter Eagle (1821-1834): In 1808
John Reich designed a capped draped bust quarter eagle. This
one-year type is extremely rare and there was no proof mintage.
However, in 1821 Robert Scot, despite advanced age and failing
eyesight, designed a quarter eagle, which resembles Reich’s
earlier design.
Longacre’s
Proof Three Dollar Gold 1854 to 1889: In 1851 a law
was passed that authorized a three cent piece and also made
the postage rate three cents. Two years later a new law was
passed authorizing a light weight silver three cent coinage
and three dollar gold coin. Evidently lawmakers believed that
the gold coin would be useful to buy rolls of three cent coins
and sheets of stamps. It’s closeness to the quarter
eagle, which was widely used, made the denomination somewhat
illogical, and the public proved indifferent to them.
Stellas
1879-1880: The four dollar “Stellas”
were developed from the mistaken idea that international trade
would be facilitated if the United States had a coin that
was roughly the equivalent in value to certain coins of other
trading nations. It was felt that the four dollar coin would
be approximately equal to the Austrian 8 florins, Dutch 8
florins, French 20 francs, Italian 20 lire, and Spanish 20
pesetas. This idea was mistaken because currencies fluctuate
in value. Also gold coins would be valued by their weight
and fineness not their denomination for international trade.
Nonetheless, John A. Kasson, the United States Ambassador
to Austria-Hungary, prevailed and convinced Congress of the
need for these coins.
Reich’s
Capped Head Proof Half Eagles 1813-1834: John Reich
designed the half eagles of 1813 to 1834. They are known as
the Capped Heads. Only the 1813 to 1815 were designed by John
Reich. Although the 1818 to 1829 were done by Robert Scott,
he copied Reich’s earlier design.
Scott’s
Proof Eagles 1795-1804: The early eagle coins have
no denomination because gold was valued by its weight and
fineness as was the European coinage of the time. As seen
on contemporary Large Cents, dentils are at the edge of both
the obverse and reverse of these coins.
Longacre
Proof Double Eagles 1849-1907:
Saint-Gaudens’
Proof Double Eagles: Many consider the Augustus Saint-Gaudens
1907 high relief Roman Numerals double eagle to be the most
beautiful United States coin ever made. Reminiscent of the
coins of ancient Greece, these coins were designed by Saint-Gaudens
at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt, his friend.
Roosevelt felt that the contemporary coinage was “atrociously
hideous.” He had what he called his “pet crime.”
Now that he was president, he could get rid of the ordinary
look of the current coinage and fulfill his dream of having
a national coinage that would be both beautiful and dignified.
Saint-Gaudens, who created his 1905 Inauguration Medal, agreed.
“Whatever I produce cannot be worse than the inanities
now displayed on our coins.” Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens
was in failing health and never lived to see his new double
eagles in circulation. He died on August 3, 1907.
