European Gold Sovereigns

Buying European Gold Sovereigns Online

Modern gold bullion coins have been issued as investment-grade pieces since the 1967 release of the South African Gold Krugerrand. However, gold coins have been issued around the world for hundreds or thousands of years in many nations. The United States formerly issued gold coins in circulation for use in commercial transactions, including the famed Eagle collection with the Half Eagle and Double Eagle serving as popular examples.

European gold coins were also issued in varying denominations in countries throughout the continent. Many were used for hundreds of years, with some of those European Gold Coins used across national boundaries and representing currency that some call “the Euro before the Euro.” Below you’ll find a breakdown of the European Gold Coins now available from JM Bullion. These former circulation pieces make a great addition as an investment or collectible piece.

French Francs Gold Coins

The French Franc is one of the most deeply rooted European Gold Coins you’ll find available today as investment or collectible purchase options. The first use of the term “franc” to refer to a gold coin originated in France between 1360 and 1380. A silver coin was issued with the “franc” denomination from 1575 to 1641, and eventually became the nation’s official currency from 1795 to 1999.

Most of the French Francs available today come from the 19^th century and early 20^th century. Beginning in 1803, the French Empire under Napoleon issued gold francs in varying denominations such as 5 Francs, 10 Francs, 20 Francs, and 40 Francs. The most commonly issued coins in this currency were the 20 Francs and 40 Francs denominations. The coins typically featured the portrait of France’s ruling emperor or, during periods of the French Republic, the image of a French president.

Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to appear on these modern European Gold Coins. His nephew Napoleon III appeared on the coinage from 1848 to 1870 first as the president of the French Republic, and later as the emperor during the renewed French Empire in the late 19^th century. The reverse of the coins either featured the coat of arms for France or the legend of its face value and year of issue inside of a wreath circle.

Swiss Francs Gold Coins

In 1865, France founded the Latin Monetary Union and established a common standard for gold content in the Francs used by other nations in Europe. By the late 19^th century, many other nations were using the Franc as a name for national currencies. Most notable among them was the Swiss Confederation. Although this union dissolved with the outbreak of World War I in Europe, Switzerland continues the use of the Swiss Franc to this day.

The Swiss Franc was first issued by the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1847, and later by the Swiss Confederation. The Swiss Francs feature the design of Helvetia on the obverse. She is the female personification of Switzerland and is often depicted on European Gold Coins in left-profile relief with her hair down and a small braid of hair across the top of her head. In the background, you’ll notice the towering peaks of the Swiss Alps. The reverse of these Swiss Francs includes the national shield of Switzerland.

Dutch Guilder Gold Coins

The first Dutch gold coin recognized internationally was the Dutch gulden in 1517, but the previous Kingdom of Holland issued gold coins as early as 1378. The Dutch Guilder was the official currency of the Netherlands from the 17^th century until 2002 and the adoption of the Euro by the member nations of the Eurozone. Dutch Guilder Gold coins were issued primarily in 10 Guilder and 5 Guilder denominations.

The Dutch Guilder European Gold Coins featured the effigy of the ruling King or Queen of the Netherlands. The most common depictions remaining to this day are those which bear the portrait of Queen Wilhelmina. She was the only child of King William III and her left-profile portrait appeared in various generational designs from 1890 to 1948 when she abdicated the throne as Queen of the Netherlands. The reverse of the coins typically featured the coat of arms for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch Guilder currency was widely used throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the denomination itself is now only in use in the countries of Curacao and St. Maarten as the Netherlands Antillean Guilder. Both countries are independent nations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

German Mark Gold Coins

The gold coins of the German Mark were among the shortest-lived European Gold Coins. The German Mark Gold Coin was primarily issued by the German Empire from 1873 to 1914. Prior to the unification of the regions of Germany in 1871, the independent German States that would come to form the German Empire issued various types of coins. Most states used the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin. Southern Germany used a gold coin known as the Gulden and Bremen used a gold coin based upon the Thaler.

German goldmarks, as the coins were known, became the only official legal tender of the German Empire on January 1, 1876. The coins featured the effigy of the ruling emperor of the German Empire on the obverse. On the reverse of the coins, you’ll find the Imperial German Eagle used as the official coat of arms for the German Empire. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 brought an end to the coining of German Mark gold coins. While available from 1873 to 1914, the German Mark Gold Coins were struck in 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 Mark denominations. The German Mark remained the official currency of the German nation through the Nazi Era and post-World War II West Germany until the introduction of the Euro.

Buying European Gold Coins

JM Bullion has a variety of European Gold Coins available, both those listed above and other coins from smaller collections such as Russian Gold Roubles (Rubles). Feel free to reach out to JM Bullion with your questions at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or simply send us an email.