Gold coins in various sizes

Gold investment coins in different sizes

Gold coins are available in different weights and grades. The most popular investment coins are minted in 1 troy ounce of pure gold. Many well-known coin series are reissued annually, offering investors a wide range of choices.

Troy ounce coins

In the trade of precious metals, the troy ounce is the standard, 1 troy ounce is 31.103 grams. Most new coins are therefore issued in a weight of 1 troy ounce or a derivative thereof such as 1/4 or 1/10 troy ounce. There are coins that deviate from this standard, such as the Dutch gold tenners, which weigh 6.72 grams with 6.048 grams of pure gold.

Nowadays,1 troy ounce coins are the most popular, these contain 31.103 grams of gold, most gold investment coins are 24 carat and the weight of the coin is then comparable to the weight in gold. Some coins such as the Kruggerrand also contain copper, for the color and to make the coins more resistant to wear. These coins still contain 31.103 grams of gold but are slightly heavier, 33.93 grams and less pure due to the addition of metals. So the gold content makes no difference whether you buy a 24-carat or 22-carat gold coin.

Smaller troy ounce coins

In addition to the popular 1 troy ounce coins, there is now a wide range of smaller gold coins, for example 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 or even 1/25 troy ounce. These coins are just as pure as 1 troy ounce coins but often relatively more expensive per gram.

This is because the costs for making and trading the coin are relatively more expensive. In this case it may be financially attractive to opt for previously released coins. Pre-owned coins, such as the golden Dutch Guilder can be a smarter choice. These coins contain the same weight and grade of gold, with the only difference being the year. When available, pre-owned coins are almost always the best choice due to their lower price per gram and smaller difference between purchase and sale price.

Gold investment coins in grams

As indicated, Troy ounce is the standard within the precious metals trade. However, there is also a supply of gold investment coins in grams, a well-known example of this is the People's Bank of China, which offers 24 carat gold investment coins in, for example, 8 grams and 30 grams.

For gold bars, it is more common to indicate the weight in grams, although there are also Troy ounce gold bars. So if you want more choice in weight and you prefer grams, it may be interesting to look at gold bars.

New gold coins vs. Pre-owned gold coins

Newly minted gold coins are generally more expensive than pre-owned coins. This price difference is due to the additional costs associated with minting new coins by the mint, including production costs and insured transport from abroad to the Netherlands. Pre-owned coins, on the other hand, are purchased from private individuals, often within the Netherlands, making them more affordable. These coins contain the same weight and grade of gold, with the only difference being the year. When available, pre-owned coins are almost always the best choice due to their lower price per gram and smaller difference between purchase and sale price.

Popular gold investment coins

The gold Maple Leaf and the gold Krugerrand are the most famous series of gold coins worldwide. Other series such as the Britannia, Philharmoniker and Kangaroo are also very popular. It is important that the coins come from an officially recognized mint and have the status of legal tender. Gold coins that contain at least 99.9% pure gold are traded as investment gold. This is an essential advantage, because no VAT is charged on the purchase and sale of investment gold.

Disclaimer: The Silver Mountain does not provide investment advice and this article should not be considered as such. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.