These days individuals who invest in and collect gold bullion coins have a great number of choices as to where they can make potential coin purchases also. You will find that many savvy collectors and investors find that online auctions are a great place to uncover some really good deals on rare coins, as many reputable sellers are doing business on these auction sites themselves increasing the number of trusted sellers that you may choose to deal with.

The internet has become a tremendous resource to gather all kinds of important information about investment grade gold, silver and platinum coins. With websites providing up to the minute quotes on precious metal prices along with expert analysis of current trends, there is really no reason why anyone should not be able to get a fairly thorough online education on gold bullion products in a relatively short amount of time. You will also come to find that there is a growing online community of coin investors and collectors who are looking for to share ideas and resources with their fellow enthusiasts and can usually be found in online groups and forums. The members who make up these communities tend to be made up of collectors and part-time dealers who have an inventory of rare and investment grade coins. Alternatively you may come across coin collectors who are in a situation where they may be looking to sell either parts of their collections, or their collection in it's entirety. You will find that the time spent browsing the internet in search of different resources will in the end be a truly valuable use of your time as you begin to create associations with a number of different like-minded numismatists.

When choosing to focus on gold bullion coins, it should be noted that there is really no other bullion coin on the market today, that is as well-respected and highly sought-after as the Gold Eagle American coin. You will come to discover that the attention to detail that has been put into each and every one of these unique coins is nearly beyond belief. As you may already be aware, the obverse of the coin features the beautiful work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, as his depiction of Lady Liberty striding forward is with parallel. The highly detailed coin also features a view of the United States Capitol building set in the backdrop. The reverse of the gold eagle features a touching depiction of a bald American eagle landing near a nest that is holding a female eagle along with her hatchlings.

As you begin to acquire the knowledge and confidence to invest in higher grade coins and coin with a higher gold content, you should find that with so many choices in size and weight the American Eagle offers you a multitude of quality choices. They are made available in 1/10 -ounce, 1/4 -ounce, 1/2 -ounce and 1 -ounce denominations. As the price of gold seems to be constantly rising to new heights recently, finding really good deals has become a bit harder as the competition from fellow investors and collectors has become quite stiff. However, with time and patience along with good decision making, you will be able to continue to build up a quality collection of coins no matter the economic climate.

Gold Eagles have found strong investor interest throughout the year with many near record sale numbers achieved, including the month of September during which over 115,000 gold eagles were sold and experiencing one of it's highest selling Septembers by volume.

As investors shy away from traditional investment opportunities such as stocks and bonds, the American Gold Eagle has enjoyed a resurgence the last couple of years with no end to their popularity on the horizon. Gold Eagles not only draw the interest of investors here in the United States, they also have become one of the most revered gold bullion coins on a worldwide basis. As the global economy continues to lag, investors continue to seek a hedge against falling dollar values.

As the price of gold hovers at $1,000 per ounce, seeking ways to obtain physical gold as efficiently and safely as possible, has become a priority to many of those hoping to take advantage of potential future gains. American Gold Eagles fulfill many of those requirements as they are readily available, accepted as a quality gold bullion coin anywhere in the world and due to their convenient size can be easily and safely stored.

All in all, 2009 will go down as a great year for the American Gold Eagle coin, with many investors who were previously unaware of the benefits and enjoyment of obtaining Gold Eagles joining the ranks of the many thousands of experienced gold bullion investors.

As Federal regulations state that the raw gold used in American Gold Eagle Coins must be mined here in the United States, very few  gold refineries qualify in meeting the standards required to officially produce the blanks needed for the coin minting process. These stringent regulations created a shortage of gold uncirculated and proof coins this past summer, fueling investor demand for gold bullion products even more this year.

The United States Mint has already sold over 750,000 American Gold Eagles so far this year, outpacing last years total numbers for the entire year. As final numbers begin to filter in at the start of 2010, sales of gold bullion coins should approach all-time record numbers, and with interest in gold bullion showing no signs of slowing down currently, many experts predict that next year will be an equally strong year in relation to physical gold as an investment option.

Because of the economic downturn, investors are once again acquiring gold as an investment in various forms like gold bullion coins--which the American Gold Eagle is a type of. Amidst the financial panic, the demand for bullion has doubled since the last year as more individuals seek a secure form of investment. While the panic has receded a bit, people still do not trust the stock market and are wary of investing further in it, so have turned to gold as a safe way to invest in their future. Anxiety and worry are on the rise, however, because of the massive stimulus spending the Obama administration has put through.

Gold coin production has been increased by the federal agency in charge of making U.S. coins--the U.S. Mint. Gold coin production has been increased by the federal agency in charge of making U.S. coins--the U.S. Mint. In 2008, 800,000 American Eagle coins were sold--as of June, sales have already hit that point and have kept going. The U.S. Mint was forced to put some gold items on back order due to overwhelming demand that they could not keep up with. Because of the high demand (that is unprecedented) for the American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins, the United States Mint has temporarily suspended the production of uncirculated coins and United States Mint Eagle Gold Proof coins.

As of this moment, any gold blanks that are 22 karats have been earmarked for the American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin Program because the U.S. Mint must produce enough coins to satisfy public demand under Public Law 99-185. Once market demand has been met for the American Eagle Gold coins and inventories are built back up, the United States Mint will restart production of the Uncirculated Coins and the American Eagle Gold Proof. After careful consideration they have also decided to cease manufacturing smaller sized American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coins.

As of this moment, the demand for gold products and investment opportunities is still very high. Interest in gold is predicted to remain strong throughout the year, in fact as of the first quarter it is 50% higher than it has ever been during this decade.