The best-known U.S. gold bullion coin
The American Gold Eagle is struck by the United States Mint and carries legal tender status. Each one-ounce coin contains one troy ounce of pure gold, alloyed with silver and copper for durability.
Its unusual IRA status matters: it is the named exception to the usual .995 gold purity rule, which is why many self-directed IRA buyers ask about it first.
- One ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce sizes
- 22-karat alloy with full stated gold weight
- High recognition across U.S. dealers
- Often higher premium than generic bars
The standard U.S. silver bullion coin
The American Silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of .999 fine silver. It is widely recognized, easy to explain, and often preferred when the buyer wants silver in highly liquid one-ounce units.
The tradeoff is premium. Silver Eagles can cost meaningfully more over spot than bars or privately minted rounds.
- One troy ounce of .999 fine silver
- Legal tender status
- Highly liquid retail silver product
- Premium should be compared against bars and rounds
Pay for recognition only when it helps
Eagles make sense when resale recognition, IRA handling, or small-lot flexibility matters. If the only goal is lowest cost per ounce, approved bars may be the cleaner product.
The right answer is visible in the written quote: metal value, premium, shipping, insurance, storage, and buyback terms.
- Useful for first purchases and IRA conversations
- Strong fit when liquidity matters
- Less efficient than bars for maximum ounces
- Written total cost decides the comparison
The Written Bond
Every cost, term, and buyback condition is set down in ink, signed, and handed to you before commitment. No verbal estimates. No moving numbers.
Read the Bond