United States Mint
History of the United States Mint
The US Mint was founded in April 1792 through the US Coinage Act which declared the establishment of 'a mint for the purpose of a national coinage'. The same act defined a US dollar as being equivalent to 371.25 grains of silver and set the gold silver ratio at 15 to 1. The country's first minting facility opened the same year in Philadelphia.
As gold began to be discovered in different areas around the US, new mint facilities would be built nearby. For example, minting facilities were set up in Georgia and North Carolina after their gold rushes. In 1854, the San Francisco Mint opened after gold was discovered in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. In 1862, another facility was established in Denver. Many of these minting facilities were later closed.
In 1938, the US Mint opened the West Point bullion facility, two years after the establishment of the Fort Knox bullion depository. These two facilities store US official gold reserves and are recognized internationally for their high-security. The Philadelphia Mint and Denver Mint produce coins for circulation. The US Mint has also manufactured foreign coins in the past.
American Eagle coin series
The official bullion coins of the United States Mint are the American Eagle coins. First launched in 1986, these coins feature the same design in their gold and silver versions. On the obverse is an image of August Saint-Gaudens' portrayal of Lady Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in her left. The Capitol building is seen in the background. The coin’s design is a replica of the original $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin (also known as the Double Eagle), first commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt.
Until 2021, the coin's reverse featured a design of a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch and flying above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglet. The design, by sculptor Miley Busiek Frost, is said to be a symbolic tribute to the American family, senior citizens, and young people. In 2021, a new design was introduced for the coin's reverse. The new design, by Jennie Noris, featured a close-up portrait of an eagle's head capturing its intense stare.
American Gold Eagle coins
The gold American Eagle coins were first released in 1986 in different denominations, from the small 1/10 oz American Gold Eagle to larger ½ oz American Gold Eagle and 1 oz American Gold Eagle denominations. The Gold American Eagle is also available in proof and burnished versions.
The gold American Eagle coins are made from 22 karat gold with .9167 purity. Until 1991, their designs were dated with Roman numerals. In 1992, this was changed to Arabic numerals. There are also proof and burnished versions of the Gold Eagle.
American Silver Eagle coins
Silver American Eagle coins were released along with the Gold Eagle in 1986 to immediate international success. These coins are only available in a 1 oz Silver American Eagle denomination. The silver American Eagles are made from 99.9% pure silver and have a face value of $1, although their intrinsic value far surpasses that amount.
American Platinum Eagle coins
The Platinum American Eagle coins were first introduced in 1997 and made from .9995 pure platinum. Until 2008, the platinum coins were available in denominations of 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1/10 oz. In 2008, the fractional versions were discontinued and the platinum American Eagle is now only available in 1 oz denomination.
Platinum American Eagle coins feature a different design to the silver and gold coins. The obverse, designed by John Mercanti, features an image of the Statue of Liberty while the reverse depicts Thomas D. Rogers’ design of an eagle flying over the US. The platinum proof versions of American Eagle feature a new design on the reverse each year.
American Palladium Eagle coins
It wasn’t until 2017 that the palladium version of the American Eagle coins was released. The American Palladium Eagle is made from .9995 pure palladium and is available in a 1 oz denomination. On the obverse is an image of Adolph A. Weinman’s Winger Liberty design with the words ‘In God We Trust’. The reverse depicts the same American Gold eagle design featured on the American Institute of Architect’s annual Gold Medal.
Other bullion products by the United States Mint
Being the world’s largest producer of gold and silver coins, the US Mint has an international reputation for its bullion coin production. The mint produces bullion coins in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium as well as historic US gold and silver circulation coins.
American Buffalo
The American Gold Buffalo coin was introduced in 2006 as the first ever 24-karat gold coin manufactured by the United States Mint. The gold coins are made from .9999 pure gold. The obverse features a right-profile portrait of a Native American tribal member and the reverse depicts an image of the American bison (or buffalo).
America the Beautiful
The America the Beautiful silver bullion coin series was launched in 2010, made from 5 oz silver coins of .999 purity. There are 56 different designs available in groups of five each year from 2010 to 2021. The designs of the coins commemorate the country’s historic monuments, national parks, and lakeshores. Each of the different designs represents a US state, the five overseas territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Marianas Islands. There is also an extra coin in the series that represents the federal district of Washington DC.
Buy bullion from the United States Mint
Whether you’re interested in an American Eagle bullion coin or one of the US Mint’s special commemorative coins, you’ll find it here at StoneX Bullion. As Europe’s leading precious metals dealer, we stock a huge range of investment-grade bullion products from the world’s most trusted mints. Wherever possible, we buy large amounts directly from producers so we can offer our clients the most competitive prices.
Browse our range of bullion bars and coins from government mints and private mints alike, and make an investment that stands the test of time.