U.S. Gold Coin Information
How to collect, buy, and sell U.S. Gold Coins
U.S. gold coin history: 1795 half eagle, 1834 Classic Head half eagle, 1854 $3 gold piece and 1907 high relief double eagle. Photos: Smithsonian National Museum of American History, National Numismatic Collection (public domain).
This page brings together the basic U.S. gold coin information every collector and seller needs: a short history of American gold coinage from 1795 to 1933, the main gold coin types and the years they were made, where to find the mint mark, and the private and territorial gold struck outside the U.S. Mint. The United States struck gold coins for circulation from 1795 until 1933, in denominations from the tiny one dollar gold piece to the twenty dollar double eagle, and since 1986 the U.S. Mint has made gold bullion and commemorative coins.
Want to know what your coins are worth? Our US Gold Coins Value guide explains melt value, rarity and grade, and when you are ready to sell, see Sell U.S. Gold Coins. American Rarities has bought and appraised rare U.S. coins since 1990. For a free, no-obligation appraisal, use the form on this page or text 720-600-4740.
Interested in selling your U.S. gold coins go to our free Appraisal and Purchasing page.
A Short History of U.S. Gold Coins
The U.S. Mint struck its first gold coins in 1795, three years after the Coinage Act of 1792 created a decimal system of eagles, half eagles and quarter eagles. Early gold coins were often worth more as metal than their face value, so many were exported or melted, which is one reason early U.S. gold is so scarce today. In 1834 Congress reduced the weight of gold coins so they would circulate, and the gold discoveries in Georgia, North Carolina and then California brought new branch mints and new denominations. For the next century, gold coins were everyday money for large payments, until the gold recall of 1933 ended gold circulation in the United States.
| Year | Milestone in U.S. gold coinage |
|---|---|
| 1792 | The Coinage Act of 1792 creates the U.S. Mint and authorizes the gold eagle ($10), half eagle ($5) and quarter eagle ($2.50). |
| 1795 | The first U.S. gold coins, half eagles and then eagles, are struck at the Philadelphia Mint. |
| 1796 | The first quarter eagles are struck. |
| 1834 | Congress lowers the gold content of U.S. coins, and the new Classic Head design marks the change. |
| 1837 | The standard for U.S. gold coins is set at 90% gold (.900 fine), where it stays until 1933. |
| 1838 | Branch mints at Charlotte (C), Dahlonega (D) and New Orleans (O) begin striking gold. |
| 1849-1850 | After the California Gold Rush, Congress authorizes the gold dollar (first struck in 1849) and the $20 double eagle (regular issues from 1850). |
| 1854 | The $3 gold piece is introduced, and the San Francisco Mint (S) opens. |
| 1866 | The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is added to the $5, $10 and $20 gold coins. |
| 1870 | The Carson City Mint (CC) in Nevada begins striking gold. |
| 1889 | The gold dollar and the $3 gold piece are discontinued. |
| 1906 | The Denver Mint (D) begins striking coins. |
| 1907-1908 | New designs by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the $20 and $10, then Bela Lyon Pratt’s Indian Head $2.50 and $5. |
| 1933 | The last U.S. gold coins for circulation are dated 1933. Executive Order 6102 requires most gold coins to be turned in, and the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 ends gold coinage. |
| 1986 | The American Gold Eagle bullion coin is introduced, and gold returns to U.S. coinage. |
Many of the most important U.S. gold coins, including examples of every major type, are preserved in the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection. For mintage figures and population data by date, PCGS CoinFacts and the NGC Coin Explorer are good free references.
How to collect Gold Coins
Gold coin collectors are always on the lookout for new material for their collections. Coin types of most common interest are Indian gold coins and Liberty Head gold coins of all denominations, gold eagles and gold double eagles, Classic Head gold coins, Saint Gaudens gold double eagles, and more. So instead of trying to collect them all, or all of one particular gold coin type, you may opt to collect one of each type otherwise known as a type set collection.
Buying and Selling Gold Coins
Adding to your gold coin collection can be a bit of a hunt. Of course the logical direction to take would be to purchase gold coins from reputable U.S. gold coin dealers. However, those of us looking for a better price may want to check out other selling channels like CraigsList, eBay, and other on-line sources.
Selling your gold coins can be best achieved by consulting with a reputable U.S. gold coin dealer. Only a dealer will have the wherewithal ie. capital as well as the interest in purchasing all your gold coins. While selling your coins piecemeal sounds like a good idea for attaining the best prices, it rarely is. See Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Rare Coins for a complete explanation.
U.S. Gold Coin Mint Marks
On most U.S. gold coins struck before 1908, the mint mark is a small letter on the reverse, below the eagle on Liberty Head coins and below the wreath on gold dollars and $3 pieces. On Saint-Gaudens double eagles it is on the obverse, above the date, and on Indian Head quarter eagles, half eagles and eagles it is on the reverse, near the arrowheads. Coins struck at Philadelphia carry no mint mark. The letter D can mean Dahlonega (on coins dated 1838 to 1861) or Denver (1906 and later). Carson City gold, marked CC, was struck from 1870 to 1893.
Of general interest to gold coin collectors are proof American gold coins, NGC and PCGS certified U.S. gold coins, and branch mint coinage from the Carson City, New Orleans, Dahlonega and the Charlotte mint.
Gold Coins by Type and Date Range
| $1.00 Gold Dollars, Type I, Type II, and Type III | 1849-1889 |
| $2.50 Capped Bust Gold Coins | 1796-1834 |
| $2.50 Classic Head Quarter Eagles | 1834-1839 |
| $2.50 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles | 1840-1907 |
| $2.50 Indian Head Quarter Eagles | 1908-1929 |
| $3.00 Three Dollar Indian Princess | 1854-1889 |
| $4.00 Four Dollar Stella | 1879-1880 |
| $5.00 Capped Bust and Capped Head Half Eagles | 1795-1834 |
| $5.00 Classic Head Half Eagles | 1834-1838 |
| $5.00 Liberty Head Half Eagles (Motto and No-Motto) | 1839-1908 |
| $5.00 Indian Head Half Eagles | 1908-1929 |
| $10.00 Capped Bust Gold Eagles | 1795-1804 |
| $10.00 Liberty Head Gold Eagles (Motto and No-Motto) | 1838-1907 |
| $10.00 Indian Head Gold Eagles (Motto and No-Motto) | 1907-1933 |
| $20.00 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagles Type I, Type II, and Type III | 1849-1907 |
| $20.00 St. Gaudens Gold Double Eagles (Motto and No-Motto) | 1907-1933 |
Esoteric U.S. Gold Coins
Some few gold coin collectors who are privileged to have a thicker wallet than the rest of us step out of the box by purchasing some of the more esoteric numismatic gold coins such as California fractional gold coins (sometimes known as California small denomination gold), private and territorial gold coins, Bechtler gold coins and U.S. Pattern or Judd Pattern gold coins.
We have a special interest in the history of numismatic gold coinage, and are always looking for collections of private mint or territorial gold coins and medals. We purchase gold coins from Moffat & Co, the United States Assay Office, Moffat-Humbert, Baldwin & Co, Kellogg & Co, and Clark, Gruber & Co, to name a few.
Quick Answers: U.S. Gold Coin Information
What was the first U.S. gold coin?
The first U.S. gold coins were half eagles ($5), struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1795, followed by eagles ($10) later that year and quarter eagles ($2.50) in 1796. All three denominations were authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792.
Why did the United States stop making gold coins in 1933?
During the Great Depression, Executive Order 6102 of April 1933 required most gold coins to be turned in to the Federal Reserve, and the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 ended gold coinage. Gold coins dated 1933 were the last made for circulation. Gold returned to U.S. coins with the American Gold Eagle bullion coin in 1986.
Where is the mint mark on U.S. gold coins?
On Liberty Head gold it is on the reverse below the eagle, on gold dollars and $3 pieces it is below the wreath, on Saint-Gaudens $20s it is above the date, and on Indian Head $2.50, $5 and $10 coins it is on the reverse near the arrowheads. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.
More Free Tools and Guides
- US Gold Coins Value: what affects the value of your gold coins
- Sell U.S. Gold Coins: how we buy gold coins and gold collections
- U.S. Pattern Coins: Judd patterns, including gold patterns such as the $4 Stella
- Coin Authentication: how we check whether gold coins are genuine
- Coin Grading and Varieties: find out your coin’s grade and variety
- Free Online Coin Appraisal: send photos for an expert opinion
- Sell PCGS, NGC and ANACS Coins: for certified gold coins
- Estate Appraisals: IRS-compliant written appraisals for inherited coins
Free Appraisal for Your U.S. Gold Coins
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Email: staff@americanrarities.com | Text: 720-600-4740
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