The Most Popular Gold Coins Compared: Eagle, Buffalo, Maple Leaf, Krugerrand

A handful of government gold coins make up most of what dealers buy and sell. They come from different countries and look different, but they do the same job: each one holds a known amount of gold, and the government that makes it stands behind its weight and purity.

This page compares the most popular ones side by side, using each mint's own published specifications. It also explains the "22 karat or 24 karat" question, why a coin says $50 when it sells for thousands, and why premiums differ from coin to coin.

The popular gold bullion coins at a glance

Specifications are from each mint's own pages, checked when this page was last reviewed. All six are bullion coins: they are made in large numbers and priced mainly on the gold they contain, not on rarity.

What are the best gold coins to buy?

No coin is best for everyone. The common government bullion coins all hold one troy ounce of gold in the 1 oz size, and dealers across the US know them. The real differences are the premium on the day you buy and how easily you can sell where you live.

A troy ounce is the unit used for precious metals, about 31.1 grams. The premium is the price over spot, and spot is the market price for large amounts of gold.

Many US buyers start with the American Gold Eagle, a US government coin that US dealers and coin shops know well. If you plan to sell to a local shop one day, ask which of these coins it buys most often, since that can affect how easily you sell.

A simple approach many buyers use: decide on the size, then compare the price of two or three of these coins from the same seller on the same day, and ask what the seller would pay to buy each one back. Our page on premiums and spreads shows how to do the math.

22k vs. 24k gold coins: which should you buy?

Neither holds more gold. A 22 karat coin and a 24 karat coin of the same size contain the same amount of pure gold. The 22 karat coin adds a small amount of other metal, so it weighs a little more.

Karat (spelled "carat" in South Africa and the UK) measures purity on a scale of 24. Pure gold is 24 karat. 22 karat means 22 parts gold out of 24.

• 22 karat coins: the American Gold Eagle and the Krugerrand. The US Mint says the Eagle is 22 karat (91.67% gold), with 3% silver and the rest copper, and that the 1 oz coin weighs 1.0909 troy ounces in total so that it holds a full ounce of gold. The South African Mint says the Krugerrand, too, holds one troy ounce of gold in the 1 oz size. Its alloy is gold and copper.
• 24 karat coins: the American Gold Buffalo, the Maple Leaf, the Britannia and the Philharmonic, all at .9999 fine (four nines, or 99.99% gold).

So why make 22 karat coins at all? The US Mint explains that the 22 karat standard creates "harder coins that resist scratching and marring," which can protect resale value. Pure gold is soft. A 24 karat coin can pick up marks more easily if it is handled or stored loosely.

In practice, both kinds sell on their gold content. Some buyers prefer 24 karat because it is pure. Others prefer 22 karat because it stands up better to handling. Either way, you are buying the same ounce of gold.

American Gold Eagle vs. American Gold Buffalo

Both are made by the US Mint and hold one troy ounce of gold in the 1 oz size. The Eagle is 22 karat (91.67% gold) and comes in four sizes. The Buffalo is 24 karat (.9999) and, as a bullion coin, comes in one size.

The US Mint says the weight, content and purity of both coins are backed by the United States government. It describes the Buffalo as the first .9999 fine, 24 karat gold coin it ever struck.

The US Mint doesn't sell bullion Eagles to the public. It sells them only to its authorized purchasers, at the London gold price plus 3% for the 1 oz coin, and those dealers resell them. On October 31, 2026, one large online dealer charged about 5.5% over spot for a 1 oz Gold Eagle paid by check or wire. Premiums for the Buffalo and the other coins on this page vary by day and dealer, so compare live quotes.

Gold Maple Leaf, Krugerrand, Britannia and Philharmonic

These four come from foreign government mints, and each is sold as a bullion coin priced mainly on its gold.

Gold Maple Leaf (Canada). Made by the Royal Canadian Mint in 99.99% pure gold. The 1 oz coin weighs 31.11 grams, measures 30 mm across and has a face value of 50 Canadian dollars. The mint also lists 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz and 1/20 oz sizes.

Krugerrand (South Africa). First struck by the South African Mint on July 3, 1967, as a 1 oz, 22 carat gold bullion coin. Rand Refinery describes the alloy as 9167 parts pure gold and 833 parts copper. The South African Mint notes that although Krugerrands are legal tender, "they do not have a face value." Each coin's value comes from its gold. The South African Mint's brochure lists sizes from 1/50 oz up to 50 oz, including 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz coins.

Britannia (United Kingdom). Made by the Royal Mint in 999.9 fine gold. The 1 oz coin weighs one troy ounce, measures 32.69 mm and has a face value of 100 British pounds.

Vienna Philharmonic (Austria). Made by the Austrian Mint in 999.9 fine gold. The 1 oz coin holds 31.10 grams of fine gold, measures 37 mm across and has a face value of 100 euros. The mint lists gold sizes from 1 oz down to 1/25 oz.

Why do gold coins say $50 when they cost thousands?

The face value is the coin's legal value as money. It has nothing to do with its market price.

A 1 oz Gold Eagle has a face value of $50. On October 30, 2026, the gold inside it alone was worth $3,891 at spot. Nobody would spend it at face value. A face value is one thing that sets a government coin apart from a privately made round, which has none. See gold coins vs. bars vs. rounds for more on rounds.

Why do premiums differ between gold coins?

Premiums depend on what the coin costs the dealer and what the dealer adds on top. They change daily.

Part of the premium starts at the mint. The US Mint, for example, charges its dealers more over the gold price for smaller Eagles than for the 1 oz coin. The dealer then adds its own costs and profit, which differ from seller to seller.

Because the gold in each 1 oz coin is the same, many buyers see these coins as close substitutes and choose on price. Ask what the seller pays to buy each coin back, too. A coin with a lower premium is only cheaper if it also sells well when you need to sell.

Fractional gold coins

Most of these coins also come in smaller sizes, such as 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 oz. Smaller coins cost more per ounce of gold.

The US Mint's own prices show why. It charges its dealers 3% over the gold price for a 1 oz Gold Eagle but 9% for a 1/10 oz Eagle, before any dealer markup. Some buyers still choose small coins, because they are easier to sell a little at a time or to give as gifts. Our page on small gold coins looks at whether they are worth the extra cost.

Bullion coins vs. proof and collector versions

Several mints also make collector versions of these same designs, such as proof coins with a mirror finish. These usually cost more than the bullion version and can be harder to sell at a fair price.

The US Mint sells proof and uncirculated American Eagles directly to the public at a fixed price, while the bullion version reaches buyers only through dealers. If a salesperson steers you from a plain bullion coin to a "rare" or "limited" version, read our page on bullion vs. collector coins first.

Can these coins go in an IRA?

That is a question for a retirement account, with its own rules. Our sister site explains which gold coins and bars can go in an IRA.

What these coins can't do

Government backing covers weight and purity, not price. The value of every coin on this page rises and falls with gold.

Gold coins pay no interest or dividends. You pay a premium when you buy and usually get less than you paid when you sell soon after. You also need a safe place to keep them and insurance that actually covers them. Gold has had long stretches with little or no price gain. And when you sell at a profit, the IRS treats gold coins as collectibles, so long-term gains can be taxed at up to 28%. See how gold is taxed and our main guide on how to buy gold for the first time.