Most popular bullion coins in the world

Since the introduction of the Krugerrand in 1967, a number of countries around the world have adopted their own national precious metal coins, but which are the most popular bullion coins in the world?

Here at BullionByPost we recommend that UK customers take advantage of coins produced by The Royal Mint when choosing an investment coin. Coins produced by The Royal Mint are classed as legal tender and as such enjoy Capital Gains Tax relief.

This means that in the UK, the top 3 most popular bullion coins are the gold Sovereign, and the gold and silver Britannia coins. The vast majority of UK investors choose these coins thanks to their low premiums, world-wide appeal, and UK tax benefits.

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Top 5 international gold coins

Although the coins above are the UK's most popular gold and silver coins, the UK's relatively small population means the most popular bullion coins in the world are generally those produced by international mints from other countries. Below then is the top 5 international gold coins. These, as well as their silver counterparts are the among the most popular bullion coins in the world, and will usually be recognised by investors and collectors in all countries.

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1) Krugerrand – The world’s first 1oz gold bullion coin, and undisputedly the most popular bullion coin in the world. During the 1980s Krugerrands accounted for an impressive 90% of the gold coin market. Although this has since fallen back as more and more countries brought out their own national coins, the Krugerrand remains a popular choice.

Produced in South Africa by the Rand Refinery, the Krugerrand is a beautiful gold coin weighing 33.93 grams. The coin contains one ounce of ‘pure’ 24 carat gold, as well as nearly two grams of copper, making it 22-carat purity.

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2) American Eagle – With the reputation and prestige of the US Mint behind it, the American Eagle gold bullion coin is the number one choice for United States investors, and is internationally recognised. Huge numbers of these coins are produced and sold each year, with the US Mint often struggling to keep up with demand.

Introduced in 1986, the American Eagle is minted at 22 carat (916.7 fineness) gold, and has a face value of $50. Similar to the Krugerrand, the Eagle weighs 33.9 grams, giving it 31.1 grams of ‘pure’ gold. The remaining metal is made up of silver (3%) and copper (5.33%). It's Eagle design is changed only occasionally, and is a favourite with collectors and investors alike.

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3) Canadian Maple – The Royal Canadian Mint has a rich history of coin-minting, stretching back to its time as a British colony. Issued in 1979 as a rival to the Krugerrand, the Canadian Maple has become a mainstream rival, and popular thanks to it's high purity and high quality finish.

Weighing exactly one troy ounce, the Canadian Maple is one of the purest gold coins available at 999.9 fineness. Similar to the Eagle, the Canadian Maple has a face value of $50 (Canadian Dollars), and as the name suggests, features the famous Maple Leaf synonymous with Canada.

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4) Australian Nugget – Also known as the Australian Kangaroo, the Nugget is the premier choice of one ounce gold coins from Australia’s Perth Mint. Produced since 1987, the design originally featured a gold nugget on the reverse, before switching to the current Kangaroo.

The Australian Nugget is another ‘pure’ 24 carat coin, weighing one troy ounce, and it is produced with a unique two-tone finish and an annually changing design. This changing, high-quality design makes it a particular favourite with investors who also enjoy collecting.

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5) Chinese Panda – The Chinese Panda offers international investors something a little different; a gold coin that weighs exactly 30 grams. The Panda coin is still 999.9 fine gold, but the People’s Republic of China has widely adopted the metric system, hence the change to 30 grams rather than a troy ounce.

First produced in 1982, the Chinese Panda is issued in five different denominations ranging from 1g to 30g, and features a unique design each year. These changing annual designs and metric weight make them a unique coin in the bullion space, and therefore one of the most popular in the world.