The South African Krugerrand Gold Bullion Coin is credited with being the first bullion coin in the world created solely for investment purposes. It first appeared in 1967 as a means of marketing gold mined from massive deposits in South Africa. Experts estimate that the Krugerrand proved so popular that within fifteen years the strike accounted for 90% of the gold coins held by private individuals. It also spurred the introduction of gold bullion coins from other world mints including the Gold Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint and the American Gold Eagle from the United States Mint. The term "Krugerrand" is actually a combination of the name Kruger and Rand. Kruger was the President of South Africa from 1883-1900 and appears on the obverse of the strike whereas Rand is the name of the currency of the nation. Surrounding the portrait of Kruger is the inscriptions of “SUID-AFRIKA·SOUTH AFRICA.” Investing In Coins That old saying 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' couldn't be truer when it comes to your investment portfolio. Rare gold coins add valuable diversification and offer an ideal alternative investment opportunity. Because gold is disparate from many other assets, is independent of key economic indicators and consistently delivers a high ROI, serious investors often look to add it to their portfolio in the form of gold bullion such as Krugerrands. |