J.B. writes: We have mexican 50 peso gold coin and 4 hungarian gold dollars do you have any idea of the marketabilty of these coins? Thank you
Mexico 50 pesos and Hungarian 4 florin-10 franc pieces are common bullion coins. These types of coins are traded for their gold values. These coins are often restrikes, that is, coin struck by the issuing authority later than the dates on the coin. To determine the general value, multiply the decimals below against the current gold price (see the CoinSite Metals Page for current prices).
- Mexico 50 Pesos -1.2057 troy ounces pure gold
- Hungarian 4 florin-10 franc – .0934 of a troy ounce gold
These coins can be sold anywhere there are coin and bullion dealers.
Non-circulating gold and silver coins are simply a technique for raising money for the country of origin as the coins are not minted for the purposes of commerce. Hundreds of contrived and restrike issues are minted yearly by nearly every country that has access to a coin press. Most, but not all, end up trading fairly close to their bullion value when they reach the secondary market.
If you wish to buy gold bullion, stick to the standard trade units like the Krugerrand, U.S. Gold Eagle series or the Maple Leaf. If you wish to get involved with collector (i.e. numismatic) coins, the metal value is immaterial as the value is almost all historical. A decent United States copper Chain Cent from 1793 can be easily worth 100 ounces of gold.
