The 1 oz American Gold Eagle is the largest gold coin produced by the US Mint, and carries a face value in the United States of $50 USD. The coin is 22 karat gold, meaning it is composed of 91.67% gold. The remaining amount of the coin is composed of copper (5.33%) and silver (3%). Although the coin is 22 karat gold, it still contains 1 troy oz of pure gold content. This is due to the fact that the coin itself weighs 1.0909 troy ounces total, resulting in 1 troy ounce of pure gold. 

This beautiful coin was first released in 1986.  These coins can be purchased in several denominations:  $5, $10, $25 and $50.  None have been in circulation as actual currency. The American Gold Eagle coins feature different designs. Still, all include images of the country’s most iconic symbols: Lady Liberty on one side and the bald eagle on the other.

On the American Gold Eagle coin’s 35th anniversary in 2021, the U.S. Mint redesigned the coin’s reverse side. While the original featured an eagle protecting its nest, the new version replaced it with the profile of a bald eagle. Coins minted between 1986 and 1991 use Roman numerals for the date.  Beginning in 1992, the coins were stamped with Arabic numerals (as is all U.S. currency).