In 1967, the government of South Africa minted the gold krugerrand to increase the marketing of South African gold. Although the krugerrand is considered as legal currency in South Africa, it is rarely used for that purpose. Instead, it has become a favorite of coin collectors all over the world, known as “medal coins.” This was the first coin to be valued at the monetary value of gold, or the current rate of gold prices. This was unusual at the time because it meant that the coin’s value has always been based on its precious metal content rather than its face value. Over the years, both collectors and investors have coveted South African Krugerrands, and they make a great complement to any portfolio.
For example, a U.S. silver dollar is worth exactly one dollar unless it is unusual in some way that makes it more valuable to collectors. The krugerrand was originally a one-ounce piece of 22 carat gold with no monetary value imprinted on it; its value is based upon the market gold price that frequently fluctuates. Today krugerrands are made in a variety of weights, including half-ounce, quarter-ounce and one-tenth ounce.
Coin dealers and collectors often obtain krugerrands through estate sales. The price that the dealer or collector will pay depends upon the current gold market price on that particular day. For example, imagine that a family man invests in buying 100 krugerrands when the gold prices are $300 per ounce. When the man dies ten years later, the value of the krugerrands will be based upon gold prices at that time.
Like any investment, buying gold krugerrands is never a “sure thing.” When the man dies, gold may be priced at $150 per ounce, meaning that the family will have lost money on the investment. However, gold prices may well be $700 per ounce, giving the family a sizeable return on the investment if they decide to sell the krugerrands. In cases like this, probate attorneys recommend that surviving heirs consult a coin dealer about the fluctuation of gold prices; knowing when to sell and when to hang on is a matter that requires professional consultation.
If you buy gold krugerrands as an investment, keep in mind that these coins are 22 carat gold; an extremely high grade in quality. Pure gold, at 24 carats, is too soft to be minted so it is “cut” with various amounts of metal to make it hard enough to mint. Novice investors often make the mistake of comparing the gold prices for jewelry items made from 18, 14, or 12 carat gold with the gold price or market value of the 22 carat krugerrand. All gold is not created equal!
The South African krugerrand was the prototype model for other one-ounce coins like the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, the Australian Nugget, the Mexican Gold Peso, and the United States Golden Eagle. Since these coins are not as widely available as investments as the krugerrand is, they are sometimes subjects of counterfeiting. Have a coin consultant investigate the current gold price, the authenticity of the coin, and the coin’s carat weight.
In addition to being valuable, these coins are attractive and highly collectible. The obverse features a bust of Paul Kruger, the last president of the Republic of South Africa and the man for whom the coin is named, and a springbok antelope is depicted on the reverse. The only difficulty presented in buying gold Krugerrands is understanding where to get the best deal on the quantity you wish to purchase.
Top 5 Best Places to Buy Gold Krugerrands
1. Top All-Around Coin Dealer
JM Bullion – www.jmbullion.com
JM Bullion is the top all-around coin dealer in the world, and if you are new to collecting coins or investing in precious metals, this is a great place to start. The company prides itself for delivering quality products quickly and safely, and in order to accomplish this, it works closely with the U.S. Mint, international mints and distributors.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, JM Bullion is fully accredited by the state and federal governments, providing investors of all sorts with much-needed peace of mind. In addition, customer service is a priority for the company, and support representatives are available six days per week.
2. Top Dealer for 1-Oz. Orders
When you are new to investing in precious metals or collecting gold coins, you may want to start by purchasing a single South African Krugerrand to give you an idea of how the process works, and for single-coin deals, you will best be served by Silver.com. At Silver.com, you have two choices when in the market for a gold Krugerrand: You can buy a coin from the current minting period, or you can buy a coin from a random year at a discounted price.
Silver.com provides some of the fastest service in the business. In many cases, you will be able to receive your Krugerrand as soon as one day after ordering.
3. Top Dealer for Small Orders
If you are confident in your research or have prior experience investing in gold Krugerrands, you may want to place a small order for multiple coins, and the best place for this size order is BGASC. This fast and reliable company offers a wide variety of Krugerrand coins to satisfy both casual and serious investors. You can jump into a new collection with 1/10-oz. Krugerrands or 1/4-oz. coins, or you can buy a full complement of the standard 1-oz. coins. Another reason why BGASC is perfect for small orders is that you receive a bulk discount for buying as few as three coins at a time.
BGASC ships all of its orders with full insurance underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, and the company has never received a complaint through the Better Business Bureau.
4. Top Dealer for Medium Orders
Provident Metals – www.providentmetals.com
Investors who are ready to add gold bullion to their portfolios can be expected to make purchases of Krugerrands that are larger than average but still not as large as they could be. If you believe that a medium-sized order is in your future, take a good look at Provident Metals.
Provident Metals is a leading distributor of domestic and international coins and bullion, and one of the company’s specialties is gold Krugerrands. Prices on the website are continually updated, and discounts are provided for off-quality coins.
5. Top Dealer for Large Orders
Amagi Metals – www.amagimetals.com
Amagi Metals is one of the most trusted, reliable and secure dealers of precious metals in the nation, which makes it perfect for placing large orders of South African Krugerrands. The company is widely known for having the fairest prices of gold bullion and coins in quantities of 20 or more.
It is extremely simple to place large orders of gold Krugerrands with Amagi Metals, and great effort is taken to protect the privacy of each customer. Customer service representatives are professional, courteous and knowledgeable, and they work diligently to go above and beyond the call of duty.
