bgasc american silver eagle

2017 American Gold and Silver Eagles Now Available

Gold News, Silver News
World’s Best Selling Gold and Silver Bullion Coins Dated 2017 Ready To Ship

The 2017 American Gold and Silver Eagle coins were released to the U.S. Mint’s Authorized Purchasers last week and are now available for sale to retail buyers. The U.S. Mint sold 37,701,500 American Silver Eagles and 817,500 one ounce American Gold Eagles in 2016. As of January 18, 2017, the U.S. Mint had already shipped 4,572,500 American Silver Eagles, and 65,500 one ounce American Gold Eagles. The American Gold Eagle also comes in 1/10, 1/4 and 1/2 ounce sizes.

The iconic American Silver and Gold Eagle coins celebrated their thirtieth anniversaries in 2016. Both coins were introduced in 1986 and were the by product of an idea that Congressman Ron Paul presented as part of his work on the Gold Commission established by President Reagan in 1981. Congressman Paul’s recommended was that gold and silver coins be once again minted by the United States Mint. The American Silver and Gold Eagle coins began production in 1986. The American Silver and Gold Eagle coins were the first silver and gold coins produced by the United States Mint since 1964 and 1933, respectively.

The American Silver Eagle

bgasc american silver eagle
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The American Silver Eagle coin features a walking lady liberty on the obverse. Those familiar with the Liberty Walking half dollar (1916-1947) will recognize her from her appearance on that coin. Also on the obverse are the date and the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” On the back a depiction of a bald eagle is featured with the words “1 Oz. Fine Silver” “One Dollar” and “United States of America”.

American silver eagle coins are minted at the United States Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point mints. The mint mark for West Point (W) and San Francisco (S) appears on the reverse to the bald eagle’s left talon that is clutching an olive branch. Silver eagles minted in Philadelphia contain no mint mark.

American Silver Eagles are composed of .9993 silver and .0007 copper (unlike Liberty Walking half dollars that were minted with .900 silver and .100 copper).

American Silver Eagles are eligible to be used as assets in Individual Retirement Accounts.

In their first year of mintage 5,393,005, American Silver Eagles were produced. Sales of American Silver Eagles soared beginning at the end of 2008 in response to the financial crisis that year and have remained elevated ever since. A record 47 million American Silver Eagles were sold in 2015.

American Silver Eagles can be purchased individually, in rolls of twenty or in “monster boxes” of five hundred coins.

BGASC American Silver Eagle sales 1986 - 2016 FINAL
Over 575 million American Silver Eagles were sold from 1986 – 2016.

The American Gold Eagle

bgasc american gold eagle february 2016 sales
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The American Gold Eagle coin features a bold lady liberty on the obverse. Those familiar with the U.S. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle gold coins (1907-1933) will recognize lady liberty holding a torch aloft in her right hand and an olive branch in her left as substantially the same as appears on that coin. Also on the obverse are the date and the words “Liberty”. The dates of the 1986-1991 American Gold Eagles are inscribed in Roman numerals. From 1992 on the dates are in Arabic numerals.

On the back of American Gold Eagle coins is a depiction of a bald eagle flying towards its nest where a baby eagle awaits with the words “United States of America” “e pluribus unum” and “In God We Trust”. On the one ounce gold eagle the words “1 Oz. Fine Gold” and “50 Dollars” also appear. American gold eagle coins are minted at the United States Philadelphia and West Point mints. The mint mark for West Point (W) appears on the obverse underneath the date.

American Gold Eagles are 22K gold and are composed of .9167 gold, .0533 copper and .03 silver. The one ounce American Gold Eagle coin contains one ounce of pure gold but because it is 91.67% gold it weighs slightly more than one ounce (1.0909 oz.)

American Gold Eagles are eligible to be used as assets in Individual Retirement Accounts.

In 1986, the first year of mintage 1,362,650 one ounce American Gold Eagles were sold. 912,609 one tenth ounce, 726,031 quarter ounce and 599,566 half ounce American Gold Eagle coins were also produced that year. Sales of American Gold Eagle peaked in 1999 when 1,505,026 one ounce American Gold Eagles were sold.

American Gold Eagle coins can be purchased in one tenth ($5 face value), one quarter ($10 face value), one half ($25 face value) and one ounce ($50 face value) denominations.

Bgasc One ounce American Gold Eagle Sales 1986 - 2016 final
Over 20 million one ounce American Gold Eagles were sold from 1986 – 2016.

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This article by BGASC is not, and should not be regarded as, investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular course of action.