Gold Coins

Buy Gold Bullion Coins from JM Bullion

If you’re looking to buy gold as an investment option, then gold bullion coins offer a great place to start. Gold coins offer beautiful designs known the world over and many come with gold purity and weight backed by central governments and issued by sovereign mints. You’ll find no shortage of gold bullion coins available to purchase when you shop online. In fact, the most difficult task you’ll face may just be choosing which coins you want in your portfolio! Below is an overview of the some of the most popular gold bullion coins available today.

American Gold Coins

The United States Mint is the sovereign mint of the United States of America and the only one authorized to produce American gold coins. Since 1794, the US Mint has issued both circulation gold currency and bullion gold coinage. From 1794 to 1933, the United States issued circulation gold coins in 22-karat gold (1794-1837) and .900 pure gold content (1838-1933). In 1986, the United States reintroduced gold coinage with gold bullion coins for investment and collection. The following are examples of American gold coins for sale:

• American Gold Eagle: The American Gold Eagle coin is the official gold bullion coin from the United States, and the coins debuted in 1986. Each Gold Eagle features 22-karat gold for both bullion, proof, and burnished coins. The bullion and proof coins include 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz coins, while the burnished coin has just a 1 oz option. All coins feature Lady Liberty from Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ 1907 design on the obverse, with Miley Busiek’s family of bald eagles on the reverse.
• American Gold Buffalo: The Gold Buffalo is based upon the original Buffalo Nickel design from 1913. Created by James Earle Fraser, it features a Native American tribal member on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse. The American Gold Buffalo debuted in 2006 as the first-ever 24-karat gold coin from the US Mint.
• Pre-33 US Gold Coins: All coins in this category are former circulation pieces once used in American commercial transactions. Designs include the Liberty Gold Half Eagle coin and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ famous $20 Gold Double Eagle coin.

Australian Gold Coins

When you shop for gold from Australia, you’ll find options from both the Perth Mint of Western Australia and the sovereign Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. The former mint opened in 1899 as a facility within the Royal Mint of England system in Australia, while the latter opened following the Currency Act of 1965 as the new sovereign mint of Australia. The most popular gold coin from Australia is a Gold Kangaroo, which is available different designs from both the Perth Mint and Royal Australian Mint. Examples of other Perth Mint gold from Australia include:

• Lunar Series II: The Perth Mint’s most popular series in gold is the Lunar Series II collection. There is a new design each year in this program (2008-2019). Each new design coincides with the animal featured on the Zodiac for the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and these gold coins are available in weights ranging from 1/10 and 1/2 oz to 1 oz, 2 oz, and even 10 oz of pure gold.
• Bird of Paradise: the 2018 Australian Gold Bird of Paradise coin is a beautiful release that features the image of what the Yidinji people call the duwuduwu, a bird known to Australians of European descent as Victoria’s riflebird. The latter name was given to the birds in honor of Queen Victoria I and based upon their coloring, which is similar to the uniforms of the Queen’s Riflemen of the 19^th

Austrian Gold Coins

The Austrian Mint is responsible for issuing one of the first great gold bullion coin programs. Debuting in 1989, the Austrian Gold Philharmonic is the nation’s official gold coin and reflects the arts and culture of Austria as represented by the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. The Gold Philharmonic coins debuted in 1989 with 1 oz and 1/4 oz options, and over time has grown to include 1/10 oz (1991), 1/2 oz (1994), and 1/25 oz (2014) coins. Gold Philharmonic coins had face values in Austrian Schillings from 1989 to 2001, and following the adoption of the European Union common currency in 2002 issued the coins with face values in Euros (€). The Austrian Gold Philharmonic has the following designs:

• Obverse: The Musikverein Pipe Organ is featured on the obverse with engravings of the nation of issue, weight, metal content, purity, face value, and year of issue. This was designed by Austrian Mint Chief Engraver Thomas Pesendorfer in 1989.
• Reverse: Also designed by Thomas Pesendorfer, this side includes a collection of eight musical instruments commonly used by members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The design is centered on a cello with four violins flanking, as well as a French horn, bassoon, and harp behind.

British Gold Coins

The most visible gold coin for sale from the Royal Mint of England is the Gold Britannia. Introduced in 1987, the coins feature a modern design of Britannia on the reverse that was designed by Philip Nathan. Mr. Nathan’s design was the winning artwork chosen following an art competition the Royal Mint hosted to find a new Britannia image. On the obverse of all Gold Britannia coins is the effigy of Britain’s ruling monarch, with the designs regularly updated to reflect the monarch’s age.

Another example of British gold coinage are the specimens issued in the Queen’s Beast Series. The 10-coin series debuted in 2016 with the Lion of England design released on its own. The 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 release schedules feature two designs for each date mark, and a singular design will conclude the series in 2021. Jody Clark designed each of the reverse images of different heraldic beasts from British history, each of which was present as a sculpture guarding the doors of Westminster Abbey in 1953 as Queen Elizabeth II entered for her coronation ceremony. Available designs include:

• 2016 Lion of England
• 2017 Griffin of Edward III
• 2017 Red Dragon of Wales
• 2018 Unicorn of Scotland
• 2018 Black Bull of Clarence
• 2019 Falcon of the Plantagenets
• 2019 Yale of Beaufort
• White Lion of Mortimer (upcoming)
• White Greyhound of Richmond (upcoming)
• White Horse of Hanover (upcoming)

On the obverse of all Queen’s Beast Gold Coins to date is the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This is the fifth-generation design for British coinage designed in 2015 by Jody Clark and it debuted on British bullion coins in 2016.

Canadian Gold Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint is the official sovereign mint of Canada, and it issues both popular bullion gold coins and commemorative gold coins. The Royal Canadian Mint popularly uses .9999 pure gold in almost all of its gold coinage, which includes the following options:

• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf: The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf was issued in 1979, making it the second-oldest gold bullion coin behind only the South African Gold Krugerrand coin. Originally issued in .999 pure gold, from November 1982 onward the coins have included .9999 pure gold content. The coins have a sugar maple leaf on the reverse, with Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy on the obverse.
• Canadian Call of the Wild: The Call of the Wild offers new designs with each release, but more impressively, the coins come with .99999 pure gold content. Each one has a new wild species common across Canada, with reverse designs that include radiating lines meant to reflect the actual call of the animals.

Chinese Gold Coins

The Chinese Mint is the official sovereign mint of the People’s Republic of China and produces the nation’s official gold bullion coin. Introduced in 1982 with 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz coins in .999 pure gold with the image of a Giant Panda on the reverse. In 1983, the Chinese Mint increased the offering to feature a 1/20 oz coin as well. Designs for the Chinese Gold Panda include:

• Obverse: The image of the Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests is featured on the obverse every year and includes the nation of issue and the coin’s year of issue.
• Reverse: There is a new design of the Giant Panda species of bears from the central highlands of China on the reverse each year. The only year the Chinese Mint has reused a design in recent history is the 2002 coin which featured the same design as 2001.

From 1982 to 2000, the Chinese Gold Panda coins were available with certain face values in Yuan that were later changed in 2001 to new denominations. The previous and current face values are as follows (initial-current by weight):

• 1 oz: 100 Yuan – 500 Yuan
• 1/2 oz: 50 Yuan – 200 Yuan
• 1/4 oz: 25 Yuan – 100 Yuan
• 1/10 oz: 10 Yuan – 50 Yuan
• 1/20 oz: 5 Yuan – 20 Yuan

In 2016, the Chinese Mint ceased marking the weights of its Gold Panda coinage in Troy Ounces, instead listing the weights in Grams. The move was designed to bring the collection in line with the nation’s metric system. The changes include (Troy oz – Gram):

• 1 oz – 30 Gram
• 1/2 oz – 15 Gram
• 1/4 oz – 8 Gram
• 1/10 oz – 3 Gram
• 1/20 oz – 1 Gram

Mexican Gold Coins

The Mexican Mint issues the official gold bullion for the nation of Mexico. Backed by the federal government and Banco de Mexico, the nation’s central bank, the Mexican Gold Libertad coin debuted in 1981 and has been available annually since 1991. The coin series includes 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, and 1/20 oz options. The Gold Libertads feature the following designs:

• Obverse features the image of Winged Victory, a symbol of Mexican resistance to Spanish colonial control. Winged Victory is inspired by the same Goddess of Liberty as America’s symbol of Lady Liberty, but features a crown wreath in one hand and broken chains in the other. The background includes the twin volcanic peaks of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl.
• Reverse bears the coat of arms for Mexican. The Gold Libertad 1 oz gold coin features the modern seal surrounded by 10 historic versions of the symbol, while the fractional weights have only the modern depiction of the coat of arms.

Somalian Gold Coins

Issued by the Bavarian State Mint in Germany, the Somalian Gold Elephant collection debuted in 1999 as a Zambian Elephant Series. Since 2004, the coins have been issued for Somalia. The Gold Coins offer some of the greatest diversity you’ll find in any gold bullion coin collection. In addition to a 1 oz coin, the bullion coin is also available in 1/2 oz, 1/25 oz, 1/50 oz, and 1/2 Gram coins. Designs of the Somalian Gold Elephant include:

• The obverse side of Somalian Gold Elephants features a new design of the African elephant each year. Since 2003, the Bavarian State Mint has issued a new design for the Somalian coin, always focusing on the image of the world’s largest land mammal in its natural habitats on the African continent.
• On the reverse side since 2004 has been the Somalian coat of arms. Included engravings identify the nation of issue, year of issue, and face value of the coin in Somali Shillings.

South African Gold Coins

Without question, the South African Gold Krugerrand is the most widely known gold coin in the world. The first bullion coin introduced for private investment, the Gold Krugerrand arrived from the South African Mint in 1967. For more than a decade, the Krugerrand was the only gold coin available to private buyers and has survived a Western economic boycott and the end of apartheid to remain a worldwide symbol of South African gold. The Gold Krugerrand features the following designs:

• On the obverse is the effigy of Paul Kruger. The modern coins feature a modified image of Kruger which was refined in 1984 by Otto Schultz.
• The reverse includes the Springbok antelope, the official symbol of South Africa. This design was also modified and modernized in 1984, with Coert Steynberg responsible for the artwork.

Buying Gold Bullion Coins from JM Bullion

As you look to buy gold bullion coins, please don’t hesitate to contact JM Bullion with questions. Our customer service team is available to you at 800-276-6508, online using our live chat, and via our email address.