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Submitted by: Christian Ruelas
Collecting coins is often called the King of Hobbies, perhaps because back in the 14th century, when the collection first came into fashion, only the wealthiest could afford this passion.
But time and changing economies have brought coin collecting to the masses. Today s collections have expanded to include foreign coins, antique coins, those circulated only briefly, coins with mint errors, coins minted to mark historic occasions and artistic coins.
None strike the fancy of coin collectors more than the gold coins minted by The Franklin Mint, the world s leading private mint. Founded in 1964, The Franklin Mint was started as a mint for legal tender coins for foreign countries. That has expanded to commemorative medallions, casino tokens and precious metal ingots.
World Gold Coins
Israel Tower of David
Freshly minted in 2010, the Tower of David is the first gold bullion coin ever issued by The Holy Land Mint and the Bank of Israel. With just 3,600 coins minted, any nation s first bullion coin is guaranteed to be popular and likely will sell out quickly.
On one side of the coin is the sculpted image of the Tower of David, as seen from outside the walls of the Old City of Jersusalem. It also bears the face value of the coin, 20 New Sheqalim, the mintmark of the Star of David and the word Jerusalem in Arabic, English and Hebrew. On the other side, you ll find a roaring lion in the Lion of Megiddo, an ancient seal from the 8th century B.C. excavated at Megiddo in the Jordan valley. Above the lion is the emblem of the State of Israel. The Tower of David coin will arrive in a wooden display case and a certificate of authenticity.
2010 South Africa Krugerrand
Always popular, the gold Krugerrand was introduced in 1967 as a way to market the enormous supply of gold extracted from mines in Johannesburg, South Africa. Private ownership of the Krugerrand was banned until Apartheid was overturned in 1994. The Krugerrand, accounting at one time for 90 percent of the gold coin market, led other countries to produce their own gold coins, including the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf in 1979, the Australian Nugget in 1981 and the American Gold Eagle in 1986.
Today, you can enjoy owning a one-ounce, 32.6mm Krugerrand, the first gold coin struck in 91.7 percent pure gold. On one side is the magnificent Springbok, a symbol of South Africa. On the other side is Paul Kruger, four-term president of the former South African Republic. A maximum of 10 Krugerrands can be ordered currently.
Liberty Head Coins
$20 Liberty Head
Although gold coins were already in the works, the California Gold Rush put added pressure on the United States government to come up with more gold coins. Lady Liberty, the symbol of America s fine past, was selected for the honor. Designed by James B. Longacre, the Liberty Head was the nation s first $1 and $20 gold coins.
The $20 Liberty Head coins offered by The Franklin Mint were struck between 1866 and 1907. On one side is Lady Liberty s head, facing left, encircled by 13 stars. The coronet she is wearing is inscribed with the word Liberty. On the other side, you will find the seal of the United States of America and the value of the coin.
What makes gold Liberty Heads so valuable is the fact that so many were melted down by the government in the 1930s. As a result, very few original coins in classic condition remain.
$10 Liberty Head
Also available is a $10 Liberty Head coin, minted between 1866 and 1907. It is 27 mm in size (just larger than a quarter), weighs .4837 of an ounce and is made of .900 fine gold. Like other fine coins from The Franklin Mint, it comes in a wooden display case.
Indian Head Gold Coins
$5 Indian Head
This magnificent coin is one of the last gold coins circulated by the U.S. government. Minted between 1908 and 1929, the $2.50 and $5 gold coins are the only U.S. coins with an incuse design, meaning the design sinks below the surface of the coin, rather than raising above it. The coin is 21.6 mm, or about the size of a nickel, and is made of .900 fine gold. It comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jay W. Johnson, former director of the U.S. Mint.
$3 Indian Princess Head
Minted between 1854 and 1889, this coin was created so people could buy a sheet of 100 stamps, each stamp costing $0.03. On one side is the head of an Indian princess; on the other side is a wreath of corn, cotton, wheat and tobacco. Less than 10,000 of these coins were struck and of those, few remain today.
When making the next acquisition for your growing collection, be sure to consider these stand out coins.
About the Author: Christian Ruelas is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics including collecting gold coins.
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