Gold Coins

Why Buy Gold Coins from APMEX?

Gold coins are a well-loved option among gold investors, both beginner and experienced alike. These gold coins have varied designs influenced by artwork from different cultures and are frequently issued by sovereign mints, enjoying the backing of central governments.

APMEX is a world-renowned gold dealer and precious metals ecommerce retailer. We are known and trusted globally, with over 1.7 million customers and the largest assortment of silver and gold bullion in the industry. We have thousands of five star reviews from satisfied customers and offer some of the best deals in the industry.

Is it Safe to Buy Gold Online?

APMEX has been in business for over 20 years and shipped over $18 billion worth of precious metals. It’s much safer to buy gold online from a reputable gold dealer than to buy physical gold from a local pawn shop. There’s no risk of your identity being revealed as a precious metal investor, and you have none of the risks associated with transportation of gold bullion. The authenticity of your gold is guaranteed at APMEX, with each product’s gold content and fineness clearly labeled for every product. Gold shipped to your home comes in a non-descript package that is tamper evident, maintaining your anonymity. And when you’re ready to sell your gold, APMEX will also buy back gold, making the process easy and simple from start to finish.

Is it a Good Time to Buy Gold?

Gold is a highly liquid asset, meaning it’s very easy to buy and sell at any time. Because of this, some investors may be tempted to try to time the market. In general, gold is a safe investment that has yielded an average annual return of approximately 7%. Investors who purchased $10,000 of physical gold in 2019 would have had a gold position worth $13,934 in 2023.

• Average gold price 2019: $1,392.60
• Average gold price 2020: $1,769.60
• Average gold price 2021: $1.798.60
• Average gold price 2022: $1,800.10
• Average gold price 2023: $1,940.50

Which Gold Coin Should I Buy?

If you want to invest in gold, many retail investors prefer a 1 oz gold coin as their standard investment. In most cases, a 1 oz gold coin will have a lower premium than a ½ oz gold coin or ¼ oz gold coin. The smallest denomination of most coins from sovereign mints is a 1/10 oz gold coin. In general, the smaller the denomination the higher the premium you will pay for it. This is because smaller gold coins have higher costs associated with their production. Many investors still choose fractional gold coins due to their lower entry point than the standard 1 oz gold coin.

The difference between a coin and a round is that a coin is minted and backed by sovereign government and has a face value. The most popular gold coin is the 1 oz American Gold Eagle, minted at the US Mint. And for many, it’s enough to purchase the most popular gold coin knowing it will be easier to buy and sell. But for those who want to look at all their options, we have a guide to the best gold coins for investors on our Knowledge Center.

Gold Bullion Investors, Modern Collectors and Vintage Collectors

Not all gold coins are created equal. The gold eagle is a popular gold bullion coin that’s commonly available, as is the Gold Maple from the Canadian Royal Mint or the Gold Krugerrand from the South African Mint. The characteristic of a gold bullion coin is that it’s valued primarily on its gold content. The mintages are generally very high, and often the designs are consistent year over year. The US Mint changes the gold and silver eagle designs once every 25 years for example. Gold bullion has a low premium, and its value fluctuates closely with the spot price of gold. It’s a simple task to find one ounce gold coins with a premium around five percent of the spot price.

Modern collectors will build gold coin collections from modern bullion series like the Gold Swans from the Perth Mint in Australia. The design changes every year, and the craftsmanship and quality is extremely high. Combined with a low mintage, these coins are sought after and have a larger premium than gold bullion. The rarity and desirability of collectible gold coins can sometimes result in extremely high returns through a phenomenon known as premium appreciation, but it’s not a guarantee. With the opportunity for higher reward comes higher risk.

Vintage gold investors invest in world gold and pre-1933 gold coins. These coins are sought after for collections, their unique designs, and the history associated with them. Numismatic (vintage) coins are valued based on the estimated surviving mintage, desirability of the coin, the history associated with it, and the condition of the coin (also known as the grade). Although the value of vintage gold coins does fluctuate with the spot price of gold, the value of some vintage gold coins can be insulated somewhat if it is of sufficient rarity. There is no chance more of these coins can be made, and so over time it is expected they will simply become scarcer and more sought after as fewer circulate the market.

Which type of investor you are will determine which gold coin is best for you. If you want exposure to gold, low premiums and high liquidity, then gold bullion should be your priority. If you want higher returns and are willing to tolerate risk or want to own a piece of history and build a collection, then you might consider modern collectible gold or vintage gold coins.

Some investors may just prefer to invest based on design. It’s not uncommon for a gold bullion investor to occasionally purchase a high relief gold coin or step outside their comfort zone and explore an assortment of gold coins, bars and rounds and get something different occasionally.

Are Gold Coins Taxable?

APMEX is unable to give financial of tax advice, but it’s known there are certain tax benefits to gold that an accountant familiar with the space will be able to help you with. We do have an interactive guide that provides some of the state tax information for gold and other precious metals we hope will get you started. Remember that taxation can occur whenever there is a transaction on any investment, and that a transaction occurs both when you buy and when you sell your gold.

Gold Coins from the US Mint

The most popular gold coins vary from country to country. If you’re shopping in the US, you would find many of your fellow American gold bugs are choosing to shop gold from the US Mint. The advantage to buying what’s most sought after is that it’s highly liquid – in other words, easy to buy and sell in any quantity. Gold coins from the US Mint are also considered legal tender, which means that even for the few states that have sales tax on gold sales, there are often exemptions carved out due to the legal tender status.

The two main series the US Mint is known for are the Gold Eagles and American Gold Buffalos. There are some unique differences between them, such as purity, design, security features and dimensions. But the main difference that most gold coin investors will care about is the availability of fractional sizes. The Gold Eagle is available in sizes ranging from 1/10 ounce to 1 ounce. Gold Buffalos are only available in one ounce size. The US Mint produced fractional Gold Buffalos for one year only, in 2008. Due to their scarcity, these fractional gold coins often carry a hefty premium when bought or sold on the secondary market and can be difficult to find.