Hobbyists and investors alike often buy American Eagle gold coins adding both beauty and value to their collections. Gold American Eagles coins are produced from 22 karat gold, and are 91.67% pure gold. Also added to them to make them more durable are small amounts of copper and silver. The weight of the copper and silver do not replace any amount of actual gold in the coins, but are in addition to the actual gold weight, or AGW, of the coin.
Due to the beauty of the American Eagle gold coin it has become one of the most popular gold coins collected to date.
Easy Access
You can easily purchase proof coins from the US Mint both in individual coins or coin sets. Proof coins are simply the coins that were put through the press first. The proof coins are not mass marketed however until all possible defects or misprints have been identified before being released. This cuts down on waste of metal for imperfect mints, therefore proof coins end up being some of the most valuable coins printed due to their scarcity.
The blanks for these coins are literally handled with gloves so that there are no mars or smudge marks. These coins are typically mirror finished with occasional parts of the die sandblasted putting a frosted finish on the final product in various places.
Outside of proof sets, bullion American gold eagle coins are not generally sold to the public, but to authorized dealers who then sell the coins individually or in bulk, usually to businesses in the coin industry. From there the general public can buy from the authorized dealers making coin collecting an easy process.
Relatable Values
American Eagle gold coins are minted with four face values that will be familiar to most everyone. See the specs below.
- $5.00 face value, one-tenth ounce coin at 16.5 mm in diameter, and is the least expensive of the lot.
- $10.00 face value, one-quarter ounce coin at 22 mm in diameter.
- $25.00 face value, one-half ounce coin at 27 mm in diameter.
- $50.00 face value, one ounce coin at 32.7 mm in diameter, is the largest American Eagle gold coin sold.
Although seeing a relatable value minted on a coin makes it seem familiar, understand that the face value of the coin today has nothing to do with the actual value of the gold used to mint the coin. Depending on the market price of gold and the condition of the coin you are investing your money in, these coins can be worth significantly more than is displayed on the face of the coin.
Investment Purposes
Many collectors buy gold to add to their portfolio to diversify their assets and hedge against inflation. In particular collectors add American Eagle gold coins to the mix for the weight and purity which is guaranteed by the US Mint. The actual worth of the gold always far exceeds the face value minted on these coins.
For instance, a $5.00 American Eagle gold coin, 1999-W unfinished proof with a gold value of $2,500 dollars reportedly sold at auction for $83,375 by Heritage Auctions in January 2006. Although this was a rare coin, it is easy to see how collectable these coins can be, and why they should never be spent as actual currency at the market.
Beautiful By Design
The American Eagle gold coin was authorized under the Gold Coin Bullion Act of 1985. Modeled after Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ celebrated $20 gold piece, the “Double Eagle” on the obverse side of the coin. Minted from 1986 to the present, these beautiful coins bear the image of Lady Liberty with a torch and olive branch, along with the word “LIBERTY” and the year minted.
On the reverse side of the coin a male eagle returns to the nest with the female eagle and eaglet. In the year 2021, the US Mint refreshed the design cast to more closely reflect Saint-Gaudens’ original vision. The coin now features a male eagle on the reverse side of the coin.
All That Glitters is Not Gold
The best way to protect yourself from investing in fraudulent coins is locating a reputable dealer. On the website for the US Mint there is a listing of both national and local coin sellers in your area. Unfortunately there have been hobbyists and investors alike fooled by very convincing fakes of American Eagle gold coins.
By design these coins are intricately minted in fine detail that is of exquisite quality. If by chance you find yourself looking at a suspicious coin contact an expert in the field before purchasing. Doing your research ahead of time could potentially save you from making a very costly mistake.
Also read: Gold Buying Regulations and Other Rules Followed by Gold Buyers
