Popular Gold Coins

As investments, gold coins exhibit the advantages of easy transferability and global acceptance, which contribute to their high liquidity. During 2005, renowned author Rick Munarriz researched on what made a better investment option - gold or Google shares, since both traded on the stock market in the same range. By the end of 2008, when the US and Europe were plagued by recession, Google shares closed at $307.65 per share, while gold traded at $866 an ounce.

Popular US Gold Coins

Gold coins have been the standard base of trade across the world for centuries, and America is no different. Different variants and denominations of gold coins continue to be produced by the US Mint. Some popular US gold coins in the market are:

• The Liberty Head Gold Dollar: Smaller in size than a dime, these coins feature a profile of the Liberty, without any writing on the front and a wreath on the reverse. The coin was minted in the US from 1849 to 1854. Later versions, with the Liberty adorning an Indian headdress, were minted between 1854 and 1889.

• The Quarter Eagle: Having a face value of just $2.50, the coin underwent several design alternations through the years. The ‘Capped Bust’ designed coins were minted between 1796 and 1839, followed by the ‘Liberty Head’ design from the early 1840 to 1907.

• The Three-Dollar Gold Piece: With a face value of $3, these coins were minted between 1854 and 1889, having an Indian Princess Head design. The coin was circulated very sparsely and less than 10,000 coins are available in the market.

• The Double Eagle: Originally valued at $20, the double eagle is the largest-denomination gold coin produced by the US Mint in circulation. The double eagle with the ‘Liberty Head’ design was minted between 1849 and 1907. The Saint-Gaudens, featuring a modern representation of the Liberty, were minted from 1907 to 1933.

Gold Coins: Your Investment Options

Gold coins are broadly categorized into gold bullion and numismatics. Gold, in its purest form, is classified as gold bullion, having fineness between 0.90 and 0.9999.Numismatics, on the other hand, are commemorative or minted coins, generally favored by coin collectors. Numismatics reflect the value of their gold content as well as the value associated with their design and age.

Regardless of whether you are purchasing bullion or numismatics, you must confirm the authenticity of gold coins by checking their serial number and confirming with the grading service. In the US, gold coins are graded and certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation.