American Eagle 1/2 Ounce Gold 2026 Alternative (common coin name): American Gold Eagle 1/2 oz (2026)
American Gold Eagle 1/2 oz 2026 is an investment bullion coin issued by the United States Mint, containing 1/2 troy ounce of gold in a 916.7 (22‑karat) alloy. The coin’s total weight is approximately 16.96 g, of which 15.55 g is pure gold; the remainder is silver and copper added to improve scratch resistance. The face value is 25 US dollars, while the actual market value depends on the current price of gold. The coin’s diameter is about 27 mm and its thickness about 2.15 mm, consistent with the standard used across the series.
The 2026 issue marks the 40th anniversary of the American Gold Eagle series and coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary. The coin is struck in bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated) standard, intended primarily for investment purposes while maintaining high detail quality. The use of a 22‑karat alloy gives the surface a characteristic, slightly warmer gold tone compared with issues struck in 999.9 fine metal. Each piece is legal tender of the United States, with its gold content and weight guaranteed by the U.S. government.
Obverse features the classic composition with Lady Liberty after the design by Augustus Saint‑Gaudens, taken from the early‑20th‑century “Double Eagle” twenty‑dollar coin. The allegorical figure of Liberty strides against rays of a rising sun, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. At the bottom is the silhouette of the Capitol in Washington along with a stylized rocky landscape, and around the rim are stars symbolizing the states. Above the figure appears the inscription “LIBERTY,” while at the lower right is the year of issue “2026.”
Reverse shows the profile portrait of the American bald eagle introduced in 2021, designed by Jennie Norris. The bird’s head, presented in close‑up, fills much of the coin’s field, emphasizing feather details and the sharpness of its gaze. Around the rim are the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” At the bottom of the reverse are the face value “25 DOLLARS” and the metal specifications in the inscription “1/2 OZ. FINE GOLD.” The overall composition combines traditional elements of national symbolism with a more contemporary graphic treatment characteristic of “Type 2” issues.