American Gold Eagle: Coin Overview & Investment Guide
The American Gold Eagle is one of the most recognized and trusted gold bullion coins in the world. It is issued by the United States Mint and was first introduced in 1986 under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985. As the official gold bullion coin of the United States, it remains popular among investors and collectors for its iconic design, government backing, and strong market liquidity.
The coin’s obverse features Lady Liberty, adapted from Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s 1907 $20 Double Eagle design. She holds a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other, symbolizing enlightenment and peace. The reverse originally depicted a family of bald eagles designed by sculptor Miley Busiek. In 2021, the U.S. Mint introduced a new reverse showing a close-up portrait of a bald eagle by artist Jennie Norris — a modern reinterpretation of American strength and freedom.
The American Gold Eagle is struck in four denominations — 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1⁄10 oz. While its gold content is guaranteed, the coin is minted in 22-karat gold (91.67 % gold, 3 % silver, 5.33 % copper). This alloy improves durability while the 1 oz version still contains a full troy ounce of pure gold. Detailed specifications are published on the U.S. Mint American Eagle Program page.
Legal Tender and Investment Appeal
The American Gold Eagle is legal tender in the United States under 31 U.S.C. § 5112, though its face value is largely symbolic compared with its gold content. Each coin’s weight, purity, and metal content are guaranteed by the U.S. government, making it one of the most secure and widely traded bullion options in the world.
Certain U.S.-minted gold coins, including the American Gold Eagle, are permitted for holding in Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) under the precious-metals exception to the collectibles rule in Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). For the most current IRS guidance, refer to:
- IRS Publication 590-A – Contributions to IRAs
- IRS Publication 590-B – Distributions from IRAs
- IRS Retirement Plans hub (current overview page)
Note: IRS URLs can change over time. If a deep link stops working, start from the Retirement Plans hub above and search for “IRA precious metals” or “collectibles” to find the latest information.
Why Invest in American Gold Eagles?
- Trusted and Globally Recognized: Guaranteed by the U.S. government for weight and purity
- Durable 22-Karat Alloy: Resistant to scratches and handling wear
- IRA Eligible: Permitted under IRS Section 408(m) rules for precious-metal IRAs
- Iconic Art & Heritage: Combines classic and modern American design elements
For official release details, mintages, and purchase options, visit the U.S. Mint’s catalog (start page: catalog.usmint.gov). That site lists current specifications and availability for the latest issues. Link structure may change as the Mint updates its online catalog.
Disclaimer: GoldPriceZ provides educational and reference information only. Official specifications and tax-related rules should be verified directly from the United States Mint and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We cannot guarantee the permanent availability of external links to third-party government pages.
Last updated: 15 November 2025
Silver Purity/types:
Unlike gold, silver is typically not classified by karats. Instead, silver purity is usually expressed as a percentage or parts per thousand. The most common purities are:
- Fine Silver (99.9%): Used in investment-grade bullion, coins, and bars.
- Sterling Silver (92.5%): Common in jewelry, silverware, and decorative items.
- Coin Silver (90%): Previously used in coins, now less common.
- Other Alloys: Lower purity silver used in budget or industrial applications.
Silver purity is often marked with stamps like "999," "925," or "900" to indicate the purity level.
- About Silver Types (in Detail),- Methodologies, and References
Description of Weight Units:
| Weight Unit | Equivalent in Grams |
|---|---|
| Kilogram | 1000 |
| Baht | 15.244 |
| Tola | 11.664 |
| Vori (Bori) | 11.664 |
| Tael | 37.429 |
| Pennyweight | 1.555 |
| Pound | 453.592 |
| Mithqal | 4.688 |
| Ratti | 0.121 |
| Carat | 0.2 |
| Masha | 3.885 |
| Troy Ounce(Ounce) | 31.1035 |
Description for currency:
Select your preferred currency to view silver prices. Prices are available in major global currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and more. Choosing the correct currency ensures you see accurate and up-to-date pricing based on the exchange rate for your location or preference.
Live Silver Price Chart:
Use the duration options to view silver price trends over different time periods. 'Today' shows the current day's price movements, while '7 Days,' 'Month,' and '30 Days' provide recent trends. 'YTD' (Year-to-Date) and '1 Year' offer a longer-term view. Select 'More' for additional timeframes and detailed analysis.
This performance section provides an overview of silver price trends. The Summary tab offers an at-a-glance view with color-coded trend indicators showing percentage changes across key time horizons.
The Amount tab displays absolute value changes in both USD (global benchmark) and local currency, along with exchange rate movements, enabling precise profit/loss calculations.
The Percent tab reveals relative growth rates, essential for comparing silver's performance against other assets and inflation.
The History tab provides anchor price points on specific dates, supporting technical analysis and investment strategy backtesting.
Together, these tabs offer investors, jewelers, and economists multidimensional insights into silver's behavior across timeframes and currency perspectives.
Live Silver Price Calculator:
This tool estimates silver values using live market rates. Enter your silver weight, select a measurement unit (grams, tolas, ounces, etc.), and choose any currency. Click "Calculate" for instant valuation based on current prices. You can also switch tabs to value gold or convert currencies. All calculations reflect real-time market data for accurate precious metal valuation.
About this timestamp
The time shown here indicates when the price data was last fetched from our server. It is not the exact moment of a retail sale or trade, and may differ slightly from jewellery shops or live trading platforms because of data provider timing and currency conversion.
For transparency, full details of how prices are calculated and updated are available in the Reference section. There you can see the data sources, update frequency, and notes on what is included or excluded.
Silver Price Comparison by Purity:
This tool compares live silver prices across different purity levels and weight units. Switch between tabs to see values per ounce, gram, tola, or select "More" for units like baht, tael, etc. Each table shows today's current, lowest, and highest prices for every purity type in your chosen currency. Use the dropdown filters to focus on specific purities, switch weight measurements, or convert values to any global currency.
Silver Market Price Tool
This section shows live silver pricing with bid/ask spreads and customization options. View real-time market rates for different purity levels using the top tabs. The table displays three key prices per gram:
1. Current Price: Latest market rate
2. Bid Price: What buyers offer
3. Ask Price: What sellers request
Adjust the spread percentage to see how dealer margins affect prices, or add labor costs for jewelry valuation. Use the dropdowns to switch between purity levels, weight units, or currencies for international comparisons.
Silver Quantity Calculator Guide
This tool calculates silver prices for specific quantities in Pakistani Rupees. Select a weight unit (grams, tolas, ounces) using the tabs, or choose other units like "baht", "tael", etc. from the "More" dropdown. The table instantly shows spot, buy, and sell prices for common quantities (1, 5, 10 units) and allows custom quantity entry.
Key features:
1. Custom Quantity: Enter any amount for instant valuation
2. Spread Adjustment: Modify dealer margin spreads
3. Labor Costs: Add manufacturing fees for jewelry valuation
4. Live Rates: All prices update in real-time based on market data
Use the dropdowns to change silver purity, weight units, or convert prices to other currencies.
Silver Price History
This section tracks silver's value over time. The table shows daily prices with percentage changes, highlighting market activity and closures.
Reference Information
The following information is about the primary data used in the above sections for transparency and trustworthiness. This section details the weight unit, purity, and currency. It also provides update times and data sources to ensure all information is fresh and accurate for decision-making.