The American Gold Eagle was first issued in 1986 as the official
gold bullion coin of the United States of America. The coins were authorized by Congress, under the American Eagle Bullion Program, as a method for investors to conveniently and cost effectively purchase precious metals. The weight, content, and purity of Gold Eagles are guaranteed by the U.S. Government.
These 1/2 oz American Gold Eagle Proof coins will be pulled from random dates. The obverse design for the series is based on the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, introduced into circulation in 1907. The iconic Liberty figure is portrayed striding forward with a torch in her right hand and olive branch in her left. The reverse of the coin was designed by Miley Busiek and features a male eagle bringing an olive branch to a nest of eagle hatchlings and female eagle.
Highlights
- *This item will be pulled from random dates*
- Contains 1/2 Troy oz of actual gold content.
- Face value 25 Dollars.
- Obverse: Features the Liberty figure striding forward with a torch in her right hand and olive branch in her left.
- Reverse: a male eagle bringing an olive branch to a nesting female eagle and her hatchlings.
- Individual coins come in protective plastic flips.
History
Since the launch of the series, different versions of Gold Eagle coins have been offered for investors and collectors. The bullion coins carry a standard finish and are considered to be precious metals investment coins. These are not sold directly to the public, but are distributed through a network of authorized purchasers. This network provides efficient distribution as well as a two way market for the bullion coins.
Proof Gold Eagles have been offered for collectors since 1986. These coins are manufactured through a specialized minting process, which includes multiple strikes with specially prepared dies to create a high quality finish. Proof coins generally display a cameo finish, where raised elements of the design are frosted and the background fields are mirrored. In 2006 the US Mint issued a special reverse proof Gold Eagle, which features the opposite effect.
In more recent years, the
US Mint has offered a second numismatic version for collectors. These collectible uncirculated coins are struck on specially burnished blanks resulting in a finish similar to the bullion version. However, the coins contain the “W” mint mark on the obverse for clear differentiation. This version was offered from 2006 to 2008, canceled for two years, and then resumed from 2011 to present.
American Gold Eagle Coins are offered in four different sizes. The most popular size contains one troy ounce of gold content, with the remaining three options containing a standard fractional weight. Each size contains a different legal tender face value.
- 1 ounce: $50 face value
- 1/2 ounce: $25 face value
- 1/4 ounce: $10 face value
- 1/10 ounce: $5 face value
All four denominations have been offered as bullion versions since the series was launched in 1986. Proof coins were initially only available in the 1 ounce size. In the second year of issue the 1/2 ounce size was added. In the third year, the remaining 1/4 and 1/10 ounce sizes were offered as proofs. The collectible uncirculated versions of the coins were initially offered in all denominations from 2006 to 2008. From 2011 to present, only the one ounce size has been issued.
Gold Eagles are struck with a durable composition of 22 karat gold. The composition is comprised of 91.67% gold, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper. Coins are produced so that each size contains its stated weight in pure gold.
The one ounce coin is 1.287 inches in diameter, has a weight of 1.0909 ounces, and contains on ounce of gold. The one-half ounce coin measures 1.063 inches in diameter, has a weight of 0.5455 ounces, and contains 0.5000 ounces of gold. The one-quarter ounce coin is 0.866 inches in diameter, weighs 0.2727 ounces, and contains 0.2500 ounces of gold. The one-tenth ounce coin is 0.650 inches, weighs 0.1091 ounces, and contains 0.100 ounces of gold.
