Gold Coin Investment: Best Buys For Your Money

Gold has been a popular way to diversify portfolios and protect wealth for centuries. Gold coins, in particular, are attractive to investors for their aesthetic and historical value, in addition to their monetary value. If you're looking to invest in gold coins, there are a multitude of options available. Here are some of the best gold coins to consider:

- American Gold Eagle Coin

- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin

- South African Gold Krugerrand Coin

- Australian Gold Kangaroo Coin

- Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coin

- American Gold Buffalo Coin

- British Britannia Gold Coin

- Chinese Gold Panda Coin

Best Gold Coins for Investment

American Gold Eagle

The American Gold Eagle is one of the most recognisable gold coins in the world and a very attractive investment option. Its popularity is due to several reasons, including its historical significance, recognisable design, and high liquidity in the market.

The American Gold Eagle is the official gold bullion coin of the United States. It was first introduced in 1986 following the Gold Bullion Coins Act of 1985. The Act mandates that the coins be minted with gold mined in the United States and produced at West Point, New York.

The coin's design features a portrayal of Lady Liberty carrying a torch and an olive branch, with the Capitol Building in the background on the obverse. The name of the coin, however, comes from the design on the reverse side, which features a male bald eagle guarding his family. The reverse design also features the face value and weight of the coin. For example, a 1-ounce American Gold Eagle has a face value of $50 and states that it is 1 ounce of fine gold. The American Gold Eagle is available in various sizes, including 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz.

The American Gold Eagle is composed of 22-karat gold, including 91.67% gold, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper. The addition of copper and silver makes the coin more durable and scratch-resistant. The coin's gold content and purity are guaranteed by the United States government, making it a trusted investment option.

The American Gold Eagle is a good choice for investors looking to add gold to their portfolio. It has a small premium above the spot price and is recognised globally as a useful investment vehicle. Its purity and weight are tightly regulated by the US government, making it a straightforward investment option compared to bullion bars, which have a wider range of options and price variations.

Additionally, the American Gold Eagle is highly liquid, and its resale value is high. The coin is easy to sell both in the US and worldwide, and its value tends to increase over time.

For collectors, the American Gold Eagle is also available in uncirculated and proof versions, which are finished to a higher standard and have a more attractive appearance. These versions are sealed in plastic and mounted in presentation cases, making them perfect for display.

Overall, the American Gold Eagle is an excellent choice for investors and collectors alike, offering a blend of historical significance, recognisable design, high liquidity, and potential for growth.

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is one of the most well-known gold bullion coins in the world. The Royal Canadian Mint introduced the coin in 1979, and it was the only competition for the South African Gold Krugerrand for years. The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is still considered one of the world's purest and most popular gold bullion coins.

The coin features a maple leaf on the front and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of Canada on the back. The maple leaf design has been the same since its introduction in 1979, although it has been altered to add security measures, such as radial lines and a microscopic maple leaf privy mark.

The Royal Canadian Mint produces the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf on a grand scale. The coin is struck annually and is available in a variety of sizes, including 1 gram, 1/20 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz. The 1-ounce coins were introduced in 1979 with a $50 denomination and were .999 fine. Today, the coins are up to .99999 fine gold.

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is one of the most secure bullion coins in the world. The Bullion DNA program offers the highest security on the market for any bullion coin. Each bullion coin features a textured maple leaf security privy mark, micro-engraved with laser technology, and is only visible under magnification. The micro-engraving is encoded, scanned, and recorded at the Mint for future authentication, giving each coin a unique Bullion DNA.

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is a popular choice for investors due to its security features, high purity, and detailed design.

South African Gold Krugerrand

The South African Gold Krugerrand is one of the most iconic gold bullion coins in the world. It was first minted in 1967 by the South African Mint, in partnership with the Rand Refinery, to promote the country's vast natural gold reserves. The coin was an instant success, becoming the first modern gold bullion coin available for private investment.

The Krugerrand gets its name from combining the surname of Paul Kruger, the last president of the Republic of South Africa, and the "rand," a South African monetary unit. The obverse side of the coin features a left-profile bust of Paul Kruger, designed by Otto Schultz, with the country's name written in English and Afrikaans. The reverse side showcases the springbok antelope, South Africa's national animal, along with the coin's weight, metal content, and year of issue.

The South African Gold Krugerrand is a 22-karat gold coin, weighing 1.09 Troy oz (33.93 grams) with a fineness of .9167. It measures 1.28 inches (32.6 mm) in diameter and 2.74 mm in thickness. The coin's copper-gold alloy composition not only enhances its durability and scratch resistance but also gives it a unique orange-gold colour.

Despite its popularity, the Krugerrand faced setbacks in the 1980s due to international sanctions against South Africa's apartheid policies, making it illegal to import the coins into many countries. However, these sanctions were revoked in the early 1990s, and the Krugerrand continues to be a sought-after investment option today.

In addition to the standard 1 Troy oz coin, the South African Mint also offers fractional-weight coins of 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz, as well as limited-issue proof coins with a higher number of serrations on their edges. With its rich history, the South African Gold Krugerrand remains a popular choice for investors and collectors worldwide.

Gold Philharmonic

The Gold Philharmonic was first introduced in 1989 as a commemoration of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The coin's design has remained unchanged since its introduction, showcasing the orchestra's hall on the obverse and musical instruments on the reverse. The coin is issued with a face value listed in euros, with coins produced before 2002 denominated in schillings. The 1-ounce coin has a face value of 100 euros, while coins produced from 1989 to 2001 have a face value of 2,000 schillings.

The Gold Philharmonic is one of the few gold coin series that offer small fractional ounce denominations, making it suitable for smaller investments. In addition to the typical 1/10 ounce size, investors can also opt for a 1/25 ounce coin. The coin's popularity is evident in its sales records, and its purity and unique design allow it to hold its value despite its high demand.

The Austrian Gold Philharmonic is a low-mintage coin that is highly sought-after by investors and collectors alike. It is the only gold bullion coin issued in euros and is guaranteed by the well-respected Austrian Mint. The coin's design celebrates the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, making it an ideal choice for musicians and music enthusiasts.

The obverse of the coin features imagery of the pipe organ found at the Musikverein's Golden Hall, while the reverse depicts various instruments used by the orchestra, including a cello, violins, a harp, a bassoon, and a Vienna horn. The Gold Philharmonic is not subject to VAT in most European countries, and it is also available in platinum.

American Gold Buffalo

The American Gold Buffalo coin is a popular choice for investors and collectors alike. It is produced by the United States Mint and modelled after the famous 1913 Buffalo Nickel, designed by James Earle Fraser. The coin features a Native American chief's profile on the obverse side and an American buffalo, inspired by a bison named Black Diamond that lived in New York City's Central Park Zoo in the 1910s, on the reverse.

The American Gold Buffalo coin is a 24-karat bullion coin, the first of its kind offered for sale by the US Mint in 2006. It has a purity of .9999 fine gold, making it a higher purity option than the American Gold Eagle coin. The American Gold Buffalo coin is available in various weights, including 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, and 1/20 oz.

The obverse inscriptions on the coin include "LIBERTY" and the year of mintage, while the reverse inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "E PLURIBUS UNUM", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and "$50". The coin has a diameter of 1.287 inches and a thickness of 0.116 inches.

The American Gold Buffalo coin is a collector's version of the official US Mint American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin. Each coin is presented in an elegant leatherette box with distinctive finishing touches and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Due to its popularity and the increase in gold prices, the value of the American Gold Buffalo coin has increased significantly since its initial offering in 2006.

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