What is the difference between collector coins & bullion coins?
Not every gold coin is equally suitable for investment. A distinction is made between collector coins and bullion coins.
The value of collector coins is not only determined by the material, but also by other factors. Coin collectors are particularly interested in the rarity of a coin: Things like the age of a coin, the year of issue or certain characteristics determine how much a collector is willing to pay for a coin.
Bullion coins, on the other hand, are explicitly issued as investment coins. The price of such a coin is made up of the pure material value and a small surcharge for the minting. Bullion coins are often also legal tender, but the face value of gold bullion coins is always far below the actual value.
Which gold coin is the best?
The best gold coins for beginners are investment coins that are as well-known as possible and therefore widely accepted. Do not buy exotic coins and above all avoid buying medals. All of the bullion coins listed below are accepted worldwide and make excellent gold investments.
You can sell these coins anytime and anywhere at dealers or banks at a price close to the current gold price . You only have to reckon with a minimal discount of between 1-5% between the buying and selling price of these coins.
The most important gold bullion coins
Krugerrand / Krugerrand
The South African Krugerrand (or Krugerrand in German) has been minted since 1967 and is the world's most widespread and probably best-known gold bullion coin. The Krugerrand is legal tender in South Africa, although there is no face value on the coin. Unlike many other bullion coins, the Krugerrand is only made of 22 carat gold, i.e. it is a gold alloy. The added copper is also responsible for the reddish color and is intended to make the coin harder.
Front: Springbok
Reverse: Paul Kruger
Country: South Africa
Manufacturer: South African Mint
Fineness: 916.67/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce
Years of mintage: 1967 until today
Maple Leaf
Alongside the Krugerrand, the Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is probably the other gold coin that almost every child knows. While the eponymous sugar maple leaf is embossed on the front, a portrait of the Queen can be found on the reverse. With a purity of 999.9/1000 gold, the Maple Leaf is made of pure gold, but like many other bullion coins, it is also available in silver, platinum and even palladium.
Front: Maple leaf
Reverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Country: Canada
Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint
Fineness: 999.9/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce, 1/20 ounce, 1 gram
Years minted: 1979 to today
Vienna Philharmonic
The Vienna Philharmonic coin is the coin with the highest circulation in Europe and is known far beyond the borders of Austria. The Philharmonic is made of pure gold (999.9% gold content) and is now issued by the Austrian Mint in 5 different sizes. Until 2001, the coin's face value was minted in schillings (2000ATS - 200 ATS); since 2002, all editions have had a euro value (100 € - 4 €).
Front page: Instruments of the Philharmonic Orchestra
Back: Organ of the Vienna Musikverein
Country: Austria
Manufacturer: Austrian Mint AG
Fineness: 999.9/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce, 1/25 ounce
Years of minting: 1989 until today
Australian Nugget / Australian Kangaroo
This Australian gold coin is a popular bullion coin that stands out due to its changing motifs and whose name has even changed. Because the motif initially featured unusual gold nuggets found in Australia, the coin was initially called "The Australian Nugget". From 1990, however, images of kangaroos were minted as a motif, which changed annually. Despite this, the name of the coin remained the same. It was not until 2008 that the coin was renamed "Australian Kangaroo". There is always a portrait of the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, on the obverse, but this is also adapted. In addition to the standard investment sizes between 1 ounce and 1/20 ounce, there are also special sizes of ½ gram, 2 ounces, 10 ounces and 1 kilo. In 2012, the Perth Mint is even minting a Kangaroo coin with a fine weight of one tonne: the largest gold coin in the world.
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Reverse: Gold nugget or kangaroo
Country: Australia
Manufacturer: Perth Mint
Fineness: 999.9/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce, 1/20 ounce
Years of mintage: 1986 to today
China Panda
The panda gold coin from China is also issued with a different motif every year. Due to the panda bear motif, the "Gold Panda" or "China Panda" is considered one of the most beautiful gold coins and is not only very popular as an investment coin, but is also collected. Another special feature of this coin is that since 2016 it has no longer been issued in ounce denominations, but with gram specifications. Since 2016, the largest standard coin no longer weighs 1 ounce, but has been rounded down to an even 30 grams.
Front: Panda
Reverse: Temple of Heaven
Country: China
Manufacturer: China Mint
Fineness: 999.9/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce, 1/20 ounce resp.
30 grams, 15 grams, 8 grams, 3 grams, 1 gram
Years of minting: 1982 until today
American Buffalo
The American Buffalo is the first US bullion coin made of 24 carat gold. The other well-known US coin, the American Gold Eagle, is only made from an alloy of American 916.7/1000 gold, i.e. 22 carat. While the coin was initially only issued in one size, namely 1 ounce, in 2006, it has also been issued in sizes of 1⁄10, ¼ and ½ troy ounce since 2008.
Front side: Indian head
Back: Buffalo
Country: USA
Manufacturer: United States Mint
Fineness: 999.9/1000 gold
Sizes: 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1⁄10 ounce
Years minted: 2006 to date
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