1/10 oz Gold Eagle: specifications, value and where to buy

The tenth-ounce Eagle is the coin people buy as a gift, as a first piece of gold, or as small change they could sell one at a time. It is also the most expensive way to own gold by the ounce. This page sets out the specifications, what it is worth right now, what dealers charged today, and why small coins cost so much more.

What are the specifications of the 1/10 oz Gold Eagle?

Source: US Mint American Eagle gold specifications. Fine gold in grams is our conversion (1 troy oz = 31.1035 g). The US Mint does not publish a thickness for this coin on the pages we checked.

The coin is 22-karat on purpose. The copper and silver make it tougher than pure gold, which matters for a small coin that gets handled. It also means the coin weighs more than its gold content: you are holding 3.393 grams of metal, of which 3.110 grams is gold.

What is a 1/10 oz Gold Eagle worth today?

The melt value is the gold content times the live spot price. It updates automatically below.

Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. Last updated: Loading. Our coin melt value calculator handles any mix of coins.

What do dealers charge for a 1/10 oz Gold Eagle?

We captured single-coin prices for random-year bullion Eagles on each dealer's product page with an automated check on October 11, 2026, between 11:15 and 11:20 UTC. Spot was $4,195.60 per ounce (gold-api.com). The premium is the price divided by the value of the gold, minus one.

Prices for quantities of 1 to 49 at SD Bullion and 1 to 49 at APMEX. Captured 11:17 UTC (SD Bullion) and 11:19 UTC (APMEX). JM Bullion does not allow automated price checks, so we do not publish a premium for it.

Why do premiums per ounce rise as Eagles get smaller?

This table puts today's prices for all four Eagle sizes side by side, converted to the price you effectively pay for one ounce of gold.

Single-coin (lowest quantity tier) random-year BU prices from each dealer's product page, captured 11:15 to 11:20 UTC on October 11, 2026. "Per oz of gold" = price ÷ fine gold content.

Why the 1/10 oz sits at the bottom of the table:

• Fixed costs per coin. Striking, inspecting, packing, insuring and shipping a coin cost about the same whether it holds 0.1 oz or 1 oz of gold. Spread over a tenth of the gold, those costs become a much larger percentage.
• The supply chain. Bullion Eagles pass from the US Mint to its authorized purchasers and then to retail dealers, and each step adds a per-coin cost.
• Dealer handling. A dealer spends as much time on one tenth-ounce coin as on a 1 oz coin, but earns on a tenth of the metal.
• Demand for small coins. Gift buyers and people who want small, easily sold units are often less price sensitive, which supports higher premiums.

Note that the ladder is not perfectly smooth. At SD Bullion the 1/2 oz coin was slightly cheaper per ounce than the 1 oz on the day we checked, which shows how much dealer stock and pricing decisions matter. The broad pattern, small coins costing more per ounce, held at both dealers.

What it means for you: ten 1/10 oz coins from SD Bullion would have cost $4,920.30 against $4,335.39 for one 1 oz coin, a difference of $584.91 for the same ounce of gold. Some dealers also pay more per ounce when they buy small coins back, which can recover part of that gap, but buyback prices vary, so check before you buy. Compare coins with bars in our gold coins vs gold bars guide.

How is the 1/10 oz Gold Eagle taxed?

The Canadian and Australian position surprises many buyers: because the Eagle is 22-karat, it misses the 99.5% purity test that makes gold tax free at purchase. Our page on why 22ct coins are taxed in Canada explains the rule.

Can you hold it in an IRA?

Yes. The tax code treats coins as collectibles in an IRA, but section 408(m)(3) carves out the American Eagle gold coins specifically, which is why a 22-karat Eagle qualifies when most other 22-karat coins do not. The coins must be held by the IRA's trustee or custodian. High per-ounce premiums on tenth-ounce coins make them an expensive choice for an IRA, where buyers usually favor larger sizes.

Which years and designs exist?

The 1/10 oz Eagle has been struck every year since the program began in 1986. There are two reverse types:

Both types were issued in 2021. For bullion buyers, the type rarely matters: dealers sell "random year" coins at one price. Proof versions from the US Mint carry a W mint mark and cost much more.

How do you spot a fake 1/10 oz Gold Eagle?

• Weigh it on a scale that reads to 0.01 g. A genuine coin weighs 3.393 g.
• Measure the diameter: 16.50 mm. Small fakes often get the weight right but are the wrong size.
• Check the color. The copper in the alloy gives Eagles a slightly warmer, redder tone than 24-karat coins.
• Check the edge and details. Reeding should be even. Compare fine details of Liberty and the eagle with US Mint images.
• Buy from an established dealer. Tenth-ounce coins are popular with counterfeiters because buyers rarely test them.

Read how to tell if gold is real for more tests.

Where can you buy 1/10 oz Gold Eagles?

Bullion Eagles reach the public through dealers, because the US Mint sells them only to its authorized purchasers; our guide to buying from the US Mint explains the proof and uncirculated versions it does sell directly. In today's check SD Bullion was cheaper than APMEX for a single coin. Paying by check or wire saved about 4% at both. You can compare other sizes on our 1/4 oz Eagle and 1/2 oz Eagle pages, or go back to all gold coin guides.

Check 1/10 oz Eagles at SD Bullion

Pros and cons

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.