$5 Gold Eagles (1986–)

$5 gold American Eagles were first issued in 1986 and bear on their obverse a likeness of Augustus Saint-Gaudens striding Liberty design first seen on the $20 gold double eagles struck from 1907 through 1933. The reverse of the tenth-ounce gold eagle carries a design by Miley Busiek showing a family of eagles around a nest. Until 1991, $5 gold eagles were dated on the obverse using Roman numerals. Arabic numerals have been used to express dates on $5 gold eagles since 1992.

The $5 eagle is the smallest gold bullion coin issued by the United States in terms of physical size, containing 1/10-ounce of pure gold. As the smallest United States gold coin, they are often purchased as an ?entry-level? bullion piece. In many cases, they become a collector?s first gold coin.

Uncirculated tenth-ounce gold eagles are common, and virtually all are available at prices near spot value. The lone exception is the 1999-W uncirculated piece made from unpolished proof dies. Only 14,500 were struck and now trade at prices many times greater than other regular-issue $5 gold eagles. Other scarcer $5 gold eagles include the burnished issues from 2006, 2007, and 2008, which trade at premiums significantly above melt values.