1/4 oz Gold Eagles at BullionMax
While it’s tempting to overlook the 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz BU American Gold Eagle Coins, deeming them as less remarkable compared to their 1 oz and 1/10 oz counterparts, a closer examination reveals the distinctive character of the 1/4 oz gold coin among its fractional-ounce peers.
Historic Consistency
The history of the 1/2 oz BU Gold Eagle is marked by consistently tight mintage figures. In contrast, the 1/4 oz BU American Gold Eagle has experienced both stable periods and volatile swings, setting it apart within the series.
For instance, the difference between the highest (726,031) and lowest (34,004) mintages for the 1/4 oz American Gold Eagle Series nearly reaches 700,000 coins, while the gap for the 1/2 oz series is closer to 500,000 coins. Even excluding the two highest mintage dates from each series, the variance for 1/4 oz Gold Eagles stands at 230,000 coins, compared to just over 100,000 coins for 1/2 oz Gold Eagles.
Highs and Lows in Mintage Figures
Similar to other coins in the series, the 1/4 oz BU Gold Eagle experienced peak demand during significant periods such as 1986-1987, the late 1990s Y2K crisis, and the Great Recession. Notably, it witnessed another surge during the geopolitical tensions of 2015-2016, marking high mintage years for this weight. Key high mintage marks include:
- 1986: 726,031 coins
- 1999: 564,232 coins
- 1998: 309,829 coins
- 1987: 269,255 coins
- 2015: 158,000 coins
- 2016: 152,000 coins
On the flip side, as economic conditions improved both domestically and globally, demand for the 1/4 oz gold Eagle declined, resulting in its lowest mintage years, which include:
- 2007: 34,004 coins
- 1991: 36,100 coins
- 2019: 38,000 coins
- 1990: 41,000 coins
- 1988: 49,000 coins
- 2021 Type 1: 56,000 coins
1/4 oz Gold Eagle Options
The longest-running options for the 1/4 oz Gold Eagle come in the BU and Proof collections. BU 1/4 oz Gold Eagles have been offered each year since the 1986 debut of the series. The Proof 1/4 oz Gold Eagle debuted in 1988 and has missed just one year since that time; 2009. As with the other fractional-ounce Burnished Gold Eagles, the Burnished 1/4 oz Gold Eagle was available only from 2006 to 2008.
Buying 1/4 oz Gold Eagles from BullionMax
If you have any questions about 1/4 oz Gold Eagle Coins, BullionMax is here to help. Please feel free to call us at 800-729-3202, chat with us online, or email us directly.
