The 3rd July 1967 was an important date in the world of gold coins as it saw the release of the Krugerrand by the South African Mint. The Krugerrand was an important vehicle for South Africa to release its gold reserves worldwide. At the time South Africa was mining c75% of the world’s annual gold supply and this coin was a convenient and collectible way for the gold to be used and was more affordable to the man on the street than gold bars.
The Krugerrand has a name origin, split into two parts, which are:
Kruger – Named after Paul Kruger, the president of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900. His portrait features on one side of the coin
Rand – The rand is a currency used in South Africa and is named after the “White waters’ ridge” (Witwatersrand in Afrikaans). This area is prolific for gold mining and is the origin of in excess of 50% of the gold ever mined on earth
Investing in gold Krugerrands is a solid investment idea
10 amazing facts and stats about the Krugerrand
The Krugerrand was the world’s first 1oz. weight gold coin, where weight was used as the denomination
They have no face value, instead, the coin’s value is actively known across the world and is based on its precious metal content
The Krugerrand is easily the most recognisable gold coin worldwide
In 1980, ½ oz. ¼ oz. and 1/10 oz. versions of the Krugerrand were released to help investors with more restricted budgets
The Krugerrand has been mass produced, with more than fifty million being minted to date
The reverse side of a Krugerrand features a springbok, a type of South African antelope and symbol of the country
The coin is gold alloy featuring 91.67% 22-Karat gold and 8.33% copper (this is quite like the constitution of a British Sovereign)
Proof versions of the coin have been produced with collectors in mind as opposed to a primary motive of investment. Proof coins have 220 serrations on the edge of the coin whereas the standard bullion coins have just 160
A special 50oz. version of the coin was minted for the fiftieth anniversary, these are highly collectible as only fifty were ever minted
It’s the 50th anniversary of the South African Krugerrand in 2017
Here’s to another fifty years
Whilst other countries have released their own national coins (e.g. the Canadian Maple Leaf (1979), the American Golden Eagle (1986) and the Britannia (1987), etc.) demand worldwide for the Krugerrand is still extremely strong. This coin has well and truly stood the test of time and has not disappointed happy investors. Here’s looking forward to another fifty years of the Krugerrand.
Further reading
For further information about the South African Krugerrand also read our recent insight article by clicking South African Krugerrand.
Buying Krugerrands from Physical Gold
It’s the 50th (or Golden anniversary) of the Krugerrand, so why not buy some now from us here at Physical Gold? Call us today on 020 7060 9992 to place your order or discuss your requirements or email us via our contact form here.
The last five years have seen a massive amount of new issue releases of foreign silver coins around the world. We have carefully researched past mintages and created a list of eight of the very best foreign silver coins issued over the past five years. Of course, this is subject to opinion, but we believe adding one each of these eight coins will be a great addition to any silver investment portfolio and silver numismatic collection. We now start our list, which is provided in-country alphabetical order.
Australia – 2012 1Kg Australian Diamond Jubilee Silver Coin
We start our journey around the world with a fine Australian coin, the 2012 1Kg silver coin to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This will be very tricky to acquire as it only had a mintage of 600. This is a 99.99% proof quality silver coin and comes with a certificate of authenticity and presentation packaging. As the coin is 1Kg in weight the coin is also more expensive than many in this list, with a silver value alone of c£400, expect to pay £1,400+ for this coin.
We stay in Australia for our second coin, which is the 2017 1Kg version of the highly investible and collectable ever-popular Kookaburra series of coins. First introduced in 1990 these coins have stood the test of time and we are highly hopeful of the 2017 version, which as of November only had a mintage of 3,628 which is far lower than previous years (2016 – 13,355 and 2015 – 27,094). These are legal tender in Australia with a value of $30Aus. The good news is that these are available in-store today for around £550 at the time of writing, visit https://www.physicalgold.com/1-kilo-kookaburra-silver-2018/ for further details.
The Australian 2017 1 Kilo Kookaburra silver coin
Austria – 2017 0.5oz. Gabriel – The Revealing Angel
We now move swiftly on to Austria a country with a rich coin publishing tradition. We love the Revealing Angel coin recently released, this is proof quality silver weighing 0.5oz. With a limited mintage of 30,000, we are sure this will be popular and rise in value over time. Available at around £40, there is a significant premium to pay, which is for the numismatic value and the high collectability of this coin. Also, from Austria checkout the Philharmonic range of coins, which we hold in stock.
central bank of Barbados released this special commemorative 1oz. silver coin for the occasion. Made of 99.9% pure silver and featuring some gold-plated elements this coin has an attractively low mintage of only 1,000. Buy now if you can find this coin as it is bound to be popular and is very likely to rise in price over time. This coin also has the attraction of being from an unusual coin publishing country, so adds a little extra appeal to a collection.
Canada – 2016 0.28oz. Queen Elizabeth Rose with Selective Rose Gold Plating
We noticed this special limited edition 0.28oz silver coin from the Canada mint. It’s a 99.99% silver coin featuring selective rose gold plating. Very attractive on the eye this coin only has a mintage of 10,000 and is legal tender in Canada with a face value of $3Canadian. This coin is extremely attractive on the eye and comes with its own presentation box. Buying one of these is highly recommended. Also, from Canada why not consider buying a 1oz. Silver Maple leaf coin, details at https://www.physicalgold.com/silver-maple-leaf-1oz-coin-2020/, these are also highly collectable and investible.
Pobjoy mint produced this attractive coin commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War. Very patriotic, this coin features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the reverse has “Britannia rules the waves” with a classic image of Britannia with trident, headgear and robe. Mintage is guaranteed to be a maximum 50,000 but the final figure is not known as production is ongoing.
New Zealand – 2013 1 oz. Proof Gilded Snake Silver Lunar Coin
We love the lunar range of coins which are available from the New Zealand Mint. Published for each Lunar Year each one has its own appeal. We particularly liked the 2013 Year of the Snake proof, which is 99.9% proof quality silver and to coincide with the year had a mintage of only 2,013. This is bound to increase in popularity and we advise buying this and other years including 2014 Horse, 2015 Goat, 2016 Monkey, 2017 Rooster and 2018 Dog.
Somalia – 2016 1 oz. Somalian Silver Elephant Proof Coin
If you like to collect unusual countries coins, then why not buy one from Somalia? Made from 99.99% grade silver these coins are minted in Germany by the Bavarian Mint. Highly collectable these coins are competitively priced at just above the silver spot price. Offering less investment potential due to their higher mintage numbers, these coins are still very attractive on the eye and a very worthwhile buy!
Note: We are unable to publish images of the coins above due to licence restrictions, but these can be viewed by clicking on the links provided.
Buying foreign investment silver coins from Physical Gold
Why not contact us today on 020 7060 9992 or email us via our contact page for further information on investing in foreign silver coins?
Buy coins
With several auctions throughout the year, London Coins hold some of the most noticeable events of the coin-buying calendar. Attended by both professional coin investors and amateur enthusiasts, the auctions are often not to be missed, as you can often buy coins which are rarely seen and certainly very rarely available for purchase.
The next London Coins event runs over two days on March 5th and March 6th 2016. To help those of you who may be attending or considering a purchase for the first time, weve taken a look at the catalogue and chosen some highlights, as well as looking back at some of the notable sales made at the December 2015 auctions.
Potential bidders should be aware that the price of auctioned coin lots can vary wildly. They often finish far above the estimate, as serious collectors speculate on pricing, or show willingness to pay more than the accepted market value for a lot they have been searching for for some time.
For those of you wishing to buy coins as a numismatic investment, a safer bet can be semi-numismatic coins, which carry a premium due to their rarity and desirability, but can be purchased outside of auction, directly from Physical Gold.
These coins bridge the gap between brand new bullion coins and very rare collectors coins. For those seeking a gold investment but lacking the knowledge to buy numismatic coins, attending the sale can offer the perfect solution. Simply contact us here if youd like to find out more.
December Auction sales highlights
Half Pound Elizabeth I Sold for 11,000
One of the highlights of December’s auction (and one of the most expensive sales made), was lot 2065. A Half Pound Elizabeth I gold coin, marked as only the third time London Coins had ever sold this type of coin. Carrying Standard Reference S.2543, the last sale of this sort of coin was completed in 2013, for a price of 17,000.
A mixed lot can be a good way to enter into numismatic investments. Lot 1581 from December’s auction featured 16 assorted florins in their holders and sold for 380. Whilst lot 1582 featured 18 florins, and sold for 480. The quality of mixed lots can obviously vary, so careful inspection is required before taking the plunge.
March 2016 Highlights
Half Pound Elizabeth I Estimate 10,000 12,500
Like London buses, there’s another chance to own an Elizabeth I Half Pound for those who missed out on the one offered in December. The estimate places the coin at a similar value to the December sale, but it’s worth remembering that the 2013 sale was for significantly more than this (albeit that coin did have a more detailed history).
8 Escudos 1724 Estimate 18,000 20,000
The highest estimate in the March auction goes not to the Elizabeth I coin, but to this Portuguese gold 8 Escudos, which is considered extremely rare, to the point of being unpriced by the Krause coin catalogue. Considering the rarity, this could be a case where the estimate proves to be just that. With lots like this very rarely making it to auction, a determined collector may well pay above the suggested price.
The Finchampstead Collection Estimates vary by lot
Broken down into individual lots, this collection is noted by London Coins as carrying particularly coveted examples of Victorian copper coins. Indeed, the auctioneers note that at least half the collection is comprised of the finest known examples of the respective coins. Collected over 10 years, this perhaps demonstrates what a budding coin collector can aspire to!
Sixpences, threepences and small silver Estimate 500 600
As usual, there are a number of large bulk lots, but lot 1871 is one of the largest by volume, which has a reasonably well-priced estimate. As mentioned above, bulk lots can vary in quality, which will no doubt be the case here, but for speculative or new collectors, these can be an attractive way to buy coins.
Gold Information
Live Gold Spot Price in Sterling.
Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements; an ounce (31.1 grams; gold is weighed in troy ounces) can be beaten out to 187 square feet (about 17 square metres) in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.
Silver Information
Live Silver Spot Price in Sterling.
Silver (Ag), chemical element, a white lustrous metal valued for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is located in Group 11 (Ib) and Period 5 of the periodic table, between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), and its physical and chemical properties are intermediate between those two metals.
