Gold American Eagle coins are very interesting specimens of gold bullion coins. This coin is, as you can probably guess, minted by the United States government, and it is most often minted at the West Point Mint, which is in West Point, New York. This coin, which is made of 22-karat gold, comes in four different sizes, although the one ounce coin is the most popular for most collectors and investors. The Gold American Eagle coin was created by taking designs from two different designers.
Each coin has two sides, called the obverse and reverse. Coins are minted from dies, which are very detailed reliefs that are sculpted carefully. The die is the opposite of the coin’s face, so that the deepest parts of the die make the most raised parts of the coin, and each coin is made from two dies at the same time as they are pressed into opposite sides of the coin. Those who design dies for American coins are usually skillful sculptors who have lots of experience creating detailed pieces of art.
The obverse side of the Gold American Eagle coin is a remade version of a picture of Lady Liberty that was first designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who originally created the design for a nickel. The design, which has been called Liberty Walking, features Lady Liberty with flowing hair and dress holding a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other hand. Behind Lady Liberty is the capitol building, and the rays of the sun are coming up behind her as if dawn is breaking.
The reverse side of the Gold American Eagle coin features a touching design of a family of eagles created by sculptor Miley Busiek. In the design, a male eagle is bringing an olive branch to his mate and their two eaglets, who are resting in their nest. The design is much different from the more typical fierce-looking eagle on a seal on most coins, and it offers a tenderer, familial picture.
Although most people don’t collect the Gold American Eagle coins for their beauty so much as for their inherent value, having a few of these lovely coins on display can be interesting. Plus, investors who choose the more expensive proofs over regular uncirculated coins will find that the frosted cameo designs on the proof coins stand out more and are filled with more detail, since they are stamped multiple times.