1992-W $5 Christopher Columbus MS70 Certification #10520621, PCGS #9666

Ron Guth

In 1992, the U.S. Mint struck specially designed Half Dollars, Silver Dollars, and $5 gold pieces to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World.  The obverse of the $5 gold piece features a side profile of Columbus facing left towards an outline of North and South America.  The reverse shows the crest of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea with a nautical chart in the background.  Both Mint State and Proof versions were struck at the West Point Mint and sold to collectors for a premium over the gold value.  Portions of the profits derived from sales of these coins were given to the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (established under Public Law 102-281).  Sales of the Mint State version were just under 25,000, setting a new low (at the time) for modern gold commemoratives.

Collectors should have no difficulty finding superb quality examples of this type.