Gallery
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Bullion coins are government-minted, legal tender coins made of precious metals, such as gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and silver. They are kept as a store of value or an investment rather than used in day-to-day commerce. [1]
Under United Kingdom law, a bullion coin may be marketed as a coin if it is minted after 1800, is at least 900 thousandths fine, and are (or have been) legal tender in their country of origin. [2] Under United States law, coins that do not meet the legal tender requirement cannot be marketed as "coins". Instead, they must be advertised as rounds. [3]
Bullion coins are typically available in various weights, usually multiples or fractions of 1 troy ounce, but some bullion coins are produced in very limited quantities in kilograms or heavier.
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Fineness | Weights options in troy ounces (ozt) | 1 oz mintage (2018) | Years minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Gold Nugget | .9999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 2, 10, 1 kg | 188,921 [4] | 1986–present 1991–present |
| Dragon Rectangular Coin | .9999 | 1 | 1,888 | 2018–present [5] | |
| Austria | Vienna Philharmonic | .9999 | 1⁄25, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 318,300 [6] | 1989–present |
| Canada | Maple Leaf | .9999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄15, 1⁄10, 1⁄5, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 100 kg | 1979–present | |
| China | Gold Panda | .999 | (since 2016) 1g, 3g, 5g, 8g, 15g, 30g, 50g, 100g, 150g | 700,000 [7] | 1982–present |
| Iran | Emami | .900 | 2g, 4g, 8.13g | 1980–present | |
| Isle of Man | Angel | .999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 5, 10 | 1984–present | |
| Israel | Jerusalem of Gold Series | .9999 | 1 | 3,600 [8] | 2010–present |
| Malaysia | Kijang Emas | .9999 | 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 2001–present | |
| Malta | Melita [9] [10] | .999 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 2018–present | |
| Mexico | Libertad | .999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1991–present | |
| Libertad | .900 | 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1981–90 | ||
| Centenario | .900 | 1.20565 (weight 41.67 gr. for 37.5 gr. of pure gold) | 1921–31, 1943–47, 1949–72*, 1996*, 2000-09* *dated 1947 | ||
| New Zealand | Kiwi | .9999 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 500 [11] | 1990–present [11] |
| Poland | Orzeł bielik (Polish White-tailed Eagle) | .9999 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1,500 (2019) | 1995–present [12] except for 2001, 2003 and 2005 |
| Russia | George the Victorious | .999 | 7.89g | 150,000 [13] | 2006–present |
| Singapore | Lion | .9999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1990-2002 [14] | |
| Somalia | Elephant | .999 | 1⁄50, 1⁄25, 1, 5 | 2004–present | |
| South Africa | Krugerrand | .9167 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1967–present | |
| Spain | Iberian Lynx | .9999 | 1 | 2021-Present | |
| Ukraine | Archangel Michael | .9999 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1,500 [15] | 2011–2018 |
| United Kingdom | Sovereign | .9167 | 0.2354 | 1887–1932 1949–52 (dated 1925) 1957–59 1962–68 1974, 1976, 1978–82 2000–present | |
| Britannia | .9167 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1987–2012 | ||
| Britannia | .9999 | 1⁄40 [16] 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 2013–present | ||
| United States | Gold Eagle | .9167 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 191,000 [17] | 1986–present |
| American Buffalo | .9999 | 1 | 121,000 [17] | 2006–present | |
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Fineness | weights options in troy ounces (ozt) | Years Minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Emu | .9995 | 1 ozt | 1995–1998 |
| Canada | Palladium Maple Leaf | .9995 | 1 ozt | 2005–2010 |
| China | Panda | .999 | .5 ozt | 1989, 2004, 2005 |
| Portugal | Columbus | .9995 | 1 ozt | 1987–2000 |
| Russia | Ballerina | .9995 | 1 ozt | 1989–1995 |
| United States | Palladium Eagle | .9995 | 1 ozt | 2017–present |
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Fineness | weights options in troy ounces (ozt) | 1oz Mintage (2018) | Years Minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Platinum Koala | .9995 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 2,048 (2008) | 1988–2008 |
| Platinum Platypus | .9995 | 1 | 2,994 [4] (2017) | 2011–2017 | |
| Platinum Kangaroo | .9995 | 1 | 5,251 [4] | 2018–present | |
| Austria | Vienna Philharmonic | .9995 | 1⁄25, 1 | 13,800 [6] | 2016–present |
| Canada | Platinum Maple Leaf | .9995 | 1⁄20, 1⁄15, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1988–99, 2002, 2009–present | |
| Isle of Man | Noble | .9995 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 1983–1989, 2016 | |
| United Kingdom | Britannia | .9995 | 1⁄10, 1 | 2018–present | |
| United States | Platinum Eagle | .9995 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | 30,000 [18] | 1997–present |
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Fineness | Weight | Mintage | Mint | Years Minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuvalu | South Sea Dragon | .999 | 1 ozt | 1,000 [19] | Baird & Co | 2018 |
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Fineness | weights options in troy ounces (ozt) | 1ozt Mintage (2018)(*2021-2022*) | Years Minted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Frigatebird | .999 | 1 | *25,000* [20] | 2021–Present |
| Armenia | Noah's Ark | .999 | 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 5, 10, 1 kg, 5 kg | 234,001 [21] | 2011–present |
| Australia | Red Kangaroo | .9999 | 1 | 4,395,517 [4] | 2015–present |
| Kookaburra | .999 | 1, 1 kg | 4,395,517 [4] | 1990–present | |
| Koala | .999 | 1, 1 kg | 166,434 [4] | 2007–present | |
| Dragon | .999 | 1 | 3,888 [4] | 2018–present [22] | |
| Austria | Vienna Philharmonic | .999 | 1 | 2,101,592 [23] | 2008–present |
| Bhutan | Bhutan Lunar | .999 | 1 | 50000 [24] | 2016–present |
| Cambodia | Cambodia Lost Tiger | .999 | 1 | 10,000 [25] | 2022–present |
| Cameroon | Cameroon Mandrill | .999 | 1 | 10,000 [26] | 2018–present |
| Canada | Maple Leaf | .9999 | 1⁄2, 1 | 1988–present | |
| China | Silver Panda | Varies | Varies | 10,000,000 [27] | 1989–present [28] |
| Congo (Democratic Republic of) | World's Wildlife | .999 | 1 | 30,000 [29] | 2019–present |
| Congo (Republic) | Silverback Gorilla | .999 | 1 | 75,000 [30] | 2015–present |
| Cook Islands | HMS Bounty | .9999 | 1, 2 | (1) 15,000 (2) 6,500 | 2020 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Giraffe | .999 | 1 | 15,000 [31] | 2022–present |
| Gibraltar | Lady Justice | .999 | 1 | 15,000 [32] | 2022–present |
| Ghana | African Leopard | .999 | 1 | (1) 10,000 [33] | 2019–present |
| Isle of Man | Angel | .999 | 1 | 15,000 [34] | 1995–2018 |
| Domestic cats | .999 | 1 | 10,000 [35] | 1998–2018 | |
| Noble | .999 | 1 | 30,000 [36] | 1994–2018 | |
| Kazakhstan | Snow Leopard | .999 | 1 | (1) 10,000 [37] | 2009–present |
| Laos | Tiger (Panthera Tigris) | .999 | 1 | (1) 10,000 [38] | 2020–present |
| Malta | Melita [39] | .999 | 10 | 2021–present | |
| Mexico | Libertad | .999 | 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 2, 5, 1 kg | 300,000, [40] (2,458,000 in 1992) | 1982–present |
| Onza Troy | .925 | 1 (weight 33.625 gr.) | 6,104,000 (1980) | 1949, 1978–1980 | |
| New Zealand | Kiwi | .999 | 1, 5 | 10,000 [11] | 1990–present [11] |
| Niue/Fiji | Taku/Turtle | .999 | 1, 2, 5 | 350,000 [41] | 2010–present |
| Papua New Guinea | Birds of Paradise | .999 | 1 | 10,000 [42] | 2022–present |
| Russia | Saint George the Victorious | .999 | 1 | 250,000 [43] | 2009–present |
| Rwanda | African Ounce | .999 | 1 | 2008–present | |
| Serbia | Nikola Tesla | .999 | 1 | 50,000 [44] | 2018–present |
| Somalia | Elephant | .9999 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 2, 5, 10, 1 kg | 2004–present | |
| South Africa | Krugerrand | .999 | 1 | 630,000 [45] (2017) | 2017–present |
| South Korea | Chiwoo Cheonwang | .999 | 1⁄2, 1, 2, 10 | 35,000 [46] | 2016–present |
| Ukraine | Archangel Michael | .9999 | 1 | 40,000 [15] | 2011–present |
| United Kingdom | Britannia | .958 | 1⁄10, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 | N/A | 1997–2012 |
| Britannia | .999 | 1 | 2013–present | ||
| United States | Silver Eagle | .999 | 1 | 15,700,000 [17] | 1986–present |
| Country | Name of bullion coin | Mint | weights options in troy ounces (ozt) | Mintage | Years Minted | # of coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Lunar series | Perth Mint | 1⁄2, 1, 2, 5, 10, 10 kg | 300,000 [4] | 2008–2019 | 12 |
| Barbados | Trident | Scottsdale Mint | 1 | 30,000 [47] | 2017–2020 | 4 |
| Canada | Wildlife series | Royal Canadian Mint | 1 | 1,000,000 [48] | 2011–2013 | 6 |
| South Korea | ZI:SIN (Twelve Guardians) | KOMSCO | 1 | 10,000-40,000 [49] | 2017–2028 | 12 |
| Tokelau | Sea creatures | Highland Mint | 1, 2, 5, 10, 1 kg | 2014–2025 | 12 | |
| Ukraine | To the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence | National Bank of Ukraine Mint | 1 | 2021 | 15,000 [50] | |
| United Kingdom | The Queen's Beasts | Royal Mint | 1, 2, 5, 10, 1 kg | 2017–2021 | 12 | |
| United States | America the Beautiful | United States Mint | 5 | 20,000-126,700 [17] | 2010–2021 | 56 |
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The Krugerrand is a South African coin, first minted on 3 July 1967 to help market South African gold and produced by Rand Refinery and the South African Mint. The name is a compound of Paul Kruger, the former President of the South African Republic, and rand, the South African unit of currency. On the reverse side of the Krugerrand is a pronking springbok, South Africa's national animal.
Precious metals are rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical elements of high economic value. Precious metals, particularly the noble metals, are more corrosion resistant and less chemically reactive than most elements. They are usually ductile and have a high lustre. Historically, precious metals were important as currency but are now regarded mainly as investment and industrial raw materials. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium each have an ISO 4217 currency code.
The fineness of a precious metal object represents the weight of fine metal therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardness and durability of coins and jewelry, alter colors, decrease the cost per weight, or avoid the cost of high-purity refinement. For example, copper is added to the precious metal silver to make a more durable alloy for use in coins, housewares and jewelry. Coin silver, which was used for making silver coins in the past, contains 90% silver and 10% copper, by mass. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper, by mass.
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States.
Britannia coins are British bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987, in silver since 1997, and in platinum since 2018. The reverse of the coin patterns feature various depictions of Britannia, a feminine personification of the United Kingdom while the obverse features a monarch effigy with the legend around it.
A bullion coin is a coin struck from highly refined precious metal (bullion) and kept as a store of value or an investment rather than used in day-to-day commerce. A bullion coin is distinguished by its weight and fineness on the coin. Unlike rounds, bullion coins are minted by government mints and have a legal tender face value. Bullion coins can have fineness ranging from 91.9% to 99.99% purity.
The Perth Mint is Australia's official bullion mint and wholly owned by the Government of Western Australia. Established on 20 June 1899, two years before Australia's Federation in 1901, the Perth Mint was the last of three Australian colonial branches of the United Kingdom's Royal Mint intended to refine gold from the gold rushes and to mint gold sovereigns and half-sovereigns for the British Empire. Along with the Royal Australian Mint, which produces coins of the Australian dollar for circulation, the Perth Mint is the older of Australia's two mints issuing coins that are legal tender.
The coins of the South African rand are part of the physical form of South Africa's currency, the South African rand.
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is a silver bullion coin that is issued annually by the Government of Canada since 1988. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Silver Kookaburra is a silver bullion coin originating from Australia, and produced at the Perth Mint starting in 1990. The coins were .999 fine silver until the 2018 edition, which increased in purity to .9999 silver. While the obverse of the coin always depicts Queen Elizabeth II, the reverse side changes every year, always featuring a kookaburra, a bird native to Australia. Due to the yearly design change and limited production of the one-ounce coins, they have higher collectible value than some other bullion coins. The Perth Mint generally ships the coins in individual plastic capsules. One-ounce coins ship in shrink wrap rolls of 20, with 5 rolls in each box of 100. They are minted in four sizes; 1000g, 10, 2 and 1 troy ounces.
Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other metals are also used on rare occasions. Malta introduced the euro (€) on 1 January 2008. In a short time, the Central Bank of Malta has been producing both normal issues of Maltese euro coins, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
The Libertad coins are silver and gold bullion coins originating from Mexico and minted by the La Casa de Moneda de México. The Mexican Mint was established in 1535 and is the oldest mint in the Americas. The modern coins contain 99.9% silver or gold and are available in various sizes. Both metal coins have undergone a design change. In 1989, 3,500 1⁄4 ounce Libertad platinum coins were produced. Libertads are devoid of face value, yet are legal tender, still accepted as currency and guaranteed by Banco de México based on the market value of its gold or silver content.
The Chinese Gold Panda is a series of gold bullion coins issued by the People's Republic of China. The Official Mint of the People's Republic of China introduced the panda gold bullion coins in 1982. The panda design changes every year and the Gold Panda coins come in different sizes and denominations, ranging from 1⁄20 to 1 troy ounce.
TheQueen's Beasts coins are British coins issued by the Royal Mint in platinum, gold, and silver since 2016. Each of the 10 beast coins in the series features a stylized version of one of the heraldic Queen's Beasts statues present at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II representing her royal line of ancestry. The silver coin is notable as the first two-ounce United Kingdom silver bullion coin. Engraver Jody Clark designed the entire series. In December 2016, a full line of proof-quality coins was announced. In 2017, the mint began producing a platinum version of the coin. In April 2021, the Royal Mint issued an eleventh "Completer Coin" that featured all 10 of the Queen's Beasts, taking the series to 11 coins in total. The April 2021 release included a "one of a kind" gold coin weighing 10 kg and a denominated value of £10,000. Based upon the UK spot price at the time of release, the 10 kg gold coin had an intrinsic scrap value of approximately £411,000. It was widely reported that the 10 kg gold coin was the heaviest gold coin the Royal Mint had ever produced and that it had taken 400 hours to produce, four days to polish and has been described as a "Masterwork". The Royal Mint announced that Completer Coin completes the Queen's Beasts commemorative collection.
The Lunar or Shēngxiào (生肖) coin series is a collection of British coins issued by the Royal Mint featuring the Chinese zodiac in celebration of Chinese New Year. First issued in 2014, the series has been minted in varying denominations of silver and gold as both bullion and proof.
Baird & Co. is the largest gold refiner and the only full-service bullion merchant in the United Kingdom. Founded by Tony Baird in 1967; Baird & Co. initially dealt in numismatic coins expanding into bullion bars and jewellery as time progressed. The company is headquartered in Hatton Garden, London, operating out of a 30,000 sq foot high-security refinery in Beckton and an international branch in Singapore.
The Korean Tiger Bullion Series Medal is a series of gold bullion medals issued by the Korean Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO). The first series was introduced in June 2016. The medals are minted in the following denominations of 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz of 99.99% of fine gold.
Landmarks of Britain is a series of silver bullion coins produced by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom. The first coin was released in 2017 and features a design of Big Ben previously used on a £100 coin released in 2015. The second and third coins, both released in 2018, feature Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. The next coin is expected to portray Buckingham Palace. The coin has a maximum mintage of 50,000. The same designs appeared on a four coin proof set in 2014, these had trichromatic colour-printing and had a mintage of only 3,500 sets.
The Silver Koala Bear is a silver coin originating from Australia and produced at the Perth Mint. While the obverse of the coin always depicts Queen Elizabeth II of Australia, the reverse side changes every year, always featuring a koala, a marsupial native to Australia.
The Melita bullion coins are a series of silver and gold bullion coins issued by the Central Bank of Malta in collaboration with Lombard Bank since 2018. They exist in four different euro denominations and are legal tender in Malta. The coins depict the national personification Melita, and their design is based on Edward Caruana Dingli's Melita issue postage and revenue stamps of 1922–26.