The Best Gold and Silver Coins for Investing

Note: This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Speak with a qualified financial advisor if you have questions about investing. 

If you’re interested in investing in precious metals, one of the most popular methods is to simply buy physical gold or silver coins.

Bars are another option, but coins present an interesting and versatile investment option. One benefit of coins is their relatively small denominations. With coins, you can buy or sell (or trade) almost any amount, whereas with a larger bar you’re forced to sell the entire thing.

A 1oz silver round can be purchased for less than $30 at current prices — so it’s easy to get started with any amount of money.

On the flip side, a Monster Box (500 coins) of Silver Eagles may run around $15,000 at current prices. And 1-oz gold coins run around $2,000 at current prices.

In short, whatever amount of money you have to invest, gold and silver coins present a versatile option!

But which gold and silver coins should you invest in?

This detailed guide will go over some of the most popular gold and silver coins, and explain why they may be good options for precious metals investors to purchase.

Best Silver Coins for Investing

Some of the most popular investment-grade silver coins include:

American Silver Eagle

The American Silver Eagle is the most popular silver bullion coin, with millions minted each year.

• 1 troy ounce of .999 pure silver (99.9% pure)
• Recognized worldwide
• An official US Mint coin
• Technically legal tender, with a face value of $1 (although it’s obviously worth more than this!)
• Available in singles, rolls of 20, and Monster Boxes of 500

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf

The Canadian Maple Leaf is Canada’s answer to the American Eagle. It’s the second most popular bullion coin in most recent years.

• 1 troy ounce of .9999 pure silver (99.99% pure)
• Wide recognition worldwide
• Official Canadian Mint coin
• Legal currency in Canada with a face value of $5 CAD
• Available in singles, rolls of 25, and Monster Boxes of 500

Pre-1964 US Silver Coinage (“Junk” Silver)

While not technically bullion, “Junk” Silver coins are a popular investment option. These are any dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollar coins that were minted in the US prior to 1964. They contain 90% pure silver, and are an inexpensive way to diversify into silver investing.

• Contain 90% silver by weight
• All dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollar coins made in the US prior to 1964
• Available in singles, rolls, and bags
• Often sold based on face value (for instance, you can buy $10 face value worth of mixed coins)
• Often sold at a multiple of face value (for instance, 20x face value – $10 face would cost you $200)

Other Silver Bullion Coins

There are many other silver bullion coins that are worth considering, including:

• Austrian Philharmonic 1oz
• British Britannia 1oz
• Mexican Libertad 1oz
• Chinese Panda 1oz
• Australian Lunar Series 1oz
• And many more!

These are all official bullion coins of their respective mints, and are widely recognized around the world.

For more information, see our guide on investing in silver.

Best Gold Coins for Investing

Some of the most popular investment-grade gold coins include:

American Gold Eagle

The American Gold Eagle is a very popular gold bullion coin, particularly in North America.

• 22 karat gold (91.67% pure gold) alloy creates a more durable coin
• Available in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, and 1/10oz sizes
• Contains the stated amount in pure gold: I.e. the 1oz contains 1 troy ounce of pure gold, and actually weighs slightly more than 1 troy oz total (due to the other alloy metals)
• Recognized worldwide
• Official US Mint coin
• Legal tender with a face value of $50 USD (for 1oz coin)
• Available in singles or rolls of 20

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Canadian Maple Leaf is another popular coin, and this one is made of 99.99% pure gold.

• 24 karat gold (99.99% pure gold)
• Available in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, and 1/10oz sizes
• Recognized worldwide
• Official Canadian Mint coin
• Legal tender with a face value of $50 CAD (for 1oz coin)
• Available in singles or rolls of 10

South African Gold Krugerrand 

The South African Gold Krugerrand is one of the most internationally-recognized gold coins, and at one point was the most popular by far (it remains popular today).

• 22 karat gold (91.67% pure gold) alloy creates a more durable coin
• Contains the stated amount in pure gold: I.e. the 1oz contains 1 troy ounce of pure gold, and actually weighs slightly more than 1 troy oz total (due to the other alloy metals)
• Available in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, and 1/10oz sizes
• Recognized worldwide
• Available in singles

Other Gold Bullion Coins

There are many other silver bullion coins that are worth considering, including:

• American Gold Buffalo
• Austrian Gold Philharmonic
• British Gold Britannia
• Mexican Gold Libertad
• Chinese Gold Panda
• Australian Gold Lunar Series
• And many more!

These are all official bullion coins of their respective mints, and are widely recognized around the world.

For more information, see our guide to investing in gold.