Unique $50 Gold Eagle Wrong Planchet Error at FUN
TopographicOceans
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This is a tough one to spot since the diameter is the same, it is just a different thickness and weight.
Collectors will have the opportunity in January to acquire the discovery example of one of the most important U.S. modern errors. Heritage Auctions will be offering the only confirmed 2014 $50 Gold Eagle incorrectly struck on a .9999 American Buffalo Planchet at the 2017 Florida United Numismatists Auction, January 4-9 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. As uncommon as it is stunning, the type is the only wrong planchet error known in the entirety of United States gold coinage history.
"Wrong planchet errors are virtually unknown in the U.S. gold series," Heritage Auctions President Greg Rohan said. "There have been exceedingly rare instances of non-gold coins struck on gold planchets, but this is the only certified U.S. gold issue struck on an incorrect gold blank."
Though the Gold Eagle and American Buffalo $50 coins have the same 32.7-milimeter diameter, they differ in thickness and weight. Due to the American Buffalo's finer composition, it is thicker and lighter.
The coin is graded MS69 by PCGS and is the only confirmed example of the error. One other is thought to exist, but it is not yet certified. APMEX officials discovered the error and conducted non-destructive fineness tests before sending it to NGC for authentication and grading. NGC graded the coin MS69 with a regular strike designation. Officials then submitted the coin to PCGS, where the wrong planchet error was certified.
Like all U.S. gold bullion coins, the error was struck at the West Point Mint. The mint has not commented on how the wrong blank was used, or how many could have been struck.
Coin World magazine quoted dealer Fred Weinberg about a similar modern silver error: "A 1998 American Eagle silver dollar graded and encapsulated PCGS MS68 in 2013, struck at the San Francisco Mint on a 38.1-millimeter .900 fine silver dollar commemorative coin planchet instead of the intended American Eagle 40.6-millimeter .999 fine silver planchet, subsequently traded hands privately for in excess of $50,000."
Of similar rarity, the Gold Eagle is potentially more desirable and could bring bids at that level or higher among error collectors and modern gold specialists.
Comments
Cool error.
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I agree, that's quite cool!
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...so it's a 1-ounce gold coin struck on a 1-ounce gold coin planchet, but it's the wrong 1-oz gold planchet?
Precisely!
So is it like really old?
**Not at all! It was manufactured in the last 24 months. **
So did a non-collector find it out in circulation and immediately noticed how significant the difference is?
No, no no! It was only minted to be carefully handled, and never to be released for circulation! The difference is so slight it escaped notice by even the mint!
So...what? It's a mistake and should probably be discounted because it's not what they paid for?
Absolutely not! It is incredibly rare and will be bought for thousands and thousands of dollars by a discerning collector!
Huh. Ok, I guess.
--Severian the Lame
Very cool and exciting! This looks quite different from regular AGEs in hand from what's been posted.
To each their own but it just looks like a normal gold eagle to me and its not even old.....
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My understanding is that it looks much more yellow gold color due to the higher gold content. When seen in hand, the difference has been described as very evident.
Regarding oldness, it's nice that new collectibles are still being created in modern times
Though the Gold Eagle and American Buffalo $50 coins have the same 32.7-milimeter diameter, they differ in thickness and weight. Due to the American Buffalo's finer composition, it is thicker and lighter.
Hmm, one would think that the pure gold coin would be THINNER and lighter than the alloyed gold coin.
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I would like to actually hold one of these..... no chance of that, but would be interesting to feel the difference 'in hand'.. Cheers, RickO
Correct.
The original Coin World article said there were two of these, so it is not "unique."
https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/2016/09/2014-gold-american-eagle-struck-on-buffalo-blank.html?
gold buffalo planchet is 24k (.999 fine gold) and weighs one ounce, AGE planchet is 22k (.900 fine gold) and weighs 1.0909 ozs. Both coins have one ounce of pure gold but AGE weighs a bit more to compensate for added alloys to make it a harder metal. This is why the two planchets have different weight and dimensions.
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
Discussed more in this earlier thread
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
There are two of these...so far. Unless everyone starts weighing their 2014 AGEs no one will truly know how many of these "unique" errors exist.
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This "error" was probably created deliberately just to get people talking.
Yawn........
No matter how it was created, would be neat to find one...and own it... Cheers, RickO
Seems to be a great ado about nothing..
A difference without a distinction..
How folks can get worked up over this modern crap is beyond me.
If it takes sophisticated equipment and labs to identify, the difference is inconsequential IMO
Major mint mistake.
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
Sold for $23,500 with the buyer's premium.
I see at the same just-closed auction, a pretty 1853 Assay Office $20 Gold piece in NGC MS61 sold for about the same price.
Not really. It sold for less than half that price.
So you could've gotten that Cal Gold assay office piece and also the 1907 High Relief Wire Rim saint in NGC AU58 that sold alongside it. Combined. For about the same price as that ultra rare modern gold bullion piece mistakenly struck on a modern gold bullion piece planchet.
I think I know which way I would have gone.
--Severian the Lame
I'm with ya. However, I'm sure "number known" played a big part. Note: they were $50 modern gold pieces, not that it matters.
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.