The 1 oz American Gold Eagle is one of the most popular gold investments of all time. Produced by the U.S. Mint, it is the official gold bullion coin of the United States of America and features iconic designs on the obverse and reverse that symbolize American values of freedom and family. Investors who want to buy American and support American have a choice between the gold Eagles and gold Buffalos, which are also produced by the U.S. Mint. The design of the Eagles was updated only once. Two designs were minted in 2021. The old design, dubbed the Type 1, made its final appearance and featured an eagle flying over its nest. The new design, known as the Type 2, debuted in 2021 and showcases a closeup of the American bald eagle. From 2022 onwards, there are no “Type 1” or “Type 2” coins.

The American Gold Eagle was first produced by the U.S. Mint in 1986, one year after the gold Krugerrand was banned from import in the U.S. in response to South Africa’s apartheid policies. Prior to its ban, the Krugerrand was the most popular gold coin in the US, and in 1984 some $600 million worth of the coin was marketed in the States. It is no surprise then that the Gold Eagle, created in response to demand that suddenly needed to be met, mimicked the purity, dimensions, and available sizes of the Krugerrand. When comparing a Gold Eagle to a coin that’s 24k or .999 fine, the color of the Gold Eagle is slightly different, with a rosy tint that’s become part of the DNA of the American Gold Eagle.

The U.S. Mint does not sell bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, they distribute their coins to a handful of authorized purchasers, like West Bullion, who then sell the gold coins to the public. West Bullion is proud to be one of only a handful selected to be an Authorized Purchaser of the U.S. Mint.

Coin Highlights:

• Contains 1 troy oz actual gold weight.
• Multiples of 20 are packaged in tubes while multiples of 500 are packaged in Monster Boxes. All other coins will be in protective packaging.
• Eligible for Precious Metals IRAs.
• Obverse: Modified from Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ famous Gold Double Eagle design, which depicts Lady Liberty walking confidently against the sun’s rays.
• Reverse: The original Type 1 Reverse, utilized from 1986-2021, displays a male American bald eagle in flight bringing an olive branch to his nest, where a female waits with their young. The Type 2 reverse, introduced in 2021, features a striking close-up portrait of the American bald eagle.
• Minted at West Point, N.Y.
• Denomination (face value) of $50 USD.
• Composed of .9167 fine gold, also known as 22k. While it’s not .999 fine, the Gold Eagle still contains 1 troy ounce of gold by weight.

Coins may or may not vary in date and type according to available inventory. To purchase specific dates for your collection, browse our full selection of American Gold Eagles.

Fractional American Gold Eagle Coins
American Gold Eagle coins are among the most popular bullion investments in world. First authorized by Congress for release in 1986, these government-backed gold coins quickly became an instant classic with their iconic designs and purity guarantees on all four sizes including 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 oz of fine Gold. Investors who want to buy an American Eagle at a more affordable price will sometimes opt for smaller sizes, which also gives them more control over how much they liquidate when the need arises.

• Shop 1/10 oz gold eagles
• Shop ¼ oz gold eagles
• Shop ½ oz gold eagles

The 1/10-ounce gold eagles are one of the most popular gold coin sizes we carry due to their affordability.

Appealing to a wide range of investors and collectors, all four sizes of the Gold American Eagle feature the same iconic design and are fully guaranteed for their metal content and purity by the United States government.

Gold Eagle Prices

American Gold Eagles are priced according to the spot price of gold, plus a small premium that keeps mints, mines and retailers in business. Premiums for Gold Eagles may be slightly higher than other bullion coins due to their immense popularity. As demand increases for commodities like gold coins, prices also tend to increase. While some view this as a negative, others regard it as a feature. The more popular the coin, the easier it is to resell on the secondary market when it’s time to liquidate.

To get the lowest premium on a Gold Eagle, investors should look for either the current year or random year, in one troy ounce. Investors who are looking for the lowest price on an American Gold Eagle should avoid certified options or additional features such as TEP (tamper evident packaging). Fractional sizes will have lower prices overall, but a higher premium when examined as a percentage, which is reflective of the higher production costs associated with smaller coins.

IRA-Approved Gold Eagles
While various monetary, political and financial factors continuously affect the global economy, precious metal holdings in an IRA can provide financial reassurance and stability. Many people view precious metals, such as gold, as a more secure option for investment than stocks, bonds, or other intangible assets. An IRA backed by gold can give you the opportunity to invest in a physical commodity with a strong historic record as a store of value. The Gold American Eagle is IRA-approved and widely available at West Bullion.