# Bullion Coins: a guide to gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins > An independent guide to gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion coins: specifications, history, how prices work and how to buy wisely. *Source : https://bullion-coins.org/* --- [Bullion Coins](https://bullion-coins.org/) An independent guide to gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion coins [About](https://bullion-coins.org/about)[Contact](https://bullion-coins.org/contacts) [Home](https://bullion-coins.org/) [Gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/gold-coins)[Silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/silver-coins)[Platinum & palladium](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/platinum-palladium)[Buying & prices](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/buying-guides) [About](https://bullion-coins.org/about)[Contact](https://bullion-coins.org/contacts) [![Gold Bullion Coins: A Guide to the Major Modern Issues](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/gold-bullion-coins.webp)](https://bullion-coins.org/gold-bullion-coins) Gold coins ## [Gold Bullion Coins: A Guide to the Major Modern Issues](https://bullion-coins.org/gold-bullion-coins) An overview of the main gold bullion coins, from the Krugerrand to the Panda, with purity, sizes, premiums and face value explained. ### Top stories [![Buying and Selling Bullion Coins in France: A Guide for English-Speaking Residents](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/buying-and-selling-bullion-coins-in-france.webp) Buying & prices #### Buying and Selling Bullion Coins in France: A Guide for English-Speaking Residents ](https://bullion-coins.org/buying-and-selling-bullion-coins-in-france)[![American Gold Buffalo Coins: The US Mint's 24-Karat Bullion Coin](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/american-gold-buffalo-coins.webp) Gold coins #### American Gold Buffalo Coins: The US Mint's 24-Karat Bullion Coin ](https://bullion-coins.org/american-gold-buffalo-coins)[![Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins: From Nugget to Kangaroo](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/australian-gold-kangaroo-coins.webp) Gold coins #### Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins: From Nugget to Kangaroo ](https://bullion-coins.org/australian-gold-kangaroo-coins)[![The American Platinum Eagle: Bullion and Proof Coins Since 1997](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/american-platinum-eagle.webp) Platinum & palladium #### The American Platinum Eagle: Bullion and Proof Coins Since 1997 ](https://bullion-coins.org/american-platinum-eagle) ### Gold coins [See all →](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/gold-coins) [![Chinese Gold Panda Coins: History, Designs and the Switch to Grams](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/chinese-gold-panda-coins.webp) China #### Chinese Gold Panda Coins: History, Designs and the Switch to Grams China's gold bullion coin since 1982: the yearly panda designs, the 2016 move from troy ounces to grams, purity, sizes and what buyers should check. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/chinese-gold-panda-coins)[![The $20 Gold Coin: Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/20-dollar-gold-coin.webp) Double Eagle #### The $20 Gold Coin: Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles The US $20 Double Eagle explained: Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens types, specifications, the 1933 gold recall, and bullion versus numismatic value. 5 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/20-dollar-gold-coin)[![American Eagle Bullion Coins: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/american-eagle-bullion-coins.webp) American Eagle #### American Eagle Bullion Coins: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium A guide to the US Mint's American Eagle bullion coins in gold, silver, platinum and palladium: dates, specifications, designs and distribution. 5 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/american-eagle-bullion-coins) ### Silver coins [See all →](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/silver-coins) [![Australian Silver Kookaburra Coins: A Yearly Design Since 1990](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/australian-silver-kookaburra-coins.webp) Australia #### Australian Silver Kookaburra Coins: A Yearly Design Since 1990 The Perth Mint's silver kookaburra series: launched in 1990, a new bird design each year, sizes from 1 oz to 1 kg, and bullion versus collector value. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/australian-silver-kookaburra-coins)[![Perth Mint Lunar Series: Coins of the Chinese Zodiac](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/perth-mint-lunar-series.webp) Australia #### Perth Mint Lunar Series: Coins of the Chinese Zodiac How the Australian Lunar coins follow the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, how the series are organised, and what separates bullion from collector value. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/perth-mint-lunar-series)[![Silver Britannia Coins: Specifications, History and Purity Change](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/silver-britannia-coins.webp) Britain #### Silver Britannia Coins: Specifications, History and Purity Change The Royal Mint's silver bullion coin since 1997: the move from Britannia silver to .999 fine in 2013, the £2 face value, sizes and modern security features. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/silver-britannia-coins) ### Platinum & palladium [See all →](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/platinum-palladium) [![Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf: Specifications and Market Guide](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/canadian-palladium-maple-leaf-coins.webp) Palladium #### Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf: Specifications and Market Guide The Royal Canadian Mint's 1 oz Palladium Maple Leaf: specifications, issue history, comparison with gold and silver Maples, and resale. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/canadian-palladium-maple-leaf-coins)[![Palladium and Platinum Coins: A Guide to PGM Bullion](https://bullion-coins.org/images/articles/palladium-coins.webp) Palladium #### Palladium and Platinum Coins: A Guide to PGM Bullion An overview of palladium and platinum bullion coins, from the Palladium Maple Leaf and Palladium Eagle to the Platinum Eagle and Britannia. 4 min read ](https://bullion-coins.org/palladium-coins) Gold · Silver · Platinum · Palladium Bullion Coins is a reference guide to the coins people buy for their precious metal content. It explains what each coin contains, who issues it, how its price is formed and what to check before buying or selling. The aim is simple: give clear, accurate information so readers can compare coins on equal terms. ## What is a bullion coin? A bullion coin is a coin valued mainly for the weight and purity of the metal it contains. It is usually struck by a government mint, carries a nominal face value, and states its weight and fineness on the coin itself. Its market price follows the price of the metal, plus a premium that covers minting, distribution and the dealer’s margin. A numismatic coin is different. Its value depends on rarity, age, condition and collector demand, and can be many times its metal value. Some coins sit between the two: historic gold coins such as the French 20 francs or the British sovereign are old enough to have history, yet common enough to trade mostly on their gold content. ## The four metals - **Gold** is the core of the bullion coin market, with the deepest liquidity and the narrowest spreads. - **Silver** is far cheaper per ounce and more volatile, and coin premiums are higher in percentage terms. - **Platinum** has a smaller coin market, with demand driven largely by industry. - **Palladium** is the rarest of the four in coin form, with only a few regular programs. ## The main coins at a glance Coin Mint or country Metal Fineness Krugerrand South Africa Gold .9167 American Gold Eagle United States Mint Gold .9167 Gold Maple Leaf Royal Canadian Mint Gold .9999 Vienna Philharmonic Austrian Mint Gold .9999 Sovereign United Kingdom Gold .9167 American Silver Eagle United States Mint Silver .999 Silver Maple Leaf Royal Canadian Mint Silver .9999 American Platinum Eagle United States Mint Platinum .9995 Palladium Maple Leaf Royal Canadian Mint Palladium .9995 American Palladium Eagle United States Mint Palladium .9995 Coins of .9167 fineness are 22-carat gold, alloyed for durability; their gross weight is higher so that the fine gold content reaches the stated amount, such as one troy ounce. ## How prices work: spot plus premium Every bullion coin price starts with the spot price of its metal, a wholesale reference quoted per troy ounce (31.1035 grams). Multiply the coin’s fine metal content by spot and you get its metal value. The price a dealer asks is that metal value plus a premium; the price a dealer pays back is usually close to or slightly below metal value for common coins. Premiums depend on the coin, its size, the quantity bought and market conditions. Small coins cost more per gram than large ones, and silver and PGM coins carry higher premiums in percentage terms than gold. The gap between a dealer’s selling and buyback prices, the spread, is the true cost of owning a coin and later selling it. ## A guided tour of the site If you are new to the subject, these pages are a good place to start: - **Gold coins:** begin with the overview of [gold bullion coins](https://bullion-coins.org/gold-bullion-coins), then explore the [Krugerrand](https://bullion-coins.org/krugerrand-gold-coins) and its [price and value](https://bullion-coins.org/krugerrand-price-and-krugerrand-value), the [American Eagle](https://bullion-coins.org/american-eagle-bullion-coins), the [Canadian Gold Maple Leaf](https://bullion-coins.org/canadian-gold-maple-leaf-coins), the historic [$20 gold coin](https://bullion-coins.org/20-dollar-gold-coin), [English gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/english-gold-coins) and [European gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/european-gold-coins). - **Silver coins:** start with [silver bullion coins](https://bullion-coins.org/silver-bullion-coins), then read about [silver coin values](https://bullion-coins.org/silver-coin-values), [Mexican silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/silver-mexican-coins), [1 oz silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/1-oz-silver-coins), [1 oz silver rounds](https://bullion-coins.org/1-oz-silver-rounds) and [Canadian silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/canadian-silver-coins). - **Platinum and palladium:** read the guide to [palladium and platinum coins](https://bullion-coins.org/palladium-coins) and the page on the [Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf](https://bullion-coins.org/canadian-palladium-maple-leaf-coins). - **Prices and buying:** learn how [gold prices](https://bullion-coins.org/gold-prices) and [silver prices](https://bullion-coins.org/silver-prices) are set, then follow the practical steps in [how to buy gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/how-to-buy-gold-coins) and [buying silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/buying-silver-coins). You can also browse by theme: [gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/gold-coins), [silver coins](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/silver-coins), [platinum and palladium](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/platinum-palladium) and [buying guides](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/buying-guides). ## An independent guide Bullion Coins is an independent editorial website. It sells nothing: no coins, no bars, no storage and no investment products. It has no link with any mint, dealer or refiner, nor with any previous user of this domain name. The articles describe coins and markets in general terms and are not personal financial advice; tax rules and market conditions vary, so check the situation where you live before making any decision. More about the site is available on the [about](https://bullion-coins.org/about) page. Partner Need to sell or buy gold coins in France? [Maison Or & Bijoux, a French gold buyer](https://maison-or-bijoux.com/) deals in bullion coins, bars and gold jewellery. ### An independent guide to gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion coins Specifications, history, prices and practical buying advice for the world's main bullion coins [Gold coins](https://bullion-coins.org/topics/gold-coins)