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A gold coin collection would be incomplete without a fine set of Mexican gold coins, such as the Mexican 50 Peso gold coin. This specimen is a great investment for those collecting gold bullion coins as it is an affordable coin made of 90% gold alloy and 10% copper alloy and is one of the most durable in the Western Hemisphere.

This is the first ever Mexican 50 Peso gold coin to be minted and therefore, is also known as the Centenario. It was issued in 1921 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain.

The coin is a beautifully rendered specimen that displays an image commonly known as “Winged Victory” carrying a laurel wreath in her right hand and a segment of broken chains in her left hand. Behind the image of Winged Victory can be seen two of Mexico’s most well known volcanoes. The date 1821 on one side of the coin indicates the commemorative year, while the data on the right will designate the year the coin was minted.

Known as restrikes, roughly 4 million specimens of this particular coin were minted between 1949 and 1972. However, 50 Peso denominations of Mexican gold coins that were minted in 1921 in 1931 and also those produced before 1949 are considered the favorites. The reverse side of the coin features the Mexican coat of arms. An eagle delicately balanced on a cactus holding a serpent in its beak is also displayed.

The Mexican 50 Peso gold coin contains a fineness of .900 and contains 37.5 g troy ounce. For a taste of independence and a piece of history, investors and collectors accumulating Mexican gold coins should make room in their portfolio for this very special Mexican 50 Peso gold coin specimen.

A person may start purchasing gold coins for any number of reasons. An explanation is they are seen as smart investments because their worth can be increased, so individuals are more inclined to purchase them. Even these days you will discover that there is an extremely high demand for people who collect coins to purchase those that are uncommon.

Irrespective of the reason an individual has for purchasing gold coins, they know that it is one of the most secure ways to invest their extra money. Merely because they know over time these coins are unlikely to lose any worth rather they are in reality going to be gain in worth.

Before acquiring any coins you need to find a honest coin dealer. If you are able to, select someone who is a member of the body called the Professional Coin Grading Service, or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Unfortunately if you select to use a dealer who is not a member of these professional bodies then you are risking losing your money as they will often sell you coins which are in fact phonys.

When you discover a coin dealer you will need to figure out exactly how much gold you are going to purchase. This is essential as the price of gold is constantly changing and by knowing how much it is you have free to spend will help you to acquire at the cost at which it is presently set more easily.

Not only do you must to know how much you plan to invest in gold coins but you also need to determine what is available and which coins make the best investments. Currently gold coins fall into three diverse classes. Standard gold bullion coins are collectible and are classed as rare.

Gold bullion “coins” are in reality valued based on the volume of precious metal in them. While rare and collectible coins their prices in reality fluctuate immensely and particular factors will need to be taken into consideration in order to place a worth on them. The cost that one receives for rare coins will be settled mostly by three aspects.

Also, when you are going to be acquiring gold coins it is important that you understand a little bit about the ranking and evaluation procedure. This will then help you gain a better understanding of the hard to find coin marketplace and allow you to spot possible bargains more easily.

The 1 Ounce Krugerrand history begins not on July 3rd, 1967 when it was first struck- not even in planning and strategy meetings held by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa (established in 1889 as a voluntary private sector organization to represent the interests of mining employers) who were its architects.

Witwatersrand, South Africa or the “ridge of white waters” in Afrikaans, is truly where Krugerrand history starts. These mineral rich hills run east to west near Johannesburg for over sixty miles. They produce many minerals including uranium- and in 1884 the first gold discovery was made. The president of the Transvaal at that time was Paul Kruger, who knew that the gold discovery would forever change the face of South Africa. As he predicted, the rich gold find brought in many foreign miners looking to make their fortune. As more and more foreigners entered, they eventually began to outnumber the Boers, and their protests for their rights lead to increasing levels of conflict. Underlying this concern for their rights, was the British desire to control gold rights.

The second Boer war started in 1899 with ultimatums from the British demanding equal rights for the uitlanders (foreigners), and Kruger’s response for the British to be out of Transvaal in 48 hours. After three bloody years, the war ended in 1902 and Transvaal was absorbed into the British empire- with some concessions to the Boers.

The next step on the golden road of Krugerrand history is the establishment of the Rand Refinery, which supplies the blanks for every Krugerrand stamped. The Rand Refinery (est. 1920) was created by the Transvaal Chamber of Mines to refine all gold mined in South Africa; and immediately began to refine gold ore for one the worlds most prolific gold producing regions, Witwatersrand.

The 1 Ounce Krugerrand takes its name from a combination of Paul Kruger’s surname, and the Rand, which is the currency of South Africa (the Rand was taken from Witwatersrand). The obverse of the 1 oz Krugerrand has a portrait of Paul Kruger, designed by Otto Schultz. Coert Steynberg designed the reverse, which is a Springbok antelope, a national symbol of South Africa.

In 1967 when Krugerrands were first produced, the United States government prohibited its citizens from owning gold bullion, but allowed ownership of foreign coins. The 1 oz Krugerrand was a brilliant piece of marketing for two reasons. One, it was the first bullion coin to be traded for its gold content, rather than a denomination on the coin (a 1 oz gold Krugerrand is 22 carats, 11 parts gold to 1 part copper- however it does contain one full ounce of gold bullion). As the price of gold fluctuates, so goes the price of Krugerrands. Second, by making the Krugerrand legal tender, it allowed American investors to purchase the coin. This allowed everyday people to buy gold without the need to have it melted and assayed. The South African Krugerrand was declared illegal to import in many Western countries during the 1970s and 1980s due to the policy of apartheid. With South African political reform from 1990 to 1994 and the abolishment of apartheid, one ounce Krugerrands became legal imports to the U.S. Even with the previous prohibitions, Krugerrands are the most popular gold bullion coin- with over forty-six million ounces in circulation. The One Ounce Krugerrand History is peppered with blood, politics, and ingenuity.