The holiday season is coming up, which means kids around the country are thinking about their Christmas wish lists. For young numismatists (better known as coin collectors), the holidays are a great time to ask for a coin you couldn’t normally afford from your allowance.
Of course, what coin you’ll want to ask for will depend a lot on your interests as a coin collector. Here are four gold coins (and one silver) we recommend based on your interests, all of which can be found for under $150:
If you love American history coins…
As the official investment coin of the United States, the 1/10th oz American Gold Eagle is a great coin to add to an American coin collection. The 1/10th an ounce coin, which has a $5 face value (but which is valued around $120), features a portrait of Lady Liberty that is inspired by the United States’ most famous Double Eagle coin that was popular before the Great Depression.
If you love coins for investment…
The 1/10th oz Canadian Maple Leaf is one of the most widely used and recognized bullion coins around the world. It’s know for its purity, advanced security features and its weight in the gold investment community. Besides featuring the famous Canadian Maple leaf, the coin also has really cool radial lines (lines that radiate out from the center of the coin, like the sun’s rays) that are a security feature to prevent counterfeit (fake) coins.
If you love world coins…
If you want a coin that makes you feel like you’ve just taken a trip to Europe, try the 1/10th oz gold or silver Austrian Philharmonic. This coin, with a face value of 10 Euros, features a beautiful depiction of the Great Organ in the Golden Hall of Vienna, one of the most well-known orchestra halls in the world. The back features a number of instruments, including a bassoon, harp and cellos. This is a lovely coin for cultured young collectors.
If you like animals…
There are so many great coins that feature animals from all around the world. Perhaps two of the best known are the Chinese Panda and the Perth Lunar series. The Chinese Panda (see the silver version) features a different depiction of the panda each year, while the Perth Lunar series features the animal from the Chinese lunar calendar that rules the year. The animal for 2016 is the goat! Both of these coins can be found in beautiful gold renditions within a budget.
If you like to travel…
While the America the Beautiful coins are actually silver, they’re just so pretty (and still under $150) that we have to mention them. Each year, the 5 oz silver coin (different from the quarters) in this series features scenes from across America- from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Kisatchie National Forest. Besides beautiful depictions on the back, this series inspires adventurous young collectors to learn about fascinating places across the United States.
Regardless of your coin collecting tastes, there’s a great coin for every young collector’s Christmas wish list. If you want to give coins for Christmas this year, keep looking at our blog to find great coins on a kid-sized budget.