Krugerrand Gold Coins
Krugerrands are the world’s most popular gold bullion coins, with more Krugerrands having been minted and sold than any other modern gold bullion coin. In the US, though, American Gold Eagles are the most popular and carry a slightly higher premium than Krugerrands.
Krugerrands are an alloy of 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper. They come in four sizes, but the fractional-ounce Krugerrands, which were introduced in 1980, are not always available.
More gold Krugerrands have been minted than all the other gold bullion coins combined, with some 50 million having been minted since 1967. Most Krugerrands were minted in the 1970s and early 1980s to meet the demand as Americans sought to protect their assets against inflation by buying gold.
Minted in South Africa, the Krugerrand was first imported into the United States immediately after Americans regained the right to buy and own gold bullion on January 1, 1975. The rush to buy gold was on, and this gold bullion coin became an instant hit with gold buyers. Today the Krugerrand remains the most successful gold bullion coin ever minted.
Krugerrand gold bullion coins banned
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 had already been imported, and the ban did not affect the buying and selling of Krugerrands that were already in the United States. Today there is an active market 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 are available only in the secondary market and sell at prices below Gold Eagle prices.
Krugerrands remain favorite gold coins for buyers seeking to buy bargain bullion gold. However, large investors should consider buying kilo (1,000 gram/32.15 oz.) gold bars or 10-oz. gold bars when investing sizable sums. Gold bars carry lower premiums than coins and are easier to handle and store.
Krugerrands come in four sizes
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, which come in the same four sizes.
Krugerrands are 22-karat gold, being alloyed with copper. (Krugerrands were so popular that when the U.S. Mint designed its Gold Eagles, the Krugerrand’s 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 date coins. Occasionally tubes will 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 us at 800-528-1380. We take calls 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST, Mondays through Thursdays, Fridays 7:00am to 3:00 pm.
Minimum orders
CMI Gold & Silver Inc. has no minimum order. Payment by wire transfer enables us to ship more quickly. See Doing Business With CMIGS for more information about buying and selling precious metals with CMI Gold & Silver Inc.
Got a question about the gold/silver markets? Call us. We take calls 7:00 am to 5:00 pm MST Mondays through Thursdays, Fridays 7:00 am to 3:00 pm MST.
See our Gold Specials Page for offers of gold coins at still lower prices. At times, even Krugerrands and Gold Eagles — the two best selling gold bullion coins in the US — are available.