At the United States Mint, 2017 was largely dominated by the celebration of the Mint’s 225th anniversary, which included the launch of a special 24 karat gold, 1-ounce gold coin in the American Liberty series that received a lot of mainstream press attention because it featured Liberty as a young African American woman for the first time.
In 2017, the spot price of gold started off the year at $1152.15 and ended at $1302.80 with an average for the year of $1260.39. For the year it rose 12.57% compared to stock market gains of 20%. Gold rose early in the year due to rising geopolitical tensions over North Korea, and a weaker dollar that year also helped support strong gold prices, which reached their highest point since 2012.
Bullion Coin
Sales of 2017 American Gold Eagle Bullion Coins (Buy on eBay) were as usual the strongest in January when 86,500 1 oz coins, 19,000 ½ oz coins, 36,000 ¼ oz coins (more than half the year’s total) and 125,000 1/10th oz coins were sold. As the year progressed, sales of the three fractional coins were lower, while sales of the 1 oz coin also dropped but then surged again in December. Final mintages for the bullion coins were 228,500 (1 oz), 37,000 (½ oz), 64,000 (¼ oz) and 395,000 1/10th oz.
Proof Coin
The 2017-W American Gold Eagle Proof Coins (Buy on eBay) were launched on March 17. The coins had initial prices of $2,850 (1 oz) with a product limit of 6,000 coins of which 4,885 were sold on opening day; $1,450 (½ oz) with a product limit of 2,000 coins of which 1,920 were sold on opening day; $752.50 for the quarter ounce with a product limit of 4,500 coins of which 4,348 were sold on opening day; and $330 for the tenth ounce with a product limit of 14,000 coins of which 7,576 were sold on opening day. The 4-piece set of all four gold coins was offered initially for $5,332.50, which recorded sales of 8,745 sets of a maximum authorized limit of 10,000 sets. Each of these products had a one coin per household limit. Final sales were 9,245 (1 oz), 12,717 for the half ounce, 14,516 for the quarter ounce and 11,158 for the tenth ounce.
Burnished Uncirculated $50 Gold Coin
The 2017-W Burnished Uncirculated $50 Gold Coin (Buy on eBay) went on sales on June 1 with an initial price of $1,575 and no mintage, product or order limit. Initial sales were 2,080 for this coin, and sales were steady throughout the year. Final sales were 5,800.
2017 Gold Eagle Specifications
- Date: 2017
- Mint Mark: bullion (none), W: Proof and uncirculated
- Composition: 91.67% gold, 3% silver, 5.33% copper
- Weight: ($50 gold): 1.0909 troy ounces (33.930 grams)
- Diameter: ($50 gold): 1.287 inches (32.7 mm)
- Thickness: 0.13 inches (2.87 mm)
- Designers: Augustus Saint-Gaudens (obverse), Mily Busiek (reverse)
2017 Gold Eagle Mintage
- Bullion Mintage: 228,500 (1 oz), 37,000 (½ oz) 64,000 (¼ oz), 395,000 (1/10th oz)
- Proof Mintage: 9,245 (1 oz), 12,717 (½ oz), 14,516 (¼ oz), 11,158 (1/10th oz)
- Burnished Uncirculated Mintage: 5,800
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