Sovereign Gold Coins

Whether you are a collector or an investor, or both, sovereign gold coins are an excellent addition to your collection and can provide stable returns to your investment portfolio. When it comes to investment, many investors are particularly interested in coins with extraordinary designs and higher purity levels to give them greater value.

Widely accepted as a secure form of gold investment around the world, here are the top 7 sovereign coins you can get on the market:

American Gold Eagle

American Gold Eagle bullion coins were authorized for creation by the United States Congress in 1985 as an easy way for investors to obtain small stakes of gold. The obverse features Lady Liberty with long flowing hair that blows in the breeze while holding a torch up to the sky with her right hand and grasping an olive branch in her left.

The market value of these gold coins is usually about the same as the market value of their gold content. This coin comes in four sizes:

  • 1/10 Troy oz coin (face value: $5)
  • 1/4 Troy oz coin (face value: $10)
  • 1/2 Troy oz coin (face value: $25)
  • 1 Troy oz coin (face value: $50)

American Gold Buffalo

The American Gold Buffalo coin is one of the most recognizable and top-selling gold bullion coins in the world. It provides the highest liquidity of all gold bullion coins, and it has a popular design that is based on the highly-recognized and renowned Buffalo-Indian head design formerly minted on the American nickel from 1913 to 1934. It is still one of the most popular and sought after gold bullion coins today.

These coins are the purest (.9999 fine, 24-karat) gold coins made by the U.S. Mint, carrying a $50 legal tender value. Each coin contains exactly 1 ounce of gold.

Many people have a fond regard for the American Gold Buffalo coin because of James Earle Fraser’s vivid and detailed depictions of a standing bison and a stoic Native American portrait.

Canadian Gold Maple

The Canadian Gold Maple gold bullion coin is issued annually by the Canadian government and comes directly from the Royal Canadian Mint. With a face value of $50, this coin is legal tender and has a .9999 millesimal fineness (24 karats), making it one of the purest sovereign gold bullion coins in the world.

The standard weight for this coin is 1 troy ounce. It comes in other sizes and denominations including:

  • 1 gram
  • 1/25 oz ($.50)
  • 1/20 oz ($1)
  • 1/10 oz ($5)
  • 1/4 oz ($10)
  • 1/2 oz ($20)

Chinese Gold Panda

Issued by the Official Mint of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Gold Panda comes with a design that changes every year (with one single exception) and features a depiction of the Temple of Heaven with Chinese characters that read “People’s Republic of China.” On the opposite side, there are different portraits of Pandas that change every year.

The Chinese Gold Panda comes in the following weights and denominations:

  • 1 Troy oz (500 Yuan)
  • 1/2 Troy oz (200 Yuan)
  • 1/4 Troy oz (100 Yuan)
  • 1/10 Troy oz (50 Yuan)
  • 1/20 Troy oz (20 Yuan)

With a different design each year, these coins do not include mintmarks to distinguish their origin which is a different standard from American coins.

Austrian Gold Philharmonic

Produced by the Austrian Mint, this sovereign gold coin takes its name after the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra which serves as an inspiration for the designs that are on both sides of the coin. First introduced in 1989 with a 2,000 Austrian schillings face value, the Austrian Gold Philharmonic coin is considered to be one of the best-selling bullion coins in the world.

Sales for this coin have been quite popular in North America and Japan since it was first introduced, and it is the only European bullion coin with a face value of euros. However, it is only legal tender in Austria.

The Gold Philharmonic is issued in the following sizes and face values:

  • 1/25 oz (4 Euro)
  • 1/10 oz (10 Euro)
  • 1/4 oz (25 Euro)
  • 1/2 oz (50 Euro)
  • 1 oz (100 Euro)

British Gold Britannia

Since 1987, these sovereign coins have been issued by the British Royal Mint. With a value of 2 pounds sterling, they also go by the name “Gold Britannias.” Each coin contains one troy ounce of gold and comes with a face value of 100 British Pounds. Since 2013, all coins have a .9999 millesimal fineness (24 karat gold).

Gold Britannia coins have begun to play a major role in the coin market, and they are issued in the following sizes and face values:

  • 1 oz (10 British pounds)
  • 1/2 oz (25 British pounds)
  • 1/4 oz (50 British pounds)
  • 1/10 oz (100 British pounds)

South African Gold Krugerrand

South African Gold Krugerrand coins are considered the world’s first modern gold bullion coin. Released in 1967, these sovereign coins are considered symbols of prestige and wealth. On one side of the coin, there is an image of Paul Kruger who was South Africa’s first president. On the opposite side, there is a depiction of the Springbok Gazelle which is South Africa’s official symbol.

The Gold Krugerrand comes in the following denominations:

  • 1 oz
  • 1/2 oz
  • 1/4 oz
  • 1/10 oz

The sovereign coins listed here make up a market that is truly world-class. They continue to be highly sought after by investors and continue to prove their value time and time again.

If you are interested in making any of these gold sovereign coins your next investment piece, Provident Metals has the selection you need. Check out our selection of gold coins or head to our Bullion Investment Guide to have your investment questions answered.