Krugerrand: the best-selling gold bullion coin ever

Krugerrand: low-premium gold bullion coin

More gold Krugerrands have been minted than all the other gold bullion coins put together, with some 42 million Krugerrands having been minted since 1967. Most Krugerrands were minted in the 1970s and early 1980s to meet the demand as gold bullion buyers flocked to gold coins as protection against inflation.

The South African Krugerrand was first imported into the United States immediately after Americans regained the right to buy and own gold bullion on December 31, 1974. The rush to buy gold was on, and the Krugerrand became an instant hit with gold bullion buyers. Today the Krugerrand remain the most successful gold bullion coins ever minted.

Krugerrand gold bullion coins banned

However, in 1985, because the South African government was white-ruled, Congress passed a law that prohibited South Africa from selling Krugerrands in the U.S.  By then, though, an estimated 22 million Krugerrands had already been imported, and the ban did not affect the buying and selling Krugerrands that were already in the United States. Today an active market continues for Krugerrands and thousands trade daily.

In 1994, Congress lifted the importation ban, and gold bullion Krugerrands were again offered for sale in the U.S. By then, however, Gold Eagles had captured the U.S. gold bullion coin market, and the South African effort to promote Krugerrands in the U.S. ended. Today, Krugerrands sell at prices below Gold Eagle prices and remain favorite gold coins for gold buyers seeking to buy bargain bullion gold.

Krugerrands come in four sizes

As do Gold Eagles, Krugerrands come in four sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, and 1/10-ounce. All four gold coins carry the same design. 1-oz Krugerrands are by far the most popular and generally can be found in large quantities. The fractional-ounce Krugerrands are not always available, but when fractional-ounce Krugerrands are available they are significantly lower priced than fractional-ounce Gold Eagles.

Also like Gold Eagles, Krugerrands are 22-karat gold, being alloyed with copper. (Krugerrands were so popular that when the U.S. Mint designed its Gold Eagles, the Krugerrands dimensions and alloy were used.) Krugerrands are legal tender coins in South Africa.

Krugerrand value: active market

Krugerrands enjoy the most active secondary market of all modern gold bullion coins, with thousands changing hands daily. Most Krugerrand orders are filled with mixed dated coins. Occasionally tubes contain Krugerrands dated the same year.

If you would like to discuss buying or selling Krugerrands or any aspect of the gold and silver markets, please call. We take calls 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST, Mondays through Fridays. Call toll free 1-800-528-1380.

Minimum orders

The minimum orders for bullion purchases at CMIGS are ten ounces of gold or platinum; twenty ounces of palladium; 500 ounces of silver.  Payment by wire transfer enables us to ship more quickly.  See Doing Business With CMIGS.

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