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Gold coins for sale at the Dubai Gold Souk A gold coin is a coin that is made mostly or entirely of gold. Most gold coins minted since 1800 are 90.0–92.0 ‰ gold (22‑karat), while most of today's gold bullion coins are pure gold, such as the Britannia, Canadian Maple Leaf, Vienna Philharmonic, and American Buffalo. Alloyed gold coins, like the American Gold Eagle and South African Krugerrand, are typically 91.7 ‰ gold by weight, with the remainder being silver and copper.
Until about the 1930s, gold coins were circulation coins, including coin-like bracteates and dinars. Since then, gold coins have mainly been produced as bullion coins for investors and as commemorative coins for collectors. While modern gold coins are still legal tender, they are not used in everyday financial transactions, as the metal value invariably exceeds the nominal value. For example, the quarter-ounce American Gold Eagle has a denomination of $10, but a metal value of approximately $1,100 (as of January 2026).