The American Gold Eagle combines one of the most celebrated designs in American coinage with the modern U.S. bullion coin program. First issued in 1986, the coin carries a design whose roots reach back to the early twentieth century and the collaboration between President Theodore Roosevelt and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
A Design With Roots in 1907
The obverse of the American Gold Eagle is based on Augustus Saint-Gaudens' famous Liberty design for the $20 Double Eagle, first issued in 1907. Liberty strides forward holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with rays of the rising sun behind her and the U.S. Capitol visible in the background.
President Theodore Roosevelt had encouraged the creation of new American coin designs, and Saint-Gaudens' work became one of the best-known results of that effort. Nearly eight decades later, the U.S. Mint selected his Liberty design for the new American Gold Eagle.
The American Gold Eagle Begins in 1986
The United States Mint launched the American Eagle Coin Program in 1986. Gold Eagles are produced in four sizes containing one troy ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce or one-tenth ounce of fine gold.
Although their face values are $50, $25, $10 and $5 respectively, American Gold Eagles are bullion coins whose precious-metal content is far more significant than the denomination stamped on the coin.
The Original Family of Eagles Reverse
From the program's introduction in 1986 through the original 2021 design, the reverse was created by sculptor Miley Tucker-Frost, also known professionally as Miley Busiek. It depicts a male eagle carrying an olive branch above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglets.
The design gave the modern Gold Eagle its own identity while Saint-Gaudens' historic Liberty remained on the obverse.
A New Eagle for 2021
For the 35th anniversary of the American Eagle program in 2021, the U.S. Mint introduced a new reverse. Designed by Jennie Norris and sculpted by U.S. Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon, it presents a close portrait of a bald eagle.
The Mint also refreshed details of the Saint-Gaudens obverse using historical assets, including the original bronze cast, to more closely reflect the sculptor's original vision. The redesign also introduced additional anti-counterfeiting features, including a variation in the reeded edge of the one-ounce coin.
Why Is the American Gold Eagle 22 Karat?
American Gold Eagles are made from a durable 22-karat alloy consisting of 91.67% gold, 3% silver and the balance copper. The added silver and copper make the coin harder and more resistant to scratching and wear than a coin made from pure 24-karat gold.
The alloy does not reduce the stated amount of gold in the coin. A one-ounce American Gold Eagle contains a full troy ounce of pure gold. Because silver and copper are added to that gold, the finished coin itself weighs more than one troy ounce.
American Gold Eagle Specifications
| Size |
Face Value |
Fine Gold |
Total Weight |
Diameter |
| 1 oz |
$50 |
1.0000 troy oz |
33.931 g |
32.70 mm |
| 1/2 oz |
$25 |
0.5000 troy oz |
16.966 g |
27.00 mm |
| 1/4 oz |
$10 |
0.2500 troy oz |
8.483 g |
22.00 mm |
| 1/10 oz |
$5 |
0.1000 troy oz |
3.393 g |
16.50 mm |
The American Gold Eagle at CoinCrafters
CoinCrafters' 2026 American Gold Eagle Coin Ring begins with a genuine one-ounce 2026 American Gold Eagle. Rather than merely reproducing the coin's imagery, the original coin itself is transformed by hand into the finished ring.
The forming and finishing process removes a small amount of material, so the completed ring weighs slightly less than the original coin while retaining recognizable elements of its design.
Sources & Further Reading
This history was prepared using information from the United States Mint. Readers interested in exploring the coin in greater detail can visit the U.S. Mint's American Eagle Gold Coin information and History of the American Eagle Gold Coin.
