Gold Coins

Gold coin series

Each series has its own page with current stock and prices. Fine gold content is what you are buying — it is not the same as the coin's gross weight for 22 carat series.

If the weight matters more than the design, 1 oz gold coins gathers the one-ounce format across the series that offer it.

22 carat and 24 carat — what actually differs

This is where most price comparisons go wrong.

A 1 oz Krugerrand and a 1 oz Maple Leaf both contain exactly one troy ounce of fine gold — 31.1035 g. The Krugerrand is 916.7 fine, so it is alloyed with copper and weighs 33.93 g in total. The Maple Leaf is 999.9 fine and weighs 31.1035 g. The extra 2.83 g on the Krugerrand is copper, not gold, and you do not pay for it.

What the alloy buys is hardness. A 22 carat coin resists scratching and rim damage far better than a 24 carat one, which is why Krugerrands and Sovereigns circulate well and Maple Leafs are usually kept in capsules.

The Sovereign works differently again: it is priced by fine gold content of 7.32238 g, with a gross weight of 7.98805 g. The 0.66 g difference is copper. Any listing quoting 7.32 g as the coin's total weight is describing the gold, not the coin.

Fractional sizes

Several series run below one ounce. Half, quarter and tenth ounce coins hold proportionally less gold and cost proportionally more per gram, because striking and packaging a small coin costs nearly as much as a large one. The Sovereign family works in its own units: Half Sovereign at 3.66 g fine gold, Sovereign at 7.32 g, Double Sovereign at 14.63 g.

Fractional coins let you sell part of a holding rather than all of it.

Security features

• Bullion DNA (Maple Leaf, since 2013) — micro-engraved radial lines and a laser-engraved maple leaf bearing the year, verifiable against the mint's own reader.
• Four-layer protection (Britannia, since 2021) — surface animation, micro-text, a tincture line pattern and a latent feature applied together.
• Micro-engraving (Vienna Philharmonic) — a small mark applied by Münze Österreich, visible under magnification.
• Type 2 reverse (American Gold Eagle, since 2021) — a redesigned eagle portrait replacing the 1986 reverse, with added edge and surface detailing.

What to check before you order

Fine gold, not gross weight. When comparing two coins, compare the fine gold content. A 22 carat coin always weighs more than its gold content; a 24 carat coin does not. Prices quoted per coin mean nothing until you know which number they refer to.

Condition on 24 carat coins. Pure gold is soft. A 999.9 coin handled without a capsule picks up rim marks and hairlines quickly. None of it removes gold, but a marked coin is more likely to be weighed and checked than accepted on sight.

Related categories

If cost per gram matters more than recognition, compare with gold bars. For the same series in silver, see silver coins. Capsules and cases are in accessories, and we also buy gold back.

Gold coins — frequently asked questions

How much gold is in a 1 oz gold coin?

One troy ounce of fine gold, which is 31.1035 g, in every 1 oz bullion series. A 22 carat coin such as the Krugerrand weighs more in total — 33.93 g — because it is alloyed with copper, but the gold content is identical to a 999.9 coin of the same nominal size.

Is a 22 carat gold coin worth less than a 24 carat one?

No, if both hold the same fine gold. A 1 oz Krugerrand at 916.7 and a 1 oz Maple Leaf at 999.9 each contain 31.1035 g of gold. The Krugerrand simply carries additional copper, which is not priced.

How much does a gold Sovereign weigh?

A full Sovereign weighs 7.98805 g and contains 7.32238 g of fine gold at 916.7 fineness, which is 0.2354 troy ounces. The remaining 0.66 g is copper. Half Sovereign holds 3.66 g of fine gold, Double Sovereign 14.63 g.

Why do gold coins cost more per gram than gold bars?

Striking, security features, packaging and the issuing mint's margin are built into the coin price. In return the coin is legal tender in its country of issue and can be identified and priced by any dealer without testing.

Are smaller gold coins more expensive per gram?

Yes. Striking and packaging a tenth-ounce coin costs nearly as much as a full ounce, so those fixed costs land on a tenth of the metal. The trade-off is that a small coin can be sold on its own.

Does the year on a gold coin affect the price?

For bullion series, rarely. Dealers price by fine gold content. Some listings are sold without a stated year, drawn from mixed stock, and usually cost slightly less than a specific dated coin.