Maple Leaf vs Australian Kangaroo - What to buy?
Gold Maple Leaf have always been a standard among the best gold bullion coins, that compete with the gold Krugerrand. It was the second bullion coin minted as an alternative with the Krugerrand, which was difficult to find due to apartheid.
The Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin is one of the purest fine gold coins in the world with a .9999 fineness. Gold Maple Leafs minted between 1979 and 1982 have a gold content of .999. The RCM increased the gold purity in the Maple Leaf the following year, and the coin continues to have a .9999 purity to this day. This puts the gold Maple leaf among the purest of all gold bullion coins.
The gold Maple Leaf has the benefit to be easily liquid in the bullion market, because it is a worldwide renowned bullion coin. The latest Maple Leafs (2020 and 2021) present radial lines on the coin surface, as well as an integrated QR Code (see pictures below). This makes the coin more unique than its previous year of release.
Because of this purity factor, gold Maple Leaf are really fragile and the pure gold that contains them is really soft. Although Canada Gold Maple Leafs are sold in tubes, they are notorious for being easily scratched or damaged as soon as they are removed from their tubes. Therefore, it is quite common to find gold Maple Leaf with scratches on their fields.
The Maple Leaf has a unique design, which does not change every year compared to the Australian Kangaroo. It is a coin more appreciated by bullion investors who have no sensitivity to the coin’s design.
The Australian Gold Kangaroo has a design that changes each year. This gives a unique character to the coin. The obverse of the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins carries an image of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse depicts the famous australian symbol of the kangaroo, for which the design change every year. The new issues also have a unique design feature: a QR code within the letter “A”.
Coinage that changes from year to year has the benefit that the extra premium you may pay now can be recouped later. Australian Kangaroo are believed to have a little bit of numismatic avantage in the future (especially the old designs with the nuggets).
Although the Australian Kangaroo gold coins come in five sizes, only the 1-oz coins are readily available. The 1 ounce Australian Kangaroo carries a nominal face value of $100. The table below shows the characteristics of the 1 ounce coin and the fractional issues.
| Coin | Gross Weight | Fine gold Weight | Diameter | Thickness | Face Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce | 31.1035 grams | 31.1035 grams | 32.1 mm | 2.8 mm | $100 AUD |
| 1/2 ounce | 15.55175 grams | 15.55175 grams | 25.1 mm | 2.4 mm | $50 AUD |
| 1/4 ounce | 7.775875 grams | 7.775875 grams | 20.1 mm | 2 mm | $25 AUD |
| 1/10 ounce | 3.11035 grams | 3.11035 grams | 16.1 mm | 1.5 mm | $15 AUD |
| 1/20 ounce | 1.555175 grams | 1.555175 grams | 14.1 mm | 1.4 mm | $5 AUD |
Australian Kangaroo are generally sold at a higher premium compared to Canadian Maple Leaf. Also in general, ½ o have less mintages. Therefore they can sell for a better premium.
Moreover, the proximity of Australia with Asia has made this gold bullion coin a top choice for Asian investors, and an alternative for Chinese Pandas.
The Maple Leaf and Australian Kangaroo are two coins with a lot of similarities.
However, it will all depends on where you will be considering to re-sell the coin. For instance, the Maple Leaf will be easier to resell in North America compared to the Australian Kangaroo.
However, the old australian nuggets bullion coins that depict the design of the nugget will potentially have slight numismatic potential. In fact, there was a relatively low number of mintage for those coins, compared to australian kangaroo, which are manufactured in large quantities and are relatively new for the bullion market.
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