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American Gold Eagle
is an official gold bullion coin of the United States.
Authorized under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, it was
first released by the United States Mint in 1986. It is
offered in 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations
and is guaranteed to contain the stated amount (in troy
ounces) of pure gold, which by law must come from sources in
America, with an additional alloy of silver and copper to
produce a more wear-resistant coin of .91670 fine gold (22
karat, which had long been the crown gold English standard
for gold coins). It is authorized by the United States
Congress and is backed by the United States Mint for weight
and content.
The obverse design features a rendition of Augustus
Saint-Gaudens' full length figure of Lady Liberty with
flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive
branch in her left, with the Capitol building in the left
background. The reverse design, by sculptor Miley Busiek,
features a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above
a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.
The market value of the coins is generally about equal to
the market value of their gold content, not their face
value. (As of January 2008 the $5, $10, $25, and $50 coins
by face value are worth and sell for about $110, $225, $450,
and $900 USD respectively. Their actual selling prices vary
daily based on the current spot price of gold.) The American
Gold Eagle may be used to fund one government sanctioned
Individual Retirement Account. The United States Mint also
produces a proof version for coin collectors. These coins
are for the most part produced at the West Point mint in
West Point, New York, and carry the West Point mint mark
("W") beneath the date.
Other American Eagle coin information and articles.
US eagle coins have been minted by the US Mint in platinum,
gold and silver.
Starting in 1986 the US government decided to compete in the
bullion coin market by introducing the eagle style coins.
They are minted each year in Un-circulated condition for the
precious metal investor, and in proof condition for the coin
collector and bullion investor.
In some years the mintages are small, resulting in a nice
coin collector premium over the bullion value.
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about the American eagle coins. |
