Overview
The American Proof Gold Eagle coins are produced by the United States Mint and are the collector versions of the official U.S. Mint bullion coin counterparts. The American Proof Gold Eagles are available in four denominations: one ounce (1 oz.), one-half ounce (1/2 oz.), one-quarter ounce (1/4 oz.), and one-tenth ounce (1/10 oz.). American Proof Gold Eagles are minted in limited numbers at the United States Mint at West Point, and have the "W" Mint mark.
American Proof Gold Eagle: 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 2 coin set, 4 coin set
United States Mintage
The United States Mint released the first American Gold Eagle coins in 1986 after the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 was passed by Congress, authorizing the production. American Bullion Coins provided investors a new cost effective and convenient way to diversify their investment portfolios by adding a small amount of physical gold via the coins. Since then, the American Gold Eagles have become a leading bullion investment coin. The United States Mint has produced proof versions of the American Gold Eagles for collectors as well.
Specifications and Denominations
The 1/10 troy oz. American Proof Gold Eagle has a face value of $5, the lowest face value of the American Gold Eagle series. It has a diameter of 16.50mm (0.650 inch), a thickness of 1.19mm, a gross weight of 0.1091 troy oz. (3.393 g), and contains 0.1000 troy ounces of gold. The 1/4 troy oz. American Proof Gold Eagle has a face value of $10. It has a diameter of 22mm (0.866 inch), a thickness of 1.83mm, a gross weight of 0.2727 troy oz. (16.965 g), and contains 0.2500 troy ounces of gold. The 1/2 troy oz. American Proof Gold Eagle has a face value of $25. It has a diameter of 27mm (1.063 inches), a thickness of 2.24mm, a gross weight of 0.5454 troy oz. (16.965 g), and contains 0.5000 troy ounces of gold. The 1 troy oz. American Proof Gold Eagle has a face value of $50, the highest face value of the Gold Eagles. It has a diameter of 32.70mm (1.287 inches), a thickness of 2.24mm, a gross weight of 1.0909 troy oz. (33.930 g), and contains one troy ounce of gold.
Design
The obverse (front) side of the American Proof Gold Eagle features a rendition of 1907-1933 $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin. This coin was commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt to resemble ancient Roman and Greek coins. The beauty of this coin is seen in this rendition of the statue of Lady Liberty in full length with flowing hair, holding an olive branch on her left hand, and a torch on her right hand. The Capital building is seen in the background. The word "LIBERTY" is engraved around the top edge of the coin, and on the bottom right hand side of the statue, the year of mintage is engraved.
The reverse (back) side design of the American Proof Gold Eagle is by sculptor Miley Busiek, designed in 1986. The image showcases the iconic American bald eagle holding an olive branch as it soars above a nest where a female bald eagle and her hatchlings rest.
American Gold Eagles produced between 1986 and 1991 are dated with Roman numerals. In 1992, the United States Mint produced the first American Gold Eagle dated with Arabic numbers.
American Proof Gold Eagles: Minting Process
The American Proof Gold Eagles undergo a specialized minting process in order to obtain their brilliance. First, coin blanks are manually fed into presses fitted with special dies. In order to obtain the soft frosty yet detailed finish that creates the mirror-like field, the coins are struck multiple times. The coins are then scrutinized by white glove inspectors. The gold coins are then sealed in a protective plastic capsule and mounted on a satin-velvet presentation case.
American Proof Gold Eagles are also handsomely packaged and sold in sets of 2 or 4 coin sets. Proof Gold Eagles come with an official Certificate of Authenticity.
In some cases, American Proof Gold Eagles are encapsulated after they are graded by a TPG service. These coins are sealed in a clear plastic holder known as a capsule and come with an official authentication label showing the coin’s specifics, such as its grade and a serial number. The capsule is a clear, hard plastic holder that is sealed to protect a graded coin.
Purity
American Proof Gold Eagles have a purity of .9167, meaning they are 91.67% pure gold. The coins are composed of 22 karat American gold, and are alloyed with silver and copper as a wear-resistant shield.
Value
The United States Government guarantees the content, weight, and purity of each American Proof Gold Eagle coin. American Proof Gold Eagles are one of the few collectible coins allowed in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) due to their limited supply and numismatic importance. American Proof Gold Eagles have scarcity value as well as collectible value in addition to its bullion value.
One benefit of owning American Proof Gold Eagles is their popularity, making them highly recognizable. Because they are part of the American Eagle family of coins, they are highly liquid, making them easy to sell and buy.
The gold content of the coin will generally match that of the spot price of gold in the market. This fluctuates depending on various market forces. The American Gold Eagle coin face values are proportion to their weight, except the 1/4 oz. coin. The face values of the American Gold Eagles do not reflect their intrinsic value, which is much greater due to the gold content. The gold content, spot price of gold, collectability, and condition ultimately determine their overall value.
Precious collectible and bullion coins should be properly stored to maintain their mint brilliant condition, as well as for safe keeping. The United States Mint carefully packages individual American Proof Gold Eagles, as well as sets, to maintain their integrity. These coins can be placed in an investment or retirement portfolio, or they may be stored in banks, precious medal depositories, or safes.
