Every precious metals coin comes with a set of standard specifications. Understanding these ensures you know exactly what you are buying.
Key Specifications
### Weight Always stated in troy ounces (or grams). Remember: 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams. ### Fineness (Purity) Expressed as parts per thousand. ".9999 fine" means 99.99% pure metal. ### Total Weight vs. Metal Content For alloyed coins (22K like the American Eagle), total weight exceeds stated metal content because the alloy adds weight. A 1 oz American Gold Eagle actually weighs 33.93 grams but contains exactly 31.1g of pure gold. ### Diameter and Thickness Stated in millimeters. Useful for verifying authenticity and selecting storage solutions. ### Face Value The legal tender denomination. This is almost always far below the actual metal value. A $50 American Gold Eagle contains over $2,000 worth of gold. ### Mint The facility that produced the coin. Sovereign mints (U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, etc.) guarantee weight and purity.