1oz American Gold Eagle Coin – 2024

The 2024 American Gold Eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States.  Authorized under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, it was first released by the United States Mint in 1986.  Because the term “eagle” also is the official United States designation for pre-1933 ten dollars gold coins, the weight of the bullion coin is typically used when describing American Gold Eagles (e.g., ½ oz American Gold Eagle) to avoid confusion.  This is particularity true with the 1/4-oz American Gold Eagle, which has a marked face value of ten dollars.

Offered in 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz and 1 oz denominations, these coins are guaranteed by the US government to contain the stated amount of actual gold weight in troy ounces.   By law the gold must come from sources in the United States, alloyed with silver and copper to produce a more resistant coin.  In addition, sales of these and other specie coins from the US Mint are mandated, at least in part, to pay off the national debt.

The 22kt gold alloy is an English standard traditionally referred to “crown gold”.  Crown gold alloys had not been used in US coins since 1834, with gold content having dropped since 1837 to standard of 0.900 fine for US gold coins.  For American Gold Eagles the gold fraction was increased again to .9167 or (22 karat).  

The obverse (front) design features a rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens full-length figure of Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the Capitol building in the left background.  The design is taken from the $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin which was commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt to create coins like the ancient Greek and Roman coins.  Gold Eagles minted 1986-1991 are dated with Roman numerals.  In 1992, the US Mint switched to Arabic numerals for dating Gold Eagles.  Since 2021, the reverse design by designer Jennie Norris features a close-up side profile of the eagle.

Alt

(From 1986 to 2021 1/2, the reverse design by sculptor Miley Busiek featured a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and her eaglet)

Specifications

Year: 2024

Manufacturer: United States Mint

Content:      91.67% (22 karat), 3% Silver and 5.33% copper

Diameter:   32.70 mm

Thickness:  2.87 mm

Gross Weight: 1.0909 troy oz (33.931 g)

Face Value: $50

Packaging: Single Coins are shipped in plastic flips and multiples of 20 comes

In plastic tubes.