Guides
Real numismatic content — purity comparisons, premium math, and authentication. No marketing fluff.
Why this page exists
Gold coin content online splits into two useless categories: beginner explainers that stop before the math, and dealer pages that want you to buy from them. Neither tells you how to read the premium-over-spot figure or why it matters.
A 1 oz American Gold Eagle and a 1 oz gold round both contain roughly 1 troy ounce of gold, but the Eagle trades at a meaningful premium for reasons that are real and quantifiable. This page explains those reasons plainly.
Plain note about money. Links below go to eBay searches with an affiliate tag. If you buy through one, a small commission comes to this site. Your price is identical either way. The searches are ones we'd actually run — not sponsored placements.
Gold coins worth searching on eBay
Sovereign and near-sovereign gold coins with established premium markets. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales; your price is unchanged. Full disclosure.
American Gold Eagle 1 oz
22k (0.9167 fine), alloyed with copper and silver for durability. Legal tender, US Mint sovereign issue. The most liquid gold coin in North America.
Krugerrand gold coin 1 oz
The original modern bullion coin (1967, South African Mint). 22k (0.9167 fine) like the Eagle — 1 troy oz fine gold. Historically trades at one of the lowest premiums of any sovereign coin.
British Sovereign gold coin
0.2354 troy oz fine gold, 22k. Continuous production since 1817. The compact format (smaller than a 1 oz coin) means higher premium per ounce, but strong global recognition.
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
24k (0.9999 fine) — the purity benchmark. Royal Canadian Mint. Security features include a radial line background and laser-micro-engraved maple leaf. Purity comes at slightly higher premium vs Krugerrand.
Gold Buffalo coin 1 oz
US Mint's 24k (0.9999 fine) offering. First US gold coin at .9999 fineness. Based on the 1913 Buffalo nickel design. Legal tender, higher face value ($50) than Eagle, premium typically above Eagle.