1/4 oz Gold Coins

The default weight for gold coins is 1 troy ounce, meaning that each coin contains a full ounce of gold. However, there are other sizes available that offer less than an ounce to consumers. These types of coins are called fractional coins, and the ¼ oz variety is one of the most common fractionals offered by sovereign mints.

Why Buy a ¼ oz Gold Coin?

Investors turn to ¼ oz gold coins for a very simple reason - cost. All else equal, a ¼ oz gold coin offers the same level of quality and purity at almost one quarter of the price for a full size coin.

New investors may be particularly drawn to ¼ oz gold coins due to their reduced exposure. They offer a gateway into the precious metals world without the thousands-of-dollars hit to the bank account - a hit that many investors, new or experienced, aren’t able to absorb easily.

Top ¼ oz Gold Coin Producers

Almost all of the sovereign mints that produce 1 oz gold bullion coins also create ¼ oz versions of them. Here are some of the most respected and popular bullion coin producers that offer a ¼ oz coin to the public:

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

Purities on these coins range anywhere from 90% pure all the way up to 99.99% pure. The most common purities are .9999 (24-karat gold), .999, and .9167 (22-karat gold).

However, the most important elements are their gold contents and their designs. Once you acquire a ¼ oz gold coin, it is necessary to take steps in order to ensure it remains in mint condition.

Choosing the Right Dealer

If you want to buy ¼ oz gold coins, there are plenty of options available to do so. You can always visit a local precious metals dealer, coin shop, or - less optimistically - a pawn shop. However, if you want to get the best prices, you’ll have to choose an online dealer.

There are four dealers that we can immediately recommend as trustworthy and professional. All four of them have years of experience and loads of satisfied customers under their belts, and are more than capable of making your purchase experience as smooth as it can be:

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

At the very least, you should check out these sites to get your feet wet on the potential costs of buying a ¼ oz gold coin. However, should you decide to buy elsewhere, make sure that you consider the following attributes of your chosen dealer before you make a deal:

• Reputation - Consult consumer protection agencies like the BBB or FTC for any red flags. You should also check out the dealer’s Google reviews and, if possible, any relevant Reddit forums or posts.
• Selection - A larger selection allows for more nuanced purchasing, and gives you the ability to buy exactly the coin you want to buy. You may still find small selections with good dealers, but it’s better to have as many options as you can handle.
• Pricing - Every dealer prices their ¼ oz coins differently, and you should confirm that the prices you’re set to pay are comparable to the rest of the field.
• Security - A good dealer has processes both for protecting your online information and protecting your coin shipment. Look for dealers who use strong encryptions and affirmative shipping practices, such as unmarked packaging and secure courier services.
• Convenience - The four sites above are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and always have staff available to help you buy (or sell). It’s not unreasonable to expect as much elsewhere. In addition, you should have an easy time navigating the site to complete your transaction, as it is both basic and professional to offer a website that functions properly.