Obverse. Roman numerals. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Dollars 1986-2021, KM# 216, United States of America (USA), American Eagles, Gold Eagles, Roman numerals
  • 5 Dollars 1986-2021, KM# 216, United States of America (USA), American Eagles, Gold Eagles
  • 5 Dollars 1986-2021, KM# 216, United States of America (USA), American Eagles, Gold Eagles, Arabic numerals
  • 5 Dollars 1986-2021, KM# 216, United States of America (USA), American Eagles, Gold Eagles, Unfinished Proof die
Description

The American gold eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States. Authorized under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, it was first released by the United States Mint in 1986.

Known as "American Eagles" because of the family of eagles on the reverse, U.S. gold bullion coins are available in Uncirculated and Proof versions, as well as in a number of different sets.

American Gold Eagle Coins are offered in four different sizes and face values: 1 ounce $50, 1/2 ounce $25, 1/4 ounce $10, 1/10 ounce $5. All four denominations have been offered as bullion versions since the series was launched in 1986. Proof coins were initially only available in the 1 ounce size. In the second year of issue the 1/2 ounce size was added. In the third year, the remaining 1/4 and 1/10 ounce sizes were offered as proofs.

Coins are struck with a durable composition of 22 karat gold (an English standard traditionally referred to as "crown gold"). The composition is comprised of 91.67% gold, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper. Coins are produced so that each size contains its stated weight in pure gold.

Obverse

The obverse design features a rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' (ASG) full length figure of Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the Capitol building in the left background. The design is taken from the $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin which was commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt to create coins like the ancient Greek and Roman coins.

From 1986-1991, the date was shown in Roman numerals; from 1992 on, Arabic numerals are used.

LIBERTY
MCMLXXXVI
ASG

Reverse

Depicts a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.

Underneath the nesting family of eagles are the initials of sculptor Miley Busiek (MB, now Miley Frost) on the left and the initials of Sherl Joseph Winter (JW), the original engraver of the coin, on the right.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN GOD
WE TRUST
E PLURIBUS
UNUM
MB JW
1/10 OZ. FINE GOLD~5 DOLLARS

Edge

5 Dollars

Gold Bullion Coinage
KM# 216 Fr# B4
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.917
Weight 3.393 g
Diameter 16.5 mm
Thickness 1.26 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mints
Philadelphia Mint (P)
West Point Mint (W)

Related coins

Silver Bullion Coinage, Silver Eagles

American Eagles

Silver, 31.103 g, ⌀ 40.6 mm
Silver Bullion Coinage, Silver Eagles, New Design

American Eagles

Silver, 31.103 g, ⌀ 40.6 mm
New Design, Gold Bullion Coinage, Gold Eagles

American Eagles

Gold, 3.393 g, ⌀ 16.5 mm