US Mint

US Mint | American Eagle & American Buffalo – America’s Official Mint

The United States Mint is America’s official coin manufacturer, established in 1792 by the Coinage Act as one of the first acts of the newly formed US government. With principal facilities in Philadelphia and West Point, the US Mint produces two of the world’s most recognised bullion coins: the American Eagle (22-carat, introduced 1986) and the American Buffalo (999.9 fine gold, introduced 2006). Together, these two coins give UK buyers a choice between durable alloyed gold and maximum-purity fine gold — both backed by the US government for weight and gold content, and both carrying a $50 face value.

London Gold Centre stocks US Mint bullion with live market-linked pricing, secure checkout, and the choice of insured UK delivery or collection from our Hatton Garden showroom. Browse the full product range below, or compare US Mint coins alongside other mints on the Buy Gold Coins UK page.

Why Buyers Choose US Mint Bullion

• Two iconic coin programmes — one mint: the US Mint is unique among world mints in offering both a 22-carat bullion coin (American Eagle) and a 999.9 fine gold coin (American Buffalo), giving buyers a genuine choice of alloy and purity under the same government-backed umbrella.
• US government-backed weight guarantee: both the Eagle and Buffalo carry a $50 face value and are backed by the United States government for weight and gold content — providing institutional-grade assurance of authenticity.
• Iconic American coin designs: the Eagle features Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Lady Liberty (adapted from the historic $20 Double Eagle), while the Buffalo features James Earle Fraser’s Native American and bison design from the original Buffalo Nickel — two of the most famous coin designs in numismatic history.
• America’s official mint since 1792: the US Mint was established by the Coinage Act of 1792, making it one of the oldest government minting institutions in the Americas and a cornerstone of US financial infrastructure for over 230 years.

US Mint Products Available

The 1oz American Eagle contains one troy ounce (31.1g) of fine gold in a 22-carat (916.7 fineness) gold-silver-copper alloy, with a gross weight of 33.93g. The alloyed composition adds durability and gives the coin its distinctive warm colour — the same approach used by the Krugerrand. Introduced in 1986, the Eagle was the US Mint’s first modern bullion coin.

The 1oz American Buffalo contains one troy ounce (31.1g) of 999.9 fine gold — the US Mint’s first-ever 24-carat gold coin, introduced in 2006 to compete with the Maple Leaf and Britannia at the four-nines purity standard. The Buffalo is lighter in gross weight than the Eagle because it contains no alloy metals.

If you are comparing US Mint coins against other 1oz coins, the key alternatives for UK buyers are the 1oz Britannia (UK legal tender with CGT discussion, 999.9 fine), the Krugerrand (world’s original bullion coin, 22ct like the Eagle), and the Maple Leaf (Canadian Mint 999.9 with micro-engraved security). Our best gold coins guide helps you compare across all major coin families.

American Eagle vs American Buffalo — How to Choose

Choose the American Eagle if you want a durable 22-carat alloy coin with the longest US bullion heritage (1986), a heavier gross weight, and the iconic Saint-Gaudens Lady Liberty design. The Eagle shares its alloy approach with the Krugerrand and offers added scratch resistance. Choose the American Buffalo if you want maximum 999.9 fine gold purity, the James Earle Fraser Native American and bison design, and a coin that competes directly with the Britannia and Maple Leaf on purity. Both contain exactly one troy ounce of fine gold and carry the same $50 US face value.

Note that neither the Eagle nor the Buffalo is UK legal tender, so the Capital Gains Tax discussion differs from Britannias and Sovereigns. For the latest tax position, check the HMRC guidance on investment gold and VAT and the HMRC CGT manual.

Tax, Pricing, and Buying Guidance

Investment gold coins are commonly treated as VAT-free in the UK when they meet the relevant conditions. For live pricing comparison, use the gold price per gram calculator to benchmark premiums. For broader buying guidance, our 10 things to know before buying gold and Britannia vs Sovereign guide cover the fundamentals. You can also browse the full gold bars, silver, platinum, and palladium ranges to compare across metals.