Description
Proof Gold American Eagles are collector
versions of the world's most popular gold bullion coins, the official
United States gold bullion coin. Only a limited number of proof coins
are struck each year and certain years have been known to sell out soon
after being issued. Proof Gold Eagles are minted in each of the bullion
sizes (1-oz., 1/2-oz., 1/4-oz., and 1/10-oz.) and are available for
purchase in any of these sizes individually, or in 2' or 4-piece sets.
Design
The U.S. Mint copied the design for the obverse of
the Gold Eagle from the $20 Saint-Gaudens, which is widely considered
America's most beautiful coin. This coin was commissioned by Theodore
Roosevelt in an effort to rival the coins of ancient Greece and Rome.
The reverse, designed by Miley Busiek, captures a male bald eagle
holding an olive branch in its talons as it swoops into a nest holding
its family. This side also carries the majority of the wording on the
coin ' the gold content and purity, the denomination, the issuing
country, the phrase 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' and the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST'.
Minting Information
Proof American Eagles undergo a
detailed minting process using special dies. Lustrous coin blanks are
fed manually into the presses where they are struck multiple times to
ensure detailed coin images, which appear softly frosted above a
mirror-like background.
Each Proof Eagle comes in a beautiful, dark blue velvet presentation
case (pictured right) with an official U.S. Mint Certificate of
Authority. This certificate outlines the United States government'
guarantee of the coin's gold content, weight, and purity.
Individual Retirement Accounts
Currently, proof U.S. Eagles
are the only collectible coins allowed by the United States government
for Individual Retirement Accounts.
| Detailed Coin Information |
| Designer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens (obverse), Miley Busiek (reverse) |
| Composition: 22-Karat Gold (91.67% gold, 3% silver, 5.33% copper) |
| Edge: Reeded |
| Coin Size |
Face Value |
Gold Content |
Gross
Weight |
Diameter |
Thickness |
| 1-oz. |
$50 |
1 oz.
31.1035g |
1.0909 oz.
33.930g |
1.287 in.
32.70mm |
0.113 in.
2.87mm |
| 1/2-oz. |
$25 |
0.5000 oz.
15.5517g |
0.5454 oz.
16.965g |
1.063 in.
27.00mm |
0.085 in.
2.15mm |
| 1/4-oz. |
$10 |
0.2500 oz.
7.7759g |
0.2727 oz.
8.483g |
0.866 in.
22.00mm |
0.070 in.
1.78mm |
| 1/10-oz. |
$5 |
0.1000 oz.
3.1103g |
0.1091 oz.
3.393g |
0.650 in.
16.50mm |
0.049 in.
1.26mm | |
| Dates: 1986 ' present (1-oz.); 1987 ' present (1/2-oz.); 1988 ' present (1/4-oz. and 1/2 'oz.) |
| Mint: Philadelphia (1987-93 "-oz.; 1988-93 "-oz.
and '-oz.), West Point (1986 ' present ' 1/oz.; 1994 ' present '-oz.,
'-oz., and 1/10-oz.) |
