Why Do People Pick Gold Eagles Over Gold Maples

To my understanding there is still 1 full oz (or whatever fraction) in the 22kt gold coin as there is gold in GML's 9999. If anything, you're getting more "stuff" with the 22kt as it will be heavier with the added copper.

That said, I prefer the intricate, natural, unassuming design of the maple over the AGE. But again, I'm biased as a Canadian.

Each has 1 oz of gold, so I do not get your analogy of skipping past a Mercedes and buying a Ford. That's a terrible analogy. While I can understand you wanting to support your home country's government issued bullion, to suggest an American Gold Eagle as being that much inferior to a Maple is not accurate at all. I could understand if you were comparing a silver one ounce generic bar or round with the "Happy Reitrement" or "Merry Christmas" motif being compared to a Silver Eagle or Silver Maple.

I see that as an advantage for the Eagles IMHO. I prefer a harder to scratch/ding coin, for that same reason I don't buy proofs or the buffalo coin.

As mentioned by many already, both have the same amount of actual gold, the eagles weight more to make up for the added alloys.

If you wamt an Amercian 24KT coin there is the American Buffalo but I would prefer 22KT Eagle so I don't have to be as concerned when handling.

Gerrod,
I was trying to think of a way to diplomatically make the same point you did. No way I could beat your effort!

National preference aside, I do believe there is an economical reason.

To coin something that has an alloy is an extra process, with more diligence involved with regards to assayage. I do not believe this is the case with four-nines-fine. My reason for saying that is that the RCMint is an innovator, and the cost of their innovation just instantly comes with all of their inventory as a standard that is cheaper to produce because they do it constantly. The RCMint is heavily invested in four-nines-fine and that would make it cheaper to make as opposed to other mints who would need to start from scratch (equipment and supplies).

Another reason I think AGEs are more readily accepted is the same for Krugerands, that is, that they are designed to be circulated and accepted as a standard for payment. The copper protects it from being "held" and it's encouraged for it to move around between individuals. Fine bullion is held and not moved around too much. The RCMint produces big bars to buy, does the USMint do the same?

Chime in if I'm wrong because I have no proof of my presumptions.

With regards to the Ford/Mercedes analogy: I would prefer a strong truck to an expensive death trap any day of the year. It's all about preference, there is no "best" car - that is the very essence of our freedom of movement.

I vote maple leaf rather than the american eagle. I like the looks of the maple leaf over the eagle. Also I'm Canadian and I can easily get them, and I rarely see an american gold eagle.

I would be fine with buying either one. As a bullion collector, I am looking for nice looking coins in fine or better condition. I prefer BU for newer coins but F, VF, XF, and AU condition is also good. Locally, I hardly ever see a Maple of any kind for sale. If I want them, I pretty much have to buy from an on-line vendor. The design is a little more attractive with the AGE. The Walking Liberty half dollar is one of my favorite coins and the ASE / AGE obverse is similar. Maples may have a little less fancy design but they are also a bit cheaper. I do like the fact that the AGE is not pure gold and is therefore more resistant to handling mistakes. Either would likely be stores in an air-tight, though, so maybe this is fine either way.

While I do not have any gold yet, I do have about an equal number of ASEs and silver Maples. No ethnocentricity here!