As for appearance, you’ll surely agree that the Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coin is strikingly beautiful and it’s about 20 percent larger than the well known American Gold Eagle Coin. On the obverse side of the Mexican peso Gold Coin, you will find the image of Winged Victory that comes with a laurel wreath in her right and broken chain on her left hand. Along with that, you will find the images of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihautl – 2 famous Mexican volcanoes, rising in the background. PLUS, you will also find the date 1821 on the lower left of the coin which commemorates the Mexican independence. The date on the right, however, shows the mintage year.

When December 31, 1974 came, the Americans to regain the right to own gold bullion, the Mexican 50 peso Gold Coins quickly became the gold bullion industry standard bearers along with another well known gold bullion coin – the Austrian 100 Corona. Since the CMIGS is situated in Phoenix, Arizona, there is a lot of trading in the Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coin back then. However, nowadays, this isn’t the case.

That’s especially true when the huge success of Krugerrands came in the early 1970’s. It drove the Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coin and the Austrian 100 Corona gold coin into obscurity. The Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coins along with its Austrian companion remained in obscurity up until today. They have been living in the shadows of more expensive and more popular gold coins like the Krugerrands, American Gold Eagle, and others.

However, you should realize this as a coin collector – nobody can take away the fact that, although obscure, the Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coins are some of the finest additions into a coin collector’s arsenal…offering great value at the lowest premiums. It’s a must have for a coin collector – whether veteran or newcomer.

So who is this Leopold? Who’s the man behind this highly valued gold coin? Looking at various sources, it turns out that Leopold II (in French, he is named Leopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor while in Dutch he is names Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor) was the King Of Belgians. Although he is born second, he is the eldest surviving son of Leopold I the King of Belgium. Needless to say, he succeeded his father to the Belgian Throne back in 1865 and he remained at his seat of glory and power until his death.

Leopold II is just as popular and known outside Belgium. First and foremost, he is chiefly remembered for creating or forming the Congo Free State. Oozing with natural resources and riches like rubber, ivory, copper, diamond, and of course…gold, Leopold II is the sole owner and founder of the Conge Free State. Just in case you don’t know, this is a private project undertaken by the King to derive rubber and ivory down to the last drop from the Congo region of Central Africa. This relied on forced labor which resulted to the death of millions of Congolese. Not a very pleasant thing in anyone’s book. This angered the whole Europe and his rule of the basin was eventually ended.

The Belgium Leopold 20 Franc Gold Coin is struck in .900 gold. It depicts the head and face of King Leopold II on the obverse side of the coin while the reverse side shows the Coat Of Arms of the country Belgium. Along with that, it has the denomination of 20 francs. It comes with an elegant presentation case, along with a Certificate of Authenticity that guarantees the provenance and specifications of the Belgium Leopold 20 Franc Gold Coin.

Struck and created in a very fine condition, the historical significance of Belgium Leopold 20 Franc Gold Coin and the man behind it will surely make this gold coin an object of interest for many coin collectors – whether newcomer or veteran. Don’t take my word for it. Why not take a look at the Belgium Leopold 20 Franc Gold Coin and see if it suits your coin collecting taste?

Just how pure is the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin? Check this out – it has a gold content of 0.9999 millesimal fineness (in simpler terms, that’s 24 carats), while some of the special issues of this gold bullion coin has 0.99999 fineness. That means these gold coins from Canada contain virtually ZERO base metals – nothing but pure and genuine gold acquired from the Canadian gold mines.

It was back in 1979 when the gold coins were first introduced. Back then, the only available gold bullion coin in Canada is the Krugerrand. And unfortunately, this is not widely available due to the economic boycott that’s plaguing the country during the time. Offered at 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, and 1/4 oz denominations, you can be confident that these Gold Maple Leaf Coins are guaranteed to have the stated amount of gold in troy ounces and that it has 0.9999 find gold or 24 carats. Just in case you don’t know, these gold coins have legal tender status in Canada. However, just like in any gold bullion coins, the face values that these Gold Maple Leaf Coins (which is one, five, ten, twenty, and fifty dollars) are purely symbolic. They are much lower than their market value.

As for the design, the 1/20. 1/10, 1/4 as well as the 1/2 troy ounce gold coins look identical to the design of the 1 ounce gold coins. It has some exceptions though – the design and markings on both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin indicate the weight as well as the face value of the gold coin. Back in 1994, 1/15 ounce gold coins (which has a $2.00 face value) were issued. Perhaps, they’re to be used for jewelry. However, this release of Gold Maple Leaf Coins is not very successful. That year, 1994, was the first and last time that these 1/15 ounces gold coins were produced.

Just recently, during May 03 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint unleashed a Gold Maple Leaf Coin that has a face value of a whopping one million dollars! And get this – unlike other gold bullion coins that has a lower market value, this Gold Maple Leaf Coin has a gold content that is valued well over $2 million dollars during the time!

To give you an idea how it looks like, it has a diameter of 50 centimeters, it is 3 centimeter thick, and has a weight of 100 kilograms. And as for the purity – it’s measured at 99.999 percent. Created by an artist named Stanley Witen, this Gold Maple Leaf Coin was a created primarily as a promotional product with the objective of giving the Royal Canadian Mint a higher international profile. This 100-kilogram gold coin was a one-off showpiece that will promote the new line of 99.999 percent one ounce Gold Maple Leaf Coins from the mint. However, this changed when several interested buyers came forward expressing their eagerness to buy the said 100 kilogram coins.

With that in mind, the mint announced that it would manufacture and sell them as ordered. And the price? That’s between 2.5 and 3 million dollars each! And at that price, it was confirmed that there were 5 orders for this 100 kilogram gold coins back in May 2007!

The Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coins are well-crafted…depicting the image of a Swiss woman who goes by the name of Vreneli – having her hair braided, wearing flowers, while facing left. She is like the Swiss counterpart of United State’s Lady Liberty. Directly above her head is the word – Helvetia, which is another common name for this Swiss Gold Coin. On the reverse side of the coin, you will find a Swiss shield over an oak branch, which is tied with ribbons while including the denomination of the coin as well as the date it was produced.

Minted in Bern and composed of 90% gold, the Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coins are on top of the list for coins that have the highest gold content making them a favorite among gold collectors and buyers who’re looking for gold items that are on top of the food chain so to speak. Back in 1879, 29 pieces of these gold coins were struck. Measuring 21 mm across, these gold coins have been minted in different years – from 1897 until 1916, 1922, 1925 until 1927, 1930, and that’s just to name a few!

If you are planning to invest in gold coins…specifically Swiss gold coins, you can never go wrong with Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coins. Whether you’re just starting out or a veteran, these gold coins from one of the most financially stable and financially powerful countries will always be a fine addition to your collection.

These gold coins have been originally minted in Britain’s capital – London. As time passed by, however, the minting locations of the British Sovereign gold coins changed and grew in number like the empire it belongs to. Australia and South Africa came to be the largest gold producers…and there are mints for the British Sovereign gold coins in these countries. During the late 1800’s until the early 1900’s, places like Pretoria, Bombay, Ottawa, Melbourne, Perth, as well as Sydney all had their mints to produce British Sovereign gold coins.

Owing to the massive British Sovereign gold coin output during the time, coupled with the fact that they have been traded and hoarded all over the world since then, these gold coins are still available today. When it comes to design, these gold coins are not to be left out. They portray the reigning monarch on one side. The flip side – you will find Pestrucci’s St. George and the Dragon.

Here’s a word of warning that you should always keep in mind when you’re out shopping for British Sovereign Gold Coins – you may encounter numismatic sales companies terming these gold coins to be â??scarce’ and selling them at outrageously high prices. But you should know better – these gold coins are available in bullion prices!

But don’t be lead to think that they’re cheap! As an international gold coin, the British Sovereign Gold Coins are unparalleled! It doesn’t matter if you’re in Asia, America, Africa, or whichever place you are, the British Sovereign Gold coins command instant respect and recognition to those who see it.

These gold coins which features a lovable Panda design were first released by China during 1982. It came in different sizes and gold content – some have 1 troy ounce of 0.999 fine gold. Others have 0.5 troy ounce of gold, several have 0.25, and these variations are just to name a few!

When 1983 came, they issued another size of China Gold Panda coins, which have 1/20 troy ounce of 999 fine gold. However, during the preceding years, larger Gold Panda coins are created due to increasing demand – some weigh 5 ounces while others weigh as much as 12 ounces! That’s a lot of gold for a coin if you’re going to ask me! To make these gold coins from China even better, they were issued in Prooflike and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality…having a different design every year after its release all the way until 2000. However, there was a freeze on the design issued with the 2001 edition of China Gold Panda Coins. That explains why the 2002 Panda Gold Coins are identical to those of 2001.

However, the collectors and avid fans of these China Gold Panda coins stood up and clamored for the annual changes in the design. This persuaded China to respond by reversing that freeze…bringing new designs for the China Gold Panda Coins when 2003 came. If you’re someone who wants to collect a certain type of gold coin every year with varying but equally magnificent designs, then the China Gold Panda coins are yours for the taking.

Krugerrand gold coins were first introduced back in 1967 – to serve as a vehicle for private ownership of gold. You see, during the time it was produced, it was illegal for United States citizens to own bullions of gold. Ironically, it was legal for them to own foreign gold coins. Since the Krugerrand gold coins were issued legal tender status in South Africa, it means that Americans could legally own them.

Aside from that, it was intended to circulate as a currency. With that in mind, these gold coins were minted as a more durable gold alloy…which is rare for other gold bullion coins.

The Krugerrand gold coins have other distinct characteristics that you won’t find in other gold bullion coins. First, it has no face value. Its legal tender value is the bullion value of its metal…which is the current price of gold in the market. Along with that, this is the first ever gold coin to contain precisely one ounce of fine gold!

When it was introduced, the Krugerrand gold coins were sold at a price that’s 5 percent higher than its bullion value. It quickly became a hit! Matter of fact, these gold coins accounted for 90% of the gold coin market. It’s success was followed other gold producing nations to create their own bullion coins like the Canadian Maple Leaf, Britannia Coin, American Gold Eagle, and that’s just to name a few!

Just last year, 2008, Krugerrand gold coins that contain a total of 46 million ounces of gold have been sold throughout the globe.

When you take a glance at the obverse side of an Austrian Philharmonics gold coin, you will find the great organ, which is actually located at the Vienna Golden Concert Hall. Just in case you don’t know, the Vienna Golden Concert Hall is the very same concert hall which serves as a home to the Austrian Philharmonic Orchestra. Still on the obverse side of the Austrian Philharmonics gold coins, the following elements – weight, fineness, date it was issued, as well as the coin’s face value in Euros, are all arranged underneath the organ. On top of it, you’ll find the official name of the country, which reads – REPUBLIK STERREICH.

The reverse side of the Austrian Philharmonics Gold Coins is just as marvelous – it features a collection of different orchestral instruments like the cello, 4 violins, a Vienna horn, as well as harp. All of these instruments are arranged underneath the name of the orchestra (in German), which reads – WIENER PHILHARMONIKER.

The design, the popularity, and the history of this gold coin’s rise to the top is more than enough to make a gold coin collector – whether newcomer or veteran in the biz buy them (perhaps even in bulk!). But to make it even sweeter, get this – the Austrian Mint guarantees the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins’ weight as well as purity while backing up its monetary face value!

What could be better than that! I don’t know about you but this sounds like a gold coin that investors and gold collectors alike would be looking for today and for the years to come!

These Australian Gold Kangaroo coins were released during 1986 as 0.999 find gold bullion coins, the design of these gold coins have changed every year after that, until it finally settled with the design characterized by different portraits of kangaroos in 1989.

These gold coins (with the Kangaroo design) were first launched in 1987 by the Gold Corporation. As an additional info (and value to the Australian Gold Kangaroo coin), the Gold Corporation is a corporation owned by the government of Western Australia. Right from the very onset, these Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins had 2 features which give these bullion coins outstanding value even when compared to more expensive and more popular gold bullion coins and products – first and foremost, it has a two-tone frosted design affect, and to top it off – it has an individual hard plastic encapsulation for each of the coins.

I don’t know about you but when it comes to standard-price bullion coins, these great features are unheard of!

The earlier designs of the Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins may not be that appealing to you though – especially when you realize that the reverse side features a famous Australian gold nugget. Meteorites, clods of dirt, etc. – that’s how they look. Now don’t get me wrong. That’s not to say that these Australian gold coins suck in the appearance and design department during their early years and releases. It’s just that these Australian golden nuggets, while they may be popular within Australia, are not easily recognized in other parts of the globe. And when you create a gold coin for a country, you should expect it to contain something that the whole world knows to be native to your nation.

But this little quibble was easily remedied…thanks to the 1989 design, this has changed and featured Kangaroos instead…a symbol of Australia which has been known and recognized worldwide!

Here are some of the Olympic Games during the past years where the hosting country issues gold coins – 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow, 1988 Seoul, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney…and that’s just to name a few!

Let’s take a closer look at 2 of them – the Canadian Commemorative Series as well as the 1980 Moscow Olympics Gold Coins, which are some of the best gold coins produced not just for the Olympic Games but of all time!

The Canadian Commemorative Series Gold Coins

This started back in 1976 when the Royal Canadian Mint issued a series of commemorative hundred-dollar value gold coins. A word of warning for those who’re seeking it – they’re very hard to find nowadays. You may find a gold coin dealer who occasionally gets them in stock. They may even include freebies like leather wallets and other add-ons. If you ever encounter one, don’t hesitate to grab it!

Just make sure they’re legit.

The 1980 Moscow Olympics Gold Coins

It was actually USSR (not Russia as many came to know) that issues gold coins valued at 100 roubles from 1977 to 1980 for the Moscow Olympics which was held in 1980. This is one of the most important events in Moscow and USSR’s history. And this is very apparent on the coin’s majestic design!

Mind you fellas – we’re just looking at 2 of the well-known Olympic Gold Coins that exist. With their countries’ names and reputations on the line, you can expect these Olympic Gold Coins (no matter which country they came from) to have great quality, design, and high gold content. Why not check out all of them before deciding which one is your pick?