Gold coins also have a long tradition in the USA. They were used there as a means of payment for centuries. The dollar currency was created in 1785 and the United States Mint was founded in 1792. From then on, the US minted its own coins in dollars.
The eagle is a US gold coin with a face value of 10 US dollars. From 1795 to 1933, the coin was an official means of payment and was minted in large quantities. It is still traded today as a popular investment coin. The motif on the head side was Liberty Head until 1906, then Indian Head. The other US gold coins were named in proportion to the 10 dollar eagle. The 20 dollar gold coin is called the Double Eagle, the 5 dollar gold coin the Half Eagle and the 2.5 dollar gold coin the Quarter Eagle.
In 2002, auction proceeds of 7.59 million dollars were achieved for a 1933 Double Eagle. This makes it the most valuable gold coin of all time, as only a single copy of it still exists on the open market.
| Nominal value |
Weight |
Alloy |
Gold |
Dimensions |
| Double Eagle - 20 USD |
33,43 g |
900 |
30,09 g |
34,2 x 2,5 mm |
| Eagle - 10 USD |
16,71 g |
900 |
15,04 g |
27,0 x 2,0 mm |
| Half Eagle - 5 USD |
8,35 g |
900 |
7,52 g |
21,4 x 1,5 mm |
| Quarter Eagle - 2.5 USD |
4,17 g |
900 |
3,76 g |
17,7 x 1,0 mm |
The Indian Head was minted from 1907 to 1933 and replaced the old coin design of the American 10 dollar Eagle gold coin. The head side depicts an Indian head with feathers. The tails side was printed with a bald eagle looking to the left. The 5 dollar and 2.5 dollar gold coins were also issued with this motif from 1908 onwards. In the same year, the phrase "In God we trust" was added to the left of the eagle on the 10 dollar gold coin.
This gold coin is very popular with collectors due to its historical design. However, it is not a rare gold coin, as there are still many millions in circulation.
| Nominal value |
Weight |
Alloy |
Gold |
Dimensions |
| Ind. head - 10 USD |
16,71 g |
900 |
15,04 g |
27.0 x2.0 mm |
| Ind. head - 5 USD |
8,35 g |
900 |
7,52 g |
21,4 x 1,5 mm |
| Ind. head - 2.5 USD |
4,17 g |
900 |
3,76 g |
17,7 x 1,0 mm |
The American Eagle has been minted by the United States Mint since 1986. It is a classic bullion coin and is issued in 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce and 1/10 ounce denominations. The American Eagle is available in gold, silver and, since 1997, platinum.
The investor gold coin has a fineness of 916.66, which corresponds to 22 carats. Depending on the fineness, the face value of the American Eagle is between 5 and 50 US dollars. The alloying metals copper and silver make the American Eagle darker in color and more resistant to external influences.
Coin collectors particularly covet the ½ and ¼ ounce gold coins from the 1991 minting year, as only 24,000 of these were issued.
The payment side of the American Eagle gold coin is adorned with the American national symbol: the eagle. It carries an olive branch in its talons, which is a symbol of peace. In the nest is the female with chicks. Lettering such as "United States Of America", "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" (German: aus Vielen Eins) can be read. The denomination and fineness of the eagle are also shown here. The reverse was designed by Miley Busiek.
The head was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and shows "Lady Liberty", the Statue of Liberty. She carries a torch and an olive branch in her hands. In the background, rays of light symbolize the sunrise. The American Parliament (Capitol) can be seen in the left background. The lettering "Liberty" and the year of issue are also depicted.
| Size |
Nominal value |
Weight |
Dimensions |
| 1 ounce |
50 USD |
33,930 g |
32,70 x 2,75 mm |
| ½ ounce |
25 USD |
16,965 g |
27,00 x 2,24 mm |
| ¼ ounce |
10 USD |
8,483 g |
22,00 x 1,83 mm |
| 10 ounce |
5 USD |
3,393 g |
16,5 x 1,19 mm |
The American Buffalo is the first 24-carat bullion gold coin to be issued by the United States Mint. It has been minted since 2006, making it the youngest bullion coin in the USA. The coin has also been available in denominations up to 1/10 ounce since 2008.
The design is based on a 5 cent nickel coin from 2013 (Indian Head nickel and Buffalo nickel). One side of the gold coin shows the portrait of an Indian, the inscription "Liberty", the minting date and the letter F, which stands for the designer of the coin: James Earl Fraser.
The coin's namesake, the North American buffalo, can be seen on the other side. The words "United States of America", "Liberty" and "In God We Trust" are also depicted, as well as the face value and fineness.
In the USA, the American Buffalo is recognized as legal tender. The coin is in high demand and is therefore rather difficult to acquire. For coin collectors, the "proof" version is also minted. This version is of a higher quality and bears the "W" mark for the West Point minting location to distinguish it.
| Size |
Nominal value |
Weight |
Dimensions |
Year of minting |
| 1 ounce |
50 USD |
31,103 g |
32,70 x 2,95 mm |
from 2006 |
| ½ ounce |
25 USD |
15,55 g |
26,50 x 2,16 mm |
from 2008 |
| ¼ ounce |
10 USD |
7,78 g |
22,00 x 1,63 mm |
from 2008 |
| 1/10 ounce |
5 USD |
3,11 g |
16,50 x 1,19 mm |
from 2008 |
The American Eagle is particularly prone to counterfeiting due to its special gold-copper alloy. Instead of real gold, a cheap tungsten-copper alloy is used, which is only thinly gold-plated. The metal tungsten has practically the same specific weight as gold - in this way, coins such as the American Eagle can be counterfeited with the correct weight in original dimensions. These forgeries are almost impossible for laypeople to recognize. The business with counterfeit gold coins is flourishing, especially on the Internet. Caution is therefore advised when coins are offered online at particularly low prices.
Parking lot - free of charge in the courtyard
Parking lot - 1h free of charge in underground garage
