Gold coins have been used as a currency for more than 5,000 years. Today, legal gold coins are minted by governments and banks around the world and sold to investors and collectors worldwide.
To this day, gold represents the ultimate form of wealth and prosperity. The gold’s value is inherent and continues to grow during uncertain economic times. Stability and the high value of gold are some of the reasons why investors decide to invest in coins and expand their portfolios. Whether you are looking to invest, hedge inflation, or acquire precious metals, now is the perfect time to purchase some of the world’s best gold coins on the market.
Buying gold coins and bullions is an excellent way to diversify your portfolio and increase the chance of earning more money in the future. However, one of the most important considerations when investing in precious metals is purity. Due to increased popularity, gold is sometimes mixed with other metals, affecting its purity.
A small difference in purity can have a significant impact on gold’s value.
In this post, we will discuss the history of gold coins, gold purity, and the world’s purest gold coin to help you understand precious metals and make a more informed decision when it’s time to invest.
The Origin of Gold Coins
Gold coins have been used for hundreds of thousands of years as payment for products or services. People used them to buy groceries and clothing, finance wars, settle debts, and more.
The first coin was minted around 600 BC when King Alyattes from the kingdom of Lydia produced one for personal uses. The coin was stamped with various pictures and set the standard for future gold coins.
The Roman Empire and Ancient Greece established the use of coins in Europe. When they first started to produce gold coins, they used them to buy goods and finance wars. The British Noble, German Augustulus, and Italian florin are some of the first gold coins used as currency. Other parts of the world, such as South America, Africa, and China, have used gold coins as their most trusted and valuable currency.
What Are Gold Bullions?
Gold bullions are disc-shaped coins made from gold. The governments’ Mints guarantee the purity and weight of gold bullion coins. For a coin to be considered bullion, its value must be obtained from the current price and weight of gold.
In 1967, South Africa created the first gold bullion coin, which weighed precisely one ounce. The famous Krugerrand was made from 11 parts of gold and 1 part of copper and was designed to be gold bullion for international markets. The model was so successful it influenced other countries such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., China, and Australia.
Today, the South African Krugerrand, American Gold Eagle, Gold Australian Kangaroos, Canadian Gold Maples, Britannias, and Austrian Philharmonic are recognized globally and accepted as the most convenient form of a gold bullion coin.
Are bullion coins made of pure gold?
Over the years, the composition of gold has changed. Ancient coins were minted of a naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver (which at that time contained 45% gold). Years later, Darius The Great produced an 8.4gr gold coin with almost 95.6% purity.
Since then, much has changed. With advances in technology and innovations in precious metals production, the Canadian Maple Leaf and the American Gold Buffalo are known as the purest gold coins in the world with 99.999% gold purity.
The Purest Gold Coin in the World
Many potential investors looking to invest in precious metals turn to gold bullion coins. Gold is an excellent hedge against inflation, retains its value in uncertain financial times, and outperforms other investments. If you are interested in investing in gold coins, it is good to know what the purest gold coins are and how to invest in them.
#1. Canadian Maple Leaf
The Maple Leaf sets the gold standard among the gold bullion coins. The famous Canadian Maple Leaf is traded worldwide as one of the few one-ounce gold coins. It was introduced over four decades ago as the second Mint-issued bullion gold coin when the South African Krugerrand was difficult to find.
Today, the Maple Leafs are accepted and recognized worldwide as gold bullion coins. With 99.99% gold purity, Maple Leafs are the purest gold coins in the world. They are more respected and popular than the U.S. Eagle, making it an excellent addition to your investment portfolio.
#2. American Buffalo
The American Buffalo was presented in 2006 as the U.S Mint’s answer to the Canadian Maple Leaf. With 99.99% gold purity, it is the purest gold coin available in the United States. Each coin has the “1oz .9999 Fine Gold” stamp.
While it is the purest gold coin in the U.S., it is not the most popular among investors, who prefer the American Eagle gold coin. In 2014, the Mint sold more than 400,000 American Eagle gold coins and around 180,000 American Buffalos.
The American Eagle relies on copper and silver alloys to increase durability, while the Buffalo is purely one troy ounce of 24k gold.
#3. American Eagle
The American Eagle is accepted and recognized worldwide. One side boasts a male eagle flying an olive branch to a female eagle and her hatchlings, and Lady Liberty is displayed striding on the other. The popular 1-ounce gold coin boasts only precious metals from the U.S. Mint.
The American Eagle coins contain 5% copper and 3% silver for durability. It is a 22-karat gold (like the African Krugerrand) with 99.99% gold content. It is easy to find and buy domestically, and it is undoubtedly an excellent addition to any investment portfolio.
#4. South African Krugerrand
The original bullion coin, the African Krugerrand, remains one of the most popular choices for investors worldwide. The Krugerrand is a 22-karat gold coin with 1.1 oz 99.99% gold and 1/11oz of copper.
While some collectors complain it is not as detailed as some other coins, the Krugerrand has been around for more than 70 years and is as durable as ever. Each coin has an “FYNGOUD 1oz Fine Gold” stamp.
The value of this coin depends on the dollar exchange rate and the current gold price.
#5. Austrian Philharmonic
Austrian Philharmonic bullions coins are available as gold and silver. While they are recognized worldwide, they are most popular throughout the U.S. and Europe. You can easily purchase Philharmonics in Europe and store them in safe places, including Das Safe in Central Vienna.
The largest Philharmonic coin is the 1-ounce coin (the largest one in diameter) with ¼ oz 99.99% gold purity (24k). It is the only issued coin in euros and officially approved by the Austrian Mint.
As gold bullion coins, the Austrian Philharmonic was and still is a must-have option for investment portfolios. It is also very attractive among passionate collectors.
#6. Australian Kangaroo
The geographical position has made Australian Kangaroo coins a top choice for Asian investors. Also known as Australian Gold Nuggets, the Kangaroo coins are among the few gold bullions to change their design every year.
They are 99.99% 1oz gold and were promoted internationally when the Perth Mint created the first one-ton gold coin in 2011.
Why Buy Gold Bullion Coins?
Buying gold bullion coins is an excellent way to start expanding your investment portfolio. Gold coins offer many benefits, including affordability, flexibility when buying/selling, durability, portability, and liquidity. Even though large institutional investors, banks, and governments prefer gold bars as a form of investment, coins are also an excellent way to open the door of precious metals investments and grow your wealth.
Experienced investors prefer gold coins due to the low premiums. Despite the added cost for mining, transporting, and storing the coin, the price of a gold bullion coin is close to the market price.
When compared to gold bars, coins offer more advantages, including:
- Coins are well-minted, which gives them a higher aesthetic appeal.
- Coins come in different designs and varieties.
- Coins have a higher value depending on their collectible price and age.
- Coins are internationally accepted.
- Coins come in smaller weights, which makes them perfect for transportation and storing.
- Coins are harder to counterfeit due to their unique designs.
Are you interested in learning more about the purest gold coin, investing in precious metals, and other related topics? Learn About Gold is the one-stop destination for you. From blog posts and articles on gold trends, investment strategies, and more general facts, the website provides the necessary information you need to decide whether you want to diversify your portfolio and invest in gold.
Besides the vast selection of information and articles, Learn About Gold excels at matching potential investors with the best gold IRA providers on the market. If you are interested in investing in gold coins, bars, or bullions, go to our website to see how our IRA partners can help you.
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