1/2 oz Gold Eagle: specifications, value and where to buy
The 1/2 oz American Gold Eagle is a $25 US Mint bullion coin: 16.966 grams, 27.00 mm wide, containing exactly half a troy ounce of gold in a 22-karat alloy. On October 11, 2026, a single random-year coin cost $2,152.69 by wire at SD Bullion (2.6% over spot) and $2,292.64 at APMEX (9.3%).
The half-ounce is the Eagle people overlook. It holds enough gold to keep premiums in check, yet it lets you sell half an ounce at a time. Today's prices also show something useful: dealer pricing on this size varies far more than on the 1 oz, so shopping around pays.
What are the 1/2 oz Gold Eagle's specifications?
| Face value | $25 |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | 16.966 g (0.5455 troy oz) |
| Fine gold | 0.5000 troy oz (15.552 g) |
| Alloy | 91.67% gold, 3% silver, balance copper (22 karat) |
| Diameter | 27.00 mm (1.063 in) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Obverse | Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Liberty, first used on the 1907 $20 coin |
| Reverse | Family of eagles, Miley Tucker-Frost (1986 to 2021); eagle portrait, Jennie Norris (2021 onward) |
Source: US Mint. Fine gold in grams is our conversion from troy ounces.
What is a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle worth right now?
| Quantity | Fine gold | USD | CAD | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.5 oz | ... | ... | ... |
| 2 coins | 1 oz | ... | ... | ... |
| Tube of 40 | 20 oz | ... | ... | ... |
Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. Last updated: Loading. See also our coin melt value calculator.
What did a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle cost today?
We captured single-coin prices for random-year bullion coins on each dealer's product page with an automated check on October 11, 2026, with spot at $4,195.60 an ounce (gold-api.com). The gold in one coin was worth $2,097.80.
| Dealer | Captured (UTC) | Check/wire | Premium | Card/PayPal | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD Bullion | 11:17 | $2,152.69 | 2.62% | $2,242.39 | 6.89% |
| APMEX | 11:13 | $2,292.64 | 9.29% | $2,388.17 | 13.84% |
SD Bullion showed one price for any quantity; APMEX's price is for 1 to 19 coins ($2,272.64 for 80+). JM Bullion does not allow automated price checks, so we do not publish a premium for it.
The gap between the two dealers, $139.95 on one coin, is far wider than on the 1 oz Eagle ($88.90 on the same morning). Use our premium calculator to check any quote you receive.
Why do smaller Eagles cost more per ounce?
Here are the premiums over spot for every Eagle size on October 11, 2026, by payment method.
| Size | SD Bullion wire | SD Bullion card | APMEX wire | APMEX card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 3.33% | 7.64% | 5.45% | 9.84% |
| 1/2 oz | 2.62% | 6.89% | 9.29% | 13.84% |
| 1/4 oz | 10.26% | 14.85% | 13.58% | 18.31% |
| 1/10 oz | 17.27% | 22.16% | 21.54% | 26.60% |
Single-coin (lowest tier) random-year BU prices from each dealer's product page, captured 11:13 to 11:20 UTC on October 11, 2026. Premium = price ÷ (fine gold oz × spot) − 1.
The general rule is that premiums climb as coins shrink, for three reasons:
- Each coin has fixed costs. Blanks, striking, quality control, packaging and insured shipping cost roughly the same per coin, so the smaller the coin, the bigger those costs are as a share of the gold.
- Every step in the chain charges per piece. The US Mint sells bullion Eagles to authorized purchasers, which sell to dealers, which sell to you.
- Small-coin buyers tend to buy fewer coins, so dealers earn less per order and price to cover it.
The 1/2 oz breaks the pattern at SD Bullion today, where it was a little cheaper per ounce than the 1 oz. That is a dealer pricing choice, possibly reflecting stock levels, and it may not last. At APMEX, the normal ladder held. The lesson is to compare price per ounce across sizes on the day you buy, not to assume. Our gold premiums explained guide goes further, and gold coins vs gold bars compares coins with bars.
How is the 1/2 oz Gold Eagle taxed?
| Country | At purchase | On a gain |
|---|---|---|
| United States | State sales tax rules vary | Collectible rate up to 28% if held over a year (IRS Topic 409) |
| Canada | GST/HST Under 99.5% purity (CRA 17.1) | Generally taxable |
| Australia | GST Under 99.5% fineness (GSTR 2003/10) | Generally subject to CGT |
| United Kingdom | No VAT Investment gold coin (Notice 701/21A) | CGT Foreign coin |
US buyers can check their state's rules in our US gold tax guide. In Canada and Australia, a 99.99% coin of the same weight avoids sales tax at purchase; see why 22ct coins are taxed in Canada.
IRA eligibility
The 1/2 oz Eagle is IRA eligible by name: section 408(m)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code excludes the American Eagle gold coins from the definition of collectibles. The coins must be held by your IRA trustee, not by you. Pre-1933 US gold coins do not get this exception.
Which years and versions exist?
Half-ounce Eagles have been issued since 1986, in Type 1 (family of eagles, 1986 to 2021) and Type 2 (eagle head, 2021 onward) reverses. Dealers usually sell bullion coins as "random year" at one price. The US Mint sells proof and uncirculated versions directly, at much higher prices; these are collector products, covered in bullion vs numismatic coins.
How do you check a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle is genuine?
- Weigh it: 16.966 g.
- Measure it: 27.00 mm across.
- Check the reeded edge, lettering and the fine detail in Liberty's gown and the eagle's feathers against US Mint images.
- Be suspicious of prices at or below melt value, especially from online marketplaces.
More on testing at home: how to tell if gold is real.
Where to buy 1/2 oz Gold Eagles
Bullion Eagles are sold through dealers, because the US Mint sells bullion only to its authorized purchasers; read buying from the US Mint for what it sells directly. On our check, SD Bullion was the cheaper of the two dealers by a wide margin. Paying by check or wire rather than card saved about 4%. New to gold? Start with our best gold coins for beginners, or compare the 1/4 oz Eagle and the rest of all gold coin guides.
Check 1/2 oz Eagles at SD Bullion
Pros and cons
Pros
- Premium was as low as 2.6% over spot on October 11, 2026
- IRA eligible under the tax code
- Lets you sell half an ounce at a time
Cons
- Prices vary widely between dealers
- Sales tax in Canada and Australia
- Not CGT free in the UK
Frequently asked questions
How much gold is in a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle?
Exactly 0.5000 troy ounce, or 15.552 grams, of gold. The whole coin weighs 16.966 grams (0.5455 troy ounce) because it is a 22-karat alloy of 91.67% gold, 3% silver and copper, according to the US Mint.
What is the face value of a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle?
$25. That legal tender value is symbolic; the coin is bought and sold for the value of its gold plus a dealer premium.
Is the 1/2 oz Gold Eagle cheaper per ounce than the 1 oz?
Usually not, but it can be. On October 11, 2026, SD Bullion's single-coin wire price for a random-year 1/2 oz Eagle was 2.62% over spot, slightly below its 1 oz price at 3.33%. At APMEX the 1/2 oz was 9.29% over spot against 5.45% for the 1 oz. Always compare the price per ounce.
Can a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle go in a gold IRA?
Yes. The Internal Revenue Code, section 408(m)(3), specifically exempts American Eagle gold coins from the IRA collectibles rule. Your IRA trustee or custodian must hold them. See our gold IRA guide.
How big is a 1/2 oz Gold Eagle?
27.00 mm (1.063 inches) across, a little larger than a US quarter dollar. The US Mint pages we checked do not give a thickness.
Do Canadians pay tax on 1/2 oz Gold Eagles?
Usually, yes. Canada exempts gold from GST/HST only at 99.5% purity or higher, and the Eagle is 91.67% gold. See why 22ct coins are taxed in Canada.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- US Mint: American Eagle gold coin specifications (all sizes, composition, designers)
- US Mint: Bullion coins (sold through authorized purchasers)
- 26 US Code 408(m): IRA collectibles rule and American Eagle exception
- IRS Topic 409: Capital gains and losses
- SD Bullion: 1/2 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (price captured Oct 11, 2026)
- APMEX: 1/2 oz American Gold Eagle BU, random year (price captured Oct 11, 2026)
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1
- Australian Taxation Office: GSTR 2003/10
- HMRC VAT Notice 701/21A: Investment gold coins
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.