The Origin Story
The American Gold Eagle coins were first minted in 1986, following the U.S. Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, which called on the U.S. Mint to begin minting bullion coins. Recall that between 1933 and 1974, gold bullion being held in private hands was illegal in the U.S.
Design
- Heads: The obverse design of the American Gold Eagle features a modification of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left.
- Tails: On the reverse, a male eagle carries an olive branch to his nest, where a female eagle and hatchlings are.
Production Details
American Gold Eagles are 91.67% gold (22 karats), 3% silver, and 5.33% copper, and come with edge serrations.
Here are the sizes of American Gold Eagles and their respective legal tender values:
- 1/10 oz, $5
- 1/4 oz, $10
- 1/2 oz, $25
- 1 oz coins, $50
The production of American Gold Eagles has varied annually, with peak production years in the millions of coins minted.