Everyone’s heard of the iconic American Eagle coins. Yet, when it’s time to invest, newbies feel completely at sea about which Gold Eagle coin to choose, especially when it comes to choosing between "historic" pre-1933 Gold Eagles and "contemporary" Gold American Eagles, which are the bullion gold coins that started in 1986. It’s true that the information on American Eagle gold coins value out there can be chaotic, so we are here to guide you!
In this article, we will explain what Gold Eagle coins are, enlist their different types, and discuss their advantages. Sounds good? If so, read on to discover:
- The different classifications of Gold American Eagles.
- What makes Gold Eagles valuable.
- Details of the selling process of American Eagle coins.
Definitions
American Eagle gold proof coins: brief history and name
An American gold Eagle proof coin is a bullion coin released by the U.S. Mint. The U.S. Mint launched its gold and silver American Eagle Coin Program in 1986. This was eventually expanded to include platinum and palladium coins as well.
Gold American Eagle coins, which we will be focusing on in this article, come in four sizes:
- 1 oz.
- 1/2 oz.
- 1/4 oz.
- 1/10 oz
The reverse side of American Eagle bullion coins famously features the design of an eagle, from which the coins take their name. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States, symbolizing the values of pride and wisdom, which is why its image was chosen to grace these coins.
You can see an example of these iconic coins right here:
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Double Eagle gold coins: brief history and name
Authorized in 1849 and minted in 1907, an American Double Eagle gold coin is a U.S. gold coin with a denomination of $20. Up until it it was produced, the most valuable coin was the $10 gold eagle. Given the $20 gold coin had double that value, it was baptized as the gold “Double Eagle” coin.
Featuring beautiful designs of Lady Liberty on one side and the flight of an eagle on the other, Double Eagles are now extremely scarce and considered to be some of the most valuable coins in the world. They are also sometimes referred to as the “Liberty Eagle gold coin”. Click here to see an example of a Double Eagle coin:
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Gold Eagle coin classification types
So you have made up your mind that American Eagle gold coins = good investment (which you can read more about right here). Now you must understand what the different types of Gold Eagle coins you can get your hands on are.
Let’s talk about the different parameters that collectors can take into consideration to pick the right American Eagle coin for their needs. And why Bullion and Collectibles Exchange, where you can find all of them, is the best way to buy American Eagle gold coins!
American Gold Eagles by minting time
Experts separate out "historic" Gold Eagles (these are the pre-1933 gold coins) and "contemporary" Gold American Eagles, which are the bullion gold coins that started in 1986.
Investors buying historic Gold Eagles differ a lot from those buying contemporary ones.
In particular, historic gold buyers are interested in the romance and history of pre-1933 gold. They know that the prices will fluctuate with rarity and will not typically follow the price of gold.
Contemporary gold buyers are more interested in the gold weight and dollar value. They don't care much about the history of the coin, or even its design. They want to buy as close to the spot price of gold as they can.
Which investor type do you belong to?
Coin investors often collect coins from each year a coin was minted. Like a US Double Eagle gold coin for all years it was minted, for instance.
Additionally, they pay attention to where a coin was minted and may even fork out more for minting errors! This makes collecting by minting time better left for experienced investors.
American Gold Eagles by form
While some bullion comes in the form of both coins and bars, American Eagles only come as coins.
It is important to remember, however, that you can choose between finish types when you’re buying coins. The main types of finishes are burnished, proof, and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU). Burnished coins have a dull finish, whereas proof coins have a higher-quality to theirs. BU means that a coin has never been circulated and, so, contains its original mint luster.
A BU tends to be pricier than its circulated equivalents, so it can be a great choice for investors with a good budget that are looking for a bald Eagle gold coin that will increase in value over time. Check out what a BU finish Gold American Eagle looks like:
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American Gold Eagles by weight
American Gold Eagle coins are available in different sizes. American Eagle gold coin weight is classified as one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce. These differ in diameter and thickness, but they all have the same composition of .9167 Gold, .0533 Copper, .0300 Silver and 22 Karat.
Smaller coins that are cheaper are a great option for first-timers who may not have a large amount to invest. The 2022 1/10 oz. Gold American Eagle which you can see here is a good choice of coin for that:
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