2007 American Gold Eagle

Every 2007 Gold Eagle version

2007 has twelve versions. Bullion coins in four sizes carry no mint mark. Proofs, again in four sizes, show mirror fields, frosted design and a mint mark. Burnished coins in four sizes have a W mint mark and a satin finish without mirror fields. Proofs and burnished coins were sold in capsules with boxes and certificates. If you have a 2007 W coin, tilt it under a light: a mirror background means proof, a soft even glow means burnished. The burnished half ounce, the year's scarcest coin, is 27 mm across with a small W you'll see best under a magnifier.

Quick answers

How much gold is in a 2007 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 2007 Gold Eagles were made?

140,016 one ounce bullion coins plus 265,365 collector versions (proof, burnished and special finishes).

Is the 2007 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.

2007 Gold Eagle by the numbers

The Mint sold 140,016 one ounce bullion Gold Eagles dated 2007. That ranks 2nd lowest of the 39 bullion dates from 1986 to 2024.

Against the dates around it, 2007 bullion sales were 1.7 times fewer than 2006 and 5.1 times fewer than 2008.

Collector versions dated 2007 add up to 265,365 coins across 8 versions. The scarcest is the 2007-W 1/2 oz uncirculated (burnished) at 11,455; the most plentiful is the 2007 1/10 oz proof at 58,553.

Fractional bullion that year: 190,010 1/10 oz coins, 34,004 1/4 oz coins and 47,002 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 burnished half ounce at 11,455 is the scarcest 2007 Gold Eagle, followed by the burnished quarter ounce at 12,766. Both carry a collector premium over metal value. The burnished tenth and one ounce coins bring a smaller premium. Proofs carry a small premium. The low 2007 bullion mintages, especially the quarter ounce at 34,004, can earn a collector premium in high certified grades. Packaging matters more for burnished coins than bullion, because buyers expect them complete. Coins with spots or handling marks sell for less.

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

Frequently asked questions