5 Gold Coins for Buying or Investment

Image of gold coins in a pile

Buying gold is a great way to hedge against inflation. Gold can also preserve the value of your investment when currency prices fluctuate. Gold generally maintains its value over time and is a good way to pass down investments or diversify your investment portfolio. It can also be beneficial to have during times of crisis in the economy. It is an asset that is easy to liquidate and will always maintain its value, even increasing as the global gold supply shrinks.

One of the most common forms of investing in gold is via gold coins, compact and collectible items that increase in value over time. We wrote a small list of 5 coins to consider when putting your investment money in gold.

To read more about how to tell if your gold items are real click here

1. United States: Eagle 1-Ounce Gold Coin (United States Mint)

The Eagle is by far the most popular gold coin to buy in the USA. Since their first minting in 1986, these 1-ounce coins are produced exclusively from gold mined in the U.S. They have a face value of USD $50 as of 2017.

The coins feature Lady Liberty on one side and bald eagles on the other. From 1986 to 1991, the coins were dated with Roman Numerals. In 1992, the Mint adopted Arabic numerals.

These coins are the favorite coin of U.S. investors and collectors for many reasons. Because these coins are so popular, they are generally easy to value, trade, or sell. They are even an approved investment method for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

Did you purchase the American Eagle 1-Ounce Gold Coin and want to know what your investment is currently worth? Contact us today for a consultation.

2. United States: The 1 oz. Gold Buffalo Coin (United States Mint)

The 1 oz. American Buffalo was first minted in 2006, becoming the U.S.’s answer to Canada’s Gold Maple Leaf. Offering .9999 fine 24k gold, it is the highest content gold coin the U.S. Mint produces. Each coin has a “1 OZ .9999 FINE GOLD” stamp on the back.

These coins have a buffalo on one side and a classic Native American profile representation on the other. Also carrying a USD $50 face value, the edges of these coins are somewhat irregular, with thickness varying half a millimeter or more, as a rustic tribute to the American West.

Want to learn more about gold and how to tell its worth? Read more on gold here

3. Canada: The 1 oz. Gold Maple Leaf Coin (Royal Canadian Mint)

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is one of the most purchased bullion coins on the market.

Gold coins produced from 1979 to 1982 carry three 9’s, with those after carrying four. One exception was in 2004, when the Royal Canadian Mint produced 24k coins .99999 fine for its 25th anniversary.

The Gold Maple Leaf is considered the purest gold bullion, and each coin is stamped with the .9999 purity guarantee and “1 OZ OR PUR.” The Maple Leaf remains unchanged; however, The Queen’s Effigy is updated along with other Canadian coins.

Since 1979, Canada’s Mint has been minting these coins and many investors continue to favor them.

4. Mexico: The 1.2 oz. 50 Peso, or Centenario (Banco de Mexico)

The 50 Peso Gold Coin was minted by the Banco de Mexico between 1921 and 1947. The Centenario de Oro was first minted in 1921 to celebrate the first 100 years of the Independence of Mexico. Production of this coin was briefly suspended in 1931, then re-established in 1943, and continued until 1947.

Each coin contains approximately 1.2 oz of pure gold. They are minted of an alloy that contains 90% pure gold combined with 10% copper, giving it an orange hue. This makes it generally more durable than other 24k gold coins.

One side features the Winged Victory (the “Angel of Independence”), a statue that appears on the victory column in Mexico City. Victory holds a wreath in one hand and broken chains in the other. Behind her, Mexico’s famous volcanoes are depicted. The other side depicts a golden eagle on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth.
Gold 50 Peso coins will continue to be an ideal investment for gold collectors for their commonality and low premiums.

5. Austria: 1 oz. Gold Philharmonic Coin (Austrian Mint)

The Austrian Mint has produced Gold Philharmonics as a tribute to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This classic entry on the list of best gold coins to buy features the Vienna Concert Hall‘s pipe organ of Vienna’s Concert Hall (the Musikverein) on one side and various orchestral instruments on the other.

First minted in 1989, this is the only gold bullion coin issued in Euros. The coins come in a variety of oz sizes, with face values of 100, 50, 25, or 10 euros. Each coin is stamped with the marking “1 UNZE GOLD 999.9.”

Coins are considered classic members of the top coins to buy for investment, and current production levels with mint run 500,000 or more, making them readily purchased.

Do you have any of the gold coins mentioned in this article, and want to know how much your investment is currently worth? Contact us today for a free consultation.

Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash

Share This Post

More To Explore

Jason Quintana

left us a 5 star review

google

I've sold gold at Westlake Gold a couple times, and the experience has always been top notch. Unlike some less scrupulous precious metal buyers, Westlake will give you fair value for the metals you bring in. This is my go to and I highly recommend anyone to make this their first stop when selling gold or silver

Jason Quintana October 10, 2026
google

First time coming to the Westlake Gold and my experience didn't disappoint There is a reason why this place receives such good reviews. They are fair, honest, communicative, and professional I will use them again and I highly recommend.

Donald Hayes October 6, 2026
google

Very simple and easy experience. I would have liked to know how many grams my items totaled however. I left feeling uncertain if I received the right amount for whatever the total weight was.

KaysaLove October 5, 2026
google

I had a wonderful experience selling my gold at Westlake Gold. Joel took the time to look at each piece I brought in and was honest about the few that weren’t worth anything, which made me trust the process. He was friendly and professional throughout, and the whole visit was easy. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to sell gold.

Christine Brown October 3, 2026
google

Super nice, and professional. Would definitely use again!

Sheri Danos October 1, 2026
google

Honest no pressure transaction. Just what I wanted.

Paul Diggs September 30, 2026
google

They were kind, excellent, fair and transparent. I will use them over and over again and I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Lindsay Leimbach September 28, 2026
google

Great service, honest with fair pricing.

Dave Lane September 22, 2026
google

Prompt courteous service. Very Knowledgeable. I appreciated the education more than anything. I sold a Rolex datejust for a very fair price.

Chris M. McBrearty September 15, 2026
google

Excellent experience as always doing business with Westlake Gold!

Loren N. Kaplan September 3, 2026
google

Great experience. Worked with Nikki twice over two weeks. Very clear and transparent process. Would recommend!

Michael August 31, 2026
google

Every time I have gone in, has been nothing short of an exceptional experience! This most recent time, was above and beyond what I expected, which was already wonderful service. I always and will continue to send friends and family their way. Highly recommend Westlake Gold!

Alexa Lynsay August 30, 2026
google

brought in a bunch of gold that was my mom‘s and my father‘s and they were very honest with me on the pricing and I was surprised at how much money I received for trading and all this gold. I’m definitely gonna be back with my kids for the jewelry that my mom left them

Sasha Maksic August 28, 2026
google

I had a very positive experience when I sold my silverware at Westlake Gold. They were very professional and knowledgeable. I went to Gold Union nearby and they tried to take advantage of me and offered less than one tenth of what I got from Westlake Gold.

Maurice Feldman August 22, 2026
google

Nicole was great. Very patient and thorough!

Lawrence Byer August 19, 2026
google

If I could give 10 stars, I would. Knowledgable and professional team led by Joel who took time to explain the process and pricing for full transparency. Excellent experience.

Marianna Shapiro August 17, 2026
google

First time going here! I went in for my consultation and Patricia was so knowledgeable and kind. I can’t wait to come back and be pampered by her again! Highly recommended this company and Patricia!

Emily Seymour August 14, 2026
google

WESTLAKE GOLD is a professional company that knows its business well. My transaction was easy, quick, and fair.

Luisa Kapitz August 13, 2026
google

They made the process very quick and easy . The lady that helped me was very nice. Felt safe and gave me top dollar for my items. Would highly recommend

edward August 12, 2026
google

I had a great experience at Westlake Gold. They are fair, honest and accurate. I highly recommend going there.

Denise Rozenboom August 11, 2026
google

Westlake Gold is the best in the area, it was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. Nikki was very helpful, very professional, considerate and nice. They are an honest business, have current equipment and pay a very fair price. Just to put it in a perspective, they paid me 5 times more than another place in Westlake, that keeps sending flyers. There was no hassle and their check cleared overnight. I will definitely use their services again.

Arous Dabagyan August 10, 2026
google

They were very nice and helpful! Made the process much better!! Thank you!

Jennifer Campbell August 6, 2026
google

Very fair and reasonable transaction.

Jerry Ostrowiecki August 5, 2026
google

Absolutely go to Westlake Gold to sell your gold jewelry. Very fair and explains the whole process.

Debra Punch August 5, 2026
google

Very honest and professional

Bradford August 2, 2026
google

Had a silver medallioin which Westlake Gold evaluated for authenticity using 3 different instruments. The daily silver strike price was updated continuously on the display board which took any guess work out of the discussion. Just previously I had the medallion appraised by another silver/gold shop which greatly undercut the price. I feel I got a fair price at Westlake Gold where I was offered 12% below the strike price. The other gold/silver shop offered me 29% below the strike---adios to them. I feel you will get a good evaluation of your asset and a fair deal at Westlake Gold.

B&K K July 30, 2026
google

The staff was welcoming, very helpful, extremely knowledgeable and very nice!!

Randy Pentis July 28, 2026
google

Friendly and convenient. Transaction went smoothly and prices are fair.

Steve Adachi July 21, 2026
google

Professional, kind, got through the sale quickly and we left feeling respected.

Kimberli Scully July 7, 2026
google

Very knowledgeable and fair prices

Jennifer Ruiz July 2, 2026
google

Excellent service, quick and easy, highly recommended!

Greg Dominguez July 2, 2026
google

I had a great experience here! Nikki was so kind and lovely. I met Joel briefly, and he was great. This business is run with honesty and integrity.

Susan Francisco July 2, 2026
google

Westlake Gold was very professional and trustworthy. I appreciate doing business with them.

Believe2113 June 24, 2026
google

Very professional staff. Friendly, fair, knowledgeable, and answered all my questions. Felt comfortable during the whole experience. I’d definitely recommend them .

Linda Summers June 24, 2026
google

Professional services

Sharee C Crossley June 22, 2026
google

It was a very good experience. After I collect a few more items I will use them again. Very polite and great with customer service.

Diane Hunn June 19, 2026
google

Great service. Very knowledgeable and courteous. I would recommend them to all my friends. A wonderful local business.

David Saul June 10, 2026
google

I recently visited this store and couldn’t be more impressed with the experience. From the moment I walked in, the staff were welcoming, professional, and completely transparent throughout the entire process. They took the time to answer all my questions without any pressure and made sure I felt comfortable every step of the way. In an industry where trust is everything, this team truly stands out. There were no hidden fees, no surprises — just honest, straightforward service from start to finish. You can tell they genuinely care about treating their customers with respect. If you’re looking for a place that combines professionalism with integrity, I highly recommend this store. I left feeling confident and satisfied, knowing I was dealt with fairly. I’ll definitely be coming back and will be recommending them to friends and family without hesitation.

Pierre Gh June 2, 2026
google

I found Westlake Gold to be very honest, straight forward, knowledgeable, and took the time to clearly explain everything with buying/selling valuables. They offered the best prices for my family jewelry! It was a pleasure working with Joel at Westlake Gold and I'll go back to him for the best honest pricing and a seamless experience.

Ken Tong May 30, 2026
google

This is my second time with westlake gold and I would definitely come back. He was kind enough to take my stones and diamonds out of my rings and necklaces. Which I truly appreciate as those have sentimental value to me. Thank you for your kindness and professionalism!

google

Fast and efficient.

Patty Behringer May 26, 2026
google

Great experience, will definitely use them for all future gold and silver selling

Cheryl Donaldson May 25, 2026
google

Very nice service and friendly assistant! We will definitely come back and recommend to others

Brian Hammer May 22, 2026
google

This was my first time at this business selling my gold and I gotta say that Joel knows his stuff and he’s been in the business for a while. He treated me with respect and courtesy, and he gave me honestly the best pricing for a gold dealer of all of LA County and I’ve been in the business myself as well for a little bit so his pricing is extremely competitive. He explained the process very easily, tested all my pieces and gave me prompt payment. I’m going to be doing business with him more and bringing him a lot of more customers. I really appreciate him. :) 5/5 stars totally recommend Baron

barry May 12, 2026
google

Joel is professional and fair with prices . Enjoyed chatting with and learning from him. I recommend him for his honesty.

M Day May 12, 2026
google

A+. Great guy, good service and very fair.

gayle shaw May 4, 2026
google

Westlake Gold is the most professional, trustworthy and competent trading shop.

Parul Narain May 3, 2026
google

Just loved doing business with honest and loyal people like Joel I will be back and sending all my friends to him thank you to mark too

Chris Aber May 2, 2026
google

I brought in three troy ounces of silver and I could not be happier with the experience. Very professional and paid a high rate for the metal. Will definitely be bringing back more in the future.

Rhodes Bennett April 28, 2026
google

Easy, comfortable experience. So trustworthy, fair, and helpful.

Lauren Daniels April 24, 2026