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

This 2015 American Liberty High Relief gold $100 coin was struck at the West Point Mint and went on sale July 30, 2015. Its final mintage was 49,325. This 24-karat gold coin was the first $100 gold coin ever produced 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 9,055 as MS70 in its exclusive Gold Label holder. The Collectors Universe price in this grade is $2,900.00.

The United States Mint, where this dramatic gold piece was struck in 2015.

According to Hernandez, the design was influenced by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, the 11-member body created in 2003 by Congress to advise the Secretary of the Treasury of designs and themes for U.S. coins and medals. The submitted designs were also reviewed by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a seven-member group established 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 inspiration from Augustus Saint-Gaudens famous Striding Liberty double eagle (1907-1933), commonly called the ‘Saint’ in his honor.