The world’s most widely held and actively traded Gold bullion coin is not a British Sovereign, nor an American Eagle.
It’s the South African Krugerrand. And this year, it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
As one of the world’s most prestigious and collected gold coins, the Krugerrand belongs in any serious coin Portfolio.
But what do you actually know about the world’s most traded gold coin? Here are 9 things you need to know about the Krugerrand:
1. Struck by the South African Mint every year since 1967, this year is its 50th anniversary
2. There have been more Krugerrands sold than any of the other 1oz gold coins combined
3. Made up of eleven parts gold to one part copper, 22 carat gold was chosen over 24 carat because 24 carat gold can bend and scratch too easily
4. They are unique among modern gold coins in that they don’t have a currency denomination on the reverse because the bullion versions are so closely linked to the value of their gold content (plus a small premium)
5. It was the first gold coin to be traded on the weight of gold it contains, not on a value stamped on the face and the first gold coin in the world to be denominated in ounces of pure gold
6. The name Krugerrand is a combination of South Africa’s fifth president – Paul Kruger and the South African currency – Rand
7. Unlike most other modern bullion coins, Krugerrands were never available in silver until 2017 when The South African Mint announced the first ever Silver Krugerrand to mark the 50th anniversary
8. Bullion and Proof Krugerrands can be differentiated by the number of serrations on the edge of the coin, with the bullion version having 180 compared to the 220 on the proof
9. Standard bullion Krugerrands are minted at high speed in the hundreds of thousands or even millions, with little emphasis on the quality of the final struck coin, but the proof versions are far more limited, with each coin struck individually and then stamped up to three times
If you’re interested…
Coin Portfolio Management has imported a limited number of the FIRST EVER Silver Krugerrands.
Issued to mark the Krugerrand’s 50th anniversary and struck from fine Silver, the coin features a one-year-only special “50” privy mark.
Available for just £45, click here to secure one for your Portfolio before it’s too late