If you want to invest in gold coins or just want to know more about them, this article is going to answer your questions. We will look at the gold coins produced by mints all around the world, including their purities, sizes and their history.
European Gold Coins
Gold Sovereigns
Date of first mint: 1489
Purity: 916.7
Sizes: full Sovereign (7.9g), half Sovereign (3.99g), and quarter Sovereign (2g)
Gold Sovereigns have existed for over 500 years and are recognised as legal tender in over 20 countries. Because of their legal-tender status, they are free from both VAT and CGT.
Gold Sovereigns are made from 916.7 fine gold, and they feature the design of St. George and a dragon, which has been struck on Sovereigns for over 200 years.
Gold Britannias
Date of first mint: 1987
Purity: 999.9
Sizes: 1 oz and ¼ oz
Britannias were first released in 1987. They are named after the iconic character Britannia, who has featured on every British monarch’s coinage since the 17th century and who has become the symbol of Great Britain.
Gold Britannias are available in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz and 1/10 oz weights. Due to them being made by The Royal Mint and being legal tender, all gold Britannias are exempt from VAT and CGT.
Austrian Philharmonic
Date of first mint: 1989
Purity: 999.9
Sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz
The Austrian Philharmonic was first minted in 1989 and is available in several sizes. The coin is one of the purest in the world with a 999.9 gold fineness.
The coin pays homage to Austria’s love of classical music by featuring various, intricately designed musical instruments on the coin’s reverse side. The front of the coin features the now-famous pipe organ from the Goldener Saal of the Viennese Musikverein.
African Gold Coins
Krugerrands
Date of first mint: 1967
Purity: 916.7
Sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10th oz
The Krugerrand, first produced in 1967, was the first coin to contain one troy ounce of gold. After more than 50 years of production, the Krugerrand is one of the bestselling gold bullion coins around the world.
Demand for the 1 oz gold coin grew over the first decade of production, and by 1980, the Krugerrand accounted for 90% of the global gold coin market. In 2017, the Krugerrand celebrated its 50th year as the top-selling gold bullion coin in the world.
US and Canadian Gold Coins
US Buffalo
Date of first mint: 2006
Purity: 999.9
Sizes: 1 oz
First minted in June 2006, the US Buffalo gold coin was the first 999.9 fine gold coin produced by the United States Mint. According to US law, the gold used to make Buffalos must be from newly mined sources. The United States Mint’s Gold Buffalo coins are the only official investment-grade gold bullion coins whose weight, content and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government.
US Eagle
Date of first mint: 1986
Purity: 916.7
Sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz
Shortly after Krugerrands were declared illegal due to South Africa’s stance on Apartheid in 1986, the U.S. government capitalised on the opportunity and started producing American Eagles. The design features a design of Lady Liberty, which first appeared on the Double Eagle from 1907–1933.
There are two main varieties of American Eagle coins: proof and uncirculated. Uncirculated coins are those that have never been circulated through the population, whereas their proof coins are made to the highest standard and are preserved in immaculate condition.
Canadian Maple
Date of first mint: 1979
Purity: 999.9
Sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, MapleGram25
The Canadian Maple Leaf gold bullion coin is minted by the Royal Canadian Mint and was first introduced in 1979. This coin features the maple leaf, the symbol of Canada.
The modern Canadian Maple Leaf coin has several design and security features, including a textured maple leaf, which is laser engraved with the year of the coin’s minting, as well as raised lettering and intricate coin details.
Australian Gold Coins
Australian Gold Nugget (Kangaroo)
Date of first mint: 1987
Purity: 999.9
Sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz
One of the most popular gold bullion coins in the world, the Australian Gold Kangaroo was first minted in 1987 to celebrate Australia’s natural heritage. The coin has a gold fineness of 999.9, making it one of the purest in the world.
The design of the Kangaroo series changes every year, making it popular with both investors and collectors. The Perth Mint, which produces these bullion coins, also offers coins in silver and platinum.
Middle Eastern Gold Coins
Bahar Azadi
Date of first mint: 1979
Purity: 900
Sizes: 8.13g
The Bahar Azadi is a gold bullion coin minted by the central bank of Iran. First minted in 1979, the Bahar Azadi has become one of the most popular gold bullion coins in the Middle East.
The design changed after 1989 in order to commemorate the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. These coins feature on the reverse a design of a mosque and calligraphic script reading the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Bahar Azadi.
Asian Gold Coins
Chinese Panda
Date of first mint: 1983
Purity: 999
Sizes: 30g, 15g, 8g, 3g, 1g
The Chinese Panda gold bullion coin is a very popular coin. Part of its popularity stems from its intricate design of a panda, which changes every year, resulting in many collecting the yearly designs.
Both for Chinese people and collectors, the value of the Chinese Panda gold coins is not only due to the gold content and the quality of craftsmanship but because of the iconic Panda design itself, which is an important symbol in Chinese culture and history.
Interested in Buying Gold Coins?
If you want to buy gold bullion or silver bullion, we sell a range of bullion coins and bars at the best market prices. From 1/20 oz coins to 1kg gold bars, we have something to suit all budgets and investments goals.
