Best Gold Coins to Invest in
Wednesday, October 4th 2023
Investing in gold coins is a great idea and offers many benefits. Once you have made that decision, the next choice involves choosing the coins and there are a wide variety of gold coins out there. These are generally considered to be more valuable than bars or rounds and hence can be a better investment option. Here are the 10 best gold coins for investors to buy.
Top 10 Gold coins to Buy in 2023 and Beyond
► American Eagle
Often considered the gold standard when it comes to gold coins, the American Eagle is one of the most popular and recognizable gold coins available for investment. It is the official gold bullion of the United States and features the Bald Eagle on one side and Liberty on the other. It is comprised of 91.67% gold only mined in the US, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper. It is the gold coin of choice among American investors and many others around the world. Its high recognizability means that it can easily be valued making its sale quite easy and straightforward. It has also been approved as a retirement investment vehicle (gold based IRA) and their purchase and sale are exempt from Form 1099-B reporting requirements. It is also available in different sizes making it suitable for all types of investment portfolios. All of these make the American Eagle a great all-round investment option.
- Karat: 22
- Sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce
- Fineness: 0.91
► American Buffalo
The next most popular type of gold coin is the American Buffalo. It is pretty much a pure gold coin and that makes it quite special. It features an American Buffalo, reportedly inspired by Black Diamond, an American buffalo that lived in the Central Park Zoo during the early part of the 21st century. This coin also features a Native American Chief on the other side. This coin is highly prized among investors as it has more artistic value. Due to its pure nature, it is softer than other types of gold coins and this gives rise to irregularities. This in a way makes each American Buffalo coin unique. If you are looking for a pure gold coin to invest in that is almost as easy to buy or sell as the American Eagle then this is your best bet.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 1-ounce (1/2-ounce were minted in 2008 but these are considerably more expensive and difficult to procure)
- Fineness: 0.9999
► Canadian Maple Leaf
If you want some variety in your gold coin portfolio then this is a great option to go with. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and is considered to be the best non-American option when it comes to gold coins. They are also available in a much wider range of sizes which makes it ideal for investments of all sizes and types. The smallest of these coins are also a great option for beginners who are just getting their feet wet in the world of investment in gold and want to allocate modest funds for this purpose. The maple leaf design makes it one of the most beautiful coins out there as well.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 1-ounce, 1 gram, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce, 1/25-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
► British Britannia
If liquidity is your biggest concern then this is the best option to go for. The British Britannia is recognized the world over and is often seen by investors as a coin that will hold its value around the world even in the case of extremely uncertain times. It also has one of the most varied ranges of size from 5-ounces all the way down to 1/20-ounce which makes it ideal for all types of investors irrespective of whether they want to make a really large investment or a really small investment. If you want to diversify your investment portfolio with a more global reach then this is the coin to go for.
- Karat: 24 post-2013
- Sizes: 5-ounce, 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999 post-2013 and 0.917 before that
► South African Gold Krugerrand
If you like variety in your gold coins then this is it. The South African Gold Krugerrand has a chequered past. It was once the most popular gold coin and accounted for as much as 90% of the gold coins in circulation. However, their popularity drastically took a dip when they were banned in most countries due to their association with apartheid. However, times have changed and these coins have seen a resurgence of late. They have a lot of history and heritage attached to them and also have a very unique hue from a visual standpoint. If you want a gold coin that is a bit different but will still hold its value then the Krugerrand is a great option.
- Karat: 22
- Sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9167
► Austrian Gold Philharmonic
This is another unique gold coin as it is the only gold coin issued in Euros. The Austrian Mint is highly respected in the world of gold coins and that makes the Austrian Gold Philharmonic a worthy addition to your investment portfolio. It is also considered by many to be one of the most beautiful gold coins that you can invest in. It has some of the most intricate depictions you will find on a gold coin as well. If you are looking to diversify into European coins then the Philharmonic is a great place to start. The relative lack of choice when it comes to size does limit its potential.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
► Mexican Gold Libertad
This one is held in high esteem by the aesthetic connoisseurs as it is one of the most beautiful gold bullion coins out there. It too has a lot of history and heritage attached to it. It resembles the 50 Peso Gold Coin known as the Centenario and is highly valued by collectors. From a pure investment point of view, it might not have the same global appeal as some of the other coins on this list but they are still quite a worthy option in the Americas. It is also available in limited numbers and that makes it a great option if you are looking to collect gold coins which can be a great way of investing in the long run. It is also among the purest gold coins out there and the artwork is a great commemoration of Mexico’s storied history.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
► Australian Gold Kangaroo
This is the coin that has the most range when it comes to size and surpasses the Britannia by a good margin. The smallest Australian Gold Kangaroo coin comes in at 1/20-ounces and the largest one comes in at a whopping 1 kg. With another five variations, this coin provides a lot of flexibility to investors. It is also a coin that features a different design in each of its different editions and that also makes it quite valuable to collectors which means that it can actually be valued a lot higher down the line. It is also seen as a globally liquid option which means that selling off these coins should also be quite easy. A great gold coin If you want to cover all the bases.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 1-kg, 10-ounce, 2-ounce, 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
► Chinese Gold Panda
If you want a really unique and rare addition to your gold coin portfolio then the Chinese Gold Panda is one you can consider. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that unlike most coins, the Gold Panda that has been minted since 2016 has been classified in terms of grams as opposed to the industry standard of ounces. Before that, it came in the somewhat standard variations starting from 1-ounce to 1/20-ounce. This means that you can get coins of totally different variations depending on how old they are. They are also a lot rarer than other coins and thus will almost always fetch a higher value than other similar-sized coins. If you want to spice up your gold portfolio then this coin is a clear winner.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: After 2016 – 30g, 15g, 8g, 3g, 1g. Before 2016 – 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
► Somalia Gold Elephant
Somalia is not a name that you would normally expect to be associated with gold coins but this is one of the most intriguing gold coins you can get. It also has had an almost meteoric rise among gold coins and if you like to get off the beaten path then this coin will appeal to you. It is minted by the highly respectable Bavarian State Mint which ensures that each of the coins is of high quality and purity. It is also one of the most diverse coins when it comes to size and features one of the smallest gold coins you can get at just 1/50-ounce which makes it ideal for first-time investors in gold coins. Despite its name, it has enough intrinsic value to make it a great option even for the seasoned investors out there.
- Karat: 24
- Sizes: 5-ounce, 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/25-ounce, 1/50-ounce
- Fineness: 0.9999
*All ounces mentioned here are troy-ounces