Collecting American Gold Coins

American minted gold coins produced from 1795 to 1933 are among some of the most sought after collectible and investment gold coins in the world today. While millions of these coins were produced for circulation and for trading overseas, relatively few have survived the many melts over the country's 200+ year minting history. Coins, especially gold coins, offer a sense of permanence and history that paper money lacks. This is especially true of the gold coin.

Gold coins have a high collection value, and an even higher market value. They can be worth hundreds, thousands and even millions of dollars. American monetary history is full of rare coins in high demand by collectors. Some of the more famous coins include the gold buffalo coins, or the renowned St Gaudens Double Eagle. But, believe it or not, the $20 St. Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin is not the rarest of American gold coins.

American gold coins produced prior to 1933 have a history, a uniqueness to them that gold coins produced today can't match. Todays American Eagle bullion coins, while beautiful in their own right, are massed produced by the millions. The early gold coins have a patina of age and history...of collectibility...that other, newer coins don't have. When you look at a $10 Liberty Eagle from the 1880s what do you think of? Do you think of settlers moving west, covered wagons, hot, dusty trails, outlaws and con artists, new homesteads and growing communities?

Today we have nickels, dimes and quarter. Kind of boring. But gold coins have unique names like Double Eagle, or Classic Head Half Eagle. How about an Indian Head Quarter Eagle or maybe a Liberty Eagle?

Besides adding value to our collections gold coins add a sense of history and understanding of our past. When you hold an old gold coin in your hand it's like taking a step back in history. Where was it minted and Who was the first person to hold it are usually among the first questions that come to my mind?

Even though it soulds like old gold coins might be too expensive and out of reach of some collectors there are some excellent choices available at reasonable amounts. Many pre-1933 gold coins are available for little more than their melt value.

Enjoy a little gold in your collection!