10 Best Gold Coins for Investment in 2023

Making investments in gold has long been a proven way to diversify investment portfolios and protect wealth.

Among the several gold investment options, gold coins are particularly appealing to investors.

This article will evaluate the best gold coins for investments in 2023, taking into account qualities like purity, rarity, market demand and historical significance.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Best Gold Coins for Investment

The best gold coins to invest in 2023 are:

1) American Gold Eagle

The American Gold Eagle is a popular gold bullion coin produced by the United States Mint.

It was first introduced in 1986 after the passage of the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985.

The coin’s design and purity are guaranteed by the United States government, making it a trusted investment vehicle for individuals looking to invest in precious metals.

Here are some key features and details about the American Gold Eagle:

S.No.	Feature	Description
1	Country	United States
2	Mint	United States Mint
3	Denominations	1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz (face value in USD)
4	Purity	22 karat (91.67% pure gold)
5	Design	Obverse: Lady Liberty design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens Reverse: Family of nesting bald eagles by Miley Busiek
6	Legal Tender	Yes
7	Face Value (1 oz coin)	$50 USD
8	Packaging	Individually encapsulated or in tubes and boxes
9	Security Features	Reeded edge, anti-counterfeiting measures
10	Availability	Widely available from authorized dealers and retailers
11	Annual Mintage	Varies depending on demand and year of issue
12	Collectibility	Sought after by investors and collectors worldwide

2) Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is a bullion coin that is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.

It is one of the most popular and recognized gold coins in the world.

Here are some key features and information about the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf:

S.No.	Canadian Gold Maple Leaf	Features
1	Mint	Royal Canadian Mint
2	Purity	99.99% pure gold
3	Denomination	1 troy ounce (oz)
4	Fractional Sizes	1/20 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz (less common)
5	Face Value	$50 CAD (for 1 oz coin)
6	Design	Obverse: Profile of Queen Elizabeth II, face value, year of issue Reverse: Canadian maple leaf
7	Security Features	Micro-engraved radial lines, maple leaf privy mark
8	Legal Tender	Accepted as legal tender in Canada
9	Packaging	Individually in plastic capsule, tubes or sealed boxes
10	Accessibility	Available through authorized dealers and online platforms
11	Collectibility	Sought after by collectors due to design and purity

3) South African Krugerrand

The South African Krugerrand is a well-known and widely traded gold bullion coin.

It was first minted in 1967 by the South African Mint as a way to market and promote the country’s vast gold reserves.

The name “Krugerrand” is derived from combining the name of Paul Kruger, the former president of the South African Republic and “rand”, the South African currency.

Here are some key features of South African Krugerrand:

S.No.	South African Krugerrand	Features
1	Country of Origin	South Africa
2	Mint	South African Mint
3	Year of First Issue	1967
4	Denominations	1 troy ounce, 1/2 troy ounce, 1/4 troy ounce, 1/10 troy ounce
5	Purity	22 karat (91.67% gold, 8.33% copper)
6	Design	Obverse: Profile of Paul Kruger, the first President of the South African Republic. Reverse: Springbok antelope, South Africa’s national animal.
7	Legal Tender	Not considered legal tender, but widely recognized and accepted as a form of payment in many countries
8	Packaging	Individual coins are typically sold in protective plastic capsules. Multiple coins may come in tubes or boxes.
9	Accessibility	Available from authorized coin dealers, precious metal retailers and online platforms that specialize in bullion coins and bars.
10	Collectibility	Popular among investors and collectors due to its historical significance and iconic design.
11	Market Availability	Widely available worldwide
12	Current Gold Prices	The price of the Krugerrand will vary based on the current gold market conditions.

4) Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget

The Australian Gold Kangaroo, previously known as the Australian Gold Nugget, is a popular gold bullion coin produced by the Perth Mint in Australia.

It was first introduced in 1986 as the Gold Nugget series, featuring various designs of Australian gold nuggets on the reverse side.

However, in 1990, the design was changed to feature the iconic kangaroo, and the series was renamed the Australian Gold Kangaroo.

Some key features of Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget are:

S.No.	Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget	Features
1	Issuer	Perth Mint
2	Purity	99.99% pure gold
3	Denomination	1 troy ounce, fractional sizes available
4	Design	Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II Reverse: Varies by year, featuring different kangaroo/nugget designs
5	Legal Tender	Australian legal tender
6	Face Value	Varies by year
7	Packaging	Individually encapsulated in plastic capsules Multiples may come in tubes or boxes
8	Security	Micro-engraved laser security feature on the reverse side
9	Availability	Widely available from authorized dealers and precious metal retailers
10	Collectibility	Sought after by collectors for its design and limited mintage
11	Market	Prices fluctuate based on gold prices and collector demand

5) Chinese Gold Panda

The Chinese Gold Panda is another popular gold bullion coin that investors and collectors seek for.

It is created by the People’s Bank of China subsidiary China Gold Coin Corporation.

The coin has developed from its initial introduction in 1982 to rank among the most recognizable and prestigious gold bullion coins available.

Some of the key features of Chinese Gold Panda are:

S.No.	Chinese Gold Panda	Features
1	Country	China
2	Mint	China Gold Coin Corporation (CGCC)
3	Purity	99.9% pure gold (24 karat)
	Release Year	First issued in 1982
5	Face Value	Varies based on the weight and denomination of the coin
6	Denominations	Various denominations (e.g., 1 g, 3 g, 8 g, 15 g, 30 g)
7	Design	Obverse: Depicts the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the year of issue Reverse: Features different designs of pandas each year (except for 2001 and 2002, which have the same design)
8	Legal Tender	Considered legal tender in China
9	Packaging	Individual coin: Plastic capsule Multiples: Sealed sheets or mint tubes
10	Pricing	The price of Chinese Gold Panda coins fluctuates based on factors such as gold market conditions, weight, rarity and collector demand.
	Collectibility	Popular among collectors due to changing panda designs.
11	Authentication	Laser-etched anti-counterfeit technology

6) Gold American Buffalo

The Gold American Buffalo is a highly regarded gold bullion coin produced by the United States Mint.

It was first introduced in 2006 and was the first 24-karat gold coin ever minted by the U.S. government for public circulation.

The coin’s design pays homage to the iconic American buffalo, also known as the bison, which holds significant cultural and historical importance in the United States.

The main key features of Gold American Buffalo are:

S.No.	Gold American Buffalo	Features
1	Mint	United States Mint
2	Year of Introduction	2006
3	Denomination	1-ounce size
4	Purity	24 karat (99.99% pure gold)
6	Design	Obverse: Native American profile based on James Earle Fraser’s design for the Buffalo Nickel. Reverse: American buffalo (bison) design.
7	Legal Tender	Yes
8	Packaging	Individually encapsulated or in tubes for multiples
9	Diameter	32.70 mm (1.287 inches)
10	Thickness	2.95 mm (0.116 inches)
11	Edge	Reeded
12	Designer	James Earle Fraser (original design)
13	Availability	Widely available from authorized dealers and precious metal retailers
14	Market Value	Varies based on gold prices and collector demand
15	Collectibility	Sought after by both investors and collectors

7) Gold British Britannia

The Gold British Britannia is a renowned gold bullion coin produced by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom.

It was first introduced in 1987 and has since become one of the most popular and recognized gold coins in the world.

The Britannia coin series features the iconic image of Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain.

Features of Gold British Britannia are:

S.No.	Gold British Britannia	Features
1	Country	United Kingdom
2	Mint	The Royal Mint
3	Denomination	1 troy ounce (oz), 1/2 troy ounce (oz), 1/4 troy ounce (oz), 1/10 troy ounce (oz), 1/20 troy ounce (oz)
4	Purity	99.99% pure gold
5	Weight	1 troy ounce (31.1035 grams) for the One-Ounce coin
6	Design	Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy by Jody Clark Reverse: Britannia, symbol of British strength and tradition
7	Legal Tender	Yes (British currency)
8	Security Features	Micro-engraved radial lines, latent image, textured fields
9	Packaging	Individual plastic capsule or tube for multiples
10	Diameter	32.69 mm (One-Ounce coin)
11	Thickness	2.79 mm (One-Ounce coin)
12	Edge	Reeded
13	Availability	Widely available from authorized coin dealers and retailers
14	Collectibility	Sought after by both investors and collectors

8) Gold Austrian Philharmonic

S.No.	Gold Austrian Philharmonic	Features
1	Country of Origin	Austria
2	Mint	Austrian Mint
3	Year of First Issue	1989
4	Purity	99.99% (24 karat gold)
5	Denominations	1 troy ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/10 ounce, and 1/25 ounce
6	Design	Obverse: The Great Organ of the Golden Hall in Vienna’s Musikverein concert hall. Reverse: Various musical instruments from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, including a cello, violins, a harp and a horn.
7	Packaging	Individually encapsulated or in tubes/boxes for multiples
8	Security Features	Micro-engraved radial lines and a mint mark
9	Accessibility	Widely available from authorized coin dealers and retailers
10	Collectibility	Popular among investors and collectors

9) Gold Mexican Libertad

The Gold Austrian Philharmonic, also known as the Vienna Philharmonic, is a popular gold bullion coin minted by the Austrian Mint in Vienna, Austria.

It was first introduced in 1981 and has gained recognition and widespread appeal among investors and collectors around the world.

The main features of Gold Mexican Libertad are:

S.No.	Gold Mexican Libertad	Features
1	Country of Origin	Mexico
2	Mint	Casa de Moneda de México (Mexican Mint)
3	Year of First Issue	1981
4	Denominations	1/20 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz
5	Purity	99.9% pure gold
6	Legal Tender	Yes
7	Face Value	Varies by denomination, stated in Mexican pesos
8	Design	Obverse: Features the Winged Victory statue, representing Mexican independence. Surrounding inscriptions include “Estados Unidos Mexicanos” and the year of issue. Reverse: Showcases the Mexican coat of arms, including the eagle, cactus and a wreath.
9	Security Features	Radial lines, micro-engraved texture and privy mark
10	Packaging	Individually sealed in a plastic capsule
11	Availability	Authorized coin dealers, bullion retailers and online platforms
12	Collectibility	Popular among collectors for its design and history

10) Gold Somalian Elephant

The Gold Somalian Elephant is a popular gold bullion coin that is produced by the Bavarian State Mint in Germany for the country of Somalia.

The coin series, officially known as the Somalian Elephant, features various images of elephants on the reverse side, showcasing the majestic African animal.

The main features of Gold Somalian Elephant are:

S.No.	Gold Somalian Elephant	Features
1	Country	Somalia
2	Mint	Bavarian State Mint (Germany)
3	Denomination	Varies based on the weight of the coin
4	Purity	99.99% pure gold
5	Weight Options	1/50 oz, 1/25 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 1 oz
6	Design	Obverse: Features a detailed image of an African elephant Reverse: Displays the Coat of Arms of Somalia and the face value
7	Face Value	Varies based on the weight of the coin (expressed in Somali shillings)
8	Legal Tender	Yes
9	Security	Uses various anti-counterfeiting measures, including micro-engraving
10	Packaging	Individually encapsulated in a protective plastic case
11	Availability	Available from authorized coin dealers and precious metal retailers
12	Collectibility	Sought after by collectors due to changing reverse designs annually

Factors to Consider Before Investing in Gold Coins:

The key factors to consider when making an investment in gold coins are:

1) Purity and Authenticity – One crucial aspect of gold coins is their purity. Look for coins with a high gold content, usually expressed in karats or fineness. Authenticity is equally important, so consider purchasing coins from reputable dealers or sources.

2) Coin Weight and Size – The weight and size of gold coins can impact their market value and ease of trade. Investors often prefer coins with standard weights, making them easily recognizable and tradable.

3) Rarity and Collectability – Coins with limited mintages or historical significance tend to have higher collectability and potential for appreciation over time. Such coins may carry premiums due to their rarity or numismatic value.

4) Market Demand and Liquidity – Consider the demand and liquidity of the gold coin you plan to invest in. Popular coins that are widely recognized and traded will likely have higher liquidity, ensuring ease of buying and selling.

5) Historical and Cultural Significance – Some gold coins carry historical or cultural significance, which can enhance their appeal to collectors and investors alike. Understanding the historical background of a coin can provide valuable insights into its long-term potential.

Which gold coin is best for investment?

The best gold coin for investment depends on factors like budget, market conditions and personal preferences.

Some of the popular gold coins for investment are:

The American Gold Eagle,
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and
South African Krugerrand

Are gold coins a better investment than gold bars?

Gold coins offer divisibility and potential numismatic value, appealing to collectors.

Gold bars may have lower premiums, making them cost-effective for larger investments.

Consider liquidity, storage and dealer reputation when deciding which suits you better.

What is the most accepted gold coin?

The most accepted gold coin globally is the Gold American Eagle. It is widely recognized and accepted due to its purity, weight and the backing of the United States government.