Perhaps the most outstanding design on the American Eagle Gold Coin is an image of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' rendition of the Statue of Liberty with flowing hair, an olive branch in her left hand and a torch in her right. The design on the reverse side of the coin was created by Miley Busiek, a sculptor who designed a male eagle that is carrying an olive branch and is flying above a nest which contains a female eagle and her babies.

Despite the fact that they are minted for collectors, all American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are of legal tender and are made of 91.67% 22 karat gold. The weight of the gold and diameter of each coin varies depending upon its denomination. These coins are backed by the U.S. government for its specific weight and gold content.

There is a huge demand for these Certified Gold Eagle Proof Coins, as many investors are beginning to collect the coins as well. The Gold Eagles are a great way to invest money wisely into a tangible, consistently valuable item, and they make a great addition to any serious coin collector's collection. You too have the opportunity to add these coins to your coin collection or to invest in something that will hold its value. These coins are a great way for individuals to invest wisely and easily in order to pass their wealth down to future generations.

The process used to create these lovely proof editions begins with burnished coin blanks being manually fed into presses that are fitted with special dies, creating the collector's editions. The coins are then struck multiple times, creating a detailed, softly frosted image that seemingly floats above the reflective field.

These lovely works of art and collector's items include a certificate of authenticity in a protective case while the coin itself is mounted in a blue velvet case with satin-lining to protect and showcase your investment. These Gold Proof Coins can be purchased through coin dealers, online auctions and even directly from the United States Mint.

These lovely coins do cost more than the American Eagle bullion coins since they are viewed as being actual works of art, however, because of their status as works of art they can not be recalled by the government for any reason or otherwise confiscated, the way rare coins can be. Gold is also considered a worthy investment in and of itself and is a great buffer against inflation. For example, in the 1970's when inflation was such a problem, the greatest protection against it was to be invested in gold. However, in a bull market such as the 1990's saw, gold bullion was actually an under-performer and having a portfolio heavy in gold resulted in lower returns.

It is also interesting to note that gold bullion can be purchased as part of an addition to your IRA portfolio. In doing so, the main thing to keep in mind with this is what your intention is with the investment, specifically, if you are planning on trading or holding the gold in the near future. Congress mandates and limits the amount of money that can be invested into your IRA every year. While gold is a good hedge against inflation, it also does not produce any residual income in the form of bonds, stocks, or trusts where distributions might be received. Therefore, investors looking to dedicate part of the asset portfolio to gold would be better off purchasing the collectible versions of American Gold Eagle Bullion coins and then securing them in a safety deposit box at your local bank or other financial institution that has been approved for storing gold bullion.

Due to the popularity of the one-ounce and half-ounce versions, beginning in 1988 the U.S. Mint made the coins available in all four denominations: one-ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce and one-tenth ounce. Between 2006 and 2008, special collectible uncirculated versions of the coin were also issued in one of each denomination.
Sets containing all four denominations are a popular way of purchasing these proof editions, while many sellers also sell the coins individually.

American Gold Eagle Proof Coins undergo a unique minting process using specialized dies. Lustrous coin blanks are fed individually into the coin press at the United States Mint where they are struck multiple times to guarantee a detailed coin image, which appears softly frosted over a mirror-like background.

Many Gold Eagle Proof Coins come shipped in a special presentation case with an official United States Mint Certificate of Authority. This certificate is the U.S. Mint's  guarantee of each coin's gold content, weight, and purity.

Proof Gold Eagles are highly-prized by both collectors and investors and make a wonderful addition to any diversified portfolio.