Collecting investment-grade precious metal coins is a great way to diversify your portfolio. In this article, we will explore the 10 best precious metal coins to buy in 2023.
As a huge advocate of investing in precious metals, coins are among the easiest to collect and store, in my opinion.
The 10 Best Precious Metal Coins to Buy in 2023
If you want to buy gold coins or invest in other precious metal coins, the following are the 10 best precious metal coins to consider in 2023, which you should be able to purchase from any of the precious metals dealers I've covered.
British Gold Coin Tudor Beast Lion of England
- Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
- Available sizes: 1 oz
The Royal Mint announced that they were going to be releasing a new Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, and the Lion of England is the first release of the series.
It contains one troy ounce of pure 999.9 gold, and the coin will be in production until the release of the second coin of the Royal Tudor Beasts Collection. This can drive the coin's price for collectors.
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
- Manufacturer: The Royal Canadian Mint
- Available sizes: 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz, and 1 Gram
The Canadian Maple Leaf is one of the most popular precious metal coins. As the demand for gold bullion coins increased in the 1970s, the Royal Canadian Mint released the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf in 1979, which became the first coin to rival the South African Krugerrand.
You can find Queen Elizabeth II on all variants of these pure gold coins.
American Gold Eagle
- Manufacturer: The United States Mint
- Available sizes: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz
Considered to be an official bullion coin of the United States, the American Gold Eagle is made from 22-karat gold and is the perfect expression of the American spirit.
South Africa Gold Krugerrand
- Manufacturer: The South African Mint
- Available sizes: 1/50 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 1.85 oz, and 2 oz
First minted in 1967, the government of South Africa introduced the Gold Krugerrand to promote the country's gold and precious metals reserves. It was the first modern gold bullion coin available for private investors.
The South Africa Gold Krugerrand has had the same design elements since its production: an image of Paul Kruger on the front and a portrait of the Springbok antelope on the coin's back.
Austrian Philharmonic Platinum
- Manufacturer: The Austrian Mint
- Available sizes: 1/25 oz and 1 oz
Minted in 2016, the Austrian Philharmonic Platinum is made from .9995 fine Platinum and became the country's first platinum bullion coin. On the front of the coin, you'll see the Great Pipe Organ in Vienna's Golden Hall, while on the coin's reverse, it features a medley of world-famous orchestra instruments, including vape, cello, violin, bassoon, and harp.
Fun fact: The Austrian Gold Philharmonic is the only gold bullion coin priced in Euros!
Australian Silver Kangaroo
- Manufacturer: The Perth Mint
- Available sizes: 1 oz
Introduced in 1993, the Australian Silver Kangaroo coin was initially made from 99.9% silver until 2014, after which the Perth Mint decided to use 99.99% silver to produce it.
Also called the silver nuggets, the Australian Gold Silver Kangaroo coin has a legal tender status in Australia, and the Perth Mint has the right to change the coin's design every year.
1 Oz Australian Lunar Tiger Silver Coin
- Manufacturer: The Perth Mint
- Available sizes: 1 oz
The Australian Lunar series celebrates the Chinese New Year with the year 2021-2022 marking the Year of the Tiger. You'll find an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the coin's front, and the back of the coin has a portrait of a tiger and its cub.
UK Britannia Gold Coins
- Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
- Available sizes: 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz
Made from 24-karat gold, the UK Royal Mint produced the Britannia gold coins in 1987 after the demand for precious metal coins skyrocketed. The coin used to have Queen Elizabeth on the Obverse, but after 2023, the Royal Mint started producing the coins with a portrait of King Charles III.
UK Britannia Silver Coins
- Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
- Available sizes: 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz
Produced with a fineness of 99.9% silver, the UK Britannia silver coins went into circulation in 1997, with the bullion coins always featuring the classic standing Britannia. Since the 1 oz coin has a face value of £2, it is exempt from capital gains tax.
The UK Britannia silver coin is one of the most popular investment coins in the world, and it has multiple security features, including a laser-engraved wave pattern and a latent image marker.
UK Gold Sovereign Coins
- Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
- Available sizes: Half Sovereign, Sovereign, Double Sovereign, and a Quarter Sovereign
Dating all the way back to 1489, the UK Gold Sovereign coin is one of the best gold coins to buy in 2023. Due to its secondary market, the coin is highly liquid and exempt from capital gains tax for UK residents.
Ask anyone - are precious metals a good investment? If they say no, look at the historical charts. The proof is there, precious metals thrive when traditional asset classes dive.
Final Thoughts - Is Buying Precious Metal Coins Worth It?
Buying gold coins or investing in silver coins is a great way to diversify your investment portfolio. It can help hedge against inflation, and they're generally considered highly liquid assets.
However, they may not generate income as stocks or bonds. Also, they're volatile, as gold investors lost 10% on average from 1980-1984. Make sure to read my guide on the safest way to buy precious metals.
If you want to buy the best gold bullion coins or invest in silver coins, make sure that your investment objectives align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
About Tim Schmidt
Tim Schmidt is an Entrepreneur who has covered retirement investing since 2012. He started IRA Investing to share his expertise in using his Self-Directed IRA for alternative investments. His views on retirement investing have been highlighted in USA Today, Business Insider, Tech Times, and more. He invested with Goldco.
