U.S. Gold Coins... See What They're Worth Today
As is the case with most other coinage, there are several types and denominations of gold coins. Too many to list in one or two articles so I've decided to pick a few to go into more detail on.
The four I've chosen are the more common of the gold coins and are all types of Eagles.
If you're not a coin collector or you're just starting to collect coins, then you may be wondering, "What are Eagles?"
Eagles are gold coins that have been given that name due to the different types of eagles on the coin's reverse side.
There are four different denominations of Eagles and a few different types and portraits for each denomination:
- The Quarter Eagle, which is a $2.50 gold coin
- The Half Eagle, which is a $5.00 coin
- The Plain Eagle, which is a $10.00 coin
- The Double Eagle, which is a $20.00 gold coin
Here are the 4 more common or more renown types of gold Eagle coins...
The Indian Head Quarter Eagle.
Designed by sculptor Bela Pratt, this gold coin has an Indian on the front and on the reverse it has a picture of a standing Eagle. (This same design is also on the Half Eagle coin below.) The design on this and the Half Eagle are unique in U.S. coin history because instead of the design being embossed from the coin, it is actually sunk into the coin.
These gold coins book from $175.00 in very fine condition to $350.00 in MS-60 condition. However, a lot of times you can't go by the book prices with gold coins, due to the gold market fluctuating so much from day to day. One day gold may be down and the coin would be worth more just for the type of coin it is, and the next day gold could be way up in the market and it would be worth more for its weight in gold than the scarceness of the coin.
See a picture of the Indian Head Quarter Eagle coin here.
The Indian Head Half Eagle.
This coin is by the same designer and depicts the same design on the front and reverse as the Indian Head Quarter Eagle, only it is a $5.00 coin instead of a $2.50 coin. Both denominations were minted from 1908 until 1929.
Most Half Eagles of this style will be worth anywhere from $295.00 in very fine condition to $450.00 in MS-60 condition with these exceptions:
1929 - $8,000.00-$14,500.00
1915 S - $315.00-$2,250
1914 S - $325.00-$1,500.00
1913 S - $320.00-$1,600.00
1912 S - $315.00-$1,800.00
1911 S - $300.00-$775.00
1911 D - $425.00-$5,000.00
1910 S - $300.00-$1,350.00
1909 S - $300.00-$1,550.00
1909 O - $3,000.00-$22,500.00
1908 S - $375.00-$1,500.00
The Plain Eagle.
With a denomination of $10.00, this gold coin also has an Indian head obverse but it is a much different portrait than was on the Quarter and Half Eagles. The Plain Eagle coin shows the head of Liberty crowned with an Indian war bonnet also with a standing Eagle on the reverse.
This coin was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. If you've been around many coin collectors, you may have heard that name before. Saint-Gaudens is considered by many to be the greatest of modern sculptors, and it shows on his coin designs. Especially his Double Eagle design (mentioned below).
This coin was minted from 1908 until 1933. Most Indian head type 10 dollar Eagle coins are worth between $450.00 in very fine condition to $700.00 in MS-60 condition with these exceptions:
1930 S - $8,000.00-$15,000.00
1920 S - $9,500.00-$32,500.00
1913 S - $525.00-$4,500.00
1912 S - $450.00-$1,100.00
1911 S - $450.00-$1,350.00
1911 D - $550.00-$4,500.00
1908 S - $550.00-$2,850.00
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle.
The designer of this gold coin was also Augustus Saint-Gaudens which, as I mentioned before, was known to be one of the greatest modern sculptors. And I have to say, his work on the Double Eagle coin certainly didn't hurt his career any. This twenty dollar gold coin is considered by many to be the most beautiful U.S. coin ever made. In fact, it's one of the most sought after coins in the hobby.
The coin's obverse depicts Liberty walking with her skirt flowing around her, and she's holding a torch out in front of her. The reverse has a picture of a flying Eagle with the sun coming up from the bottom of the coin and its rays shooting up behind the Eagle.
This gold coin holds the record for the most money ever paid for a single coin at a coin auction. Get ready to say... "WOW!" In July of 2002 at an auction held by Sotheby and Stack, a 1933 Gem BU (brilliant uncirculated) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle sold for $7,590,020.00. Yes, you read that correctly... that's over 7 MILLION dollars for one coin... more money than I'd ever see in 5 lifetimes. It sold for so much because all of the 1933 Double Eagles were supposed to be melted down by the mint. Only 13 are known to have survived, and that one is the only one that has ever been on the market.
This coin was minted from 1907 until 1933. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles are generally worth between $700.00 in very fine condition to $850.00 in MS-60 condition with these exceptions:
1933 of course...
1932 - $19,000.00-$30,000.00
1931 D - $19,500.00-$32,500.00
1931 - $18,500.00-$32,500.00
1930 S - $27,500.00-$43,500.00
1929 - $11,500.00-$17,500.00
1927 S - $10,000.00-$23,500.00
1927 D - $500,000.00-$750,000.00
1926 S - $1,250.00-$2,600.00
1926 D - $4,250.00-$15,000.00
1925 S - $1,500.00-$5,000.00
1925 D - $1,700.00-$4,250.00
1924 S - $1,250.00-$3,250.00
1924 D - $1,250.00-$3,250.00
1921 - $19,000.00-$105,000.00
1920 S - $12,000.00-$42,500.00
1913 S - $750.00-$1,500.00
1909 D - $700.00-$1,850.00
1908 S - $1,425.00-$8,250.00
1907 - $9,500.00-$16,500.00
Just in case you were wondering... second place for the highest amount paid at a coin auction isn't even close to what was paid for the 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold coin. In fact, there's about a 3 million dollar difference.
There were many many types of gold coins produced, but it would be nearly impossible to list them all in detail. Other gold coin examples include Liberty Head one dollar coins, Indian Princess Head one dollar coins, capped bust quarter Eagles, Liberty head quarter Eagles, Indian princess head three dollar coins, Stella four dollar coins, capped bust half Eagles, Liberty head half Eagles, capped bust Eagles, Liberty head Eagles, and Liberty head double Eagles.
Hello, Anne:
Hmm...actually, there were no proof double eagles ($20) coins made in 1927.
I did find an advertisement for a "gold-layered" 1927-dated Saint-Gaudens double eagle "copy" being sold for $238 somewhere. Of course, being a copy, it is not a legal-tender coin. Any value for such a piece would come from its bullion (metal) value. Note the term "gold-layered"--so it is not really a "gold" coin through and through.
I am not sure how much layering is on that exact piece, but beware that it may not be enough gold to amount $238 worth.
When buying such a piece, realize that what you are paying for is a replica coin. As far as numismatics go, it really has no collector value. Its value, again, would be only in the metal, and that value is based only on how much precious metal it has.
I hope this helps.
I was looking at a 1927 (s) proof. Also are proof copy coins worth anything?
Hi, Anne:
In this case, the value is largely dependent on the year of your coin; if you gave me the year, I could give you some bit of an idea as to what the value may be.
Thanks!
Could you tell me what a double eagle (s) proof coin is worth?
I own a $5.00 Indian Head gold coin dated 1933. All the information I can find indicates they stopped minting my coin in l929. Can you possibly explain what I have?