Proof American Gold Eagles

In addition to the bullion coins, the United States Mint produces American Gold Eagle Proof Coins (Buy on eBay) for collectors. These coins struck through a specialized mintage process and typically carry specific maximum authorized mintages. Proof Gold Eagles have been produced each year from 1986 to 2008 and carry premiums above the prices of their bullion counterparts.

Producing Proof coins involves a special minting process during which coins are struck multiple times with specially prepared dies. The resulting coins exhibit sharp details and a cameo like appearance. The raised design elements appear frosted, while the background elements are mirrored. This gives the appearance of the design floating on liquid like fields.

Proof Gold Eagles are sold directly by the United States Mint to collectors, priced at a higher premium to gold value, as compared to the prices of regular bullion coins. The collector coins are typically placed within protective capsules within velvet lined presentation boxes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the Director of the Mint.

In 1986, the U.S. Mint only produced one ounce Proof Gold Eagles. In the following year, they also produced the one-half ounce proof coin, and sold a Two Coin Set. The following year, the remaining fractional weights  were added to the product line up, along with a 4 Coin packaged set. Each year from 1988 to 2008, the U.S. Mint sold the four individual options and the set. In 2009, all options for the Proof Gold Eagle were canceled, as the U.S. Mint diverted incoming gold blanks to the production of bullion coins.

All one ounce Proof Gold Eagles have been produced at the West Point Mint. The fractional weight Proof Gold Eagles were initially produced at the Philadelphia Mint from 1987 to 1993. After that date, the fractional weight proof coins were struck at the West Point facility.

Gold Eagle Proof Mintage:

Date	1 oz.	1/2 oz.	1/4 oz.	1/10 oz.
1986	446,290	–	–	–
1987	147,498	143,398	–	–
1988	87,133	76,528	98,028	143,881
1989	54,570	44,798	54,170	84,647
1990	62,401	51,636	62,674	99,349
1991	50,411	53,125	50,839	70,334
1992	44,826	40,976	46,269	64,874
1993	34,369	43,819	46,464	58,649
1994	46,674	44,584	48,172	62,849
1995	46,368	45,388	47,526	62,667
1996	36,153	35,058	38,219	57,047
1997	32,999	26,344	29,805	34,977
1998	25,886	25,374	29,503	39,395
1999	31,427	30,427	34,417	48,428
2000	33,007	32,028	36,036	49,971
2001	24,555	23,240	25,613	37,530
2002	27,499	26,646	29,242	40,864
2003	28,344	28,270	30,292	40,027
2004	28,215	27,330	28,839	35,131
2005	35,246	34,311	37,207	49,265
2006	47,092	34,322	36,127	47,277
2007	51,810	44,025	46,189	58,553
2008	30,237	22,602	18,877	28,116
2010	59,480	44,527	44,507	54,285
2011	48,306	26,781	28,782	42,697
2012	23,630	12,809	13,775	20,740
2013	24,710	12,718	12,789	21,742
2014	28,703	14,693	14,790	22,725
2015	32,652	15,820	15,775	26,769
2016	40,044	22,001	22,828	37,312
2017	9,245	12,717	14,516	11,158
2018	15,645	9,204	12,770	21,156
2019	14,697	9,454	10,613	17,809
2020	17,358	14,020	15,086	24,033
2021 Type 1	12,558	9,741	10,387	21,078
2021 Type 2	15,731	12,163	13,511	24,984
2022	15,819	11,876	14,370	23,712
2023	15,863	11,408	13,886	22,824