Adam Curry writes:

The American Gold Eagle Coins are among the most beautiful gold coins in the United States mint. They come in different denominations such as $5.00, $10.00, $25.00, and the $50.00 gold eagle coins. The gold coins have the correct amount of gold in each one in actual gold weight, or troy ounce, which equals 91.67%.

They also contain sufficient amounts of copper, 5.33% and 3% of silver to help protect each coin from wear. The coins first came on the market from the U. S. mint in 1986, and are still being minted today; however, the U. S. mint has already begun doing away with the 1/10 and the 1/4 oz. coins.

For collectors information the 1/10 or $5.00 American Gold Eagle coin has a thickness of 1.19 mm, a diameter of 16 1/2 mm; and its overall weight is 3.393 grams. The 1/4 or $10.00 American Gold Eagle Coin has a thickness of 1.83 mm, the diameter is 22 mm, and its overall weight is 8.483 grams. The 1/2 troy once or $25.00 American Gold Eagle Coin has a thickness of 2.24 mm, a diameter of 27 mm, and the overall weight of it is 16.965 grams. The 1 troy once or 450.00 American Gold Eagle Coin has a thickness of 2.87 mm, a diameter of 32.70 mm, and its overall weight is 33.930 grams.

The American Gold Eagle Coins will always be worth the face value; however, depending on the market value of gold can determine how much the coins will be worth in the future for a non circulated coin in mint condition, or a proof, which are sold to coin collectors. Most of the coins were minted at the West Point mint in New York. From 1986 until 1991 all the American Gold Eagle Coins were minted with the dates pressed in Roman Numerals; however in 1992 this was changed to Arabic numbers, and still remains this way.

The design on the front or obverse side shows a picture of Lady Liberty with her hair blowing in the wind. She is holding a torch in her right hand and in her left hand she is holding an olive branch. The edge of each coin is ridged, with stars circling the entire perimeter of the coin with the exception of the lower left hand corner where you can see the Capital building. Behind the magnificent rendition by Augustus Saint-Gauden, you can see rays emanating from the bottom upward.

The reverse side was done by a sculptor named Miley Busiek. You can see a male eagle carrying an olive branch in its talons, landing near the mother eagle's nest with her young. At the top above the male eagle in all capital letters are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Under the male eagles tail is the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum; and just to the right of the female eagle's head is the American phrase IN GOD WE TRUST. Below the nest will be the amount of troy ounces and the face value of the coin. So you can see why the American Gold Eagle is one of the most beautiful coins in the U.S. Mint.

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