American Eagle Coins: The U.S. Mint's Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Program

November 13, 2026

Quick answer: American Eagles are the U.S. Mint’s official precious metal coins. The silver and gold Eagles launched in 1986, the platinum Eagle in 1997 and the palladium Eagle in 2017. Each comes in bullion form plus collector versions such as proof and uncirculated (often called burnished), and their weight, content and purity are guaranteed by the U.S. government.

What are American Eagle coins?

The American Eagle program is the U.S. Mint’s line of gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins. Congress authorized each metal by law, and the coins are legal tender with a face value. That face value is symbolic. The coins are valued for their metal content and, for collector versions, for their condition and rarity.

The Mint does not sell bullion Eagles directly to the public. It sells them to a network of “authorized purchasers,” who distribute them to dealers. Proof and uncirculated Eagles are made for collectors and sold by the Mint directly.

When did each American Eagle start?

Coin	First issued	Fineness	Bullion sizes today	Face value (1 oz)	Obverse design
Silver Eagle	1986	.999 silver	1 oz	$1	Walking Liberty, Adolph A. Weinman
Gold Eagle	1986	22 karat (91.67% gold)	1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 oz	$50	Liberty, Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Platinum Eagle	1997	.9995 platinum	1 oz	$100	Statue of Liberty, John Mercanti
Palladium Eagle	2017	.9995 palladium	1 oz	$25	Winged Liberty, adapted from Adolph A. Weinman

What is the Silver Eagle?

The Silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of .999 fine silver. It weighs 31.103 grams and measures 40.6 mm across. The obverse uses Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty design from the 1916 half dollar, showing Liberty walking in profile, draped in the American flag.

From 1986 to 2021, the reverse showed John Mercanti’s heraldic eagle with a shield, an olive branch and arrows. For more on the series, see our American Silver Eagle guide.

What is the Gold Eagle?

The Gold Eagle is made of 22-karat gold: 91.67% gold, 3% silver and the rest copper. It comes in four sizes. By law the one-ounce coin weighs 33.931 grams and contains one troy ounce of gold. The half ounce, quarter ounce and tenth ounce follow the same alloy.

The obverse is a version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ full-length Liberty, first used on the 1907 $20 gold piece. From 1986 to 2021, the reverse was Miley Busiek’s design of an eagle carrying an olive branch over a nest with a second eagle and hatchlings.

What changed in 2021? (Type 1 vs Type 2)

For the program’s 35th anniversary in 2021, the Mint gave the silver and gold Eagles new reverses and refreshed obverses. It also added anti-counterfeiting features, including a reeded edge variation on the one-ounce coins. Collectors call the earlier coins Type 1 and the redesigned coins Type 2.

Silver Type 2: Emily Damstra designed an eagle coming in to land with an oak branch, as if to add it to a nest. Michael Gaudioso sculpted it.
Gold Type 2: Jennie Norris designed a close portrait of an eagle’s head. Renata Gordon sculpted it.

Because the change came partway through the year, 2021 has both types. Many collectors pair them.

What are the Platinum and Palladium Eagles?

Platinum. Authorized in 1996 and first issued in 1997, the Platinum Eagle is .9995 fine. In 1997 it came in one, half, quarter and tenth ounce sizes. Bullion is now offered only in one ounce. John Mercanti designed the Statue of Liberty obverse, and Thomas D. Rogers Sr. designed the soaring eagle reverse on the bullion coin. Proof Platinum Eagles have carried changing reverse designs over the years. The one-ounce coin’s $100 face value is the highest denomination of any U.S. legal tender coin.

Palladium. Authorized in 2010, the one-ounce Palladium Eagle went on sale as bullion in 2017, with a proof following in 2018. It is .9995 fine. Both sides adapt Adolph A. Weinman’s work: the “Winged Liberty” from the dime often called the Mercury dime, and the eagle from his 1907 American Institute of Architects gold medal.

Bullion vs proof vs burnished: what is the difference?

Bullion. Made in large numbers for people who want the metal. Bullion Eagles carry no mint mark and are struck on blanks that are not burnished. Graded on the MS (Mint State) scale.
Uncirculated (burnished). First offered in 2006. Struck on specially burnished blanks and carries a “W” mint mark for West Point. The finish looks like bullion, but the coins are made for collectors. Also graded MS.
Proof. Made for collectors with specially prepared dies and blanks, giving sharp detail and mirror-like backgrounds. Graded on the PF (Proof) scale, and many proofs carry a mint mark such as W or S.

The Mint has also issued special finishes, such as reverse proofs and enhanced uncirculated coins, in certain years. Each finish is its own collectible, and NGC and PCGS label them separately. Our coin label guide explains how to read those labels, and NGC vs PCGS compares the two graders.

Affinity Collectibles, an NGC Authorized Dealer in Ronkonkoma, NY, focuses on certified U.S. coins, including Eagles on hand-signed labels. You can see examples in our coin showcase.

Frequently asked questions

When did the American Eagle program start?

In 1986, with the silver and gold coins. Platinum followed in 1997 and palladium in 2017.

Is the Gold Eagle pure gold?

No. It is 22 karat, or 91.67% gold. Each coin still contains its full stated weight of gold: the one-ounce coin holds one troy ounce.

How can I tell a Type 1 from a Type 2 Eagle?

Look at the reverse. Type 1 silver shows a heraldic eagle with a shield; Type 2 shows an eagle landing with a branch. Type 1 gold shows an eagle family at a nest; Type 2 shows a close-up eagle head.

Does a burnished Eagle have a mint mark?

Yes. Uncirculated (burnished) Eagles carry a “W” for West Point. Bullion Eagles have no mint mark.