World Coins
Europe • The Americas • Asia & Middle East • Africa • Australia & Oceania
World Coin Explorer
World coins cover every coin struck outside the United States, and the most collected ones come from the last two centuries of gold and silver. Many of them, such as the British sovereign, the French 20 francs, and the Mexican 50 pesos, still trade close to their metal value. Pick a region below to see key types, typical values, and live listings. For prices across many series, see our Coin Price Guide, or start with What's My Coin Worth if you're trying to value a coin you already own.
World Coins Value Chart
The chart below covers the world gold and silver coins collectors see most often, from classic 19th-century issues to today's bullion coins. Melt values use spot prices of about $4,010 per ounce for gold and $56 per ounce for silver (October 27, 2026), so they will change with the market. Typical values are for common dates in circulated or lightly circulated condition, or for current-year bullion. Scarce dates, proofs, and high-grade certified coins sell for much more.
Gold Coins
| Coin | Years | Gold Content | Melt Value | Typical Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Sovereign | 1817–present | 0.2354 oz | $944 | $960–$1,100 | eBay → |
| French 20 Francs | 1803–1914 | 0.1867 oz | $749 | $760–$850 | eBay → |
| German 20 Mark | 1871–1915 | 0.2305 oz | $924 | $940–$1,100 | eBay → |
| Austrian 100 Corona (1915 restrike) | 1908–1915 | 0.9802 oz | $3,931 | $3,980–$4,150 | eBay → |
| Russian 10 Roubles (Nicholas II) | 1897–1911 | 0.2489 oz | $998 | $1,020–$1,200 | eBay → |
| Mexico 50 Pesos (Centenario) | 1921–1947 | 1.2057 oz | $4,835 | $4,880–$5,050 | eBay → |
| Mexico 2 Pesos | 1919–1948 | 0.0482 oz | $193 | $200–$230 | eBay → |
| Brazil 20,000 Réis (Pedro II) | 1849–1889 | 0.5286 oz | $2,120 | $2,300–$3,500 | eBay → |
| Chile 100 Pesos | 1926–1980 | 0.5885 oz | $2,360 | $2,400–$2,600 | eBay → |
| Turkey 100 Kurush | 1923 on (restrikes) | 0.2127 oz | $853 | $870–$950 | eBay → |
| Canadian Gold Maple Leaf 1 oz | 1979–present | 1.0000 oz | $4,010 | $4,050–$4,200 | eBay → |
| South African Krugerrand 1 oz | 1967–present | 1.0000 oz | $4,010 | $4,040–$4,150 | eBay → |
| Chinese Gold Panda 30 g | 1982–present | 0.9646 oz | $3,868 | $3,950–$4,150 | eBay → |
| Australian Gold Kangaroo 1 oz | 1986–present | 1.0000 oz | $4,010 | $4,050–$4,200 | eBay → |
Silver Coins
| Coin | Years | Silver Content | Melt Value | Typical Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Crown (sterling) | 1818–1902 | 0.8409 oz | $47 | $55–$300+ | eBay → |
| German Empire 5 Mark | 1874–1915 | 0.8038 oz | $45 | $60–$300+ | eBay → |
| Mexico 8 Reales (Republic) | 1824–1897 | 0.7859 oz | $44 | $50–$200+ | eBay → |
| Maria Theresa Thaler (1780 restrike) | Dated 1780 | 0.7517 oz | $42 | $45–$70 | eBay → |
| Peru 1 Sol | 1864–1935 | 0.7234 oz | $41 | $45–$150+ | eBay → |
| Canada Silver Dollar | 1935–1967 | 0.6000 oz | $34 | $36–$60 | eBay → |
| British India Rupee | 1862–1939 | 0.3437 oz | $19 | $20–$60 | eBay → |
| Australia 1966 50 Cents | 1966 | 0.3416 oz | $19 | $20–$30 | eBay → |
Melt values at gold ~$4,010/oz and silver ~$56/oz (10/27/2026). Typical values are approximate for common dates and current bullion; key dates, proofs, and certified high grades are worth more.
Europe — Sovereigns, Francs & Marks
Europe is the heart of world coin collecting. The British gold sovereign, first struck in 1817, holds 0.2354 ounces of gold and is still made by the Royal Mint today. Across the Channel, France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland formed the Latin Monetary Union in 1865 and struck 20-franc gold coins to a shared standard. As a result, these coins are plentiful, and common dates sell for only a little over melt.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia added their own gold in the late 1800s. The German 20 mark, the Austrian 100 corona, and the Russian 10 roubles of Nicholas II are all popular, and the Austrian Mint still strikes official restrikes dated 1915. In addition, large silver crowns, such as British crowns, German 5 marks, and French 5 francs, offer real silver and fine royal portraits at modest prices.
For a full breakdown by country, with its own explorer and value chart, see our European Coins guide.
The Americas — Canada, Mexico & South America
Mexico has struck coins longer than any other country in the Americas. After independence, its silver 8 reales of 1824 to 1897 kept the role of the old piece of eight as a world trade coin. In the 20th century, Mexico struck the 50-peso gold Centenario from 1921 to 1947, which holds 1.2057 ounces of gold. Most coins dated 1947 are later official restrikes, so they trade close to melt. Mexico's silver and gold Libertad bullion coins have followed since 1982.
Canada struck silver dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars until 1967, so older Canadian change is a common source of world silver. The Royal Canadian Mint launched the Gold Maple Leaf in 1979, and today its gold and silver Maple Leafs are among the most widely traded bullion coins. For more, see our Canadian Coins guide.
South America adds the colonial pieces of eight of Potosí and Lima, Brazil's imperial gold, and the large silver pesos and soles of the republics. In particular, Chile's 100 pesos and Peru's libra are some of the best-value gold coins in the hemisphere. Our South American Coins guide covers the region in depth.
Asia & the Middle East
Asian coinage looks very different from Western coins. For centuries, China cast round bronze coins with square holes rather than striking them, and Japan used oval gold koban during the Edo period. In the modern era, however, both countries adopted Western-style coins. China's gold Panda, first issued in 1982, changes its design almost every year, which makes it popular with collectors as well as investors. Today's Pandas are struck in 30 grams of .999 gold.
British India struck huge numbers of silver rupees with the portraits of Victoria, Edward VII, and George V, and common dates are affordable entry points into the region. Further west, Turkey's gold 100 kurush coins, struck as official restrikes with frozen dates, trade close to melt. Older Islamic gold dinars and Mughal mohurs are more specialized, but they offer some of the most beautiful calligraphy and engraving in all of coinage.
For more on Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian coins, see our Asian Coins guide.
Africa — Krugerrands & More
South Africa introduced the Krugerrand in 1967 as the first modern gold bullion coin made for private investors. Each coin holds exactly one troy ounce of gold in a 22-carat alloy, which gives it a slightly reddish color and good resistance to scratches. Because Krugerrands are so widely traded, they usually sell at one of the lowest premiums over spot of any gold coin.
South Africa also has a longer coinage history. The Pretoria branch of the Royal Mint struck British sovereigns from 1923 to 1932, and these carry a small "SA" mint mark. Earlier Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek coins with the portrait of President Paul Kruger, struck in the 1890s, are popular with collectors as well.
Elsewhere, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Morocco struck attractive silver and gold in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Maria Theresa thaler circulated widely in East Africa. Our African Coins guide covers the continent in more detail.
Australia & Oceania
Australia's Perth Mint launched its 1-ounce gold Nugget coin in 1986, and since 1989 it has carried a new kangaroo design each year. As a result, the Kangaroo is popular with both investors and collectors. The Perth Mint's Lunar series, begun in 1996, adds an animal from the Chinese zodiac each year in gold and silver.
Older Australian coins are worth a look, too. Florins and shillings struck before 1946 are .925 sterling silver, and the round 1966 50-cent coin is 80% silver, so it sells for well over face value. In addition, Australia's branch mints in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth struck British sovereigns, which are a favorite with Australian collectors.
New Zealand, Fiji, and other Pacific nations issue smaller numbers of coins, which gives them a following among specialists. For more, see our Australia & Oceania Coins guide.
Building a World Coin Collection
With so much to choose from, a theme keeps a world collection focused. For example, you could collect one gold coin from each continent, one large silver crown from every European country, or a modern bullion coin from each major mint. Each approach tells a clear story, and many classic gold and silver coins are affordable in common dates.
Identifying a foreign coin is the first step. Start with the country name, date, and denomination, then look the coin up in the Standard Catalog of World Coins or an online database such as Numista. In addition, weigh and measure raw gold coins against their standard specifications, because counterfeit sovereigns, 20 francs, and Russian roubles are common.
Finally, keep an eye on premiums. Common world gold should sell for only a little over melt, so compare several sellers before you buy. For scarce dates, proofs, and anything worth more than a few hundred dollars, PCGS or NGC certification is well worth the cost. Our Spot Price Tracker makes it easy to check today's gold and silver prices.
Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by coin curators at the British Museum, this atlas traces the almost 3000-year history. An excellent information source for research papers; particularly useful are the illustrations, and the organization is excellent. A superior text on numismatics.
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