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
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If you are new to the practice of American coin collecting, then there are a number of terms and types of coins that you are going to want to understand, otherwise they will seem confusing to you and may give you some trouble. The purpose of this post is to discuss a few common terms in the art of American coin collecting that you can apply to United States Mint coins such as the Silver Eagle coin, the Platinum Eagle coin, the Gold Eagle coin and the Gold Buffalo coin for example.
