1/10-oz Gold American Eagle (Random Year)

The Gold American Eagle has been the official gold bullion coin of the United States since 1986, and the tenth-ounce size is the smallest piece the program strikes. Each holds one tenth of a troy ounce of pure gold in a 22 karat alloy. The copper and silver in that alloy make these hard enough to take handling that would mark a softer coin. Each is legal tender with a five dollar face value, so the weight and the purity are backed by the United States government. They ship brilliant uncirculated, with dates drawn from current inventory.

The obverse carries Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Liberty, striding out of a burst of sunrays with a torch raised in one hand and an olive branch in the other. Even at this small size the relief stays deep, and the folds of her gown and the Capitol dome behind her read clearly under a light. The reverse changed partway through the run. Earlier pieces show a male eagle in flight above a nest holding his mate and young. Later pieces carry a close portrait of an eagle's head, cut with fine feather detail. The edge is reeded on both.

Gold in this size lets a holding grow one coin at a time. You can add a tenth of an ounce whenever it suits you, rather than waiting until a full ounce is within reach. Ten of these hold the same gold as a one ounce coin, spread across ten separate pieces that are simple to pass on or divide among family. They store in a tube and take up almost no room in a safe. Wealth held this way sits in your own hands, outside the banking system and off anyone else's books.

For up-to-the-minute pricing or to ask about quantity discounts, call us at 800-928-6468.