Common Markets

Hard Times? Gold Coins and Bars

16
Jun0

Gold Coins and Bars : worth a lot more than Their Weight in Gold

You have likely seen them numerous times in pirate movies and Television shows. They shine and sparkle, and just having a look at them makes one feel rich — or need to be. Gold coins and bars are symbols of fortune and rightly so; authentic relics dating from the time of pirates and high seas journey can go for massive sums in auctions.

Today, though, gold bars and coins are traded as commodities and collector items. Unlike the coins and bars of old, today’s gold coins and bars are classified as gold bullion, or gold purchased in bulk form. A troy oz of 99.99% pure gold, or 999.9 on the millesimal fineness scale, can go for around USD 890 in today’s gold trading markets, while coins are sold for prices based on the amount of gold in the coin and many premiums on top of that price. They can be easily converted to cash anywhere in the world.

Bullion Gold Coins

Bullion gold coins are most valuable when their collector’s values are high. Uncirculated and explanation versions are the most prized, since they are limited in number. Uncirculated means coins that are stamped with a design not found in the common markets, whereas proof coins are first stampings of a new design. The term “proof” comes from the purpose the coins serve: by being the first stamped, they confirm the quality and precision of the coin dies supposed to be used in minting coins for public use.

Among the most noted gold coins are the South African Krugerrand, Canadian Maple Leaf, Australian Nugget, Austrian Philharmonic, Britannia, and Yankee Gold Eagle. For information’s sake, a gold sovereign is specifically a British gold bullion coin, and not just any gold coin. It is referred to as a sovereign because of the galvanizing size and depth of detail, and it shows a sovereign on the front and the Royal coat of arms on the reverse.

Coins Over Bars

Bullion gold coins have numismatic worth — that is, they are valued by coin collectors. Where a troy oz of gold in ingot or bar form is worth a specific amount, the coins are worth their weight in gold and minting fees plus collector’s premiums. This suggests that between a gold coin and a gold bar, the gold coin will have a seriously higher value. Additionally, the price released on the coin is no sign of its cost. For instance, on the 1-ounce Yank Gold Eagle, the worth “Fifty Dollars” is stamped, but the coin is worth around 950 US greenbacks ; a full nine times the face value, and nearly 10 % more than the price of a gold bar of the same weight. Really , these are worth more than their weight in gold!