QUICK COLLECTOR’S GUIDE TO UNPACKING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROOF, BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED, BULLION AND CIRCULATION COINS.

Proof coins

Proof coins are the highest quality commemorative coins. A lot of extra care and attention goes into the minting of proof coins, which is what makes them the finest quality.

Proof blanks are specially treated, polished, and cleaned to ensure that they are clean and blemish-free. They are then struck at least twice to ensure that the detail and finish on them is unmatched, and then carefully encapsulated to showcase their exceptional finish and preserve their proof quality.

This is what makes them perfect for collectors looking for the highest levels of craftsmanship and artistry.

Proof coins are issued with a certificate of Authenticity to validate their premium status and confirm their scarcity.

Brilliant Uncirculated coins

Also referred to as BU, Brilliant Uncirculated coins are of a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins. BU coins are an attractive option for new collectors as they are more affordable, due to being struck to a slightly lower perfection than proof coins.

BU blanks are struck less times than proof blanks, offering a good level of design detail but at a slightly lower precision than proof coins. This fact also means that BU coins are produced much faster than proof coins.

Brilliant Uncirculated coins also come with a certificate of Authenticity.

Bullion coins

Bullion coins are directed toward the investor. They offer an opportunity to diversify an investors’ portfolio to include physical gold, which is portable enough to store.

The designs and themes featured on bullion coins might add an element of collectability to them, but they are mostly collected for the intrinsic value of the precious metal they contain.

Bullion coins are valued by the weight of the precious metal (usually gold, silver and platinum), which fluctuates based on the daily metal price.

Circulation coins

Circulation Coins are legal tender coins that we use in our everyday transactions or find in our change.

These coins are mass-produced and are usually manufactured from metal alloys, base metals or plated base metal such as copper, bronze, and nickel electroplated products.

Circulation coins’ design does not change often, however commemorative coins can be added into circulation, celebrating a person, event or item in the history of the country. An important fact to remember about circulation coins is that they always retail their face value, whether it’s the ‘normal’ circulation coin or a commemorative one that is only released in a certain year, they will always only be worth their face value.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THE IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE ARTISTIC REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COINS AND NOT THE ACTUAL COINS.