Which Gold Coin is Best to Buy?

If you’ve decided gold is the best precious metal investment for your goals, then you’re in the right place. Once bullion investors figure out which metal they want to buy, the next step is to figure out a specific product to invest in. There are quite a few options – gold coins, bars, junk gold, and countless other collectible items struck with pure gold bullion. 

Coins have long been a favorite for investors all over the world. The numismatic value of a government-backed gold bullion coin is hard to beat, and gold coins are minted with .999-.9999 pure gold bullion. If you’re planning on speculating on the value of gold over time or just like the look and feel of a beautifully decorated gold piece, coins are an excellent investment option to add to any growing portfolio. 

Today, we’ll tell you about some of our favorite gold coins. This list could be quite a bit longer; there are hundreds of incredible gold coins available on the bullion market. To keep things simple, we’ll focus on the coins that tend to have the highest levels of investor interest and confidence. Which gold coin is best to buy? We’ve got you covered with a full guide on the best gold coins. 

Factors to Consider When Buying Gold Coins

Before we get into which gold coin is best to buy, let’s take a moment and review the various aspects of investing that every prospective bullion collector should keep in mind prior to spending thousands of dollars on a new gold bullion piece. 

Personal Financial Goals and Risk Tolerance

Nobody knows your financial goals better than you do. Long-term and short-term investors have different objectives and should tailor their gold coin choices to fit this paradigm. While you search which gold coin is best to buy, it’s also important to think of the bigger picture.

When do you see yourself wanting to sell your gold coin investment? Do you need something that’s liquid enough to be sold at a moment’s notice, or do you anticipate having quite a bit of time to find the right buyer when selling time approaches? These are important personal questions to ask yourself before you can find out which gold coin is best to buy for your investment portfolio. If you’re wondering which gold coin is best to buy for high liquidity, you’re on the right track by reading this guide.

Questions like these are only the beginning of a solid financial plan and portfolio structure. We never recommend that investors put their money into gold, silver, or platinum products until they’ve done the work to put a clear investment plan into place. 

Considering risk is also an essential component of a smart investing plan. Investors with a high risk tolerance may be willing to take a chance on unpopular, untested coins with high appreciation potential, while low-tolerance investors should steer clear. Which gold coin is best to buy for risk-averse investors? Check out our breakdowns of time horizon and diversification below. 

Time Horizon for Investment 

Time horizon is one of the first things that a new investor should decide. Time horizon refers to how long you plan to hold onto your investment before selling. Some people have long time horizons, especially if they’re young investors planning for a retirement decades down the road. The answer to which gold coin is best to buy may vary, depending on your overall time horizon. 

Others are working on a shorter timeline and may need the money back from their investment within a year or less. Short-term investors should develop investment strategies with relatively aggressive risks, provided that they want to maximize profits and have a high risk tolerance. When you want to know “which gold coin is best to buy,” smart investors will put their existing portfolio-building strategy first. 

To figure out your time horizon for gold investment, imagine where you think your gold will be in five or ten years. Do you imagine that the gold will still be sitting untouched in your safe, or will it be in someone else’s hands while you buy stocks or bonds or pay a few extra bills? 

Again, asking these questions can save you quite a bit of heartache in the long run. Investing in the wrong gold coins could be disastrous for your portfolio, and reconciling your investment choice with your plan is a good way to avoid getting burned. 

One popular myth in the bullion industry is that gold coins should only be held as long-term investments. In fact, the opposite is occasionally true. Some investors want to know which gold coin is best to buy for short-term gains. Whether you’re in it for the long haul or plan to make some quick cash by investing in gold coins, we’re excited to help you explore which gold coin is best to buy. 

Diversification within a larger Investment Portfolio

A wise investor always diversifies their portfolio. There are a few ways to do this. Some people actually buy gold in order to make their portfolio more diverse and resistant to inflation. For investors specializing in bullion, it might be better to focus on diversifying the types of bullion products you collect. The high risk and volatility of silver rounds, for example, is excellently offset by the relative consistency of long-term gold bar/coin investments. Mixing different types of gold bullion is also a smart move; bars, rounds, and coins can all be combined to make your portfolio more resistant to the pitfalls of inflation and the whims of a volatile market. 

Which gold coin is best to buy? At the end of the day, the best gold product to buy might not be a coin at all. Some investors might actually need gold bars or even rounds to properly diversify their portfolios. Gold bars in particular popular options for people who want to diversify their portfolio without breaking the bank on premiums. Gold coins might be the most numismatically valuable gold products in the industry, but they also come saddled with expensive premiums over spot. To figure out which gold coin is best to buy on a budget, consider looking into some of the less popular global coins in our catalogue. 

Whatever your diversification strategy is, think about how the gold coins on our ranked list fit into the existing framework of a diverse portfolio. Doing so can help you to maintain profit or stability, even during times of economic insecurity. In the middle of a bear market, smart gold investors can keep their heads held high with a diverse portfolio capable of retaining value. 

Consideration of Market Conditions and Price Trends

People sometimes like to treat gold investment as being completely different from traditional investment strategies. While gold is certainly a unique, physical asset, investors still need to use traditional market predicting methods to gauge the success and profitability of their gold products. 

The spot price of gold is going to be your biggest tool to judge the value of coins on our list, as these coins are primarily valued for their gold content. These coins also have quite a bit of numismatic value as well, so it’s important to also track demand for specific coins over time. Which gold coin is best to buy in the current market? Research is going to be your best friend as you answer this question. 

To get a better idea of market conditions and price trends, we recommend learning some of the leading bullion magazines and investment websites on the internet. In the digital age, it’s easier than ever to track the market using expert advice and input. Results may vary; be sure to carefully vet the quality and reputation of a magazine before taking their advice seriously. 

American Gold Eagle

The American Gold Eagle is the most popular coin coming out of the famous United States Mint. Featuring Lady Liberty on the front and the extremely detailed visage of a bald eagle on the reverse, the coin invokes classic American symbols while offering an exceptional .9167 gold purity per troy ounce. 

The coins are not particularly rare, with tens of thousands being minted every year. However, the numismatic value of the Gold Eagle is tough to overstate. Collectors go crazy for the American Gold Eagle, and it certainly helps that the coin is minted with some of the most advanced artistic technology to ensure a beautiful design in addition to its gold content. 

There’s a couple of big reasons why many investors’ answers to “which gold coin is best to buy” might be the American Gold Eagle. While part of this coin’s value is determined by the present spot price of gold, it also benefits from numismatic value appreciation, making it an excellent collectible piece and potentially a highly profitable long-term investment. 

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Royal Canadian Mint has been another dominating mint in North America, and their Canadian Gold Maple rivals the American Gold Eagle as one of the most coveted annual release coins on the market. Queen Elizabeth II appears on the obverse of the Canadian Gold Maple, an homage to the monarch of the country that founded Canada’s government mint. 

The reverse features a familiar image – the strikingly detailed Canadian Maple Leaf. In addition, investors in this coin are often impressed by the textured wave background, as well as the advanced anti-counterfeiting technology the Gold Maple offers. The coin also offers .9999 pure gold content, differentiating it from the American Gold Eagle. Which gold coin is best to buy from the Royal Canadian Mint? The Gold Maple Leaf is an easy call for most collectors.

Whether you’re a fan of Canadian symbols or you appreciate the obverse’s regal depiction of Queen Elizabeth, the Gold Maple is truly a unique coin to add to any collection. Additionally, investor demand for the coin always remains relatively high, which is another selling point for buyers interested in long-term investment. 

South African Krugerrand 

Departing from North America, we note the South African Krugerrand. The coin offers a unique and storied history, having been banned from the United States for nearly a decade in the 1970s. The coin features divisive South African political figure Paul Kruger on the obverse and a jumping Springbok antelope, the national animal of South Africa, on its reverse. While the coin has been a controversial one politically, it has remained an investor favorite for decades. 

It’s minted with .9167 pure gold bullion, much like the American Gold Buffalo. While many collectors prefer a higher purity, it’s worth noting that the alloy combination of metals aside from gold actually helps improve the tactile strength of the coin, which can prevent it from being damaged as easily as a .9999 pure coin. Which gold coin is best to buy from underrated mints? The South African Krugerrand has a reputation for a reason!

As one of the longer running coins on our list, the South African Krugerrand offers an exceptional history of appreciation by collectors and investors alike. Owning a part of history is always a good way to increase the numismatic diversity of your collection, and the South African Krugerrand is an excellent choice for this purpose. 

Austrian Gold Philharmonic 

When investors ask, “which gold coin is best to buy from Europe,” the Gold Philharmonic doesn’t frequently come up. This is a shame, considering the coin’s massive popularity and unique designs. 

This is one of the more aesthetically creative coins on our list. Instead of paying homage to a monarch, the Austrian Mint celebrates the rich musical history of Austria with both sides of this coin. Minted with .9999 fine gold bullion, the coin features the Musikverein Pipe Organ on the obverse. It is rendered in exquisite detail; every pipe on the organ is clearly marked. 

The coin’s reverse depicts eight different orchestra instruments frequently used in Vienna’s famous orchestra. Four violins, a centered cello, a Vienna horn, a bassoon, and a harp are the hallmarks of the Gold Philharmonic’s reverse side.

Many investors like the Gold Philharmonic as a way to diversify their gold holdings with a unique cultural piece. The coin differentiates itself from other coins on our list through the unique obverse and reverse artworks. The coin is newer than the Krugerrand, having only been released in 1989. This hasn’t stopped investors from buying the coins in bulk every year. As an investment coin, the Gold Philharmonic has shown investors that it has the ability to retain significant numismatic and collectible value over time. 

Chinese Gold Panda

The Gold Panda is one of the Chinese Mint’s most popular gold coins. Unlike most other gold bullion coins, each Chinese Gold Panda is uniquely designed for that year. The American Gold Eagle largely features the same design each year, and this is the case for the Canadian Gold Maple as well. Instead, experts at the Chinese Mint hand-craft a new design for each new design year. 

The obverse of the coin has remained static since its original design in 1982. It depicts the Temple of Heaven, which is among China’s most famous landmarks. If you’re wondering which going coin is best to buy from an Eastern mint, we’d recommend the Chinese Gold Panda.

On the reverse, you’ll note various different images of pandas. The latest release of the Gold Panda shows two young pandas enjoying a meal of bamboo. The weight, material, and purity (.999 pure gold) are also shown on the reverse. We also enjoy that this gold coin offers several denominational weights, including 1, ½, ¼, and 1/10 oz variants. This makes it quite a bit easier for gold stackers to build their collection without dumping thousands of dollars into gold bullion. 

China’s minting program actually features coins from several different national mints located throughout the country, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Shenzhen. This doesn’t end up mattering much, as the Chinese mint system doesn’t include mint marks. All of the mints produce the same designs, which change yearly. 

Final Thoughts: Which Gold Coin is Best to Buy?

Which gold coin is best to buy for your portfolio? This is a hard question to answer, and you’re the only person who knows which type of gold bullion coin is right for you. By considering your investment goals, long-term plans, and tracking movements in the bullion market, you can ensure that you buy a coin capable of expanding your investment portfolio. We recommend buying a variety of gold coins rather than spending all your money on one type of piece. Doing so can help to offset potential declines in the numismatic value of a given gold coin. 

Before you buy your first gold coin, make sure to put quite a bit of research into the gold bullion market. While gold is traditionally a more stable sector than volatile silver, dramatic price falls and spikes can still be possible. Extensive market research using the tools available to you online can help you invest with confidence and offset the inherent risk of gold and silver speculative investing. 

Do you have questions about the best gold coin to buy? Contact us anytime for help from one of our dedicated customer support representatives.