How popular are 1/2 oz gold coins?

[Foster88]

Something that I can’t quite understand is the dismissal for 1/2 oz gold coins.

We’ve all seen sale posts on the forum and the healthy discussions about 1/10th, 1/4oz and 1oz gold coins.

But, why are there so few posts about 1/2oz gold coins and even fewer sale posts.

I don’t understand the dismissal, is that the right word, maybe not, maybe the lack of the existence of the 1/2oz in any denomination or mint is almost non existent so we’re not used to seeing them.

I don’t see any reason why. Is it that the gold content is similar to the double sovereign? 

Is it the psychology of it being a ‘half’ of something? You’re not getting something full. But then we buy half sovereigns.

Which I suppose doesn’t make sense because the 1/10oz and 1/4oz gold coins on the forum are discussed often and sell very well.

I don’t understand why the 1/2 oz gold coins are, I suppose, mostly ignored.

I’d be interested to hear what you all think.

Do they deserve more appreciation?

Half of me is undecided.

Edited August 1, 2022 by Foster88

[Happypanda88]

I bought two 1/2 ounce gold coins in the last couple of month - a Libertad and a Perth Mint Lunar Tiger. I haven't ignored them provided the premiums are reasonable. Having said that, the two coins combined were about £85-£90 (equivalent) more expensive than a standard 1oz bullion Kangaroo or a Britannia.

With the Lunar Tiger, I was unimpressed by its size. At 25.6mm in diameter, it was rather small for my liking. I prefer a bigger piece of gold and for that reason, I normally opt for a 30g or 1oz gold coin. I cut out the premiums too over two halves.

 

[Arganto]

Sovereigns can be had for similar premiums to 1 oz coins, so you get fractional gold that's very liquid for the same cost over spot as a 1 oz. I only ever entertain buying 1/4 or 1/10 oz coins when it's a deal not to be sniffed at, in general the premiums don't warrant it. The same goes for 1/2 oz coins. 

I would guess at the 1/4 and 1/10 oz coins being popular for people who like to collect a series, make a date run or have a limited budget for stacking so buy small regularly. Regardless of premium it's an accessible price point for such things. A 1/2 oz is that much more gold to pay for. 

So a 1/2 oz falls into a weird place; too much for incremental stacking or for collectors of certain designs and too high in premium for those hauling weight when compared to 1 oz or sovereign coins.

Maybe?

[modofantasma]

6 hours ago, Foster88 said:

Something that I can’t quite understand is the dismissal for 1/2 oz gold coins

Worst of both worlds I think.

Generally the premiums aren't better than sovs and aren't as good as 1 Oz so there's less people buying them and therefore less selling them and it becomes self fulfilling. 

I've owned one or two when they've been remarkable deals but I'd rather just buy multiple sovs or 1 Oz coins 

[goldsilverdash]

I read somewhere that the most popular size after the 1 oz is the 1/10 oz! This surprised me a lot. The 1/10 oz seems ridiculously small, and the full ounce is a lot of money, so ½ oz and ¼ oz are very reasonable sizes. I personally prefer ½ and ¼ oz gold coins. I have a ½ Wiener Philharmoniker and a ½ Kangaroo, as well as three ¼ oz Maples. Generally, these sizes have higher premiums, but sometimes you can find very good deals on them.

[Alex944]

It's a valid topic to raise. I have a 1/2 oz krugerrand which I am fond of, but I do feel like in the future I'd prefer to get 2 x 1/4 oz over 1 x 1/2 oz. In terms of premiums I don't think it makes that much of a difference between 1/4 and 1/2. What does make a big difference is the liquidity of the two. I do believe it easier to sell 1/4 oz than it is to sell 1/2 oz. 

1 hour ago, modofantasma said:

Worst of both worlds I think.

Is probably true. In my native language we have a saying that's something like '' too big for the napkin, too small for the tablecloth '', which I'll liberally translate into ''too expensive for smaller stackers, not interesting enough for bigger stackers''.

I'd also say that it's kinda also a supply thing; you'll find series of coins in 1/10 and 1/4 very often, intricate / interesting designs. However, 1/2 usually just comes in the form of bullion or slightly more premium but not extraordinary type series (lunar years, Panda's,), which I presume also limits the interest of collectors in these fractions.

That's just my opinion. Be all and end all, it's nice to have at least one of the 1/2 oz's for perspective.

[goldsilverdash]

9 hours ago, Foster88 said:

... maybe the lack of the existence of the 1/2oz in any denomination or mint is almost non existent so we’re not used to seeing them.

I'm not sure what you mean. Most (all?) of the major bullion coins come in the 1/2 oz size, do they not?

[LemmyMcGregor]

I'm probably just adding to what's been said already.

Talking from the perspective of a small budget stacker, I don't have the budget for a 1oz or the 1/2, compared to the 1/4 l prefer the Sovereign as it commands a lower premium, fractionals are too expensive, I just wouldn't buy them for stacking. I have considered some fractionals for the sake of a minimal collection, don't really care for a full run, but I would love to have an Eagle, Krugerrand, Britannia and Maple, they would probably have to be 1/10 or 1/4. Won't do it this year as I'd rather get as many 2022 Sovereign as I can due to the different reverse, but I have considered from next year to occasionally alternate the odd Sovereign for one each of the above in 1/10 and 1/4.

Even if I could stretch my budget near the 1/2 I still wouldn't buy them for stack as the Sovereign still holds a better premium.

The half is too big for most small budget chaps and is too expensive to make sense to any big budget one. Having the money I would probably buy one to have one set with all sizes, but I wouldn't see myself interested in a second one.

Edited July 26, 2022 by LemmyMcGregor

[Britannia47]

If you rephrase the question to ‘Why are 1/4 oz and 1oz gold coins more popular than 1/2s ? then there’s your answer!

More demand and more easily disposable. To me 1/2 oz gold coins are neither here nor there, although I do have Proof 1/2 Britannias in sets! …….nothing I can do about that - they simply make up the numbers 😬👽

[goldsilverdash]

But just how unpopular are 1/2 oz gold coins really? Anybody got statistics? At least we know for a fact that they continue to be minted year after year, so they must have their fans.

[LemmyMcGregor]

19 minutes ago, goldsilverdash said:

But just how unpopular are 1/2 oz gold coins really? Anybody got statistics? At least we know for a fact that they continue to be minted year after year, so they must have their fans.

I'd say not as unpopular as the 1/4 Sovereign, which often isn't even stocked.

[Happypanda88]

8 hours ago, LemmyMcGregor said:

I'd say not as unpopular as the 1/4 Sovereign, which often isn't even stocked.

..... It's probably because they are so small the dealers still haven't found them yet ! 🙄 

[Foster88]

9 hours ago, goldsilverdash said:

But just how unpopular are 1/2 oz gold coins really? Anybody got statistics? At least we know for a fact that they continue to be minted year after year, so they must have their fans.

I don’t suppose I nor anyone else here on the forum know how unpopular they are which is the whole point of my post.

I created this post after being here a few years and seeing the lack of sale posts for 1/2 oz gold coins. It was a post out of curiosity really. Intended as a conversation starter at the very least.

I suppose the bullion companies will know much more than we do by how many sales for 1/2 oz gold coins they have.

I much prefer sovereigns myself and don’t own any 1/2 oz gold coins so I can see the preference for a double sovereign over a 1/2 oz of gold coin.

What do you think @LawrenceChard?

[Foster88]

I must say, I haven’t created this post to ‘big up’ 1/2 oz gold coins because I’m about to list 100 for sale on the forum in the near future.

It would be a great marketing ploy if I did but sadly I don’t have 100 1/2 oz gold coins.

[James32]

Think it's just a psychological thing based on price/premium 

Just comes down to premium charged by dealers unfortunately, plus the fact a 1/4 which is still premium heavy,is within a large number of peoples budgets. Price them right and I and most other's will buy as many as i/we can, whether from here or a dealer. I like the size and its more visually enjoyable than a 1/4 any day.

@Paul recently had 2 x 1/2 Krugerrands up recently for approximately the same price as a full krugerrand. I bought them because in my tiny mind, 2 is better than one if price isn't an issue. 

Then he went a decided to offer 4 x 1/4 Krugerrands at approximately the same price as a full Krugerrand, yep you guessed it..I bought those too🤣 because 4 is better than one. 

1/10ths I hate and ive tried a few times to get into them, not just because of premium, but when you have to take a photograph of a coin ...then zoom in to read the date,its an issue. 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2022 by James32

[Foster88]

4 minutes ago, James32 said:

Think it's just a psychological thing based on price/premium 

Just comes down to premium charged by dealers unfortunately, plus the fact a 1/4 which is still premium heavy,is within a large number of peoples budgets. Price them right and I and most other's will buy as many as i/we can, whether from here or a dealer. I like the size and its more visually enjoyable than a 1/4 any day.

@Paul recently had 2 x 1/2 Krugerrands up recently for approximately the same price as a full krugerrand. I bought them because in my tiny mind, 2 is better than one if price isn't an issue. 

Then he went a decided to offer 4 x 1/4 Krugerrands at approximately the same price as a full Krugerrand, yep you guessed it..I bought those too🤣 because 4 is better than one. 

1/10ths I hate and ive tried a few times to get into them, not just because of premium, but when you have to take a photograph of a coin ...then zoom in to read the date,its an issue. 

 

 

I think it’s based on premiums too.

I take from your comment that you prefer a party with four rather than two. 😆

The more the merrier.

I think it’s part or mostly the premiums and part psychological buying half of something.

I quite like 1/10 oz gold coins, I can still see the date but fear the day is coming soon that I’ll have to put glasses on to see them. I’d rather have a half sovereign instead.

I really can’t understand 1/20 oz coins really.

[James32]

1 minute ago, Foster88 said:

I think it’s based on premiums too.

I take from your comment that you prefer a party with four rather than two. 😆

The more the merrier.

I think it’s part or mostly the premiums and part psychological buying half of something.

I quite like 1/10 oz gold coins, I can still see the date but fear the day is coming soon that I’ll have to put glasses on to see them. I’d rather have a half sovereign instead.

I really can’t understand 1/20 oz coins really.

🤣🤣

Agree on the 1/20ths , then you have the 1/25 and 1/40th coins 😂 might aswell stack gold leaf😁

[Roy]

What I find interesting is that the first ever gold sovereign of 1489 weighed exactly half an ounce and was 23carat (95.83%)!

https://www.chards.co.uk/blog/the-first-gold-sovereign/152

I don't particularly like 1/2oz coins, although they make sense as a stacker coin, but am quite fond of double sovereigns 😀

[Foster88]

12 minutes ago, James32 said:

🤣🤣

Agree on the 1/20ths , then you have the 1/25 and 1/40th coins 😂 might aswell stack gold leaf😁

1/40th oz coins? Is that 0.77 oz or thereabouts?

If I ever bought a 1/40th oz coin I’d also buy one of these….

Edited July 27, 2022 by Foster88

[GoldDiggerDave]

The 1/2 oz is in no mans land for the spread of stackers there are.    There's loads of what I would call normal stackers where 1/4 oz purchases are at their comfortable limit for monthly disposable income.   The richer stacker will go for 1oz    Also there's not lots offered or come up for sale so there is just less 1/2 oz coins around.  

[Britannia47]

1 hour ago, GoldDiggerDave said:

The 1/2 oz is in no mans land for the spread of stackers there are.    There's loads of what I would call normal stackers where 1/4 oz purchases are at their comfortable limit for monthly disposable income.   The richer stacker will go for 1oz    Also there's not lots offered or come up for sale so there is just less 1/2 oz coins around.  

Yep, I agree with that. The 1/2oz generally is the forgotten man, sandwiched between the 1oz and the 1/4oz- the 'Billy No-mates' of the bullion coin world perhaps!

However, in proof form and in sets they may be more attractive and collectable. Having said that, in a similar vein, there's a comparison in the sovereign world with the 1989 sovereign being more popular than the double and more expensive!

Actually my favourites are the 1/4 oz QBs   -  Can't find the proof-like 1/2oz Panda at the moment.🐼

 

[GoldDiggerDave]

9 minutes ago, Britannia47 said:

Yep, I agree with that. The 1/2oz generally is the forgotten man, sandwiched between the 1oz and the 1/4oz- the 'Billy No-mates' of the bullion coin world perhaps!

However, in proof form and in sets they may be more attractive and collectable. Having said that, in a similar vein, there's a comparison in the sovereign world with the 1989 sovereign being more popular than the double and more expensive!

Actually my favourites are the 1/4 oz QBs   -  Can't find the proof-like 1/2oz Panda at the moment.🐼

 

If you liked 1/4 queens beast I have them up for sale on the graded section, they are  reverse gold proof,

agree the the proof special year brits are very nice for the collection 

[modofantasma]

8 hours ago, Foster88 said:

1/40th oz coins? Is that 0.77 oz or thereabouts?

Check your maths 🧐🧐 0.77 Oz is just over 3/4s of an Oz 

[modofantasma]

0.025 Oz as it's a tenth of a 1/4 🤔

[LemmyMcGregor]

40 minutes ago, modofantasma said:

Check your maths 🧐🧐 0.77 Oz is just over 3/4s of an Oz 

I would guess wrong unit, 1/40th of an ounce is 0.77 grams