2015-W G$100 High Relief First Strike .9999 Fine Gold PCGS MS70

The 2015 American Liberty High Relief gold $100 coin was produced at the West Point Mint and went on sale beginning on July 30, 2015. Its mintage was 49,325. This 24-karat gold coin was the first ever $100 gold coin struck by the U.S. Mint.

According to Jaime Hernandez, “The diameter of the coin was set at 1.205 inches rather than the 1.287 inches which is used on Gold Buffaloes and American Gold Eagles. This was done in order to produce a higher relief design on the 2015-W High Relief coins.” PCGS has graded 2,112 as MS70. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $3,100.00 in MS70.

The West Point Mint, where this dramatic gold piece was struck in 2015. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

According to Hernandez, the design was guided by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, the 11-member group established in 2003 by Congress to advise the Secretary of the Treasury of designs and themes for upcoming U.S. coins and medals. Submitted designs were also evaluated by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a seven-member group instituted by Congress in 1910.

According to the U.S. Mint website, “The obverse features a ‘modern’ depiction of Liberty. The figure is portrayed standing, crowned with leaves, holding the American flag and a torch …. [while the] reverse features a bald eagle in flight, clutching an olive branch in its talons.” However, to this author, it appears to have taken direct inspiration from Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ famous Striding Liberty double eagle (1907-1933), commonly called the ‘Saint’ in his honor.