US Gold Eagles 2009

If you haven’t heard the news already, the U.S. Mint announced earlier this year that they would be curtailing their overall production of US Gold Eagles in 2009 due to problem sourcing gold to mint them from.  The Mint is required to source it’s gold from American mines and because of the huge worldwide demand for gold bullion, was unable to acquire enough to meet projected needs for this year’s Gold Eagle Rounds minting.

This has two impacts on the collectible market: first, it somewhat raises the price of all other gold coins on the market as demand increases; second, it makes the 2009 US Gold Eagles an immediately collectible item because of their relative rarity.

Up to this point in 2009, US Gold Eagles have only been produced and offered in full ounce coins, very rare for the Mint to do.  They’ve been offered on a rotational basis, making them somewhat more difficult to source directly from coin dealers.  The added interest in them has meant that many shops sell out the day they receive their shipment.

Fractional coins (1/4, 1/2 ounce, etc.) will be available for a very limited time in December.  Those promise to be very hard to get and in demand as well, becoming instantly collectible.

Gold Eagle Rounds have always been popular as an investment medium for bullion purchasers who don’t buy full or sized bars.  This year, however, 2009 US Gold Eagles are instead collector’s items in themselves.  Bullion purchasers have turned to other coins, such as the Canadian Maple Leaf, instead.

Definitely interesting times, but the traditional Walking Liberty motif of the Gold Eagle Rounds is always popular and even more so now with this latest development.

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