Gold Bullion Coin Investments

Buying gold bullion, either in the form of bars or coins, is one of the safest investment strategies since the price of gold rises every year. Investing in gold is also one of the easiest ways to build your wealth since it doesn't require any advanced technical knowledge or prediction skills, unlike stock trading.

Many countries issue special gold coins so that private citizens (from any nation) can build their portfolios with official government-backed bullion. If you want to start investing in gold coinage, here are some of the most popular series from around the world. You can purchase these coins from most established gold and coin dealers. The list price for gold bullion coins is always a little higher than the current market value of gold, since there is numismatic value in the coins' artistry and limited availability.

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Royal Canadian Mint began issuing these gold bullion coins for investors in 1972. The coins are 99.99% pure gold, made from precious metal mined in Canada. Gold maple leaf coins are one of the most widely available and purest bullion coins in the world, making them a favorite among novice and experienced gold investors in Canada and the US. You can buy them as 1/20, 1/10, 1/2, 1/4 or 1 troy ounce pieces.

American Gold Eagle

The US Mint has issued golden eagles since 1986 as the official gold bullion in the US. The coins are 22k gold, or 91.67% pure, with silver and copper added to the alloy to make them more durable. Though the coins themselves are only 91.67% fine, each coin does contain the stated amount of gold as stamped on the reverse. For example, a 1/10 ounce coin contains exactly 0.1 troy ounces of pure gold, though the entire coin itself is a bit heavier due to the other added metals.

South African Krugerrand

The Krugerrand of South Africa was the first regularly issued gold bullion coin in the world, minted since 1967. The obverse features the bust of Kruger (Boer Resistance leader during the South African War 1899-1902), while the reverse features a springbok, the national animal of South Africa. During Apartheid, many Western countries banned the sale and import of these coins. Now they are actively traded and popular among collectors. Like the American eagle coins, they are 91.67% pure, with copper added for durability.

Australian Golden Roo (Gold Nugget)

The Australian kangaroo gold bullion coin (also called "gold nugget" after the original design) is a 99.99% pure coin made in limited issue each year. Since 1989, the reverse of the coin has featured a different kangaroo design each year, while the obverse shows the image of Queen Elizabeth. The Perth Mint offers some of the largest gold bullion coins available for regular purchase, including a 2 oz coin that is 4.04 cm across and 0.335 cm thick with a face value of $500. (The actual collectors value of bullion coins is much higher than their face value.)

Austrian Philharmoniker

The Austrian Philharmoniker is one of Europe's premier gold bullion coins. Struck in 99.99% pure gold, the coin has been favorite among European gold investors since 2002.

The face value of this series ranges between 10 and 100 euros and the coin features images from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Austrian government mints between 40,000 and 120,000 of each denomination per year.

Chinese Gold Panda Coins

Gold pandas are the most well-known and best-selling Asian bullion pieces. The design changes from year to year but always features an image of the great panda on one side and the Temple of Heaven on the other. The coins range in size from 1/20 of a troy ounce to 1 troy ounce and are 99.9% fine.

Where to Buy Gold Bullion Coins

Most companies that buy scrap gold do not sell fine gold bullion coins, so you need to check with local coin dealers and online bullion stores. You can also find dealers by checking with your country's mint:

US Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Australian Mint

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