GOLD COIN FIELD GUIDE
American Gold Eagle · ½ oz
The $25 half-ounce Gold Eagle holds 0.5 fine troy ounce. Date rarity depends on whether it is bullion, proof, or burnished—not the shared portrait alone.
The metal baseline
- Profile covers
- 1986–Date
- Composition
- 91.67% gold · 22 karat
- Standard gross weight
- 16.966 g
- Fine gold per coin
- 0.5 troy oz
- Face value
- $25.00
Confirm $25 before calculating a half ounce
Gold Eagles share a family design across four sizes. Confirm the $25 denomination and half-ounce size rather than using the portrait as a weight label.
For 1991, separate the bullion coin without a mintmark from the P-mint proof. The year alone does not identify the relevant sales group.
Where to look. Read 25 DOLLARS and ½ OZ. FINE GOLD on your coin. The displayed obverse is a series reference; confirm your denomination and finish.
Dates and details worth a second look
This is a selected watch list, not every key date or variety in the series. Finding a matching date is a reason to inspect further—not proof of authenticity, grade, or a particular value.
What do these collector labels mean?
Key date. An important scarce issue in this series; grade and authenticity still matter.
Issue distinction. A difference in issue, finish, or format that must be identified before comparison.
- Key date
1991 $25 bullion
A recognized half-ounce bullion key with no mintmark. Do not confuse it with the 1991-P proof.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Issue distinction
2008-W burnished
A lower-mintage burnished uncirculated product; ordinary proofs are a different issue.
Check the attribution reference ↗
Two questions, not one price
What is the contained metal worth? This profile uses 0.5 fine troy ounces of gold per coin. Multiply that by the number of matching coins and a current per-troy-ounce gold quote. The calculator shows the quote and its freshness when available.
What might a collector pay for this coin? That takes the exact issue, condition, surfaces, finish, and any authenticated variety. The checkpoints above explain why a collector sale may differ from the metal estimate. A calculated melt value is neither a guaranteed buying offer nor a complete appraisal.
The listed weights are standard reference specifications, with rounded published fine-metal values. They do not measure wear, damage, missing metal, or authenticity in your individual coin. Gross grams include the alloy; fine troy ounces describe the precious metal itself.
Use this profile in the calculator →Build a useful comparison
- Record the full date, mintmark, denomination, and finish. Photograph both sides and any diagnostic detail.
- Use the specific references above to check a suspected variety. Do not clean the coin to make a feature easier to see.
- Compare completed sales for the same issue and similar condition. Separate proof, special-strike, and attributed examples from ordinary coins.
- Record shipping and other costs separately. An asking price or one exceptional auction result is not a typical sold price.
References and further checking
Use these references to inspect the issue and attribution in more detail. Prices, populations, and market premiums can change.
- U.S. Mint Eagle sizes and content ↗
- 1991 $25 bullion — reference ↗
- 2008-W burnished — reference ↗
- NGC gold melt-value reference ↗
Educational reference only; not individualized appraisal or investment advice. For a potentially valuable or questionable example, use a qualified numismatist or established authentication service.