Precious Metals investors and enthusiast of all budgets are always on the lookout to add interesting, affordable and cheap gold coins to their portfolio. Investors with smaller budgets, or those new to precious metals may find the idea of spending close to $1,400 on a 1 oz Gold Coin daunting. So we’ve put together a small guide for the budget conscious of five gold coins that cost less than $200 each.
With the current gold spot price wavering between $1,250-$1,400 per ounce many investors look to fractional gold coins as a way to diversify into gold without having to spend a lot of money.
The obvious choice that many people choose is to buy 1/10th oz American Gold Eagle or 1/10th oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins. These are a good choice, however, the premiums on these coins can be extremely high when looking at things on a cost per ounce basis.
The melt value of a 1/10th oz American Gold Eagle coin is around $135 with gold spot price trading around $1,350 per ounce. In today’s retail bullion market the lowest price you can buy 1/10th oz American Gold Eagle coins for is around $150. The premium is about $15, which is a 10% dealer premium over spot price.
When factoring that premium on a per ounce basis, the 10% premium become $150 per ounce. The premium on a 1 oz American Gold Eagle coin can be as low as 1%, or roughly $13.50. When you invest in fractional gold coins it is important to look at the cost basis as it compares to a full ounce counterpart.
Vintage fractional gold coins can often be found with much lower premiums.
Gold Coins that Cost Less than $200
10 Francs Gold Coins
10 Francs Gold Coins were minted by a number of different countries under the Latin Monetary Union during the 19th and 20th centuries. The most popular 10 Franc Gold coins were minted in France and Switzerland.
There are at least three popular designs that investors seek for their bullion value and low premiums.
The 10 Francs Rooster Coin was struck from 1899 to 1914 in France. The obverse of the coin features the Gallic Rooster standing proud along with the French national motto of Liberte Egalite Fraternite.
The original design of the 10 Francs Gold Coin was that of Napolean III. Minted from 1854 to 1860, these coins mimic the 20 Francs and features a right-profile portrait of Napoleon III on the obverse, with the engravings Napoleon III and Empereur around the portrait.
Helvetia 10 Francs Gold Coins where struck from 1911 to 1922 in Switzerland towards the end of the Latin Monetary Union. The coins feature the young bust of Helvetia facing left, with the denomination and year of minting on the reverse.
10 Francs Gold Coin Highlights:
- Composition: Gold
- Fineness: 90%
- Weight: 3.2258 grams
- Actual Gold Weight (AGW): 0.0933 troy oz
Mexican 5 Pesos Gold Coins
The Mexican 5 Peso Gold Coin contains roughly .1205 troy ounces, roughly 3.75 grams of gold bullion. The premiums on fractional gold like the Gold 5 Peso Coin are often much lower than other fractional gold coins making them an attractive investment for bullion investors.
Cinco Peso Mexican Gold Coins were produced by the Mexican National Mint, La Casa de Moneda de Mexico. The Mexican 5 Peso Gold Coins were produced from from 1918-1948. Most of the coins on the market that are sold as 1945 5 Peso Gold Coins are restrikes. Many of the restrikes were produced between 1951-1972 and again in 1996.
5 Pesos Gold Coin Highlights:
- Composition: Gold
- Fineness: 90%
- Weight: 4.1665 grams
- Actual Gold Weight (AGW): 0.1205 troy oz
Gold 1 Ducat Coins
Gold 1 Ducat coins were minted in Austria and Netherlands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the Gold 1 Ducat coins that are available today are restrikes that are produced by the Austrian Mint based on the design featuring the bust of Emperor Franz Joseph I that are dated as 1915.
1 Ducat Gold Coin Highlights:
- Composition: Gold
- Fineness: 98.6%
- Weight: 3.494 grams
- Actual Gold Weight (AGW): 0.1107 troy oz
- Obverse: Laureate head right facing bust of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
- Reverse: Crowned imperial double headed eagle.
Great Britain Half Sovereign Gold Coins
The British half sovereign was first introduced in 1544 under Henry VIII. Gold Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns were discontinued from 1604 until 1817. The reestablishing of the Gold Sovereigns occurred following a major revision of British coinage in 1817. Production continued until 1926.
After 1926, production of Gold Sovereign coins was limited primarily to special issues for coronation years. Annual minting was restarted by the Royal Mint in 1980.
The Gold Half Sovereign was also used extensively in Australia, until 1933.
The reverse side, featuring St. George slaying a dragon was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci, whose initials appear to the right of the date.
Half Sovereign Gold Coin Highlights:
- Composition: Gold
- Fineness: 91.66%
- Weight: 3.99 grams
- Actual Gold Weight (AGW): 0.1176 troy oz
- Obverse:
- Reverse:
Austria 4 Florins/10 Francs
The 4 Florin/10 Francs gold coins were minted in Austria between 1870 and 1892. Under the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Austria began to join the Latin Monetary Union. During that time the Austrian Mint started striking the 4 Florin/10 Francs as trade coins.
The Florin gold coins were minted in two denominations: the 4 Florin gold coins with a face value of 10 Francs and the 8 Florin gold coins with the corresponding value of 20 Francs.
The Austria Mint still produces the 4 Florin 10 Francs gold coins. The restrikes typically show the date as 1892. Gold bullion investors are the primary buyers of the modern restrikes. The majority of the coins available in today’s bullion market are restrikes.
4 Florins Coin Highlights:
- Composition: Gold
- Fineness: 90%
- Weight: 3.2258 grams
- Actual Gold Weight: 0.0933 troy oz
