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The American Gold Eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States. It was first minted in 1986 and is offered in 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations and is guaranteed to contain the stated amount (in troy ounces) of pure gold.
The obverse design features a rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' full length figure of Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the Capitol building in the left background. The reverse design, by sculptor Miley Busiek, features a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.
The market value of the coins is generally about equal to the market value of their gold content, not their face value. Their actual selling prices vary daily based on the current spot price of gold. The United States Mint also produces a proof version for coin collectors. These coins are for the most part produced at the West Point mint in West Point, New York, and carry the West Point mint mark ("W") beneath the date.