All About the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin
About Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins:
Made from gold mined completely from locations in Canada, the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin is composed of twenty four karat gold. Unlike American Eagles or South African Krugerrands which are 91.67% (or 22 karat) pure gold with the remainder coming from copper or silver to form a more durable alloy, Maple Leaves are 99.99% completely pure. They are known as the most pure bullion coin that exists.
Since they are made of twenty four carat gold, Maple Leaves certainly don't have the durability of Eagles or Krugerrands. Gold of this level of purity has almost never been used as a regular currency in circulation for the simple fact that it will get damaged and worn out over time or even quickly. But even though they are officially minted legal tender coins in Canada, Maple Leaves are not circulated coins and are meant to be owned by collectors or investors. You can't stroll into a McDonalds in Canada and order a Big Mac with a Maple Leaf coin, regardless of its legal tender status. Since Maple Leaf gold coins are primarily collector`s items and investments, perhaps the lower degree of durability is a non-issue.
Maple Leaf coins are one of the most sought-after bullion coins in many markets because they are known to be "pure" bullion. Certain people become a bit less interested when they learn that a different coin is less pure than twenty four carats. I guess certain individuals just like the thought of possessing pure bullion. And perhaps some people want the option of melting down their gold to increase liquidity in times of emergency. In addition to that, some people probably misunderstand what "impure" means in relation to coins of lower karatage, and assume that they are composed of less gold than twenty four karat coins with the same denomination (ie. 1 ounce). But the fact of the matter s that a 1-oz. Maple Leaf and a 1-oz. Krugerrand have exactly the same amount of gold inside them. The other metals in the alloy are not included in the listed weight, only the gold portion is calculated. These are all causes of the huge popularity of the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin.
One more reason that the Maple Leaf is so popular is its gorgeous imagery. The simple but memorable appearance of the maple leaf (which also appears on the Canadian flag) immediately strikes the viewer and elicits images of Canada's majestic natural wonders and abundant natural resources. The reverse side of the coin shows a bust of Queen Elizabeth II, indicating the former status of Canada as a settlement of Britain and now a Commonwealth nation. The imagery is almost the same as the images on the Canadian 1 cent coin a coin which depicts the a maple's leaf on the obverse and the Queen on the reverse.
The Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin can be bought in these denominations: 1 Troy Ounce, 1/2 troy oz, a quarter troy ounce, one tenth of a troy ounce, 1/20 Troy Oz.. A collection of Silver Maple Leaves is also available, which are pure bullion just like their gold brethren.
The Canadian Maple Gold Coin makes either a gorgeous treasure to enjoy, or an intelligent investment for the future. For those people who plant to take good care of their collections and make an effort to keep their coins in good condition, the twenty four carat Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin makes a great item in your collection.
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Bob Ethan -
About the Author:
Bob Ethan is a gold investor owning all varieties of gold bullion coins. His personal favorite is the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin.
What Are Australian Gold Nugget Coins?
What Are Australian Gold Nugget Coins?
Potential gold investors will want to know what are Australian gold nugget coins? At this time, gold is rising in price and more people are looking to invest in gold and learn about gold buying options. This type of Australian gold coin was first issued in 1986 and initially one side of the coin had an image of a famous Australian gold nugget. This image was replaced with that of a kangaroo in 1989. Nuggets, the image first carried by these coins, are becoming rarer to locate. It has been said that a five-carat diamond is easier to find than a nugget of one ounce of gold today. In addition, each nugget is unique. They also sell for a higher price as they are viewed as the equivalent of gemstones. What many do not realize is that most gold coins are made from melted gold dust, which is far more common than nuggets.
A limited amount of the Australian gold nugget coins was minted in the early years, so they might be even more valuable today. For instance, the year 1987 only had 15,000 of each type of coin produced. These coins are produced in different weights and in fractions of an ounce.
While the American Buffalo gold coin is the most popular amongst gold investors who buy coins, the Australian gold nugget coins are also very popular, because they have a distinguishing feature that is rare. The Perth Mint, a subsidiary of the Royal Australian Mint mints these coins. The coins should not be confused with the lunar gold bullion coins and they cannot be confused as they have different images printed on them. The latter carry different animal images from the Chinese lunar calendar; and the former now carry different images of kangaroos.
Why There Is Growing Interest In Gold As An Asset For Investment
Investors fearing the loss of the value of their due to inflation caused by the printing of money by governments desperate to avert the downside of the Great Recession are flocking to gold as a hedge. These are the less informed investors who missed what a leading official of the leading gold mining company (Barrick) recently noted that global gold production is falling because there is less gold available. This was revealed in an article published in the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph on November 13, 2009. The newspaper quoted Aaron Regent, the president of the Canadian mining company, who said at a gold conference held in London that global output has declined by approximately 1m ounces a year since the beginning of this decade. Total supply he further said had dropped by 10 percent with erosion of quality as well.
Hence, gold is becoming dearer and its value will rise regardless of what will be caused by the paper-printing machine of governments.
A Little History About Australian Gold Coins
As investors are aware, gold coins tend to hold their value. The one-ounce size, because of convenience and relative value is a popular size. In this category, the South African Krugerrand was a market opener in 1967. Krugerrands were minted in fractional sizes of a half-ounce, a quarter ounce, and a tenth of an ounce from 1980 onwards. The Panda gold coins minted by the Republic of China created solid demand a changing the design every year after their introduction in the early 1980s. Australians appear to have followed with pattern with the changing image feature of the new coin series.
Australia has issued gold coins since 1852 In 1986, gold coins in convenient weights became originally available in four different weights, from one ounce to one tenth of an ounce. A twentieth ounce size was introduced in 1989; and in 1991 larger sizes, ranging from two ounces to 10 ounce and one kilo were introduced. Annually, the coins are produced in the following weights: 350,000 at 1oz, 100,000 at 1/2oz, 150,000 at 1/4oz, 200,000 at 1/10oz, and 200,000 at 1/20oz coins Distinguishing features of these coins are: annual design changes; a government guarantee of purity and weight; an official legal tender status and a high quality finish, with a delicate frosting within its central design area.
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To read more about gold nugget coins, or you can buy gold nugget coins through The Precious Metal Shop
Now on eBay:
South Africa Gold Krugerrand, 1975 Bullion
$1,620.00
2h 29m
1997 SOUTH AFRICA GOLD 4 COIN 30TH ANNIVERSARY KRUGERRAND SET NGC PROOF 69/70 UC
$4,500.00
27d 16h 36m
South Africa Gold Krugerrand, 1979 Bullion 1 Ounce
$1,625.00
1d 5h 17m
