Bullion coin

A bullion coin is a coin struck from precious metal and kept as a store of value or an investment, rather than used in day-to-day commerce.^[1] The United Kingdom defines investment coins more specifically as coins that have been minted after 1800, have a purity of not less than 900 thousandths and are, or have been, legal tender in their country of origin.^[2] Under United States law, "coins" that fail the last of these requirements are not coins at all,^[3] and must be advertised as "rounds" instead. Bullion coins are usually available in both gold and silver^{[citation needed]}, with the exceptions of the Krugerrand and the Swiss Vreneli which are only available in gold. The American Eagle series is available in gold, silver and platinum,^[4] and the Canadian Maple Leaf series is available in gold, silver, platinum^[5] and palladium.^[6]

Bullion coins are typically available in various weights. These are usually multiples or fractions of 1 troy ounce, but some bullion coins are produced in very limited quantities in kilograms or heavier.

Bullion coins sell for a premium over the market price of the metal on the commodities exchanges. Reasons include their comparative small size and the costs associated with manufacture, storage and distribution. The amount of the premium varies depending on the coin's type and weight and the precious metal. The premium also is affected by prevailing demand.

The ISO currency code for gold bullion is XAU. ISO 4217 includes codes not only for currencies, but also for precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum; by definition expressed per one troy ounce, as compared to "1 USD") and certain other entities used in international finance, e.g. special drawing rights.

Lists of bullion coins

Gold

File:Krugerrand (8437358973).jpg

Krugerrand gold bullion coin, minted in 2012

The European Commission publishes annually a list of gold coins which must be treated as investment gold coins (e.g. by being exempt from VAT) in all EU Member States. The list has legal force and supplements the law. In the United Kingdom, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have added an additional list of gold coins alongside the European Commission list. These are gold coins that HMRC recognise as falling within the VAT exemption for investment gold coins.^[7] The following list presents only the most common coins included in the European Commission list.

List of gold bullion coins
Country	Name of bullion coin	Fineness	Denominations (gold weight) mainly expressed in troy ounces (ozt)	Years of mintage
Australia	Gold Nugget	.9999	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 2 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg	1986–present 1991–present
Australia	Lunar Series I	.9999	1 ozt	1996–2007
Australia	Lunar Series II	.9999	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 2 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg, 10 kg	2008–2019
Austria	Vienna Philharmonic	.9999	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1989–present
Canada	Maple Leaf	.9999 (.99999 available)	1/20 ozt, 1/15 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/5 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 100 Kilo	1979–present
China	Gold Panda	.999	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1982–present
France	20 Francs Napoleon	.900	0.1867 ozt	1806–1914
Israel	Jerusalem of Gold Series	.9999	1 ozt	2010–present
Kazakhstan	Golden Irbis	.9999	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	2009–present
Malaysia	Kijang Emas	.9999	1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	2001–present
Mexico	Libertad	.999	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1991–present
Mexico	Libertad	.900	1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1981–1990
Mexico	Centenario (50 Pesos)	.900	1.20565 ozt	1921 - 1931 Periodically 1943 - 1972
Poland	Orzeł bielik	.9999	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1995–present But^{[clarification needed]} 2001, 2003 and 2005
Poland	Bene Merentibus	.9999	1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	2012
Russia	George the Victorious	.999	0.2537 ozt	2006–present
Somalia	Elephant	.999	1/50 ozt, 1/25 ozt, 1 ozt, 5 ozt	1999–present
South Africa	Krugerrand	.9167	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1967–present
Switzerland	Vreneli	.900	0.0933 ozt, 0.1866 ozt	1897 - 1936 1947 and 1949
Ukraine	Archangel Michael	.9999	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	2012–present
United Kingdom	Sovereign	.9167	7.3224 g = 0.2354 ozt	1887 - 1932 1949 - 1952 (dated 1925) 1957 - 1959 1962 - 1968 1974, 1976, 1978 - 1982 2000–present
United Kingdom	Britannia	.9167	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1987–2012
United Kingdom	Britannia	.9999	1 ozt	2013-present
United Kingdom	The Queen's Beasts	.9999	1 ozt, ¼ ozt	2016-present
United States	Gold Eagle	.9167	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1986–present
United States	American Buffalo	.9999	1 ozt	2006–present
United States	Double Eagle	.900	0.9675 ozt	1849–1933
USSR	Chervonets	.900	0.2489 ozt	1975–1982

Palladium

List of palladium bullion coins
Country	Name of bullion coin	Fineness	Denominations (Palladium weight)	Years of mintage
Canada	Palladium Maple Leaf	.9995	1 ozt	2005–2007, 2009

Platinum

List of platinum bullion coins
Country	Name of bullion coin	Fineness	Denominations (Platinum weight)	Years of mintage
Australia	Platinum Koala	.9995	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1988–2008
Australia	Platinum Platypus	.9995	1 ozt	2011–present
Canada	Platinum Maple Leaf	.9995	1/20 ozt, 1/15 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1988–1999, 2002, 2009
Isle of Man	Noble	.9995	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1983–1989
Mexico	Libertad	.999	1/4 ozt	1989
United States	Platinum Eagle	.9995	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1997–present

Silver

List of silver bullion coins
Country	Name of bullion coin	Fineness	Denominations (Silver weight)	Years of mintage
Armenia	Noah's Ark	.999	1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 5 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg, 5 kg	2011–present ^[8]
Australia	Great White Shark	.999	1/2 ozt	2014
Australia	Kangaroo	.9999	1 ozt	1993–present
Australia	Silver Koala	.999	1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg	2007–present
Australia	Silver Kookaburra	.999	1 ozt, 2 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg	1990–present
Australia	Lunar	.999	1 ozt, 2 ozt, 10 ozt, 1 kg	1999–present
Australia	Saltwater Crocodile	.999	1 ozt	2014–present
Austria	Vienna Philharmonic	.999	1 ozt	2008–present
Benin	Elephant	.999	1 ozt	2014–present
Cameroon	Cross-River Gorilla	.999	1 ozt	2011–2013
Canada	Arctic Fox	.9999	1/4 ozt, 1.5 ozt	-
Canada	Birds of Prey	.9999	1 ozt	2014–2015
Canada	Grey Wolf	.9999	3/4 ozt	2015
Canada	Maple Leaf	.9999	1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1988–present
Canada	Polar Bear	.9999	1.5 ozt	-
Canada	Wildlife Series	.9999	1 ozt	2011–2013
China	Lunar	.999	1 ozt	-
China	Silver Panda	Varies	Varies	1989–present^[9] (pre-1989 are medallions)
Congo (Republic)	African Lion	.999	5 ozt	2013
Congo (Republic)	Baby Lions	.999	1 ozt	2012
Congo (Republic)	Rhinoceros	.999	1 ozt	2012
Cook Islands	Young Wildlife Series	.999	1 ozt	2013
Fiji	Eagle	.999	1 ozt	2013
Fiji	Otter Lutra	.999	1 ozt	-
France	Silver Coin	.900	1 ozt	-
Gabon	Elephant	.999	1 ozt	2012
Gabon	Lion	.999	1 ozt	2013
Kazakhstan	Silver Irbis	.9999	1 ozt, 2 ozt, 5 ozt, 10 ozt	2009–present
Mexico	Libertad	.999	1/20 ozt, 1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 2 ozt, 5 ozt, 1 kg	1982–present
Mongolia	Argali	.999	1 ozt	2013
Mongolia	Long-eared Hedgehog	.999	1 ozt	2012
Mongolia	Manul	.999	1 ozt	2014
Mongolia	Scorpion	.999	1 ozt	2005
Mongolia	Ural Owl	.999	1 ozt	2011
Mongolia	Wolverine (Gulo Gulo)	.999	1 ozt	2007
New Zealand	Kiwi	.999	1 ozt	2007–present
Niue	Secrets of Lichtenstein	.999	2 ozt	2013
Palau	Red Squirrel Swarovski	.999	1 ozt	2012
Papua New Guinea	Spiny Anteater	.999	1 ozt	2012
Russia	Saint George the Victorious	.999	1.01 ozt	2009–2010
Russia	Southwest Asian Leopard	.999	1.01 ozt	-
Somalia	Elephant	.999	1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt, 2 ozt, 1 kg	1999–present
South Africa	Marine Protected Areas	.925	1 ozt	2013
South Africa	Pel's Fishing Owl	.925	1 ozt	2012
Suriname	Suriname	.999	1 ozt	-
Togo	Bison D'Europe	.999	2 ozt	2012
Tokelau	Crocodile	.999	1 ozt	2013
Turkey	Street Stray Animals	.925	1 ozt	-
Ukraine	Archangel Michael	.9999	1 ozt	2011–present
United Kingdom	The George and the Dragon	.999	15.71 g	2013
United Kingdom	Britannia	.958	1/10 ozt, 1/4 ozt, 1/2 ozt, 1 ozt	1997–2012
United Kingdom	Britannia	.999	1 ozt	2013-present
United Kingdom	The Queen's Beasts	.9999	2 ozt	2016-present
United States	America the Beautiful	.999	5 ozt	2010–present
United States	Silver Eagle	.999	1 ozt	1986–present

References

^ "Investing in Bullion and Bullion Coins". Consumer Information - US FTC. U.S. Federal Trade Commission. May 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "VAT Notice 701/21A: investment gold coins". Gov.UK HMRC pages. HMRC. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ Bouvier's Law Dictionary (Revised 6th ed.). 1856. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "American Eagle Bullion Coins for Investors". United States Mint. United States Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "BULLION PRODUCTS". Royal Canadian Mint Website. Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "Palladium Maple Leaf". Northwest Territorial Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "Table 2: UK list of additional coins recognised as investment gold coins" (PDF). Gov.UK HMRC pages. HMRC. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
^ "Investment coins of the Republic of Armenia". Central Bank of Armenia. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
^ "Chinese Panda Silver Series". Bullion Data. Retrieved 20 April 2012.

[FtcBullionPage-1] "Investing in Bullion and Bullion Coins". Consumer Information - US FTC. U.S. Federal Trade Commission. May 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[Inv-2] "VAT Notice 701/21A: investment gold coins". Gov.UK HMRC pages. HMRC. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[CoinDefinition-3] Bouvier's Law Dictionary (Revised 6th ed.). 1856. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[AmericanEagleCoins-4] "American Eagle Bullion Coins for Investors". United States Mint. United States Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[CanadianBullionProducts-5] "BULLION PRODUCTS". Royal Canadian Mint Website. Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[PalladiumMaple-6] "Palladium Maple Leaf". Northwest Territorial Mint. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[UKAdditionalCoins-7] "Table 2: UK list of additional coins recognised as investment gold coins" (PDF). Gov.UK HMRC pages. HMRC. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

[8] "Investment coins of the Republic of Armenia". Central Bank of Armenia. Retrieved 15 May 2014.

[bulliondata-9] "Chinese Panda Silver Series". Bullion Data. Retrieved 20 April 2012.

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