2015-W $100 American Liberty High Relief, .9999 Fine NGC MS70

Please take a look at the photos of this beautiful coin, one that would look great as part of your collection. This American Liberty High Relief gold $100 coin was produced at the West Point Mint and went on sale July 30, 2015. With a mintage of 49,325, this 24-karat .9999 gold coin was the first-ever $100 gold coin produced by the United States Mint.

The diameter of the $100 American Liberty High Relief is 1.205 inches, and not 1.287 inches as are the Gold Buffaloes and American Gold Eagles. This change was made in order to create a higher relief design upon the 2015-W High Relief coins. NGC has graded 8,322 examples as MS70.

The United States Mint at West Point, NY, where this dramatic gold piece was struck in 2015. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The design was determined by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, the 11-member body started in 2003 by Congress to advise the Treasury Secretary of designs and themes for U.S. coins and medals. Submitted designs are also evaluated by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a seven-member committee 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 much inspiration from both sides of Augustus Saint-Gaudens famous Striding Liberty double eagle (1907-1933), commonly called the ‘Saint’ in his honor.