The US Gold Eagle coin was first minted in 1986. It is an official gold coin of the United States authorized under the Gold Bullion Act of 1985. This coin was available in many denominations. The US Gold Eagle coin is unusual in that it is the only gold bullion coin guaranteed as to weight and gold content. The gold in the coin must come from American sources. This is a great coin to include in any collection, and is an absolute necessity in a collection of gold coins.
The US Gold Eagle is available in four different denominations: 1/10 ounce, ¼ ounce, ½ ounce and 1 ounce of pure gold. The coin is guaranteed to contain the amount stated. The US Gold Eagle is treated with a metal alloy of copper and silver which creates a wear-resistant shell that protects the coin. The Gold Eagle is minted from 22 carat gold, and the content is more than .916 solid gold.
Lady Liberty graces the opposite side of the coin in her full glory with long flowing hair, a flaming torch in her right hand, an olive branch in her left. Behind her, you can see the Capitol Building. Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the portrait of the Statue of Liberty, bordering her with fifty patriotic stars. Miley Busiek created the male eagle on the reverse side, carrying an olive branch. He is circling a nest containing a female eagle and her newly-hatched chicks.
The US Gold Eagle value fluctuates with the current market value of the gold content, rather than reflecting the face value of the coin. Originally available in $5, $10, $20 and $50 face values, they sell for $110, $225, $450 and $900 right now. With the current rising price of gold, they are sure to keep rising in value.
Originally dated with roman numerals, the U. S. Mint switched the date to Arabic numbers in 1992. While all the US Gold Eagle coins are identical to each other in most respects, they differ in the weight and face value inscribed on the other side of the coin. Like almost all U. S. gold coins, the face value on the coin is symbolic only and has no bearing on the actual value of the coin.
The US Gold Eagle coin makes a great investment for your coin collection or any collection of gold. Created with the gold standards laid down over 300 years ago, they remain in good condition even after years of ownership. This is the only coin minted by the U. S. that is guaranteed to match its gold content and weight. The value will continue to rise along with the market gold prices.
The mint makes a proof version of the US Gold Eagle. This is produced for coin collectors world wide. Produced in West Point, New York, they are marked with a "W" under the date as the mint mark of West Point. The proof is almost identical to the actual US Gold Eagle coin. But it doesn't matter which one you choose... having a real gold coin in your collection increases the value incredibly.
Tom runs coincollecting-values.com where you can find out more about coin collecting and US Gold Eagle Coins.
