American Eagle Gold Coins
In Retirement & Self-Directed Gold IRA

Author: Focus on the User | 5 min read | Updated

The American Eagle Gold Coin, introduced by the U.S. Mint in 1986, is the official gold bullion coin of the United States and a top choice for investors and retirement diversification. Its appeal lies in its iconic patriotic design, government-backed purity, historical significance, and status as legal tender as the officla gold coin in the USA. The coin was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in the Gold Bullion Act of 1985.

Obverse Design: The front of the coin features Lady Liberty, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907, holding a torch and olive branch to symbolize enlightenment and peace. This design, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in U.S. coinage history, has been used on American Eagles since their inception in 1986.

Reverse Design: The reverse displays a bold side profile of a bald eagle, designed by Jennie Norris and introduced in 2021, replacing the previous family of eagles design with a nest and female eagle and hatchlings. This modern depiction represents the strength and freedom of the United States.

The 1 oz American Eagle Gold Coin has a face value of $50, but its market value is tied to the price of gold, far exceeding the face value. Composed of 91.67% gold content (22-karat), 3% silver, and 5.33% copper, this metal composition is also called "crown gold." The 1 oz gold version is typically used for investment purposes.

A 1 oz coin measures 32.70 mm in diameter, 2.87 mm in thickness, and weighs 1.0909 troy ounces (33.931 grams). This coin series has a reeded edge. Coins are minted at the U.S. Mint’s West Point facility (Proof & uncirculated versions are also produced here as part of their Coin Programs). A unique trait of this gold coin, despite its 22-karat gold composition, it remains eligible for inclusion in Gold Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Unlike another American gold coin, the American Buffalo which is 99.99% pure, Gold Eagles at 91.67% are eligble despite not meeting the 99.5% purity requirement in Gold IRAs. The American Gold Eagle Proof Coins are also uniquely eligible in a Gold IRA, unlike any other proof coin. Proof versions typically have a standard mint mark.

The gold used to mint Gold American Eagle Coins is sourced from American mines. By law, the gold must come from sources in the United States only.

1 oz American Gold Eagle

Observe
(Front)
Amreican Eagle Gold Coin FrontReverse
(Back)
Amreican Eagle Gold Coin Back
IRA-EligibleYes, is eligible
Value50 U.S. Dollars
Metal Content91.67% Gold, 3% Silver, 5.33% Copper
Purity22-karat (91.67%)
Years of Minting1986–present (Bullion)
MintU.S. Mint (West Point)
DesignLady Liberty design; family of eagles reverse

The American Eagle Gold Coin is also available in three fractional sizes: 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz, each with corresponding face values of $25, $10, and $5, respectively. However, these smaller denominations are better suited for non-IRA investors. 1 oz variations are the most cost-effectice solution when including gold coins in an IRA.

Why Does the IRS Allow American Gold Bullion Eagles in an IRA?

The IRS allows American Gold Bullion Eagles in IRAs despite their lower purity (0.9167) because they are minted by the U.S. Mint, and meet the IRS's "publicly traded" criteria (based on recognition, quality, and tradeability).

How to Invest Gold American Eagles in your IRA

If you are ready to include American Eagle Gold Coins in a Gold IRA, best place to start is selecting a reputable IRS-approved Gold IRA company to help with account setup and choosing the gold coins you want to invest in. Open your account and fund it by rolling over or transferring assets through a 60-day Gold IRA rollover or a direct Gold IRA transfer. Once funded you will be able to buy American Eagle Gold Coins and enjoy the long-term benefits of holding physical precious metals in your IRA.

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(U.S. Citizens Only)

FotU Guide
2024 Gold Eagles
Both sides of the American Eagle.
Front side of Gold Eagle coins
2024 observe side of coin, to the side
Back side of Gold Eagle coins
2024 reverse side of coin, to the side

Bullion Mintages

Below we have graphed the mintages of the bullion variation of the American Gold Eagle from 1986 to 2023. This makes it easy to see the product releases since this coin was first produced.

1986-2023 mintage of bullion American Eagle Gold Coins
1 oz Mintage Data (1986-2023)
YearMintage
19861,362,650
19871,045,500
1988465,500
1989415,790
1990373,210
1991243,100
1992275,000
1993480,192
1994221,663
1995200,636
1996189,148
1997664,508
19981,468,530
19991,505,026
2000433,319
2001143,605
2002222,029
2003416,032
2004417,019
2005356,555
2006237,510
2007140,016
2008710,000
20091,493,000
20101,125,000
2011857,000
2012675,000
2013758,500
2014425,000
2015626,500
2016817,500
2017228,000
2018191,000
2019108,000
2020747,500
2021 Type-1456,500
2021 Type-2665,500
2022850,000
2023924,000

Other IRA-Eligible Gold Coins

Other popular bullion coins typically chosen in a Gold IRA are listed below:

These popular gold bullion coins provide a vast variety of coins to include in your Gold IRA portfolio.

How Focus on the User Can Help You Hold Gold Eagles in Your IRA

Holding gold coins directly in your IRA is one of the best ways to benefit from gold and enjoy the tax benfits of this type of retirement account. Focus on the User makes the planning process Gold IRAs easy, including adding Gold American Eagles in your investment strategy.


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