How Much is a Gold American Eagle Coin Worth?
American Eagle coins are one of the top-selling gold bullion investments, boasting legal tender values that are guaranteed by the United States government as far as weight, purity and gold content are concerned.
Congress guarantees them for purity and authenticity, in four sizes – 1 troy ounce, 1/2 troy ounce, 1/4 troy ounce and 1/10 troy ounce. These coins bear their signature design, fully guaranteed by Congress to remain pure and genuine.
The Face Value
The US Mint first introduced the 1 oz gold American Eagle coin back in 1986, and it remains one of the most beloved bullion coins today among collectors. Available in four sizes (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz).
The coin features an image of Lady Liberty striding forth holding both her torch of illumination and an olive branch signifying peace in her hands. Each coin also displays its face value and gold content which, although slightly below one troy ounce, may actually be slightly less because its composition includes both silver and copper to increase durability.
Miley Busiek Frost designed the obverse design, while US Mint Engraver Sherl Joseph Winter designed the reverse. Originally, there were 46 stars around Lady Liberty on both sides, however this number was reduced in 1912 to reflect only states present at that time.
The Weight
The American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin is one of the most sought-after ways to invest in physical gold, backed by US Mint and Treasury guarantees of weight, content and purity. Furthermore, these coins qualify as IRA investments with tax advantages associated with individual retirement accounts.
Legislation mandating these coins stipulated four sizes for them to be available: one-ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce. Each troy ounce (31.1 grams) coin contains pure gold while fractional coins may also contain copper-silver alloy to strengthen them further.
The American Eagle gold bullion coin features an updated design of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ work featured on $20 gold Saint-Gaudens coins that were used as money until 1933, while its reverse depicts a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch to its nest, where his mate awaits with their young. Each American Eagle gold bullion coin is produced at the US Mint’s facility in West Point, New York.
The Purity
Gold American Eagle coins contain one troy ounce of pure 916.7 gold mixed with an alloy of 3% silver and 5.33% copper to ensure durability. Minted since 1986, these coins can be placed into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
The 1 oz coin has a face value of $50 and is issued and guaranteed by the US government, while other denominations feature their own face values and designs on them – 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz coins all feature close-up portraits of Lady Liberty striding forward on a mountaintop holding both a torch for illumination and an olive branch to represent peace on her left arm.
Gold American Eagle bullion coins are a top pick among investors seeking to diversify their portfolio with physical gold. Prices depend on both gold content and face value; they may come at a slight premium over comparable sovereign mint offerings.
The Mintage
Mintage refers to how many coins were produced each year; it is especially relevant when discussing collectible coins like proof American Eagles with high standards of perfection for strike.
The Gold Bullion Act of 1985 mandates that the U.S. Mint only produce Gold American Eagle coins during certain years, thus restricting supply and increasing collector demand.
Every 1-oz Gold American Eagle contains exactly 1 troy ounce of pure gold and has a face value of $50; 1/2-oz coins have an equivalent face value of $25 while 1/4 oz coins start being issued as dates begin with Roman numerals from 1986-1991 and Arabic numbers beginning 1992.
Investors purchase Gold Eagles due to their legal tender status and gold content guaranteed by the federal government, while collectors value them due to their beauty and quality. Gold Eagles often sell at prices above their legal tender values, providing mints, mines, and retailers with enough profit to stay open.
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