Sovereign coin or bar — which should I buy?

Coins from a government mint are legal tender with a face value, are recognized everywhere, and trade in a tight market, which is why they carry a slightly higher premium than a bar of the same weight. Bars are the cheapest way to own an ounce; sovereign coins are the easiest thing to sell anywhere. Many people hold both.

What does 'sovereign' mean here?

Struck by a national mint and backed as legal tender: the American Eagle and Buffalo from the U.S. Mint, the Canadian Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint, the Britannia, Krugerrand and Philharmonic from theirs. Privately minted rounds are not sovereign, however fine the silver.

Where do I find the details for each coin?

Each coin has its own section on its metal page: the Silver Eagle, Maple Leaf, Britannia and the Perth Mint series on the silver page, and the Gold Eagle, Maple Leaf, Buffalo and Krugerrand on the gold page. Fineness, weight and face value are listed there.

Do you carry silver Eagles by the tube?

When the case has them, yes — tubes of twenty. Call ahead for quantity and the counter will tell you what is on hand and hold it.

Buy · sovereign coins

Buy sovereign coins — government-mint coins the whole market recognizes.

Buy sovereign coins at the counter in Madison Heights— the government-mint gold and silver the market prices tightest. An American Eagle or a Canadian Maple Leaf is the most liquid ounce of gold there is: any dealer in the country will buy it on sight, and its price tracks spot more tightly than anything else in the case. For most people putting savings into metal it is the form to start with — money in a shape no one can issue more of, recognized everywhere, and nobody's promise. The premium over spot is quoted before you buy.

Every coin is checked for authenticity and weighed in front of you. You leave with the coin and a receipt that names it.

Browse The Vault Call (248) 247-9240

What we stock

Eagles, Maples, and what comes through the case.

The two names always in the case are the Eagle and the Maple Leaf, in gold and silver. The rest of the sovereign list rotates with what walks in: Britannias, Krugerrands, Philharmonics and the Perth Mint series show up regularly. Call ahead for a specific coin and the counter will tell you what is on hand.

The specs for each coin are on its metal page: silver coins, gold coins and platinum and palladium. Every coin is priced on its metal, with the premium over spot quoted before you pay.

American Gold Eagle and Silver Eagle — 1 oz and fractional
American Gold Buffalo — .9999 fine
Canadian Gold and Silver Maple Leaf — .9999 / .9999
Britannia, Krugerrand, Philharmonic as available
Perth Mint Kangaroo, Kookaburra and Koala as available

In the case now

Sovereign coins in the case today.

Gold Coins

Silver Coins

1 oz Silver Eagles

Other ways to buy

Metals, bars, makers, and how the counter works.

Buy by metal

Buy by form and maker

The counter

Buying coins from

Straight answers

Questions about sovereign coins

Sovereign coin or bar — which should I buy?: Coins from a government mint are legal tender with a face value, are recognized everywhere, and trade in a tight market, which is why they carry a slightly higher premium than a bar of the same weight. Bars are the cheapest way to own an ounce; sovereign coins are the easiest thing to sell anywhere. Many people hold both.
What does 'sovereign' mean here?: Struck by a national mint and backed as legal tender: the American Eagle and Buffalo from the U.S. Mint, the Canadian Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint, the Britannia, Krugerrand and Philharmonic from theirs. Privately minted rounds are not sovereign, however fine the silver.
Where do I find the details for each coin?: Each coin has its own section on its metal page: the Silver Eagle, Maple Leaf, Britannia and the Perth Mint series on the silver page, and the Gold Eagle, Maple Leaf, Buffalo and Krugerrand on the gold page. Fineness, weight and face value are listed there.
Do you carry silver Eagles by the tube?: When the case has them, yes — tubes of twenty. Call ahead for quantity and the counter will tell you what is on hand and hold it.