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What an American Gold Eagle is made of
A one-ounce American Gold Eagle contains one troy ounce of gold inside a 22-karat coin. The extra weight is copper and silver. It is not “less than an ounce of gold.”
A one-ounce American Gold Eagle contains one troy ounce of fine gold.
The coin itself weighs more than an ounce because it is 22 karat. Gold is mixed with copper and a little silver so the coin does not ding as easily as a pure 24k piece.
The spec, without the myth
- Fine gold: 1.000 troy ounce
- Coin weight: about 1.0909 troy ounces (33.93 grams)
- Fineness: .9167
If someone says “it’s only 22k so you are getting cheated,” they do not understand the spec. The Mint adds alloy and adds weight so the fine gold still equals a full ounce. A one-ounce Maple is .9999 fine and weighs about one ounce. Same gold, different jacket. Fineness. Maple Leaf. Krugerrand uses the same 22k / one-ounce idea.
The other sizes
Half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce Eagles exist. Premiums per ounce are higher because you are buying more manufacturing and more convenience. Shops still like them because they are official and easy to resell.
Date does not expire the gold
A 2018 Eagle and a 2026 Eagle are both ounces. Collectors sometimes pay a little extra for a fresh year in January. By summer most people stop. 2026 Eagles. Authorized purchasers.
At the counter
We look at weight, diameter, and whether it rings like an Eagle. Then we bid it as a recognized gold coin, not as jewelry. Tests. Government vs generic.
Continue in the coin and money library. Related visitor guides: for shop visitors.