The Gold Coins of the world

The history of a nation’s coinage could tell you a lot about a country’s past. Coins, in essence, have left behind a trail of our progress. Through the history of coins, we can become aware of a timeline of skill and technology refinement. As coins became purer and more precise, we can see the transition of our competency and technique. Coins also act as a means of communication for our political and religious ideologies. Put together coins from different times, and you can get a holistic picture of how our culture and ideologies have evolved.

In the modern world, countries choose to exhibit the best of their coinage in form of precious metal coins. The most common, and probably the most sought after, of these is the prestigious gold coin. Gold is a very valuable commodity in our world.

However, as civilians, we are seldom equipped with the knowledge to validate a transaction involving gold. Our concerns for the purity and fineness of the precious metal are well founded, and shared worldwide. Gold coins and bullions manufactured and distributed by the government of a country primarily serve to placate concerns about the pureness of the gold and the legitimacy of the transaction.

India, China, Canada, and the United States are among only a few other countries that produce and distribute their own trademarked gold coin.

INDIA

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Name: Indian Gold Coin

Purity of gold: 99.9%

Obverse: Mahatma Gandhi

Reverse: Ashoka Chakra

Legal Tender: No

The Indian gold coin is India’s first national gold coin


SOUTH AFRICA

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Name: Krugerrand

Purity of gold: 91.67%

Obverse: Paul Kruger (3rd President of South Africa)

Reverse: Springbok (Native Antelope Species)

Legal Tender: No

The Krugerrand controlled 90% market share at one point


CHINA

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Name: Gold Panda

Purity of gold: 99.9%

Obverse: Pandas (one of China’s national animals)

Reverse: Temple of Heaven (complex of religious buildings)

Legal Tender: Yes

The design of the pandas on the obverse face is changed every year


CANADA

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Name: Maple Leaf

Purity of gold: 99.999%

Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II

Reverse: Maple Leaf

Legal Tender: Yes

The Maple Leaf is the purest gold coin in the world


AUSTRALIA

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Name: Gold Nugget (also called Gold Kangaroo)

Purity of gold: 99.99%

Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II

Reverse: Kangaroo

Legal Tender: Yes

The Gold Nugget was unique in its two-tone finish, and as a result gained a lot of attention.


RUSSIA

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Name: George the Victorious

Purity of gold: 99.9%

Obverse: Saint George (Roman military officer, celebrated by Christians)

Reverse: Two headed eagle (Native Antelope Species)

Legal Tender: Yes

Saint George the victorious was beheaded, by his king, for refusing to give up Christianity


UNITED KINGDOM

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Name: Britannia

Purity of gold: 99.99%

Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II

Reverse: Britannia

Legal Tender: Yes

The United Kingdom also produces a Lunar Coins which is updated every year to showcase a Chinese zodiac animal.