The American Eagle Coin – All You Need to Know

American Eagle coins are the official bullion coin of the United States, with their weight, purity, and content backed by the U.S. government. These coins are struck from various precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, and are considered legal tender with a nominal face value – although their true value far exceeds this amount.

American Eagle coins are celebrated worldwide for their iconic designs that reflect American history, patriotism, and national pride. Unlike many other bullion coin series, the American Eagle coins are rarely issued in special editions and the U.S. Mint focuses on its core offerings.

Gold American Eagle coins are made from 22-carat crown gold, alloyed with silver and copper for durability. These coins are available in four denominations, ranging from 1/10 oz up to 1 oz. Silver and Palladium American Eagles are minted exclusively in the standard 1 oz size. Like the gold coins in the series, Platinum American Eagles are available in sizes from 1/10 up to 1 oz. The silver, platinum, and palladium versions of the coins are minted in 24-carat purity.

In this guide, we’ll share all you need to know about this iconic American coin series, including the history of the American Eagle coin, American Eagle coin designs, their different sizes, and more.

History of the American Eagle coin

The history of the American Eagle coin series starts with the Gold Bullion Act of 1985, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. This legislation authorised the United States Mint to produce gold and silver bullion coins, both of which have gone on to become a global favourite and a symbol of American heritage and craftsmanship.

The American Gold Eagle was released in 1986 as the first coin in the series and America’s official gold bullion coin. These coins are struck from .9167 pure 22-carat gold, adhering to the historical ‘crown gold’ standard used in coinage for added durability. The Gold American Eagles are available in four sizes – 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz, and 1 oz. The obverse design features Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ iconic Lady Liberty design, originally created for the $20 Gold Double Eagle in 1907. The reverse displays a family of eagles designed by Miley Busiek.

The American Silver Eagle was introduced that same year, struck from .9999 fine silver and available in a single 1 oz denomination. The Silver Eagle coins are the official silver bullion coins of the United States and feature Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty design, first used on the half-dollar coin from 1916 to 1947. The reverse showcases a heraldic eagle with a shield, arrows, and olive branch, designed by John Mercanti.

In 1997, the United States Mint expanded the series with a Platinum American Eagle, struck from .9995 fine platinum. The Platinum American Eagles feature John Mercanti’s Statue of Liberty design on the obverse and a flying eagle with an olive branch, designed by Thomas D. Rogers, on the reverse. The proof versions of the Platinum American Eagles are the only U.S. bullion coins to have an annually changing design.

In 2017, a Palladium American Eagle was released, made from .9995 fine palladium. These coins feature two Adolph A. Weinman designs – on the obverse is a high-relief depiction of the Winged Liberty Head, while the reverse displays his American bald eagle design originally created for the 1907 American Institute of Architects gold medal.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the coin series, the U.S. Mint introduced new reverse designs for the Gold and Silver American Eagles in 2021. The Gold Eagle now features a detailed close-up of an eagle’s head, designed by Jennie Norris, while the Silver Eagle now depicts an eagle in flight holding an oak branch, designed by Emily Damstra.

Similar Reading: The Canadian Maple Leaf Coin: All You Need to Know

American Eagle coin design

American Eagle coins are renowned for their patriotic designs that celebrate American values of freedom, liberty, and national pride. Each type of American Eagle coin features its own unique design, and they’re one of the few official bullion coins that don’t feature a portrait of a monarch, president, or previous leader on their obverse.

Below, we look at the different designs on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium American Eagles.

American Gold Eagle coin design

The obverse of the American Gold Eagle features the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ design of Lady Liberty holding a torch and olive branch. She is confidently marching forward with the U.S. Capital building in the background. This design was originally created for the $20 Gold Double Eagle in 1907, and it stands as a symbol of American history and hope.

Between 1986 and 2021, the reverse of the American Gold Eagle featured a family of eagles as designed by Miley Busiek. In 2021, a new design for the gold coins was unveiled by Jennie Norris, featuring a close-up of an eagle’s head.

See: How to Read a Coin – Components of a Coin: Obverse, Reverse, Edge and Inscriptions

American Silver Eagle coin design

Silver American Eagle coins depict Adolph A. Weinman’s iconic Walking Liberty design on the obverse. This design was first used on the U.S. half-dollar coin from 1916 to 1947.

Until 2021, the reverse of the American Silver Eagle coins featured John Mercanti’s design of a heraldic eagle with a shield, arrows, and olive branch. It now displays an image of a single eagle in flight, designed by Emily Damstra.

American Platinum Eagle coin design

The obverse of the Platinum American Eagle features John Mercanti's Statue of Liberty design, ‘Liberty Looking Into the Future’. On the reverse is 'Soaring Eagle Over America ', a design by Thomas D. Rogers that depicts an eagle flying with the sun's rays in the background.

American Palladium Eagle coin design

Palladium American Eagles recreate two historic Adolph A. Weinman designs. On the obverse is a high-relief depiction of the Winged Liberty Head, first used on the 1916 Mercury Dime. The reverse showcases an American bald eagle grasping a branch, a design originally created for the 1907 American Institute of Architects gold medal.

How big is an American Eagle coin?

American Eagle coins are available in different denominations depending on their type.

How big is an American Gold Eagle coin?

American Gold Eagle coins are released in four sizes ranging from 1/10 oz to 1 oz. Each coin is struck from 91.67% pure 22-carat gold alloyed with 3% silver and 5.33% copper. This standard is known as crown gold and provides additional durability to the coins.

See: What is Gold Carat?

The below table shows the weight and dimensions of different American Gold Eagle coins.

SIZE	WEIGHT (GRAMS)	DIAMETER (MM)	THICKNESS (MM)
1/10 oz	3.39	16.5	1.19
¼ oz	8.48	22	1.83
½ oz	16.97	27	2.24
1 oz	33.93	32.70	2.87

How big is an American Silver Eagle coin?

Silver American Eagles are only minted in the standard 1 oz (31.10 grams) size, struck from .999 fine silver. These coins are the largest bullion coin in the American Eagle series, with a diameter of 40.60 mm and a thickness of 2.98 mm.

How big is a Platinum American Eagle?

Platinum American Eagles are available in the same sizes as Gold American Eagles, ranging from 1/1 oz up to the standard 1 oz size. Each of these coins is struck from .9995 fine platinum.

The below table outlines the weight and dimensions of Platinum American Eagles:

SIZE	WEIGHT (GRAMS)	DIAMETER (MM)	THICKNESS (MM)
1/10 oz	3.11	16.5	0.94
¼ oz	7.78	22	1.14
½ oz	15.56	27	1.75
1 oz	31.12	32.7	2.39

How big is a Palladium American Eagle?

Like the Silver American Eagles, Palladium American Eagles are exclusively minted in the 1 oz size. These coins contain exactly one troy ounce (31.12 grams) of .9995 fine palladium and have a diameter of 34 mm and a thickness of 2.5 mm.

How much is an American Eagle coin worth?

The value of an American Eagle coin depends on its metal content (gold, silver, platinum, or palladium) and weight. Although these coins have a nominal value assigned by the U.S. Mint, their true worth is based on the current spot price of the precious metal they contain.

How much is an American Gold Eagle coin worth?

Gold American Eagle coins are assigned a face value in U.S. Dollars depending on their size:

AMERICAN GOLD EAGLE COIN SIZE	FACE VALUE (USD)
1/10 oz	$5
¼ oz	$10
½ oz	$25
1 oz	$50

However, the real value of American Gold Eagles far exceeds these face values because it’s determined by the gold content. To estimate how much your American Gold Eagle coins are worth, you’ll need to multiply its weight by the current gold spot price.

How much is an American Silver Eagle coin worth?

Silver American Eagles are minted in a standard 1 oz size and have a face value of $1. Like gold, their actual value is based on the current silver spot price.

Read More: What Drives Silver Prices?

How much is a Platinum American Eagle coin worth?

Platinum American Eagles are assigned a face value in U.S. Dollars depending on their size:

PLATINUM AMERICAN EAGLE COIN SIZE	FACE VALUE (USD)
1/10 oz	$10
¼ oz	$25
½ oz	$50
1 oz	$100

These coins are struck from .9995 fine platinum, and their market value depends on the current spot price of platinum.

How much is a Palladium American Eagle coin worth?

Palladium American Eagle coins are exclusively minted in the 1 oz size and have a face value of $25. Their true worth can be calculated by finding the current palladium spot price.

Keep Reading: What are the Best Gold Coins to Buy and Why? From Kruggerands to Maple Leafs

Buy American Eagle coins online

American Eagle bullion coins are some of the most widely recognised and traded coins in the world, known for their remarkable designs that celebrate American values and history. These coins are minted in a range of sizes in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, making them a versatile investment option that can diversify any precious metals portfolio.

If you’re ready to invest in an American Eagle coin, you’re in the right place. At StoneX Bullion, we’re proud to offer a wide range of American Eagle coins, including the Gold Eagle, Silver Eagle, Platinum Eagle, and Palladium Eagle coins from various years of issue. With prices updated each minute, you can browse with confidence knowing you’re shopping at the most current precious metals spot price.

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