One of the most common questions we get is "How much is a Krugerrand worth?" The value of a Krugerrand is based upon its gold content plus a premium. Different sizes of Krugerrand fetch different premiums, and price is also affected by such factors such as condition (uncirculated versus circulated) and special preparation, such as proof coins. From its inception in 1967, the 1 oz gold krugerrand was intended as a way to invest in gold. Although slightly heavier than one ounce (due to the copper alloy in the coin), each one contained exactly one ounce of fine gold. Bullion coins, such as the kruger, allow investors of all budgets to buy gold. When the fractal krugerrands (1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz) were introduced in 1980, they continued with marking the weight on the coin rather than the value. So the majority of a Krugerrand's value comes from the gold bullion content. To determine how much that is, you can check the current gold spot price. You can see the spot price for gold on our gold Krugerrand price page, or simply Google "Gold Spot Price".
Now that you know how much the gold content in your Krugerrand is worth, it's time to determine the premium, and then to decide if you believe the investment is worthwhile. All Krugerrands are sold with an a premium tacked on, which is for shipping, handling and mintage fees. You can read that as pretty much as "seller profit". There's nothing wrong with making a profit, just make sure to be an informed buyer so you know exactly what you are paying for. For example, the premium is higher on the fractal Krugerrands- with the 1/10 oz Krugerrand charging the highest premium proportionately. What that means is that you want to buy the largest Kruger you can afford to minimize the portion of your investment spent on items other than the actual gold content. So if you could afford an ounce of gold, you would look to buy a 1 oz Krugerrand as opposed to two half ounce Krugerrands. The easiest way to figure out what the premium is on a regular circulated Krugerrand would be to check out our current Krugerrand Price page. Here you can see what Krugerrands are selling for on eBay today, and also you can see the price of five or so dealers to make a comparison. When you check the dealer prices, be sure to read the fine print carefully, many of them list a bulk price- or a price you have to multiply by a set percentage to get your final total. Also regardless of whether you buy from a dealer or online, be sure to account for shipping, handling and insurance fees.
If you prefer to do the research yourself manually, you can see what the completed prices are for Krugerrand listings by going to eBay. Once there, you'll need to log in with your account. For some odd reason, eBay does not allow you to view completed listings unless you have an account. If you don't have an account, go ahead and create one, it's free. Enter the size of Krugerrand you are looking for into the search box- for example "1/4 oz Krugerrand" and click search. On the left hand column, about midway down you'll see a "Preferences" box. Inside that box is another labeled "show only". You want to click the box next to "Completed Listings". Once you click the box, the page will reload and you can see the completed listings- they show the price in green and also have a little green box that says "sold". Subtract the spot price from this number and you know the premium. As for checking dealer prices, let your fingers do the walking and call a few.
So now you know how much a krugerrand is worth if it's been circulated- what about uncirculated or a proof Krugerrand. These special Krugerrands are minted to have an additional numismatic value- or a value for collectors on top of the gold value. Both uncirculated and proof krugers have a limited mintage, or number of coins produced. The proofs also have quite a bit of special handling. The Rand Refinery specially polishes the blanks. Then the press operator at the mint hand loads the blanks, which are then double stamped to produce the highest quality impression on the coin. They also have special features to set them apart- for example a frosted finish, as well as more reeds on the edge of the coin. Proofs sets will also usually come with a numbered certificate of authenticity. All of these factors add up to scarcity, and scarcity leads to a higher price. If you're looking to buy a Kruger for collecting, your best bet is to spend some time with a dealer specializing in krugers, and understand not only the current value, but how well it has historically held that value, so that you can get your full investment back if you decide to sell. This is less of a concern with a circulated kruger, since they are a fairly standardized commodity. If you would like to see what the current auctions look like we've included some links for you to look at below. The next time someone asks "How much is a Krugerrand Worth?" you'll know the answer!
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