1/2 oz Gold Coins

When most people think about gold coins, they envision coins bearing a full troy ounce of the yellow metal. However, there are many different options besides 1 oz coins, including the ½ oz gold coin.

Coins that have less than 1 oz of gold are known as fractional coins, as their composition literally features a fraction of an ounce. They offer an option to very specific investors.

Why do Investors Buy ½ oz Gold Coins?

In a word, the cost. Because gold coins draw the bulk of their value from their actual gold content, a ½ oz gold coin is slightly more than half the price of a full-size gold coin.

½ oz gold coins might open the door to gold investment for those who cannot readily afford a 1 oz coin. New investors might be skittish about committing so much money at the outset of their journey, and experienced investors might turn to these coins if they are having liquidity issues with their budget.

Top ½ oz Gold Coin Producers

There are undoubtedly sovereign mints that do not produce ½ oz gold coins as part of their bullion coin offerings. One notable example is the US, which does not regularly issue fractional coins of any weight for the Gold Buffalo.

However, most sovereign mints issue ½ oz versions of their bullion coins because of their broader appeal. Here are some of the most prominent sovereign mints that release a ½ oz gold bullion coin:

• The US Mint
• The Royal Canadian Mint
• The Perth Mint (Australia)
• The Austrian Mint
• The Royal Mint (Great Britain)
• The South African Mint
• The Mexican Mint
• The Bavarian Mint (Germany)

½ oz gold coins are minted with the same purity levels as the full size coins. So, a ½ oz gold coin might have a fine gold content anywhere between .900 and .9999, with most of them tending to be higher purity options.

The design of the ½ oz gold coin you buy will depend entirely on its issuing country. So, a ½ oz gold coin might feature an eagle, a maple leaf, a kangaroo, a springbok antelope, or even a selection of musical instruments. 

Choosing the Right Dealer

You have plenty of ways to pick up a ½ oz gold coin. Most of us have local coin shops or precious metals dealers in our areas.

However, we do want to recommend that you give online precious metals dealers a chance, if for no other reason than they offer price comparisons. There are four precious metals sites that stand apart in terms of excellence. They are:

• JM Bullion
• Provident Metals
• BGASC.com
• Silver.com

We can unequivocally vouch for the quality of the sites above. You will not have a bad experience with them, and millions of customers can attest to their positive transactions with them. 

However, don’t take our word for it. Whether you use one of the sites above or another precious metals dealer, you should take steps to familiarize yourself with the ways that your chosen dealer addresses the following attributes:

• Reputation - Though it goes without saying, a precious metals dealer should have a flawless reputation. Check out its profile with the FTC or the BBB - ideally, one or both of those organizations commend the site’s business practices. If there are complaints, be quite wary of moving forward with your transaction.
• Selection - A wider selection of ½ oz gold coins is usually a good thing, as it gives you more opportunities to buy the coin that you genuinely want in your collection. There are some dealers with limited selections that are fine enough, but there should be a compelling reason that you are willing to overlook a small variety of coins.
• Pricing - Perhaps the only true reason to discount a small selection is the pricing. You should endeavor to find a dealer with pricing similar to its competition. If prices are too high, then the dealer is out of touch with the market. If the prices are too low, then you have to wonder about the authenticity of the coin or whether there are hidden fees.
• Site encryption - Hackers are everywhere, and losses associated with their crimes likely range into the trillions annually. Thus, it is absolutely essential that your information and the details of your transactions are kept safe behind a high level of site security and encryption. Make sure to investigate your dealer’s security practices before you volunteer any of your data.
• Shipping practices - Dealers should also have a secure and thoughtful shipping procedure in place when it sends your ½ oz coins to you. For one thing, all packages should be shipped via secure courier services or the highest levels of protection from national carriers. They should require a signature before they leave the package, and the dealer should take care not to put any identifying marks on the package that would alert thieves to the contents. Ideally, the dealer insures the package all the way to the moment that you physically take possession of it.
• Convenience - The internet never sleeps, and neither should your precious metals dealer. If a dealer cannot be available around the clock, you have to wonder about its ability to fulfill your order with the levels of care described above. All top precious metals dealers have trained professionals standing by to answer questions and facilitate your transactions, regardless of the time of day you choose.