It is believed that the $20 Saint-Gaudens, or double eagle, gold coin is the most breathtakingly beautiful coin in U.S. history. However, there are two smaller American eagle gold coins from the same period in history that steal the limelight, due to their bold and cutting-edge design. That would be the $2.50 and $5 gold coins, also known as the Indian Head quarter eagle and half eagle. Nonetheless, these two particular gold coins were not exactly welcomed with open arms. First of all, these coins are quite unusual because their relief is incuse. For those of you not of the numismatic world, this means that the motifs and legends are sunken in a surface that is uniformly flat. Other traditional coins have the legends raised above the surface of the coin and rely on the rim for protection.

 A close friend of President Roosevelt, William S. Bigelow, who was a physician and art collector from Boston, proposed the unique idea of the incused design, and the President proudly approved it. This design would be able to reduce wear and tear and avoid replacement costs on legal tender coinage. But people complained that the depressed design would be a dirt collector and thus, a germ breeder and in addition, would be easy to counterfeit. There was also griping that these coins wouldn’t stack properly, of all things!

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned by President Roosevelt to redesign all U.S. coinage, but Saint-Gaudens died after finishing the design work for the eagle and double eagle gold coins. The President gave Mr. Bigelow the responsibility of acquiring models for the quarter eagle as well as the half eagle. Bigelow turned to a fellow Bostonian, a sculptor named Bela Lyon Pratt, who was one of Saint-Gaudens students, to design and build the models for the coins. Pratt’s work on the American eagle gold coins was completed in June 1908 and submitted to the Mint.

 The obverse of both the half and quarter eagle gold coins spotlights the left-facing realistic portrait of a proud Native American chief wearing a full-feathered Indian war bonnet. Along the left edge of the coins are six stars, with seven on the right edge. The motto “LIBERTY” is above the central image and the coin’s date is below. Pratt’s initials, B.L.P., are located below the portrait and above the date.

 On the reverse of these impressive coins is the majestic image of a standing eagle, in repose, facing left, and perched on a bundle of arrows, with an entwined olive branch, the former signifying military readiness and the latter symbolizing peace. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is in an arc above the eagle, with each word separated by centered dots and the denomination of the coin is below the eagle’s image. “IN GOD WE TRUST” is located to the right of the noble bird and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is to the left. Pratt managed to fit the eagle and all four inscriptions on this side without making the coin look at all cluttered or unbalanced.

 The Indian Head quarter eagles were issued annually from 1908 through 1915, resuming production in 1925 and ending in 1929, due to the Wall Street crash. The Indian Head half eagles were minted from 1908 through 1916 and had one last hurrah in 1929, before succumbing to the Great Depression.

 GovMint is offering this phenomenal two-coin set, featuring one 1908-1929 gold Indian Head quarter eagle and one gold half eagle coin in Extremely Fine condition. Just imagine the brilliant luster of these coins, which were struck in .900 fine gold, when placed in a handsome presentation case and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.  To complement the extraordinary artistry of the coins, a bonus arrowhead is included. Not only will you have two of the only United States coins that, along with the Buffalo nickel, give a realistic portrayal of Native Americans, but also the only two U.S. coins to feature the unusual incuse design.  Factor in the great investment opportunity you are afforded by purchasing gold coins and this is a magnificent deal you don’t want to pass up!

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As you probably are aware, coins that have been released by the US Mint in the first 30 days of production are Certified and have a spectacular mint luster as they were struck from new dies. In addition, they often have a more crisp appearance than coins struck much later on.

The US Mint stopped production of gold eagle in 2009, and due to the higher demand for the gold eagle this year, many coin experts are nor forecasting shortages and/or delays of these coins. Also, because of China's very large demand for gold, gold prices are expected to climb sharply. Savvy investors are already buying as much gold as they can, and these gold eagles are a perfect investment. Taking a look at MS70 gold eagles from the mid 1990's to 2002, the coins are selling from $3,500 for a 2002 up to $13,500 for a 1994. No one can predict with any certainty what a perfect 2010 MS70 gold eagle early release coin will be worth in the future, but if gold continues to rise as anticipated, they will increase substantially.

As we mentioned above, China is the leader in the world in amassing gold, and their current monthly acquisition is greater that the total US has in stock. They are encouraging their citizens to acquire gold as well and this leads to the shortage and the steep increase in gold prices which now are averaging around $1,100 an ounce. During very trying economic times, gold gives a greater peace of mind, and this is why gold eagle continue to be the favorite among coin collectors.

Place your order for the 2010 Gold Eagles PreSale! So please don't be left out on this issue, place your order in now and lock in your price.

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This $5 gold American eagle is graded and certified by NGC, and also comes with the Early Release designation, sought after by most knowledgeable collectors. The GovMint.com was able to obtain this special coin for almost 14% less than other bullion dealers, and is willing to pass their savings on to you. This gives you the unique opportunity to get this highly sought after coin at a very low and competitive price.

Because of the late release by the US Mint, very limited quantities are available, so please don't delay or you will miss out. In addition, the GovMint.com offers their usual 30 day money back guarantee on this coin as well. This recent release of the 2009 $5 gold American eagle coin is already in high demand, and with an unknown mintage, this American eagle could turn out to be a key date in this important series.

We all know that the demand for gold has been high due to the economic melt down, and the prices have been breaking records almost on a daily basis. The current price has been $1,200 per ounce. Another reason for the spiraling prices is due to China's huge demand for gold bullion. They are attempting to increase their holdings in gold substantially, and many say that this may drive the price of gold to over $2,600 per ounce. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get one of these 2009 $5 Gold American Eagle coins. There is a very large demand for this special gold coin, and the actual mintage is unknown. Now is the time to buy!

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Who doesn’t recognize the bald eagle as the powerful symbol for democracy? At the Second Continental Congress in 1782, our Founding Fathers wisely chose the bald eagle, which is unique to North America, for the Great Seal of the United States. From that moment on, this regal bird became the national symbol of our American values of courage, strength and freedom. The bald eagle also appears on the seals of many departments and branches of our United States government. Then the unthinkable happened, the bald eagle was threatened with the possibility of extinction, in the lower 48 states and was classified as an endangered species in 1973. Through a number of successful recovery efforts, the bald eagle was able to be removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007. However, they are not out of the woods yet and will need to be monitored for many years.

In recognition of the importance of the eagle as our national symbol, to honor the 35^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and to celebrate the bald eagle’s return from extinction, Congress unanimously passed The American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act. Thus the stunning 2008 $5 gold eagle coin was created. The obverse of the bald gold eagle coin was designed by Susan Gamble, who is a Master Designer of the Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) and sculpted by the United States Mint Medallic Sculptor, Phebe Hemphill. The design features two young eaglets, one with its wings spread, perched on a branch, within their natural habitat.

The sculptor for the reverse of this spectacular gold eagle coin was Don Everhart, the United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver. On the reverse is the illustration of the current Great Seal of the United States, as it was engraved in 1903. This awe-inspiring coin was limited to a maximum authorized mintage of only 100,000, which makes it difficult to find. The $5 gold eagle coin is struck in .900 fine gold, with a diameter of 21.59mm and an exemplary grade of MS70. This remarkable 2008 $5 Gold Bald Eagle commemorative coin, whose vibrant, amazing design represents how the eagle is thoroughly ingrained in every aspect of our nation’s commerce and culture and government and would make a wonderful historic addition to any collection!

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The Mexico 50 Pesos (also known as the Centenario, Gold 50 Peso, 50 peso gold coin and Mexican 50 pesos gold coin) was one of the few, large world bullion coins, prior to the introduction of the Krugerrand in 1967. The 50 Pesos coin was first produced in 1921 to commemorate the Centennial of Mexico’s Independence from Spain, which was achieved under General Agustin de Iturbide. The minting of the impressive 50 Pesos gold coin was suspended after 1931, resuming in 1943 and continuing through 1947. Twenty percent larger than the 1-ounce American Gold Eagle, these beautiful Mexican gold coins are composed of 90% fine gold alloyed with 10% copper for durability.  

 On the obverse of these striking 50 Pesos Mexican gold coins, is the portrait of the stunning Winged Victory, or El Angel, standing in front of two legendary Mexican volcanoes, Iztacchuatl (the sleeping lady or white lady) and Popocateptl (the smoking mountain). In Aztec legend, the volcanoes represent two lovers, a warrior and a princess, who both died of grief pining for each other and were turned into volcanoes. Held in the captivating angel’s left hand is a broken chain, symbolizing freedom and a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory, in her right hand.

 On the right side of these gorgeous Mexican gold coins is the date of issue, which is below the gold content “37.5 Gr. ORO PORO”. The left side of the coin bears the date “1821”, representing the year Mexico gained independence and above it is the face value “50 PESOS”.  The 1943 50 Pesos rare gold coin has one design difference. The gold content, instead of only appearing at the right of Winged Victory, appears on both sides and the denomination is omitted. Some believe that this is an error, while others feel this difference is due to the uncertainty of the currency and for bullion purposes. This is the only year with this particular design change and to further make this graded MS65, 1943 gold coin unique, rare and scarce; it has a mintage of only 89,000 coins!

 The reverse side of the 50 Pesos gold coin features the Golden Eagle, Aquila Chrysaetos, perched majestically on a cactus, with a snake in its beak, which is Mexico’s national emblem. There is another account of Aztec lore, concerning locating the eagle as pictured on the coin and the settlement of what is now Mexico City, home of Casa de Moneda, where these coins were minted. The legend “ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS” is in an arc above the eagle. Mexican coins have been elevated to the “hot”, must-have items with gold investors and collectors and the 50 Pesos gold coin is the most coveted of all. What a prize of the rare Mexican gold coins that are available on the market today, this spectacular and exquisitely designed 1943 Mexico 50 Pesos gold coin would be to your collection!  

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The renowned master sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was commissioned in 1905 by President Teddy Roosevelt, to create a totally new look and design for the American gold coins. President Roosevelt, who favored the ancient Greek tradition of coinage, requested that these gold coins be created in this manner with fresh and new designs.

The obverse side of the coin depicted Miss Liberty all adorned in an Indian War Bonnet. This came about when Mr. St-Gaudens mixed two separate traditions for the $10 gold coin... that is using the prior Miss Liberty profile, and then adding the feathered Indian headdress. The newly designed American gold coin had an unusual edge that consisted of 46 stars, representing the 46 states that comprised the Union at that time. Later, in 1912, New Mexico and Arizona joined the union and 2 more stars were added.

The reverse of the new $10 gold coin design featured a very proud eagle perched upon a bundle of arrows. Many who saw this new and magnificent design considered this to be one of the U.S. finest works of design in gold art. To this day, it remains one of the finest works by this great sculptor.

Mintages of this outstanding $10 Indian American gold coin  were extremely limited and this added to its rarity and very high desirability by many collectors. The actual total number of these Indian gold coins minted were far less that the even a single year's mintage of the Morgan silver dollar, and in fact, from 1907 to 1933, the coins were only struck intermittently. Then, in 1933, the Treasury recalled American gold coins, and millions of them were melted down and destroyed forever.

The $10 Indian gold coin is a part of American history and highly sought after by many coin and gold collectors. It is recommended for your gold coin collection, with the more popular dates being 1926 through 1929.

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This dazzling 2008, five-piece, gold bullion coin set is the last in a three-year series, beginning in 2006, called “Discover Australia”, from the Perth Mint. Meticulous in detail and breathtaking in beauty, each legal tender coin is minted in ½-ounce 99.99% fine gold, with a face value of $50 and is in Proof condition. With such a low mintage of only 1,000 worldwide, finding each coin by itself would be a daunting task, but now they are being offered in this fabulous five-piece set. This exceptional gold bullion coin set is encapsulated in a luxurious presentation case, with an authentic Tasmanian oak lid, which is a tree from the eucalyptus species native to Australia. You will also receive a Certificate of Authenticity, with the matching serial number, for each coin.

Entirely owned by the State Government of Western Australia since July 1970, the Perth Mint opened in 1899 and was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint. The other two branches, the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint are both closed. The Perth Mint is the official producer of the Australian Federal Government’s Silver and Gold Bullion Coin Program. The Discover Australia series portrays a variety of bush creatures, marsupials and other animals that are highly symbolic of the nation and easily recognizable. The reverse of all the Australian gold coins in the series is of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, facing right in a crowned profile, as portrayed by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The denomination and the legend “Elizabeth II” also appear.

One of the best known marine mammals is the bottlenose dolphin, which is found in warm waters. On the obverse of one of the coins, two bottlenose dolphins frolic in the warm waters found off Australia’s coast. The mint mark “P” is hidden in the waves surrounding the larger of the two dolphins, on the right. The date of issue is located below the fun-loving pair. The legend “Discover Australia” surrounds the top, while “dolphin”, the weight and purity surround the bottom. On the obverse of the other four coins are depicted charming, one-year-only images of the King Brown Snake, Brolga, Dingo and Frilled Neck Lizard.  This magnificent 2008 Discover Australia 1/2 –ounce 5-piece set would be a fantastic gold coin investment, as well as an exquisite addition to any collection that would be cherished for many years to come!  

Get this 5 piece gold bullion coin set at GovMint.com! Click here!

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Being significant, 2009 is not only the International Year of Astronomy, but very fitting; it is the 40^th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Isle of Man issued the eye-catching 2009 First Man on the Moon gold bullion coin. The year was 1969, when Apollo 11 was launched on July 16^th from the Kennedy Space Center and was the third manned space flight towards the Moon. The Apollo 11’s crew on board included Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins. Armstrong flew “Eagle”, the lunar lander, to the Moon, along with Aldrin, landing on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20^th.

On July 21^st, Neil Armstrong stepped out onto the Moon’s surface and as he placed his left foot down, uttered these immortal words” That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. He was then joined by Buzz Aldrin and after collecting data, they planted America’s Stars and Stripes Flag. Armstrong and Aldrin also unveiled a plaque, which had this inscription; “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind.” and bore President Nixon’s signature. The astronauts left behind a number of instruments they had used; a silicon disk that contained goodwill messages from Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, plus 73 Leaders of Countries from around the world; and a gold olive branch to represent peace. After re-joining the mother ship, Columbia, the three astronauts left the Moon’s orbit and safely returned to Earth on July 24^th.

Our knowledge about space is so much more advanced than what we knew 40 years ago, but the 1969 Moon landing is still the most auspicious event. It proved that we could land safely on the Moon and men could walk on its surface. This dazzling gold bullion coin, representing the first man on the Moon, is struck in 999.9 fine gold and is in proof condition. Its denomination is 1/64 Crown and has a diameter of 11mm. The intrinsic gold coin value is greater, since there were only 5,000 minted, so don’t miss out! The beautiful design, on the reverse of this magnificent coin, is the image of an astronaut, in his flight gear, standing on the surface of the Moon next to the American Flag. The wording of “40^th Anniversary Of First Man On The Moon” is featured in the surround, along with the denomination of the coin. On the obverse of this impressive gold bullion coin, is the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS FSNAD. To own one of these phenomenal and scintillating 2009 First Man On The Moon gold proof coins is not only a sound investment, but is also a treasured representation of the heroic spirit of space exploration!

Get this gold bullion coin at GovMint.com! Click here!

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The Chinese Zodiac is comprised of twelve animal representations and is traditionally referred to as “Sheng xiao”. The twelve animals represent not only each month of the year, but also each year of a twelve-year cycle. The Chinese Zodiac is not like ours, which assigns itself equivalent constellations. The zodiac symbols are representative of twelve diverse personalities that are found in people. Beginning with the year 1900, assign it to the first animal, then follow with 1901 and assign it to the second animal and so forth. The animals are as follows: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Once you have assigned a year to all the animals, you can then keep adding the number twelve to the original year, until your birth year falls into one of the animal categories. For example, the Rat years are 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, etc. The Chinese zodiac signs are popular today and are used in other oriental and occidental cultures.

To honor the Chinese zodiac, Lunar Zodiac Chinese gold coins were released. The first gorgeous, gold lunar zodiac series was started in 1981, with the Rooster, going through 1992 and the round, 8-gram gold proof coins were minted in .917 pure gold. The denomination starts with 250 Yuan, for the first year coins and then 200 Yuan, for the second year, with the rest of years being 150 Yuan. On the reverse of the dazzling 1981 coins is the White Pagoda Baita in Beijing; on the 1982 coins is the Hall of Prayer For Good Harvest, in the Temple of Heaven. The following years of these impressive Chinese gold coins have different places of cultural and religious importance. From 1988-1999, beginning with the Dragon, a round, 1-ounce gold proof of .999 pure gold was released. The denomination is 100 Yuan and on the reverse of the 1988 coin, is the Temple of Heaven, with the State Seal on the remainder of the years’ reverse. In 1988-1999 a 5-ounce and 12-ounce round, gold coin series was also released.

See these Chinese gold coins here...

In 1993-2009, beginning with the Rooster, an astounding, ½-ounce gold proof was minted. The purity of the coin changes, from .917 pure gold in 1993 to .916 pure gold in 1994, 1996 and 2000; .999 pure gold in 1995, 2001 and the following consecutive years. These exquisite Chinese gold coins are of a scalloped shape, resembling a lovely flower. The denomination is 100 Yuan for eight consecutive years and then 200 Yuan for the remainder of the years. On the reverse of the 1993 coin, is the Gate Tower of Xi’an City, while the 1994 coin features the Phoenix Pavilion and 1995 shows the Wan Fu Pavilion. The following years have the images of different, memorable locals. Starting with 2005, a new series began, with the Rooster image originally found on Chinese ancient bronze ware and patterns of cockscomb. The Chinese gold coins of 2006 feature the dog, with the image found originally on the ancient bronze ware—dog-shaped belt hook and patterns of Acalypha hispida. From 1995-2006 there was also a 1-kg scalloped set, which was released.

The Lunar Zodiac set that was minted in 2000 through the present year is quite unique. The ½-ounce .999 proof-like, BU, pure gold is in an eye-catching fan shape, beginning with the Dragon. The fascination with this stunning series is that the full set will form a circle, when it is completed. The denomination is 200 Yuan and the reverse of each coin depicts a different section of the Great Wall. This set was also released in silver to form the outer circle. The following were other series that were minted: 1997-2008 1/10-ounce, round gold coin set; 1998-2009 1/10-ounce, round, gold, colorized coin set; 2002-present year 5-ounce, rectangular, gold coin set and 2007-present year 10-kg, round gold coin set. There are actually 24 sets, in all, of the Zodiac coins, minted in gold, silver and platinum! The China Lunar Zodiac coins are so extraordinarily amazing in their beauty and intricate detailing that each coin is not only reflective of the Chinese culture, but also a true work of collectible art to be cherished! The Chinese gold coins are an excellent gold coin investment.

See these Chinese gold coins here...

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A new denomination in the British gold sovereign series arrived in February this year and that is the 2009 gold quarter sovereign. A gold sovereign is a gold coin initially issued in 1489 for Henry VII of England and is still in production today. The coin typically had a value of one pound sterling and was primarily an official piece of bullion, but had no mark indicating value anywhere on the coin itself. This gold coin was christened with the name “sovereign” because of its rather majestic and impressive size and the rendering on the coin and is a good gold coin investment. The earliest illustration was of the king, facing, seated on the throne and on the reverse, the Royal coat of arms on a shield, surrounded by a Tudor double rose.

The modern sovereigns are minted at the Royal Mint, which is located in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. The precious metal unit is responsible for the production of the coins. This unit is sealed off from the rest of the Mint and the Mint, itself, is protected by Ministry of Defence Police. A little known fact is that the date on a bullion coin refers to the year that the die was made, not necessarily the year the coin was struck.

Two small, quarter sovereign pattern pieces were struck in 1853 for Queen Victoria, when there was a perceived need for a more conveniently-sized coin of five shillings. The proposal to mint these coins was probably abandoned, due to the small size of the coin and that it would wear too fast in circulation, as was the case with the half sovereign. Now, in 2009, the exceptional quarter sovereign has been struck in .9167, or 22 karat fine gold, and is 13.50mm in diameter, making it slightly smaller than a U.S. dime. Only 50,000 are available worldwide as a gold coin investment.

The obverse of this spectacular, Brilliant Uncirculated coin features the beloved portraiture of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadly FRBS. On the magnificent quarter sovereign’s reverse, is the famous design of St. George slaying the dragon, done by Benedetto Pistrucci. The depiction does differ from the design on the well-known sovereign in that the Saint’s helmet retains its streamer. This stunning and amazing gold quarter sovereign will be a cherished and treasured coin that will last a lifetime and beyond and is fast becoming an interesting gold coin investment!

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