The American Gold Eagle coin was first minted in 1986. Although these coins are printed with face values of $5, $10, $25 and $50, most Gold Eagles carry an amount of much more than this. A very popular option among coin investors, American Gold Eagles can be found in numerous places on the Internet. In fact, a simple search can locate thousands of potential vendors. How can you know the best place to purchase your coins? Depending on the number of Gold Eagle coins that you want to buy, these are the top 5 buying options available online.
American gold eagles are made in 1/10-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/2-ounce, and 1-ounce denominations. They are legal tender in the U.S., but only a fool would try to spend them – the 1 oz coins bare a face value of $50, but they sell for nearly $1,900!
Liquidity is the name of the game here, and that’s why American coins occupy the top four spots on this list. The 1 oz coin is the most immediately recognized and accepted, but with an exchange value of nearly $2,000, it is not as liquid as its smaller counterparts. The 1/10-ounce coin is the most liquid, but a lot of your investment dollars are ate up in coinage costs with such a small-denomination coin. This makes the 1/4-ounce and 1/2-ounce coins the most attractive.
Half-ounce gold eagles sell for $942, while quarter-ounce varieties sell for around $475. With gold currently at $1,720, this means the 1/2- and 1/4-ounce coins have spot values of $860 and $430, respectively. Thus, you’ll be paying an $82 mark-up on the half-ounce coin, and a $45 mark-up on the quarter-ouncer. While on a per-ounce basis, this makes the half-ounce coin the better value, the savings aren’t enough to counter the increased liquidity enjoyed by the quarter-ounce coins. Thus, while a diversified approach – mixing a variety of coin-making countries and denomination sizes – is wisest, the #1 coin you can buy to begin your investment in gold is the 1/4-ounce Gold American Eagle.
Best All-Around Coin Dealer: JMBullion.com
As an online retailer of gold and silver products, JMBullion works directly with distributors and U.S. mints to find a carefully inspected inventory of the highest quality. The company’s relationship with the mints ensures that many of the coins arrive in brand-new, sealed tubes that preserve their integrity and value. JMBullion’s American Gold Eagle collection includes uncirculated, certified and proof coin options. These are available in a variety of years and diverse conditions. Because American Gold Eagles are actively produced each year, JMBullion can offer such a wide range of coins for purchase. Secure payments are accepted via credit/debit card, bank wire, and even paper check, and the company offers free shipping and insurance on all domestic orders. No matter the coin weight or the size of order you want, JMBullion has the greatest variety at fair market values.
Best for 1 oz. Orders: Silver.com
If you are looking for one-ounce American Gold Eagle coins, Silver.com is your best option. Although most coin vendors will offer these highest weights, Silver.com is specially tailored to provide extra perks at this size. Each mint package of one-ounce coins contains either a tube of 20 coins or a monster box of 500 coins, perfect for serious collectors or investors. You can feel comfortable completing a bulk order of these one-ounce coins with Silver.com.
Also, Silver.com offers ultra-fast service, shipping orders the same day or the next business day in 90 percent of cases. Orders valuing $3,000 or more enjoy free secure shipping and full insurance, but the company offers the same coverage for sale with smaller purchases. You can order to your coins through Silver.com at any time of the day, every day of the year thanks to the company’s live market pricing.
Best for Small Orders: ProvidentMetals.com
Offering American Gold Eagle coins in all sizes, Provident Metals is the best choice for small orders. Arriving directly from the mint, Provident Metals places individually ordered coins in plastic sleeves for safe keeping and to provide the highest quality for small orders. All orders valuing at least $99 are shipped free via USPS, and orders of less value only require a flat rate of $5.95 for shipping domestically. By offering such encouragement for small orders, Provident Metals serves many individual coin purchases, and it does not require a signature upon delivery.
Best for Medium Orders: BGASC.com
Offering American Gold Eagles in all denominations, Buy Gold and Silver Coins, also known as BGASC, is the best option for medium orders. The company has American Gold Eagle coins from a wide variety of years to help fill any collection or to satisfy investors. With no order minimums, you are free to select and request the number of coins that you want without worrying about additional requirements or incentives. BGASC provides free shipping and insurance on orders of at least $250, making this company ideal for medium-sized orders.
Best for Large Orders: APMEX.com
As one of the leading dealers of precious metals in the United States, APMEX offers more than 8,000 different products in its vast line of gold, silver, platinum and palladium collections. This broad selection, along with the up-front pricing and market price updates in real time, make APMEX an ideal company for large orders.
Also, APMEX provides shipping within one business day of cleared payments, as well as a rewards program for frequent customers or those with large orders. This means that you can receive live updates to your email or phone that inform you about the current market price or sudden availability of your desired American Gold Eagle coins.
Final Conclusions
In the end, you need to select the coin seller that best provides what you need to for your investment. All five of these companies, among many others, offer sales of the American Gold Eagle coins. With market prices fairly equal across all businesses, you need to find the one that provides the right perks for you and your order. Whether you are purchasing just one coin or in bulk, the right coin vendor is out there for you.
