American Gold Eagle 1oz
America's official gold bullion coin, struck since 1986 in a durable 22-karat alloy.
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Authorized by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 and first struck in 1986, the American Gold Eagle is the U.S. Mint's flagship gold investment coin, produced at the West Point Mint. Every Eagle carries the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for its weight and purity. The reverse was redesigned in 2021 (Type 2) after 35 years of the original heraldic-eagles design.
Design
Obverse
Augustus Saint-Gaudens' iconic Liberty striding forward with torch and olive branch, adapted from his 1907 $20 Double Eagle — widely considered the most beautiful U.S. coin design.
Reverse
Type 1 (1986–2021): a male eagle delivering an olive branch to a female eagle and eaglets, by Miley Busiek. Type 2 (2021+): a single bald eagle in close portrait, by Jennie Norris.
Specifications
| Purity | 91.67% gold (22-karat alloy with copper + silver) |
| Weight | 1 oz pure gold (33.93 g gross) |
| Diameter | 32.7 mm |
| Thickness | 2.87 mm |
| Face value | $50 USD |
| Designer (obverse) | Augustus Saint-Gaudens |
| First issued | 1986 |
| Mint | United States Mint (West Point) |
Why investors choose it
IRA-eligible, recognized at every dealer worldwide, and the 22-karat alloy makes it more scratch-resistant than .9999 fine coins — popular with stackers who actually handle their coins.
