Published 2 June 2026
What a Krugerrand is
The Krugerrand is the South African gold coin first struck in 1967 by the South African Mint, in partnership with Rand Refinery. The original 1oz coin contains a full troy ounce of fine gold (31.103 grams) in a 22 carat alloy, gold content of .9167, with the remaining mass made up of copper. From 1980 the smaller half ounce, quarter ounce and tenth ounce sizes joined the family.
The portrait on the obverse is Paul Kruger, president of the Transvaal Republic. The reverse shows a springbok antelope, designed by Coert Steynberg. The coin reads KRUGERRAND and FYNGOUD 1 OZ FINE GOLD around the rim. There is no face value stamped on it, the Krugerrand is legal tender in South Africa but trades at its gold content rather than a denomination.
Why dealers like Krugerrands
Krugerrands are easy to value because the design has barely changed in over fifty years. The 22 carat alloy is reddish-yellow, harder than the 24 carat coins from Canada or Austria and less prone to dings during careful handling. They are widely held, widely traded and instantly recognisable to anyone who works in the bullion market.
That recognisability is why dealer premiums on Krugerrands are usually modest. The market is liquid. Buyers and sellers find each other quickly and the spread between buy and sell prices tends to be narrower than on more obscure coins.
Sizes and weights at a glance
A 1oz Krugerrand weighs 33.93 grams in total (one troy ounce of fine gold plus copper). A half ounce coin weighs 16.97 grams. The quarter ounce weighs 8.48 grams. The tenth ounce weighs 3.39 grams. If your kitchen scale reads more than a gram off any of these figures, photograph the rim and the reverse and send them across. Counterfeit Krugerrands tend to come in slightly underweight because the fakers use tungsten or lead with a gold-plated outer skin.
How an offer on a Krugerrand is built
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For Krugerrands the practical inputs are weight, XRF reading, year struck (some early dates carry a small premium with collectors) and surface condition. Most years trade close to bullion.
Proof Krugerrands are a separate category. A proof coin has frosted relief on a mirror-finish field and usually comes in a wooden presentation box with a numbered certificate. Send the box if you have it, proof Krugerrands carry a numismatic premium over bullion and the original packaging supports that premium.
Packing and posting
- WhatsApp clear photos of both sides of every coin to 07763 741067.
- Wait for the shape-of-offer message and prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Slip each coin into a flip or zip bag so surfaces do not rub.
- Use a padded envelope inside a rigid outer carton or stiff card sleeve.
- Hand it in at a Post Office counter and keep the receipt.
- Send the tracking number on WhatsApp so we both see the parcel move.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. A single 1oz Krugerrand sits under that cap on most days, but a parcel of several coins can exceed it. We will issue more than one label so every coin travels with full cover.
If you decline the written valuation, your coins are posted back by tracked post within a working day and we pay the return. Accept and the bank transfer is sent the same working day by Faster Payments. There is no shop visit at any stage.
Common questions
Do you buy half, quarter and tenth Krugerrands?
Yes. All four sizes are welcome.
Are Krugerrands legal to sell in the UK?
Yes. They are widely held and freely traded in the UK private market.
Do you buy proof Krugerrands?
Yes. Send the original presentation box and certificate if you have them.
Will my coin be insured in the post?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. We split the parcel across multiple labels if it exceeds that figure.
How do I know my Krugerrand is real?
A magnet should not stick, the coin should ring brightly when tapped, and the weight should match the size. The XRF reading on arrival is the definitive check.
How quickly do I get a written valuation?
Usually the same working day the parcel arrives.
What if I want to keep one and sell the others?
Tell us before you ship and we will only test and value the coins you wish to sell. The rest are returned with the others.
Do I need to visit a shop?
No. Everything happens by post. There is no walk-in counter.