2006 American Gold Eagle
Every version of the 2006 Gold Eagle with mintages, the gold it contains, which versions carry a premium and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2006
- 1 oz bullion mintage
- 237,510
- Versions
- 13
- Metal
- 22 karat gold (91.67%)
Original illustration of the coin's size and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because metal and coin prices change daily.
What is a 2006 Gold Eagle worth?
The 2006 bullion Gold Eagle is worth its gold content: weight times the day's spot price, plus a modest dealer premium when you buy and less when you sell. Its scarcer versions are different: the 2006 1/4 oz bullion (60,004) rates small premium.
Metal value = troy ounces of gold × the day's spot price. For collector versions, check recent sold results for the same version and grade.
Every 2006 Gold Eagle version
| Version | Mint mark | Size | Mintage | Value band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullion | None | 1 oz ($50) | 237,510 | Metal value |
| Bullion | None | 1/2 oz ($25) | 66,005 | Small premium |
| Bullion | None | 1/4 oz ($10) | 60,004 | Small premium |
| Bullion | None | 1/10 oz ($5) | 285,006 | Metal value |
| Proof | See below | 1 oz ($50) | 47,092 | Small premium |
| Uncirculated (burnished) | "W" | 1 oz ($50) | 45,053 | Small premium |
| Reverse proof | "W" | 1 oz ($50) | 9,996 | Small premium |
| Proof | See below | 1/2 oz ($25) | 34,322 | Small premium |
| Uncirculated (burnished) | "W" | 1/2 oz ($25) | 15,164 | Small premium |
| Proof | See below | 1/4 oz ($10) | 36,127 | Small premium |
| Uncirculated (burnished) | "W" | 1/4 oz ($10) | 15,188 | Small premium |
| Proof | See below | 1/10 oz ($5) | 47,277 | Small premium |
| Uncirculated (burnished) | "W" | 1/10 oz ($5) | 20,643 | Small premium |
Twelve regular versions carry the 2006 date, plus the anniversary set's reverse proof with frosted fields and mirror design. Bullion coins in four sizes have no mint mark and a bright finish. Proofs in four sizes have mirror fields, frosted design and a mint mark. The new burnished coins in four sizes show a W mint mark on the obverse with a soft, satin surface that has no mirror effect. Proofs and burnished coins both came boxed with certificates, so look at the surface: mirror means proof, matte satin means burnished. Burnished coins were struck on specially prepared blanks, which is what gives them their soft look.
Quick answers
- How much gold is in a 2006 Gold Eagle?
- Each coin contains its stated weight of pure gold: 1/10 troy ounce in the $5 coin, 1/4 troy ounce in the $10 coin, 1/2 troy ounce in the $25 coin and one troy ounce in the $50 coin. The alloy is 91.67% gold, 3% silver, 5.33% copper.
- How many 2006 Gold Eagles were made?
- 237,510 one ounce bullion coins plus 270,862 collector versions (proof, burnished and special finishes).
- Is the 2006 Gold Eagle worth more than its gold?
- The bullion coin trades close to its metal value plus a dealer premium. Collector versions in their original packaging bring a small premium.
- Is the Gold Eagle legal tender?
- Yes. Each size carries a face value ($5, $10, $25 and $50), but nobody spends them: the gold is worth far more than the face value.
The Gold Eagle in 2006
2006 was the program's 20th year and the year the Mint added a new version: burnished uncirculated Gold Eagles struck at West Point with a W mint mark. All four sizes were offered, with 20,643 tenth ounce, 15,188 quarter ounce, 15,164 half ounce and 45,053 one ounce coins sold. They gave collectors a mint marked coin with a satin finish that sits between bullion and proof. Burnished coins added 96,048 pieces to the year's collector total.
Bullion sales were lower than in 2005: 285,006 tenth ounce, 60,004 quarter ounce, 66,005 half ounce and 237,510 one ounce. Proofs held close to their 2005 levels in the smaller sizes, with 47,277 tenth ounce, 36,127 quarter ounce and 34,322 half ounce, while the one ounce proof rose to 47,092. With twelve regular versions plus a one ounce reverse proof sold only in a three coin 20th anniversary set (9,996 sets), 2006 became the most varied year of the program to that point. It's a date where a quick look at the finish and the mint mark really pays off. That bullion total of 648,525 coins was the lowest since 2002.
2006 Gold Eagle by the numbers
The Mint sold 237,510 one ounce bullion Gold Eagles dated 2006. That ranks 10th lowest of the 39 bullion dates from 1986 to 2024.
Against the dates around it, 2006 bullion sales were 1.5 times fewer than 2005 and 1.7 times the 2007 figure.
Collector versions dated 2006 add up to 270,862 coins across 9 versions. The scarcest is the 2006-W 1 oz reverse proof at 9,996; the most plentiful is the 2006 1/10 oz proof at 47,277.
Fractional bullion that year: 285,006 1/10 oz coins, 60,004 1/4 oz coins and 66,005 1/2 oz coins. The 1/4 oz is the scarce size of the year.
What to check on yours
- Weigh and measure it. A genuine one ounce Gold Eagle weighs 33.931 g and measures 32.7 mm; the fractional sizes are 3.393 g (1/10 oz), 8.483 g (1/4 oz) and 16.965 g (1/2 oz). Fakes are usually the wrong weight or the wrong thickness.
- Try a magnet. Gold is not magnetic, so a coin that sticks is not genuine. A coin that does not stick still needs the other checks.
- Look for the mint mark. Bullion strikes have none; proofs and burnished coins carry a small letter. A mirror field with frosted design means a proof, a soft satin look means burnished.
- Handle it by the edge and never clean it. Fingerprints, wiping and polishing leave marks that cost collector versions much of their premium.
- Keep the original capsule, box and certificate with collector versions. Coins that come with them are easier to sell and more likely to bring their full premium.
The one ounce reverse proof from the anniversary set, at 9,996, is the scarcest 2006 coin. Among regular issues the burnished half ounce at 15,164 leads, with the burnished quarter ounce almost tied at 15,188. Both carry a collector premium over metal value, especially with original box and certificate. The burnished tenth ounce brings a smaller premium, while the burnished one ounce, at 45,053, is the most common burnished coin of the program. Proofs bring a small premium. Bullion coins trade near metal value. First year burnished coins are popular with collectors, so keep the box and certificate with them.
Burnished W coins and the 2009 gap (2006 to 2010)
2006 brought the first new Gold Eagle version in two decades: burnished uncirculated coins with a W mint mark from the West Point Mint, offered in all four sizes. They have a soft satin look rather than a proof's mirror and were sold in a capsule and case much like the proofs. The program's 20th anniversary fell in the same year. For the first time, collectors could buy an uncirculated Gold Eagle straight from the Mint.
The burnished fractional coins never sold in big numbers. The 2007 half ounce reached only 11,455 and the 2008 quarter ounce just 8,883. Those three years, 2006, 2007 and 2008, are the only ones with burnished tenth, quarter and half ounce coins. That keeps them in steady demand with collectors trying to complete a set by size and version.
Then the financial crisis hit. One ounce bullion sales rose from 140,016 in 2007 to 710,000 in 2008 and 1,493,000 in 2009. The Mint used its gold blanks for bullion coins, so there are no proof or burnished Gold Eagles dated 2009 at all. Proofs returned in 2010 in all four sizes, but the burnished coins sat out a second year and came back only in 2011. If you're building a run of dates, the 2009 gap is the thing to remember: a 2009 Gold Eagle described as a proof or burnished coin is not a regular Mint issue.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Program | American Gold Eagle |
|---|---|
| Issuer | United States Mint |
| Metal | 22 karat gold (91.67%) |
| Alloy | 91.67% gold, 3% silver, 5.33% copper |
| Sizes | 1/10 oz ($5, 3.393 g, 16.5 mm); 1/4 oz ($10, 8.483 g, 22 mm); 1/2 oz ($25, 16.965 g, 27 mm); 1 oz ($50, 33.931 g, 32.7 mm) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| One ounce coin | 33.931 g, 32.7 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What is a 2006 W Gold Eagle?
It's a burnished uncirculated coin from the West Point Mint, first offered in 2006 in all four sizes. It has a satin finish and a W mint mark, unlike bullion coins, which have no mint mark.
Which 2006 Gold Eagle is the scarcest?
The one ounce reverse proof, sold only in the 20th anniversary set, with 9,996 made. Among regular issues it's the burnished half ounce at 15,164, just ahead of the burnished quarter ounce at 15,188. All carry a collector premium.
Mintages: American Gold Eagle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint figures. How we build these pages.