Gold Eagles from the U.S. Mint are the most
popular gold bullion coin in this country, and
now make up over 80% of the U.S. physical gold
bullion market. This bullion product has been
a tremendous success for the U.S. Mint.
For both large and small purchases, gold Eagles
are our biggest seller in gold bullion. And,
although in the long run it may not matter which
form of gold bullion you decide to purchase,
there are good reasons for buying Eagles:
They are low-cost bullion products that are
easy to buy and sell at reasonable price spreads.
They are easy to store, because they're issued
in space-saving Treasury tubes, instead of the
more cumbersome individual packaging that comes
with all sizes of Kangaroos, Dragons, Pandas,
and the fractional-size Canadian Maples.
They are made of tough 22karat gold (91.7%
pure), a much more scuff-resistant material than
the pure (99.9% or better) forms of bullion.
Some of the various sizes of gold Eagles may
have a value to collectors in the future based
on their scarcity. A strong after-market has
already developed as collectors look to complete
their sets going back to 1986 - particularly
scarce are some of the low-mintage half- and
quarter-ounce gold Eagles from the early 1990's.
We recommend gold Eagles as our first choice
for gold bullion purchases in the U.S. Gold Eagles
are also the largest component of our U.S. Treasury
gold portfolio. The coins featured here, and
in our U.S. Treasury gold portfolio, are all
Mint-fresh current year dated gold bullion Eagles.
For larger purchases, gold Eagles come from
the Mint in original sealed high-impact plastic
boxes weighing approximately 40 pounds. Each
box contains 500 pure ounces of gold in one size,
with the coins packed tight in sealed Treasury
tubes.
The one-ounce Eagle box contains 25 tubes of
20 coins each.
The half-ounce Eagle box contains 25 tubes
of 40 coins each.
The quarter-ounce Eagle box contains 50 tubes,
with 40 coins in each.
The tenth-ounce gold Eagle box has 100 tubes,
with 50 coins in each tube.
Eagles are struck bearing a modified version
of a design by Augustus St. Gaudens which
graced the old $20 U.S. gold coins issued from
1907 to 1933.
The one ounce size Eagle is very close in size
to the older $20 coin, but was arbitrarily assigned
a nominal face value of $50. Logically, the tenth-ounce
version has a $5 face value, and the half-ounce
a $25 value.
But, following the lead of the Royal Canadian
Mint in dismissing with any common sense in assigning
legal tender valuations to gold bullion coins,
the Mint slapped a $10 face value to the quarter-ounce
Eagle. Of course, any school-child could have
pointed out 1/4 of $50 is $12.50, but the committee
that decided to call it $10 obviously lacked
even one bright child among them.
The one-ounce gold Eagle has a $50 nominal
face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs 1.0909
troy ounces. The most popular size bullion coin,
it is issued 20 coins per Treasury tube. Its
diameter is 32.7 mm, thickness 2.87 mm.
The half-ounce gold Eagle has a $25 nominal
face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs .5455
troy ounce. The least popular size bullion coin,
and often the lowest mintage, it is issued 40
coins per Treasury tube. Diameter is 27mm, thickness
2.15mm.
The quarter-ounce gold Eagle has a $10 nominal
face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs .2727
troy ounce. About the size of a nickel, it is
popular in jewelry. It is issued 40 coins per
Treasury tube. Its diameter is 22mm, its thickness
1.78 mm.
The tenth-ounce gold Eagle is a $5 face value
coin, 91.67% fine gold (22 karat), and weighs
.1091 troy ounce. Smaller than a dime, it is
a popular small gift item. It is issued 50 coins
to a Treasury tube. Diameter 16.5 mm, thickness
1.26mm. |
