Can you tell a rare gold coin only by yourself? How would you do it? You can try sinking your teeth into the coin, like people did in the old days. If it’s soft it’s gold not silver or copper or iron. Your rate of failure would be worse than 50-50 similar to that experienced by people from the olden days to more recent times before the advent of professional coin grading services like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC).

So, the immediate answer to the question is an emphatic NO. You cannot tell a rare gold coin only by yourself. Let the pros do it.

The PCGS and NGC were founded in response to the clamor and need for reliable and consistent grading of rare coins – the PCGS in 1986 and NGC in 1987. Coins certified by these grading services carry a premium price but are preferred by coin dealers and collectors. The PCGS as of 2009 had certified more than 16 million coins with a total market value of $17 billion. The NGC has certified over 10 million coins coming from all over the world as of 2009. Both these grading services use the Sheldon Scale of grading

Learn more about rare gold coins certified by the PCGS through Certified Gold Exchange (CGE), America’s most trusted gold exchange. CGE is rated with A+, the highest possible rating given by the Better Business Bureau. CGE has also a perfect Zero Complaint record since its founding in 1992. Call 1-800-300-0715 about the following certified rare gold coins:

Double Gold Eagles in $20 denomination, authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849. The Liberty Head Double Eagle struck between 1849 and 1907 and the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle struck between 1807 and 1933. Gold is 90% and copper 10%..

Gold Eagles struck between 1795 and 1933. Gold Eagle variants include Capped Bust Gold Eagle, Liberty Head Gold Eagle and Indian Head Gold Eagle. Composition was initially 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper, later changed in 1838 to 90% gold and 10% copper.

Gold Half Eagles, in denomination of $5, the first gold coins struck by the U.S. Mint under the Act of April 2, 1792. Gold composition was initially 96.7%, later changed to 90%. Variants include the Capped Bust, Liberty Head and Indian Head.

Gold Quarter Eagles in $2.50 denomination also authorized under the Act of April 2, 1792. Variants include Capped Bust, Liberty Head and Indian Head.

Joshua Harris

Can you tell the 1986 Gold Eagle from the 1992 Gold Eagle? Actually there is not much difference. The difference is in one detail that has nothing to do at all with the value or quality of the Gold Eagle.

The Gold Eagle minted from 1986 to 1991 is dated in Roman numerals. In the 1986 mint you will see these characters MCMLXXXVI to mean 1986. The Gold Eagle from 1992 onwards is dated in the Arabic numerals.

All the coins in various denominations are identical in design except for the markings on the reverse side indicating the weight and face value of the coin which do not appear on the Gold Eagle Dollar.

The coins are in 22 karats, a purity of 91.67%, The following are their specifications:

Denomination Diameter/Thickness Gross Weight Face Value

1 troy oz. 32.70mm/2.87mm 1.0909 troy oz. $50

1/2 troy oz. 27mm/2.24mm 0.5454 troy oz. $25

1/4 troy oz. 22mm/1.83mm 0.2727 troy oz. $10

1/10 troy oz. 16.50mm/1.19mm 0.1091 troy oz . $5

The modern day Gold Eagle was introduced in 1984 as a commemorative coin and minted in 1986 for circulation. It is now one of the most popular gold coins.

The original Gold Eagle was minted in 1795 on the basis of the Mint Act passed by the US Congress in 1792. It is among the first coins minted by the US Mint. It was in 22 karats, with 91.67% purity. It remained in circulation until 1933.

Both the modern day and the original gold coins are much sought-after by collectors and investors worldwide. Ask about them at Certified Gold Exchange 1-800-300-715 or click here for you free “2010 Insider’s Guide to Gold Investing. Certified Gold Exchange specializes in a wide variety of gold investment methods such as certified investment grade rare coins.
Joshua Harris

The US Mint’s popular American Eagle gold and silver coins remain in high demand by US investors. Working to overcome production shortages, the Mint has stepped up operations, in an effort to maintain the demands of this Gold Bull cycle.

The Gold Eagle Was introduced in 1986; in large part, because in the early 1980s foreign gold coins like the South African Krugerrand were soaring in popularity. The United States didn’t want to be left out of the gold-coin realm, so it crafted the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 which President Ronald Reagan promptly signed into law. It mandated that the US Mint produce a family of 22-karat gold bullion coins containing one, one-half, one-quarter, and one-tenth of a troy ounce of pure gold.

In August 2008 the first signs of trouble for the Gold Eagle came to the forefront. The US Mint announced it was temporarily suspending gold Eagle sales. This ignited a firestorm amongst Conspiracy theorist, and when the Wall Street Journal ran a story called “The Eagle Has Been Grounded” it the theories hit the mainstream public. Many commentators erroneously spun this Eagle shortage into a physical-gold shortage.

In the Mint’s defense regarding its August 2008 suspension, the Eagle demand spiked. There was no way to forecast the sudden demand, it was completely panic driven. More importantly, the Mint adapted more quickly than its critics have given it credit for. It produced 50k ounces of gold Eagles in July 2008, 86k in August, 113k in September, 122k in October, 117k in November, and 176k in December. These levels were way beyond bull-to-date norms.

2009 and the first quarter of 2010 have been very impressive. The Mint took the steps necessary to overcome the production bottleneck it encountered in the summer 2008. Production may still be short of demand, but with the mint’s present commitment to production The Gold Eagle may soon be soaring again.

Jashua Harris

American Gold Eagle bullion coins are on pace to track their best ever March, according to the latest United States Mint Sales figures. Since the coins inception in October, 1986, only the fiery pace of set during the Y2K scare seen in 1999 and the March pace set in 2009 have tracked higher.

With the first two weeks of this month now in the history books, US Mint sales of the gold bullion coins have reached 39,500. Leaving only 16,501 more coin sold to reach the number four spot in March sales history. Buyers will need to scoop up just another 48,501 during the next 2 1/2 weeks to pass March 1998 and earn the third best March ranking.

Volatile gold prices have made it an interesting year for American Eagles, and year-to-date sales now stand at 208,500. The third best start to a U.S. Mint Selling year thru the first quarter. Again, only the three month jump start in 1999 and 1987 (the first year of availability) has posted stronger numbers.

The Mint does not sell bullion eagles directly to the public, but instead to a small group of authorized purchasers who in turn resell them to precious metal providers, investors, dealers and collectors. These coins do not have a mint mark, unlike their numismatic counterparts.

For more information about this year’s Gold Eagle series bullion coin, to include specifications and design details, Contact one of our friendly Gold Eagle Coin Experts.

For safety purposes, many household investors logically gravitate to the notion of buying Gold Eagles from the U.S. Mint, since the government backs their coins for weight, and precious metal content. Safe and insured delivery by the United States Postal Service also accompanies such purchases, so many individuals have been buying Gold Eagle bullion from the U.S. Mint for this added security. It isn’t general practice for rare gold coins to be purchased from the U.S. Mint, although a 1933 $20 Saint Gaudens was recently auctioned off for a price of more than $7 million, with a British coin dealer claiming half of the auction proceeds, and the U.S. Mint collecting the remaining half. ($20 was awarded to the Treasury Department, for the face value of the coin

Buying Gold Eagles from the U.S. Mint became such a popular notion in fact, that the Mint was forced to indefinitely suspend production of gold and silver Gold Eagle bullion coins, until a sufficient number of blanks are accumulated to resume minting. The mint has produced millions of bullion coins since 1986, so plenty of Gold Eagle coins are available on the open market.

Novice precious metals investors should know that buying Gold Eagles shouldn’t be much more costly than the current gold spot price, which fluctuates hourly, and represents the cost of one troy-ounce of pure gold. Those who wish to receive institutional discounts on their Gold Eagles are encouraged to contact one of our friendly specialists today.

Joshua Harris

Variations on Gold Eagle coins are primarily disseminated by their classification as either bullion, or rare coin, with prices between the two types being one of their most notable distinctions. Bullion Gold Eagles’ prices are based on the current gold spot price (which represents the cost of one troy-ounce of pure gold), while rare Gold Eagles command substantially higher prices, and generally require numismatic certification to be considered as legitimate long-term investments.

Bullion Gold Eagle coins are one-ounce, 22-karat gold coins with a $50 face value, and their design is an inexact replica of rare, $20 face value, Saint Gaudens gold coins, which are also 22-karats, and contain just under a full troy-ounce of pure gold (.9675 ounces). Novice investors should always be sure to verify the status of any prospective Gold Eagle coin they are considering, and not to be needlessly swayed by coins that show PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). There are unscrupulous gold dealers who sell modern bullion coins that they’ve had certified by either of these globally reputable companies, so as to convince unsuspecting buyers that they are paying for a rare gold coin.

Numismatic certification is only necessary for rare gold coins, which are historically proven safe haven assets for long-term wealth protection. The numismatic value that rare coins possess can appreciate dramatically throughout long-term recessions, so prospective buyers are encouraged to research coins like $20 Lady Liberty, and $20 Saint Gaudens, 22-karat gold coins, which are commonly known as Double Eagles. Those who contact one of our friendly specialists can receive institutional discounts on their gold, as opposed to paying the over marked prices that precious metal retailers typically charge.

Joshua Harris

Since Gold Eagle coinage is comprised of both modern, $50 face value American Eagle bullion, and rare, Double Eagle coins, it is important for investors to understand the significance of purchasing MS 69 and MS 70 Gold Eagles. The U.S. Mint places each newly minted American Eagle, one-ounce bullion coin in a plastic container (called a slab), so each coin is typically in Mint State condition. Most of these coins are automatically graded as MS 69 and MS 70 Gold Eagles because they are brand new.

There is no need to purchase MS69 and MS70 Gold Eagle coins and pay an ultra-high premium for these items. The Sheldon scale of 1-70 merely rates the condition of the coin, not its rarity. Modern bullion Gold Eagles should carry prices that hover slightly above the current gold spot price, and rare PCGS certified Double Eagle coins command substantially higher prices. Grades of 69 and 70 in these types of coins are non-existent because most coins were melted down in 1933, and grades 62 to grade 65 offer the most attractive long-term investment return opportunities, as they have quadrupled in price since 2002 and are still 200-400% below their historical highs.

The PCGS Price Guide only lists rare gold Double Eagle coins as high as MS 67, with retail prices as high as $500,000, for an MS 67, $20 Lady Liberty coin. Investors can avoid paying outrageous retail prices for their Gold Eagle coins by contacting one of our friendly specialists, who offer institutional discounts on these, and many other coins to household investors like you.

Joshua Harris

The first Gold Eagle coins were minted in the 19th century, in $1 denominations. Silver shortly became the most popular metals for one-dollar coinage, so the US Mint increased the values of gold coins to $2.5, $5, $10, and even $20 starting in 1849, after the start of the California gold rush.

Today’s Gold Eagle coins are minted with a $50 face value on the one-ounce coins. Fractional coins have corresponding values of $25, $10, and $5, for the ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, and 1/10-ounce coins, respectively. This strikes a nerve with many investors because gold’s inflation adjusted value over the past 40 years should be around $2000. So, why does the US Mint insist on putting $50 per-ounce price tags on coins that are worth exponentially more? Well, let’s look at the back-story.

Pre-1933coins had face values of $1-$20. One-ounce Double Eagle coins bear that $20 marking, and at the time of their minting were worth about $20 each, since gold’s market price was around that very same value. However, the government froze the gold market, and demanded that holders of gold coins return them for a $20cash reimbursement. After this confiscation was enacted, the government raised the price of gold to $35 per ounce, exploiting many safety-seeking gold investors.

Although we can’t be sure, precedent shows that the nominally marked $50 Gold Eagles could become risky holds for investors who prefer a palpable back-up plan in case the economy bottoms out. If you have further questions about Gold Eagle coins, or other means of privately storing your wealth with gold, call us today.

Joshua Harris

In February 2009, the United States Mint released ultra-high relief Gold Eagles to the public. These breathtakingly beautiful gold coins are 24-karat versions of the legendary 1907 ultra-high Saint Gaudens, 22-karat, high relief gold coin that was never minted for mass production. Technological limitations at the time prohibited their mass minting, but modern advances have made it possible to digitally remap the original plaster dyes to recreate a one-ounce gold coin that is arguably the most beautiful ever minted.

The obverse side depicts a full image of Lady Liberty striding foreword, holding a torch in her right hand, and an olive branch in her left. The Capitol Building stands in the lower left background. The reverse side displays an American eagle in mid-flight, soaring from right to left above the up reaching rays of the sun. Unlike the Saint Gaudens originals, the year 2009 is spelled out in Roman numerals, and four stars have also been added to the design, to represent the four states that have joined the Union since 1907. A small border was also added to the modern ultra-high relief Gold Eagles to create a more consistent edge.

The famous inscription “In God We Trust”, which was excluded from the original Saint Gaudens $20 coin, has also been added to the modern version, along with the inscription, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, which appears along the edge of the coin in raised lettering.

Investors can obtain their ultra-high relief Gold Eagles through the United States Mint, or by contacting one of our friendly specialists today.

Joshua Harris

The latest Gold Eagle sell-off was more of a Gold Eagle trade than anything, because the coins that were liquidated back onto the market were scooped up just as quickly. As a matter of fact, a volume sell-off of the American Eagle gold Proof coins by one large institution resulted in the immediate purchasing of these coins by many other individuals, and the fact that these individuals went after the Proof coins so rapidly boosted prices almost $100 per ounce recently.

The Gold Eagle sell-off that is most concerning to most experts in the market is the widespread liquidation of regular Gold Eagle coins dated 1986 or later. What’s terrifying isn’t that individuals are selling their gold, because that usually indicates that things are getting back to normal in our economy, but the fact that so many investors are choosing to liquidate their Gold Eagle coins and other bullion coins and bars.

Some of these investors are sticking with cash out of fear of investing during these unstable times, while others are buying into real estate and certain stocks in hopes that current levels really are the “valleys.” However, other investors aren’t simply selling their Gold Eagles, they are trading them in for other American gold coins which could perform better than the Eagles over the next few years. Coins like the $20 Double Eagles and the $10 Indian Eagles are projected to outpace gold bullion growth over the next five years by a 2.76:1 margin, and most experts agree that these Eagles are likely to remain private property in the event of another gold confiscation and freezing of gold trading by the US government. To learn more about the fluctuating Gold Eagle market or to buy or sell your Gold Eagle holdings, contact Gold-Eagle.org today.