How old gold coins are named
Gold coins get their names in different ways. Some come from the issuing place (florin from Florence), some from a ruler (louis d’or), some from the source of the metal (guinea), and some from an image or title (noble, sovereign, angel). Many names are shared by several coins from different centuries, so the date and country always matter.
Ancient gold coins
- Stater: a Greek word for a standard unit. Staters were struck in several metals, and gold ones are well known from regions such as Macedonia.
- Electrum issues: early Lydian coins, including units called trites and hektes, used electrum, a natural mix of gold and silver.
- Daric: a gold coin of the Persian Empire.
- Aureus: the main Roman gold coin.
- Solidus: introduced in the late Roman period and continued by the Byzantine Empire for centuries.
Medieval gold coins
- Florin: first struck in Florence in 1252. See our article on the Florentine florin.
- Ducat: Venice’s long-lived gold coin, widely used in trade.
- Noble: an English gold coin introduced in the 14th century.
- Angel and rose noble: later English gold coins, the angel named for its image of the archangel Michael.
For silver and everyday medieval money, see medieval coin names.
British gold coins
The question of what the old names for British coins were has a layered answer. Gold pieces include the noble, angel, ryal, unite and laurel (17th century), guinea, and sovereign.
- Guinea: first struck in 1663, named after the Guinea region of West Africa associated with the gold. It was later fixed in value at 21 shillings.
- Sovereign: the modern sovereign was introduced in 1817 as a one pound gold coin.
- Crown, half crown: these were mostly silver in later centuries, though early crowns were struck in gold.
Gold coins of later Europe and beyond
- Louis d’or: a French gold coin introduced in 1640 under Louis XIII.
- Gulden and forint: descended from the florin tradition in German and Hungarian lands.
- Doubloon and escudo: Spanish gold coins, familiar in the story of colonial treasure.
- Koban: an oval gold coin used in Japan.
- Mohur: a gold coin used in India under Mughal and later rule.
US gold coins
Regular US gold coins included the quarter eagle, half eagle, eagle and double eagle, with face values of $2.50, $5, $10 and $20. The “eagle” name refers to the $10 coin, not the bird alone. Regular circulation of gold coins ended in the 1930s, and many collectors seek earlier dates.
Which coin is pure gold?
Pure gold is 24 carat, but most circulating gold coins were alloyed with copper or silver to make them harder wearing. The British sovereign and many historic coins are 22 carat, meaning about 91.7 percent gold. The florin is usually described as very near pure gold, and some modern bullion coins are made of 24 carat gold. Check the specification for the particular coin and year before assuming purity.
Types of gold coin
It helps to separate three groups:
- Circulating coins: originally used for payment, such as ducats and sovereigns.
- Bullion coins: valued mainly for their gold content.
- Commemorative or collector issues: produced for collectors, with a premium over metal value.
Collectors of the first group often pay for history and condition, not only the gold. For famous examples of unusual coins, see interesting coins of the world.