For thousands of years gold has proved its worth as a medium of exchange and payment instrument. Its popularity has continued without interruption into modern times and becomes even greater in times of insecure financial markets.

Even in the last ten years gold has proved more capable of sustaining its value than paper money. Measured against gold, the euro has lost three quarters of its value; the lead currency, the dollar has even lost 84 percent.

Coins as legal tender

Gold coins usually bear a nominal face value of the currency concerned. The value of the gold exceeds the nominal face value of the coins by a multiple. Therefore gold coins are traded as investment coins throughout the world. Well-known mintages include the Krugerrand (South Africa), the Maple Leaf (Canada) and the Vienna Philharmonic (Austria) coins.

Free from value added tax

The purchase of gold bullion and coins is free from value added tax in Germany and Switzerland.