Gold

MacCoin

I am a low budget collector and wish I had some gold. For a low budget collector would you say the best buy on gold are private coinage like the fractional gold tokens or would you go for the classic $1.00-$2.50-$3.00 gold coinage

razorface1027

I just went with the classics this past week. 1 of each, from the DBl E, E, 1/2 E, 1/4 E and the dollar E. Kind of attractive when you have somewhat of a set...

Cam40

why not a nice new high grade GAE. Maybe a half ounce coin bullion coin.

Darkhorse

Can't go wrong with darkside coins.

Cam40

thanks for reminding me.

i need some darkside gold.....

classic gold ? type 1 gold dollars are cool. Tiny damn things.

the incused indian $2.50 pieces are really nice IMO. but you may wanna buy only slabbed
unless you know the series very well and know the real ones from the fakes.

MacCoin

bullion is out they aren't for me at this time. but I have seen some nice dark side gold.

Bubblehead

A while ago, I saw some French chickens, or something like that.
As I recall, they were an attractive gold coin and kinda reasonable.

DaveG

It depends on what you want.

If you want an actual coin (not a modern mint product or bullion coin), then British sovereigns (.2354 oz. of pure gold) and European 20 Francs (mostly French, but also Swiss and Belgian) (.1867 oz. of pure gold) usually sell for the smallest premium to bullion. If you live in or near a metropolitan area or go to a decent-size coin show, you should be able to buy them in XF to AU condition for 10% over spot or less. (It used to be 5% for sovereigns and 10% for 20 Francs). You should also be able to get French 20 Franc coins dated 1907-1914 in BU, but these are restrikes, made by the French in later years.

If you want US gold, then you should be able to buy common-date, with-motto, XF half eagles for about $140, eagles for about $210 and double eagles for about $450.

If you live in a rural area or don't have access to coin shows, then you'll have to pay more, because dealers who sell few of these coins usually demand a higher profit margin.

Edited to add: There are also Mexican gold coins. They come in 2 Pesos (the size of a US gold dollar), five pesos (the size of a US quarter eagle), ten pesos (US half eagle), 20 pesos (US eagle) and 50 pesos (1.2 oz. of pure gold). These coins were minted from about 1905 to the 1940s. Some dates are "original" and there is a date that is a restrike date (different for each denomination). The restrikes go for about 5% to 10% over spot and the original dates go for more, depending on rarity and condition, of course.