The 12 Most Beautiful Gold Coins

Last Updated on October 7, 2024

History has certainly served up some beautiful gold coins.

Gold became money because it was scare, malleable, durable, portable, divisible and fungible.

Beauty wasn’t one of the requirements, but nevertheless it certainly helps gold’s timeless appeal.

I must admit, my bias is towards the modern coins. I love the ancient coins for their history and heritage, but in terms of pure beauty and aesthetic, I think modern coins are superior.

The consensus is that the most beautiful gold coin ever made is the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle.

I completely agree.

But spots 2-12 are up for grabs and I want to share with you what I think are the most aesthetic gold coins of all time.

1. The $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: America’s Golden Pinnacle

We start our list with what many consider the most beautiful coin ever minted in the United States and the world. The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, is a true American masterpiece.

Saint-Gaudens was commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to design the coins after being impressed by his other work.

Roosevelt wanted the new coinage to be impressive and distinctively American as a way of promoting the nation’s strength and culture.

The obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headress while the reverse features a majestic eagle.

Roosevelt described the coins as “more beautiful than any coins since the days of the Greeks, and they achieve their striking beauty because Saint-Gaudens not only possessed a perfect mastery in the physical address of his craft, but also a daring and original imagination.”

2. Gold Britannia: Rule, Britannia!

The Gold Britannia is a modern investment grade bullion coin minted since 1987 by the British Royal Mint.

Its reverse features the iconic figure of Britannia, the embodiment and personification of the nation of Britain in female form.

The image has long been associated with British strength and pride.

Britannia has featured on British coinage since 1672 but the modern coin has a particularly beautiful design, created by the sculptor Philip Nathan.

The obverse features the British sovereign, giving this coin a truly regal appearance.

3. The Austrian Philharmonic: Music in Golden Form

The Austrian Philharmonic is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful gold coins of modern times It was designed by Thomas Pesendorfer.

Its unique design features instruments of the Vienna Philharmonic on both sides of the coin.

The observe features the Great Organ, while the reverse contains a variety of instruments, including a bass, cellos, violins, a bassoon, a harp and a Viennese horn.

This is Europe’s best-selling gold bullion coin and the only bullion coin with a face value denominated in Euros.

4. The Canadian Maple Leaf: Nature’s Perfection in Pure Gold

The Canadian Maple is one of the modern bullion coins most favoured by investors.

But its design is also simple, elegant and beautiful.

Designed by artist Walter Ott, the reverse side of the coin features a stunning and intricate maple leaf, the symbol of Canada well known around the world.

The obverse side features the British monarch, who is Canada’s head of state.

5. Mexican Libertad: Liberty in Golden Splendor

The Mexican Libertad is a bullion coin that was created in 1981.

Its obverse design contains a depiction of the famous Winged Victory statue, an iconic statue that stands in Mexico City built to commemorate the centennial of Mexico’s War of Independence.

Behind the Winged Victory lies two mountains, from a famous Mexican legend about two lovers.

The reverse contains Mexico’s coat of arms, surrounded by smaller depictions of historic coats of arms.

The design was inspired by Mexico’s historic gold coin, the centenario, which was minted from 1921-1972.

6. The Swiss Vreneli: Alpine Beauty in Miniature

Sometimes called the “Swiss Miss,” the Vreneli is a charming piece of Swiss history.

These coins were minted from 1897 to 1949.

The design features the head of a young woman, Helvetia, the national personification of Switzerland, with the Swiss Alps as the backdrop.

It was designed by artist Fritz Ulyssee Landry, who submitted his design to a competition. Nobody was awarded first place. Landry was given second place and asked to improve his design, which was eventually chosen for the coin.

The simplicity of the design belies the exquisite detail in the woman’s features and the alpine scenery

7. French Rooster: Le Coq Gaulois in Gold

The 20 Franc gold French Rooster was minted from 1899 until the suspension of the gold standard in 1914.

The obverse features Marianne, the goddess of liberty, while the reverse features the gallic rooster, regal and chest puffed out, a symbol of national pride.

The phrase Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité surrounds the rooster, capturing the ideals of the French Revolution.

The rooster is designed with incredible detail and Marianne is quite impressive as well.

8. The 100 Ducat of Sigismund III Vasa: A Baroque Behemoth

This coin was not only a beauty, it was massive. One of the largest gold coins ever minted, it weighed 348.3 grams and was equivalent to 100 ducats.

One advantage of its size is that it allowed for great detail in the portraiture and ornamentation.

On the obverse side we have the king, Sigismund III Vasa, depicted in his armour.

On the reverse we have the crown, the coat of arms and the Vasa crest.

Polish coinage is not as well known as other nations but this one in particular deserves a place in the ranks of beautiful coins.

9. The Gold Noble of Edward III: Medieval Majesty

The Gold Noble was an early English gold coin issued by Edward III from 1344.

The obverse design features the monarch standing in a ship with sword and shield in hand. This was to celebrate English naval victories.

The reverse is an intricate design with a small E at the centre of a cross surrounded by crowned lions.

While the figure of Edward III isn’t particularly compelling, the rest of the coin contains quite an amazing amount of detail, especially when you consider it is a medieval coin.

10. The Gold Aureus of Septimus Severus

The gold aureus was first minted in large quantities by Julius Caesar in 46BC. It remained the standard gold coin in ancient Rome, albeit with significant debasement until it was replaced by the Solidus in 312AD.

There were a range of aureii minted over several hundred years. The one I think is the most aesthetic is the aureus of Septimus Severus, who was emperor from 193 to 211AD.

Some of the figures in ancient coinage have an almost cartoon like quality, however this particular design features two sharp portraits which demonstrate the skill of the engravers.

11. The Florin of Florence: The Coin That Funded the Renaissance

The Florin is a significant historical coin, but it looks good too.

It was first minted in 1252 and was the first European gold coin since the fall of Rome, inspiring other Italian city states and later other Europeans nations to also reintroduce gold coinage.

The Florin features the Fleur-de-lis or Florentine lily on one side and the effigy of St. John the Baptist on the other.

It’s not to the quality of modern coins but for a medieval coin, this is quite something.

12. The Louis d’Or of Louis XIV: The Sun King’s Golden Legacy

The Louis d’Or was first minted in 1640 and continued to be issued by Louis XIII’s successors until the fall of the monarchy in 1792.

The obverse features a portrait of the monarch while the reverse features the French royal coat of arms.

While there are many versions of the Louis d’Or to choose from, I prefer the Sun King Louis XIV’s.

Conclusion

From the ancient streets of Rome to the modern mints of North America, these 12 beautiful gold coins span centuries of human artistry, innovation and monetary systems.

Each one tells a story – of empires, revolutions, artistic movements and national pride. Examining beautiful gold coins is a journey through time, art, and human achievement, all captured in gleaming, precious metal.