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*Auction Highlight* PCGS 1999-w Unfinished proof dies Finest Known Gold Eagle Dollar $10 Graded ms70

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:2,875.00 - 11,500.00 USD
*Auction Highlight* PCGS 1999-w Unfinished proof dies Finest Known Gold Eagle Dollar $10 Graded ms70
***Auction Highlight*** PCGS 1999-w Unfinished proof dies Finest Known Gold Eagle Dollar .$10 Graded ms70 By PCGS. Pristine 1999-W Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagle Struck from Unfinished Proof Dies

A Pop 1 Coin in PCGS MS-70

1999-W Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagle. Struck from Unfinished Proof Dies. MS-70 (PCGS).
Examples of this type have been referred to as Mint errors in the past, and they are now listed as having been struck from unfinished proof dies. The W mintmark is important in making this distinction as, while the coins do not display a full cameo proof finish as one would expect for a proof Gold Eagle, the West Point Mint struck only proof Gold Eagles prior to 2006. It is likely that the dies were not completely polished and otherwise prepared for proof coinage but were accidentally used for this role by employees at the West Point Mint.
There is another theory that could explain the existence of these curious 1999-W Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagles. Late 1999 witnessed a surge in demand for small-size Gold Eagles of the Tenth-Ounce and Quarter-Ounce "denominations" as the public was caught up in the Y2K fear. Since it was late in the year and the Mint no longer had access to dies for producing commercial strikes, a few previously used proof dies were pressed into service to deliver more commercial strikes. A comparison between mintages figures for the commercial strike Tenth-Ounce and Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagles dated 1998-2000 illustrate the strong demand that the Mint witnessed for these coins in 1999. These mintage figures are attributed to Eric Jordan's recently published book, Modern Commemorative Coins, which has an excellent section on the U.S. Eagle series, as well.

Tenth-Ounce Gold Eagle
1998: 1,344,520 coins struck
1999: 2,750,338 coins struck
2000: 569,153 coins struck

Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagle
1998: 309,829 coins struck
1999: 564,232 coins struck
2000: 128,964 coins struck

Regardless of exactly under what circumstances the 1999-W Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagles from unfinished proof dies were produced, these coins constitute the rarest issue/variety in the entire Gold Eagle series. While the exact mintage is not known, it has been estimated at no more than 1,000 coins in the past. We believe that the original mintage is certainly fewer than 5,000 pieces, if not 3,000 pieces, clearly making these pieces the rarest of any U.S. Eagle bullion coin, silver, gold or platinum.
A pristine piece that ranks as the single finest certified and only MS-70 listed at PCGS, the importance of this coin for Registry Set purposes cannot be overstated. The 1999-W Quarter-Ounce from unfinished proof dies is an integral component to completion of any PCGS Registry Set that features circulation strike coins of the Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagle series. A Corey's Pick, Bid to Win, Don't let it get Away, you might not find its equal Coin. I give this coin my highest recommendation