1999 George Washington Death Bicentennial Commemorative Five Dollar Gold

About This Coin

The 1999 George Washington Death Bicentennial Commemorative Five Dollar Gold is a United States commemorative dollar. Authorized to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death in 1799, this $5 gold piece uses Laura Gardin Fraser's 1931 Washington portrait design. Fraser originally submitted this design for the 1932 Washington quarter competition, but Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon rejected it in favor of John Flanagan's left-facing profile. The obverse features a right-facing portrait of George Washington based on the life-mask bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with outspread wings. Designed by Laura Gardin Fraser. This design was originally submitted by Laura Gardin Fraser in 1931 for the Washington quarter but was rejected. It was finally used 68 years later for this commemorative. Struck in 90% gold, 10% copper, weighing 8.36 grams, 21.6 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. The Washington $5 gold finally realized Fraser's 68-year-old rejected design, giving it a remarkable backstory. Fraser's Washington portrait was later adopted for the American Women Quarters series beginning in 2022.