American Gold Eagle coins are popular among coin collectors for their aesthetic and patriotic appeal, along with their easy obtainability.
The American Gold Eagle is the official gold bullion coin of the U.S. The coins were first distributed in the U.S. in 1986. They are minted by the U.S. Mint.
The coins come in various denominations, including a tenth-ounce, a quarter-ounce, a half-ounce and one ounce. The coins are guaranteed by the federal government to contain their stated amount of gold, and U.S. law requires the gold used in the coins to come from the U.S. The coin is 22 carats, and is alloyed with copper and silver to make it more durable.
The design of the coins derive from the works of renowned artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. On the obverse is a depiction of Lady Liberty, on the reverse is an eagle carrying an olive branch above a nest.
The market value of the coins exceeds their face value, as the gold used in making the coins is often worth more than the $5, $10, $25 and $50 face values of the coins.
Because of their status as official U.S. bullion coins, American Gold Eagles are pretty easy to come across, here’s a few sites where you can purchase them:
U.S. Mint — By going through the Mint, you can avoid higher mark-ups that other dealers might make on American Gold Eagles. The Mint sells the coins on its Web site, and the purchasing process is pretty straightforward. The only drawback is that because of high demand, the Mint has had some supply problems lately, which may make it hard to obtain a large number of coins.
Monex — Monex is a well-regarded gold dealer, though typically it’s more geared to larger investors. If you intend to buy a large amount of gold bullion, and can obtain one of Monex’s Atlas accounts, you can finance your purchase, putting as little as 20 percent down. Monex does not allow you to buy online, instead you’ll have to call Monex and deal with an account rep over the phone.
eBay – eBay’s a great place if you’re looking for a bargain on gold bullion and have a little patience. Often investors anxious to liquidate their coins will sell them for under their value and premium prices. If you watch the site carefully, you may be able to take advantage when one of these opportunities pop up.
Merit Financial – Merit offers a lot of educational material on its site that is very helpful to beginning gold investors. The site doesn’t allow online shopping, consumers must call, but Merit does offer very competitive prices on gold investment products like the American Gold Eagle.
Coin shows and auctions — A fun way to pick up a few American Gold Eagles is to hit a coin show or auction. You can find one in your area by browsing coin publications at your nearest bookstore. Coins shows and auctions are great, not just for their competitive prices, but also for the opportunity to meet and swap information with fellow collectors.
