In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!

Long SOLD OUT at the Royal Canadian Mint!

The national bird of the United States, the Bald Eagle, graces the world’s smallest, purest gold proof in a meticulously engraved portrait, creating an affordable must-have for coin collectors everywhere!

The great bald eagle is an amazing predator whose image has become synonymous with the ideals of freedom, majesty, strength, and individualism in North America - particularly its well-known symbolic status in the United States of America! The image by Canadian wildlife artist Trevor Tenant features a profile portrait of a bald eagle. Presenting this fierce bird of prey from its left side, the portrait features in striking detail the light-colored head and dark upper wings and body of this majestic raptor. Its sharp hooked beak is open while its far-seeing eye glares authoritatively at the viewer.

The varied textures and tones of the eagle’s feathers are captured through meticulously fine engraving and expert finishing, making this low-mintage (only 10,000) pure gold proof a must-have work of art for any fan animals or America! So it's understandable why we're so excited to bring you this amazingly beautiful, amazingly affordable small gold proof featuring the national symbol of the United States!

The Magnificent Bald Eagle
The great Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a native North American bird of prey whose battle back from the brink of extinction in some areas in the 1970s, is a species success story. Today, its range covers most of North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico. In Canada, salmon-rich British Columbia is the astonishing hunter’s stronghold! However, this magnificent bird breeds in all provinces and territories. Its populations are regularly monitored by wilderness authorities.

Most people realize that (despite its name) the bald eagle is not actually bald. The term “bald” may come from an outmoded usage meaning “white”, or from the term “piebald,” which means “patchy.” The bald eagle’s head and tail are covered in bright white feathers and the remainder of its body is dark brown. It has a sharp hooked beak and large feet tipped with long, razor-like talons and small spicules (spikes) that make it an exceptional hunter.

Eagles are renowned for their amazing vision, which allows them to see up to seven times farther than humans. Their swiftness is also notable and they can reach especially high speeds when diving. They consume small mammals, snakes, other birds, and carrion.

A bald eagle’s nesting spot of choice is a large tree near an isolated, well-stocked body of water. Their nests are among the largest in the world, spanning over ten feet (three meters) and weighing up to a ton, and host two eaglets per breeding cycle. Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. Their mating dance is a sight to behold, as prospective partners take turns trying to impress one another with complicated aerial maneuvers that include cartwheels, talon-locking, and more.

Coastal eagles in more moderate climates tend to stay in the same territory year round; otherwise, eagles will migrate to coastal or southern wintering grounds. An apex predator exclusive to North America with no obvious natural enemies, the bald eagle population today seems to remain stable throughout most of its range.

Investment Note

The previous 1/25 ounce pure gold coins (from the 2004 Moose to the 2011 Canada Geese and the 2012 Bluenose Schooner) all sold out at the mint and are hard to find. Recently, small gold coins have become particularly desirable because of their affordability and collectibility. Finally, the mintage limit on this new release is only 10,000 - the lowest in the series!

Technology Note
The marvelous minting technology of the Royal Canadian Mint has brought us the world’s smallest pure gold coin, in a purity (99.99%) that puts other, larger gold coins to shame!

Obverse

An artistic, realistic and minutely detailed portrait of a bald eagle. The date of issue and denomination also appear.

Reverse

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend reads ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God").

The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer sleeve. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.

Specifications

The Bald Eagle: Canada’s Largest Bird of Prey

The great bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is an amazing predator whose image has become synonymous with the notions of freedom, majesty, strength, and individualism in North America - particularly for its well-known symbolic status in the United States of America.

Eagles, in general, are renowned as much for their hunting skills, speed, and strength as for their striking looks and size. A large brown-feathered raptor with white-feathered head and tail, razor-sharp talons, and sharp hooked beak, the bald eagle’s vision is four times sharper than in humans, and key to its hunting prowess. However, bald eagles often feed by scavenging.

Bald eagles are found across Canada, thriving on the country’s Pacific coast in particular. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife considers the bald eagle to not be at risk.

Bald eagles prefer to nest in large trees near isolated, well-stocked bodies of water. Their nests are among the largest in the world, sometimes several metres in height. Here, the mating couple, which usually bonds for life, will raise an average of two eaglets per breeding cycle. Although bald eagle populations are stable or increasing in most parts of Canada, their survival is still threatened by deforestation and the persistence of pollutants in the food chain.