American Gold Eagle 1 oz Coin (BU)

America’s Benchmark Gold Coin

This is the US Mint’s flagship gold bullion coin, a full troy ounce struck in a durable 22-karat alloy, Brilliant Uncirculated, with a $50 face value. It ships as whatever year Hero Bullion has in stock.

 

The Design, and Which Reverse You Get

The obverse carries Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ striding Liberty, adapted from the 1907 double eagle and widely called the finest design in US coinage: Liberty walking forward with a torch and an olive branch, sunrays and the Capitol dome behind her. The reverse depends on the year in your order. Coins struck from 1986 through mid-2021 carry Miley Busiek’s family-of-eagles scene, a male eagle flying an olive branch home to a nest. Coins from mid-2021 on carry Jennie Norris’s close-up eagle portrait. Both are genuine US Mint reverses for this coin; which one arrives is not something you pick.

 

What Random Year Means, and What 22 Karat Means

You do not choose the date, the mint, or the reverse type. Hero Bullion ships whichever year is in stock, and it may carry either reverse design. Every year is a genuine US Mint issue in the same weight and purity; only the reverse artwork and the strike year change.

 

The coin is 22 karat, not pure. Gold Eagles are struck in an alloy of gold, silver and copper for a harder surface than a .9999 coin. The “1 oz” refers to the pure gold content; the coin itself weighs more than that once the alloy is added.

 

Why It Belongs in a Stack

The Gold Eagle is the most recognized gold coin in the US market, taken by dealers on sight without testing. It is $50 legal tender of the United States, and the coin’s weight, purity and legal tender status are all set out in federal law. The same law is why a 1 oz Gold Eagle qualifies for a precious metals IRA even though it is 22 karat rather than .999 or finer, an exception written specifically for it.

 

Specifications

The coin carries one troy ounce of pure gold in a 22-karat (.9167) alloy, with a total weight of 33.931 grams. It measures 32.7 mm across and 2.87 mm thick, with a reeded edge and a $50 face value, struck Brilliant Uncirculated. Hero Bullion packs them 20 to a tube and 500 to a mint box. Full details are on the Specifications tab.

 

American Gold Eagle FAQ

 

Which year will I receive?

A random year of Hero Bullion’s choosing, with either the older family-of-eagles reverse or the newer eagle-portrait reverse. There is no way to select a specific date or design.

 

Is the American Gold Eagle pure gold?

No. It is 22 karat, or .9167 fine, alloyed with silver and copper. It still contains a full troy ounce of pure gold; the alloy is what pushes the total weight above one ounce.

 

Is the Gold Eagle IRA eligible?

Yes. Federal law governing precious metals IRAs specifically excludes the 1 oz American Gold Eagle from the rule that otherwise bars collectible coins, so it qualifies even at 22 karat.

 

Is it legal tender?

Yes. It carries a $50 face value and is legal tender of the United States under the same federal law that sets its weight and purity. The $50 is nominal, far below the coin’s gold value.

 

How is it packaged?

The US Mint packs these coins 20 to a tube and 500 to a mint box. A 32 mm capsule is sold separately if you want one.

 

Want a smaller Gold Eagle to start with? Browse our American Gold Eagles for the 1/10, 1/4 and 1/2 ounce sizes.

 

One troy ounce of gold in the coin every dealer knows. Add the American Gold Eagle 1 oz Coin to your cart.