Whether it’s the 4th of July or just a random day of the year, some folks love showing off their American pride. There are many ways to do this, but bullion investors and collectors have an extra opportunity over everyone else. That’s thanks to the many American gold coins available.
Of course, all gold coins minted in the U.S. carry a bit of patriotic flair. After all, they’re American coins. There are several examples, though, that go above and beyond patriotism. And while their subject matter is certainly valuable, their precious metal content adds even more worth.
At Silver Gold Bull, we offer one of the widest selections of American gold coins on the market. From coins chronicling our history to bullion pieces focused on beauty, we’ve got them all. And if you’re in the market for patriotic gold coins, the following are your best options.
$20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
In 1904, President Teddy Roosevelt thought America had a problem regarding beautiful coinage. In his opinion, we simply didn’t have any. In order to remedy this perceived lack of sophistication, he brought in sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to design a new American gold coin.
Even before we discuss the coin, this is about as American as you can get. Politics aside, Teddy Roosevelt represented the fierce and hardened frontiersman that helped build America. He led the Rough Riders in battle and even gave a campaign speech right after getting shot.
The president also loved the beauty of America, so his focus on beautifying our coinage makes sense. The result of this endeavor led to the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. It’s a beautiful gold coin featuring Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle in flight on the other.
A few of these coins stand out as particularly rare:
- 1907 High Relief
- 1920-S (Between 100-150 known specimens)
- 1921 (About 150 known specimens)
- 1925-S
- 1927-S
- 1932 (About 100 known specimens)
- 1933 (15 to 20 known specimens)
These coins carry a much higher premium than common Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles. In fact, the value of the 1933 coin sits at around $20 million. That’s thanks to the gold confiscation that began in 1933. Only a few of these coins made it out of the U.S. Mint via theft that year.
With patriotic American gold coins, it doesn’t get much better than the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. It played a part in everything from Roosevelt’s presidency to the Great Depression. Because of its place in history, it deserves the top spot on this list.
$5 Commemorative American Gold Coins
Not every patriotic gold coin has to hold a significant place in history. In fact, commemorative coins often can tell a bigger story. Such coins typically come long after their subject matter has passed, and this means it’s possible to tell the complete story of how the U.S. changed.
Enter the $5 American Commemorative Gold Coin Series. These magnificent coins contain nearly one-quarter ounce of .900 gold, but it’s the history they represent that make them one of the best American gold coins.
These coins honor and celebrate American citizens, institutions, events and places. They hold legal tender value, but the mint did not intend them for circulation. While you can purchase these coins at an affordable premium, some years are especially rare:
- 1995-W XXVI Stadium MS
- 1997-W Jackie Robinson Proof
- 2001-W Capitol Visitor Center MS
- 2013-P 5-Star General MS
- 2014-W National Baseball Hall of Fame Proof
- 2014-W National Baseball Hall of Fame MS
Each of these American gold coins tells an important story in our country’s growth. And while these might be on the more expensive side, you can own most of the coins more affordably. The best part? There’s undoubtedly subject matter on at least one example that will appeal to you.
Are you a Civil War buff? There are coins from 1995 you’ll love. Is there a sports fan in your life? They’ll appreciate the Basketball Hall of Fame piece from 2020. Do you want to remember the fight for justice? The 2014 series offers a coin commemorating the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Non-American American Gold Coin: Victory in the Pacific
America doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Many other countries look up to us, and countless people from around the world hope to live here one day. We also have partnerships with other nations, and that’s what led to the 1/10 oz Victory in the Pacific gold coin.
This is the one coin on this list that the U.S. Mint did not create. It’s produced in Australia at the Perth Mint, but its subject matter is undeniably American. While the obverse features Queen Elizabeth, the American flag and bald eagle emblazon the reverse.
Alongside Old Glory on this non-American American gold coin is the Australian flag. It commemorates the partnership of Australia and the U.S. during World War II. This partnership directly led to Japan’s surrender — along with the first celebration of Victory in the Pacific Day.
American Gold Eagles
If you take a close look at modern American Gold Eagles, their appearance may bring the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle to mind. There’s a good reason behind that: it’s the same design. While the reverse side of the coin differs from its predecessor, Lady Liberty is an exact duplicate.
This American gold coin carries all the patriotic value of the Saint-Gaudens version. What’s the benefit of going the modern route? To start, you can buy one of these without the added premium of a vintage coin. Additionally, you’ll get more gold for your buck.
This is because American Gold Eagles are 1 ounce of .9167 pure gold. Their vintage counterparts only contain .9675 ounces of .900 gold. The difference isn’t exactly negligible — especially since you’re paying a lower price for the modern version.
This is one of the best examples of American gold coin bullion, so you can feel patriotic while also getting an amazing investment.
American Gold Buffalos
Teddy Roosevelt’s goal to beautify American coinage did not stop with the Saint-Gaudens $20 coin. During his time as president, five U.S. coins received new designs. It was through these design changes that the Buffalo Nickel came to be.
Of course, that nickel contains mostly copper. The American Gold Buffalos created to commemorate the coin, however, are a full ounce of .9999 pure gold. The man who designed the Buffalo and Native American symbols explained how pure the coin is to our country:
“I felt I wanted to do something totally American—a coin that could not be mistaken for any other country’s coin. It occurred to me that the buffalo, as part of our western background, was 100% American, and that our North American Indian fitted into the picture perfectly.”
The Buffalo Nickel design will always stand out as one of the most iconic coins in the U.S. And even though it’s out of production, it lives on through one of today’s popular American gold coins. It doesn’t get much more patriotic than bringing back a design that shaped the country.
Buy American Gold Coins Today
Each of these coins marks an important moment in U.S. history. Some of them are commemorative in nature, and others played a vital role in our country’s development. Regardless of the coin you choose to own, though, it will have patriotic flair.
We offer each of these beautiful American gold coins — save for the $5 million piece — at Silver Gold Bull. Our selection of precious metal items is massive, but if you’re looking to show your American pride, you can’t beat this group of items.
Visit our Gold Bullion Products page to see all our patriotic offerings and much more!