Gold Eagle Coins

January 15th, 2012 — Coin Collecting, Gold Coins, Gold Eagle Coins 


Coins & Paper Money -> Gold -> American Eagle

Gold Eagle coins are American currency, first released in 1986, that contains the stated amount of actual gold weight claimed in troy ounces, with a silver and copper alloy added to make the coins less soft and more wear resistant. The coins are an official US gold bullion coin, authorized by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1986.

The first Gold Eagle coins minted from 1986 to 1991 are dated with Roman numerals. Gold Eagle coins from 1992 onward switched to Arabic numbering. These coins are worth far more than their face value, because of their gold content. In the beginning of 2008, a $5 American Golden Eagle was actually worth about $110, with this amount varying daily, of course, based on the price of gold. The US Mint makes a proof suitable for collectors, most which carry the mint mark of “W” (which stands for the West Point mint in New York) beneath the date.

The design on Gold Eagle coins is often referred to as one of the most beautiful to grace an American coin. It features Lady Liberty holding a torch and an olive branch, her hair flowing, with the Capitol building in the background. The reverse of the coin boats an eagle above his nest of hatchlings, with the mother eagle watching over her brood. The male eagle carries an olive branch, long known as the symbol for peace. The coins come in four sizes: one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce and one-tenth ounce. The American Golden Eagle has become the most widely traded gold bullion coin in the world.

Gold Eagle coins are certainly valuable to coin collectors, and investors, thanks to their gold content. For collectors interested solely in the design, Golden Eagle proofs are a great addition to your collection. They’re designed specifically for coin collectors, and don’t carry the high price of the real gold bullion coins. These are widely available in places like flea markets, online stores and online auctions and their value is based on their condition. They should be graded like ordinary coins, from poor to uncirculated, and judged on that basis.

True Gold Eagle coins, though, are an actual investment whose gold content and purity are actually guaranteed by the US Government. American Eagles are actually even valid deposits for Individual Retirement Accounts, otherwise known as IRAs. Every major government holds gold in reserve because it’s a tangible asset. What you hold in your hand is what’s valuable, unlike paper money and coins, whose value is representative of assets like gold that are held in the treasury.

Gold Eagle coins are an easy and affordable way to invest in gold. Where big investors might trade for gold in thousands of dollars or more at a time, the average investor or beginning investor can choose to purchase American Eagle coins instead. The value may vary daily with the price of gold, but the rarity of real gold virtually ensures that the value won’t drop dramatically as other investments can.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Originally posted 2008-10-16 05:00:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • goldcoinsStarting a Gold Coin Collection There are a number of different ways that you can buy gold, not only as jewelry or gold bars but also in the form of a gold coin collection as well. Buying into a gold coin collection is a much better option, it is also much simpler and it can......
  • coin2How to Estimate Coin and Paper Money Values Collecting currency is a lot of fun for a large portion of the population. This is a trend which is growing for more of the population than you might think. There are many different reasons why people collect. Some collect for fun. Others collect for profit. No matter what the......
  • doubleeagleThe Best Story in Rare Coin Collecting There are many reasons why a coin will become rare and collectible. It may be that it was a commemorative coin which was intended to be rare and instantly collectible. It can also be because the coin was taken out of circulation or was not authorized for striking by the......
  • canadiancoinsCanadian Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Coins: Canada -> Commemorative Whether you are from Canada, or just interested in collecting Canadian coins, there are plenty of options out there and many of these coins are actually quite valuable. Before you get started with your collection, it’s a good idea to know......
  • worldWorld Coins Money -> Coins: World Collecting world coins is a rewarding and fascinating hobby. The first official coins were struck around the 6th century BC in Lydia, though metals used as a type of currency far pre-dates that, to Mesopotamia somewhere between 1500 and 2000 BC. Ancient coinage is fascinating, with......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • moneycollectionThe World of Coin Collecting Values While there are some people who collect coins for fun, there are others who collect coins because of coin collecting values. While coin value is something that is important to understand for both serious collectors, casual collectors should take note. The information found about coins with value will help anyone......
  • lettera3 Great Tips for Respectable Coin Grading Getting your coin graded is one of the most important things you can do so that you will be able to accurately discover what your coin collection is worth. This is especially important if you have any designs on being able to sell off part or all of your collection......
  • morgansilverThe 3 Most Sought After Collectors Coins from the Old West The coins produced during the period of time in American history when the Western United States was being settled are some of the most sought after collectors coins for those who are Old West enthusiasts. Below is some information about three of the currently most sought after collectors coins from......
  • Harley Davidson CollectiblesHarley Davidson Collectibles Collectibles -> Transportation -> Motorcycles-> Harley Davidson The Harley Davidson motorcycle has become an integral part of Americana and the pop culture of this country. Once the favorite bike of outlaws and renegades, Harley Davidson collectibles have gone mainstream and they are more popular than ever. There are literally hundreds......
  • francelouisxviiiHow Do Old Foreign Coins Compare to Domestic Ones? Many people have gotten into collecting coins lately. This is a hobby which has been strong in the United States for over 200 years now. The only other country which rivals the love of numismatics is Canada. Australia is catching up, but still has a ways to go. This is......
Online Stores

1 Comment

Wheat Penny

January 7th, 2012 — 1925 Coin Penny, Coin Collecting, Rare Coins, US Coins, Wheat Penny 

Money -> Small-Cents -> Lincoln-Wheat-1909-1958

Wheat Penny

Probably one of the easiest coins to acquire for a coin collection is the wheat penny. This coin was a United States penny minted from 1909 to 1958. The coin goes by many names, including the Lincoln Wheat Cent and Wheatie, and was worth 1 cent at the time it was minted. While few are worth more than that today, some uncirculated mintings have gone for thousands of dollars at auction.

Most of us who had grandparents or parents who kept pennies in jars have been able to search through those coins and find at least one wheat penny or two. The front of the penny looks indistinguishable, at first glance at least, from the pennies minted today because they still bear the bust of Lincoln on the front (or obverse) side of the coin. The back of course is different, because the two wheat stalks that were on the reverse of the wheat penny were replaced with the Lincoln memorial in 1959.

The change in the reverse design, however, isn’t the only different between the wheat penny and the modern penny. And there are even variations among wheat pennies, depending on the year the penny was minted. Some of the wheat pennies produced in the beginning featured the initials of the sculptor, Victor David Brenner, on the reverse side of the coin below the wheat stalks.

This was a cause of controversy, however, and in 1918 the initials VDB were moved to the front of the coin. You must look very closely at a wheat penny from those early years and you’ll see the tiny initials on the bottom of Lincoln’s bust, below his shoulder. The coins produced before the change was made in California are more valuable than most other types of these pennies, because less than half a million were produced by that mint before the public complained enough about the prominent initial display to have it changed.

These early pennies are called “VDB” cents due to the placement of the initials. If you happen to find a 1909 wheat penny with those initials on the back below the wheat stalks that was minted in San Francisco, California, even if the coin is in poor condition, it could be worth hundreds of dollars. Mint coins with that configuration can go for much, much more. VDB cents minted in Philadelphia hold much less value, because more were produced. The 1914-D coins are also typically quite valuable.

A wheat penny with a minting error can also be valuable, such as the 1922 penny that looks plain because the die was full and couldn’t imprint the coin, and one produced in 1955 which appears minted twice, known as the doubled die coin.

If you can find lots of wheat pennies for very little money, you might enjoy looking for these different variations. Someone without an interest in the wheat penny who puts several up for auction in a lot might not even be aware that they’re selling a gem.

Originally posted 2008-11-17 14:00:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • dollarcoinsThe Joy of Dollar Coin Collection When it comes to collecting money there are several different types of paper money and currencies which one can collect. Some types of coins and paper money can be easy to access, while others may offer a certain level of difficulty. Some people are attracted to collecting certain types of......
  • 1994United States Commemorative Coins The United States Mint gains authorization from the United States Congress to produce what are known as commemorative coins, which are produced rather regularly throughout the years for a myriad of different purposes. These coins are produced to commemorate, to celebrate or to honor people, events, places and institutions for......
  • Russian CoinsRussian Coins Coins & Paper Money -> Coins: World -> Russia Russian coins have recently become a popular investment, with many of the popular dealers selling out of supplies, and some older and more rare coins earning over $45,000 at auction. Many people gave up on Russian coin collecting in 2007 because......
  • maximinusJudging Your Collection Based on Coin Collecting Values If you are serious about collecting coins, then one of the things that you should be putting consideration into when collecting is coin collecting values. The thing about coin collecting values is that they let you know what price a particular coin is going for. In other words, if you......
  • Jahangir zodiacal gold coin Leo3 Ways in Which Coin Collector Software Has Change the Industry There have been many changes in the world of coin collecting over the years. These changes have mostly been in regards to which coins are prized above others. Every once in a while a toll will come along which will help those in the industry to enjoy collecting more or......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • mercurydimewheatpennyGood Coins to Start Your Coin Collection One of the things that make coin collecting so incredibly interesting is the sheer wealth of different coins that you can add to your coin collection. Currencies from around the world provide thousands of different types of coins that can be collected. It can be difficult to find the coins......
  • libertydollar3 Things to Remember When Selling Coin Proofs Coin collectors are always on the lookout for a great deal that they can get on the coins that they want to buy. If you are in the market to sell your coins, you have an advantage. One of the advantages that you have is that you have something that......
  • rareHow to Sell Rare Coins Rare coins are some of the most sought after coins in the coin collecting world, providing individuals with interesting and unique collections that make others jealous. These are different coins with value that is generally higher than others, expensive coins that only serious coin collectors go after. If you have......
  • 1885 cc silver dollar reverseHow to Get Wild West Coins The Wild West proved to be such an exciting place and time. Immediately following the Civil War, for the next twenty years or so until the late 1880's, the lands west of the Louisiana Territory were a strange combination of towns and forts, Indian territory, cowboys and trails, outlaws, gold......
  • coinsGet to Know What Makes Up the Coin Collection Price Guide There are a few different things you will need to know if you are going to collect coins. You will need to know which coins are in the highest demand. You will need to know how to care for your coins to maintain a value. Above all else, you will......
Online Stores

3 Comments

Email Updates

budget circulation coin auctions Coin Collecting coin collecting software coin collection coin collections coin collector coin collectors coin dealers coins coin shop coin shops coin value collecting coins collections commemorative coins counterfeits currencies currency currency collection double eagle face value Foreign Currency Gold Coins hobbies mint mint condition money numismatics obverse old money paper currency paper money paper money collection rare coin Rare Coins rarity saint gaudens selling coins silver coins silver dollar united states mint US Coins us mint