The Smallest Gold Coin in the World
At a Glance:
-
- The smallest gold coin ever minted weighs just 0.05 grams and is 1.99 millimeters across.
- This coin was created by the Croatian Mint and has a limited mintage of just 199.
- Although it has an approximate melt value of just over $13, its rarity makes it very valuable.
Here’s the Smallest Gold Coin in the World
For gold stackers, bigger is usually better. The largest gold coins in the world usually make international headlines, and investors dream of being able to one day purchase one of these modern marvels. But what about the smallest coin ever minted? Just like large coins, abnormally small coins are difficult to mint and pose a number of logistical challenges to mint engravers.
So what’s the smallest gold coin in the world? The smallest gold coin ever minted is the 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna, which weighs only .05 grams and measures just 1.99 millimeters across. This coin isn’t just a Guinness World Record holder for its tiny size – it’s also extraordinarily rare. A 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna has a melt value of just over $13 (as of October 2024), but its rarity and historical significance make it one of the most valuable gold coins on the planet.
On this page, we’re taking a look at the 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna Gold Coin, the smallest gold coin in the world.
The Tiniest Gold Coin: Introducing the 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna Gold Coin
In 2022, the Croatian Mint made international headlines when it minted the smallest gold coin ever produced. The coin was created as a special, limited release to celebrate Croatia’s transition from the Kuna currency to the Euro, which the country adopted in January of 2023. Weighing just .05 grams and measuring 1.99 millimeters across, the world’s smallest coin features an obverse depiction of another tiny marvel: the smallest town in the world.
That’s right. On the obverse of the 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna commemorative coin, collectors will find a depiction of Hum, the smallest town in the world. Hum had been around since the Middle Ages and, while remarkably tiny, possessed all the features necessary to constitute a legitimate town. The coin’s designer felt that depicting the world’s smallest town on the obverse side of a legendarily small coin would be a worthwhile challenge fitting for a pivotal moment in the history of the Croatian economy.
How Small is the World’s Smallest Gold Coin?
The coin measures just 1.99 millimeters across, roughly twice the diameter of the tip of a sewing needle. It clocked in at a weight of .05 grams, giving it an approximate melt value of only $13 in October of 2024. The coin was also distributed with one of the lowest mintages of any bullion coin in 2022. Only 199 of the world’s smallest gold coins were minted. The catch? You couldn’t buy this coin by itself. Instead, it was sold as a package with another Croatian gold coin, the 1 oz Gold Kuna Coin.
There’s no doubt about it – Croatia’s tiny coin stands as one of the finest achievements in the history of modern coinage. But the stunning engraving achievement of this record-breaking coin is only one of several reasons why it has become the holy grail of Croatian coin collecting.
A Small Gold Coin With Huge Value
The world’s smallest gold coin might not be worth very much in gold content, but it remains one of the most valuable modern bullion coins on the planet. How valuable is the 2022 Croatian 1-Kuna Gold Coin? Because of how rare this coin is, prices may vary from seller to seller. Remember: only 199 of the world’s smallest coins were minted, and we doubt more will ever hit the market in the future. Most auction sites list the world’s smallest gold coin for $15,000, and some sellers are asking up to $30,000 or more!
Adding to the coin’s value is the fact that it was not possible to buy the small coin on its own. Investors could only obtain a .05 gram Croatian 1-Kona Gold Coin if they purchased it as part of a package that included the full 1 troy oz version of the coin. Interestingly enough, the world’s smallest coin has since become far more valuable than its 1 troy oz counterpart.
Behind The Scenes: Making the Smallest Gold Coin Ever Minted
Creating abnormally sized gold coins comes with several logistical hurdles. Fans of large bullion coins might recall the massive effort required to mint the 1 Ton Kangaroo, the largest gold coin in the world. By some accounts, making a coin as small as the 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin is an even more impressive – and challenging – accomplishment.
How was the world’s smallest coin made? To mint the 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin, mint officials had to create an entirely new set of mint technologies and tools. Even unusually small gold coins, such as the 1/20 oz Gold Maple Leaf Coin, can be minted using traditional dies and other tools. The same cannot be said for a coin measuring only 1.99 millimeters across.
Because of how much special effort it took to create the world record holder for the world’s smallest gold coin, it should come as no surprise that only 199 of these specimens were ever minted.
A Rare Treasure
How rare is the world’s smallest gold coin? There are only 199 of the 1-Kuna Gold Coin, the smallest gold coin, in existence. The coin was exclusively available as a package that also included a commemorative version of the 1 oz Gold Kuna Coin, making it an exceptionally rare coin with a huge markup over spot price.
Don’t expect to easily find the world’s smallest gold coin for yourself in 2024. Nowadays, even sourcing one of these extraordinarily rare gold coins is a monumental task. If you do manage to find a 1.99 millimeter Gold Kuna Coin, expect to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege of adding it to your collection. On the bright side, this coin is rarely sold outside of its original display packaging, which includes a 2022 1 oz Gold Kuna Coin as well.
How to Buy the World’s Smallest Gold Coin
Can you buy the smallest gold coin in the world? The 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin sold out almost immediately upon release, since so many investors wanted to own a piece of numismatic gold history. A few of these coins are now available on the secondary market, but they’re always sold at a hefty premium over spot price. This makes sense, given the coin’s historical significance, numismatic value, and rarity.
You usually won’t find the world’s smallest coin for sale on traditional online bullion dealer websites. To get your hands on this coin, you’ll need to look at high-end coin auction houses. A few high profile auctions have included a lot with the 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin, but the collectible almost always sells for $15,000 or more.
Honorable Mentions: Tiny Historical Gold Coins
Measuring 1.99 millimeters across and weighing just .05 grams, the 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin is the smallest gold coin ever minted. However, there are similarly tiny coins scattered throughout human history. Believe it or not, some of humanity’s earliest coins were far smaller than the modern bullion coins that we love to collect today.
One of the smallest gold coins in history is the Indian Bele, a tiny gold coin minted during the Indian Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th-17th centuries. These coins vary in size but typically measure somewhere between 2-3 millimeters across. This size makes the Indian Bele coins smaller than grains of rice!
Historians disagree on how – or why – Indian metalworkers created such small gold coins, but they remain an amazing treasure and an important part of world coinage history. Until the creation of the world’s smallest gold coin, the .05 gram 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coin, the Indian Belle was the tiniest gold coin ever minted.
Best Small Gold Coins to Buy
For most investors, the price of purchasing the world’s smallest gold coin is far too high. But just because you can’t buy the record-breaking tiny treasure released by the Croatian Mint in 2022 doesn’t mean you can’t invest in small gold coins.
Modern gold coins weighing less than 1 troy ounce are called fractional gold coins. Fractional gold can be a great way to build your portfolio without spending too much money. Not every investor can afford a full troy ounce of gold at one time – and that’s okay! Let’s take a closer look at small fractional gold coins, as well as some of the most popular fractional gold coins to buy.
What is Fractional Gold?
Fractional gold refers to gold coins or bars that weigh less than one troy ounce. Most fractional gold coins weigh anywhere from 1/10 to 1/2 troy ounces, but some fractional gold coins can be as small as 1 gram. Fractional gold coins can be a good way for investors to start collecting gold bullion without spending money on a full troy ounce at one time.
On the other hand, fractional gold coins are usually saddled with higher precious metal premiums than full 1 troy oz gold coins. As a general rule, premiums increase as the size of a gold coin decreases.
Best Fractional Gold Coins to Buy
Fractional gold coins are one of the best ways for new stackers to begin collecting gold bullion. The good news is that most government mints produce fractional gold coins weighing as little as 1/20 troy ounces. A couple of popular mints occasionally release 1 gram gold coins for investors who prefer to stack even smaller gold coins.
What are the best fractional gold coins to buy?
The most popular gold coins with fractional sizes include:
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins
- American Gold Eagle Coins
- British Gold Britannia Coins
- Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins
- South African Gold Krugerrand Coins
Fractional coins are popular because they make it easy for investors to buy gold without breaking the bank. Many of the best mints in the world now produce fractional weights of their most popular coins, so fractional gold investors have quite a few options to choose from.
Final Thoughts: The Tiny Treasure of the World’s Smallest Gold Coin
In 2022, the Croatian Mint produced the smallest gold coin ever minted. Weighing only .05 grams and measuring a measly 1.99 millimeters across, the Croatian 1-Kuna Gold Coin is the smallest gold coin on the planet. Given its small size, the coin has a melt value of only around $13. Despite a tiny melt value for an equally tiny collectible, the 1-Kuna Gold Coin is now worth quite a bit more. Only 199 2022 1-Kuna Gold Coins were ever minted, and they were only available in a package with a full 1 oz Gold Kuna Coin. Auction prices for the smallest gold coin in the world frequently reach $10,000 or more.
By all accounts, the tiniest gold coin in the world is now one of the most coveted Croatian gold coins. Although most of us will never be able to afford the world’s smallest gold coin, fractional gold allows investors to buy the gold coins they love at prices they can afford.
You might also like:
About The Author
Michael Roets
Michael Roets is a writer and journalist for Hero Bullion. His work explores precious metals news, guides, and commentary.