The first gold coins in the United States were issued back in 1795. The Unites States Mint set the value of the U.S. Dollar at 24 grains of gold. The value was based in accordance with the world price on the precious metal, which at that time was $19.39 per troy ounce.The U.S. gold coins started to be issued in seven different mints around the country as the Western Frontier of the Unites States began its expansion. The mints were set from Philadelphia to San Francisco. The sizes of coins varied from one dollar gold piece to fifty dollar denomination. It is worth mentioning that at that time the U.S. mints issued coins that were worth their weight in gold.
In 1834 and 1837 U.S. Congress modified the gold specifications by setting the price of gold at a mark of $20.67 per ounce. When the Great Depression occurred in 1933, President Roosevelt made gold an illegal asset for the citizens of the United States. During this period, by Roosevelt's order, all gold coins were returned to U.S. Treasury and the melted into gold bars. After that the value of the U.S. dollar coin was set to $35 per ounce. The global outcome was to decrease by 40 percent the buying power of the dollar
When millions of gold coins were melted into gold bars, they became very rare and thus highly sought by various collectors. According to money experts only about one percent of gold coins can be found today. Each gold coin that survived till nowadays is highly valued by collectors and investors.
Every gold coins minted in the United States before 1933, is valued on individual basis according to its date, rarity, appeal among various collectors and its grade.
What is Rare Coin Grading Worth?
Coins that fall under the category "rare" are graded on ANA (American Numismatic Association). The scale ranges from 1 to 70. Coins are certified authentic and then PCGS or NGC, two leaders in providing coin grading services. For example a gold coin graded 1 has a slightly visible date, very wear and its value is a little above its weight in gold or precious metals. Obviously the better the coin is preserved the more a collector or investorinvestor in willing to pay for it.
Double Eagles
1933_double_eagle_gold_coin_reverseVery often a collector starts his Gold Coin Collection of U.S. coins minted before 1933 with a $20 Double Eagle. Note that from 1849 to 1907 U.S. Mist issued the Liberty series. The Mint then changed the design of the Double Eagle into Saint-Gaudens. The latter were minted in the period between 1907 and 1933.
Starting a collection of Pre- 1933 U.S. gold coins is advantageous for several reasons:
"Pure Gold Content" - this means that each coin includes almost 1 troy ounce of gold.
"A Double Profit Opportunity" The gold market is continuously changing and $20 Double Eagle gold coins already have a history showing the continuously rising value, which goes 2 to 3 times higher in value if compared to the gold bullion alone.
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle Coin
One of the most valuable, if not the most valuable, coin is considered to be the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle. It actually was never officially issued. Still it appeared from 1907 until 1932. Although in 1933 there were 445,500 Double Eagle minted, none were released into circulation because of the changes made in currency laws during the Great Depression.
The result of the Great Depression was that president Franklin Roosevelt took America off the gold standard. The gold coins were drawn out of circulation and afterwards were not issued anymore. Besides, people had to return the ones they had
Later, in 1933, the Double Eagle coins were declared illegal. It was prohibited to own any of the gold coins, unless they had a collectible value.
The same year Gold Double Eagle coinsGold Double Eagle coins were ordered to be melted by the U.S. Mint. By 1937 billions of gold bars were made out of these unique coins.
A few coins have escaped from being melted down. In1933 two of them were given by the Mint to the U.S. National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institute. These two Gold Double Eagle coins were known as the only legal specimens to ever become part of a coin collection. Still by 1952, eight additional coins were discovered. These were confiscated by the Secret Service.
Today 19 of the some of most valuable 1933 Gold Double Eagle coins are owned by a Philadelphian jeweler, Israel Switt.
