US Mint Gold Coins

Gold Coins from the United States Mint

The history of gold coining at the United States Mint dates back to the founding of America’s sovereign mint. US Mint gold coins were first issued in 1794 and consisted of US Eagle denominations for use in circulation. As of 1986, the US Mint has been a global leader in the production of bullion gold coins and numismatic gold collections. Explore the variety of US Mint gold at BGASC.

American Gold Eagles

Introduced in 1986, the American Gold Eagle was the first US gold coin struck in large volumes since 1933 when the US ended the gold standard and canceled its US Eagle circulation coins. American Gold Eagles feature the following designs:

• Obverse – Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ 1907 depiction of Lady Liberty in front-facing relief with a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other.
• Reverse (1986-2021) – the original reverse design was created by Miley Busiek specifically for this series and showed a male eagle soaring above a nest with a female eagle and hatchlings in the nest.
• Reverse (2021-present) – the redesigned reverse field debuted in mid-2021 during the program’s 35th anniversary. It shows the head of a bald eagle in left-profile relief with exceptional attention to detail and a steely gaze from the eagle.

Since 1986, BU American Gold Eagles have been available to investors in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz gold on an annual basis. Proof Gold Eagles debuted in 1986 with only 1 oz gold available. These numismatic versions of the coin expanded in 1987 with 1/2 oz gold and again in 1988 with 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz gold. A Burnished Gold Eagle debuted in 2006.

American Gold Buffalos

Introduced in 2006, the American Gold Buffalo holds the distinction as the first-ever 24-karat gold coin from the US Mint. Its debut revived one of the most beloved American coin designs of all-time, the Buffalo Nickel. Originally designed in 1913 by James Earle Fraser, these visuals now grace the obverse and reverse of Gold Buffalos and depict:

• The obverse features a stoic indigenous figure in right-profile relief. This design was one of the first in the history of American currency to feature an indigenous American figure.
• On the reverse, the might of the American bison is shown with the full figure of the creature in left-profile relief standing on a small mound of dirt and grass.

With the exception of select numismatic issues, the American Gold Buffalo is offered only in 1 oz gold by the US Mint, with BU and Proof versions issued each year.

Pre-33 US Gold Coins

The very first American gold coins were those issued in 1794 by the US Mint. Intended for circulation, these coins were struck in varying denominations with various designs from 1794 until 1933. Examples of popular Pre-33 US Gold Coins include the following:

• $10 Gold Eagle (1794-1933)
• $5 Gold Half Eagle (1795-1929)
• $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle (1795-1929)
• $20 Gold Double Eagle (1850-1933)
• $1 US Gold Coin (1849-1889)
• $3 US Gold Coin (1854-1889)

US Gold Commemorative Coins

The US Mint has a rich history of numismatic and commemorative coin production. The first-ever commemorative coin from the US Mint was issued in 1848 and came from the US Eagle denomination with a CAL mark denoting the start of the California Gold Rush. Modern commemorative coining resumed in the United States in 1982 with silver issues, while the first modern commemorative gold coin issued by the US Mint came as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics commemorative lineup.

Buy US Gold Coins at BGASC

If you’re looking to buy gold from the United States Mint, BGASC has a wide collection of both historic and modern American gold. Please contact us at 888-992-4272, chat with us online, or email us directly.