2026 COTY 100: Best Gold
From artistic excellence to innovative design, this year’s Best Gold nominees showcase precious-metal coinage at its finest.
This week in the Coin of the Year’s Top 100 highlights, we’ll cover the Best Gold category. For this category, judges are asked to look at ten coins made from “gold, platinum, palladium, or another precious metal, which have all-around artistic appeal, both from an aesthetic and a commercial standpoint.” Judges are also to give consideration to unique themes.
Ascension Island
2025 $100 ANA World Money Fair Show Eagle, KM 96
100 Dollar, Gold
For the 2025 ANA World’s Fair of Money show held in Oklahoma City, this coin depicting the allegorical figure of NOMISMA, alongside the Oklahoma Quarter, is shown. The reverse is the famous “End of the Trail” statue by James Earle Fraser.
Austria
125 Years of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, KM 3400
100 Euro, Gold
Started in 1900, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra is honored on this gold coin from Austria. On the obverse is a violinist with the music coming to life. The reverse shows a Viennese horn, a harp, and a cello, and the muse of music in Greek mythology, Euterpe, playing a flute.
France
Peanuts, KM 3635
200 Euro, Gold
The classic Peanuts character Snoopy is brought to life on this coin celebrating 75 years. This shaped coin is a fun one to see amongst the top 100, going against coins that have more classic-leaning themes.
Latvia
Our Land, KM 240
10 Euro, Gold
Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt
This coin has a textured surface of a “scanned depiction of the black earth from the home of the coin designer’s great-grandfather.” The theme of the coin symbolizes “the truth that each of us has such a place somewhere in Latvia – worth its weight in gold, yet priceless. It is also a symbol of our readiness to defend our land. From the first centimeter to the last.”
Lithuania
Mikalojus Kontantinas Ciurlionis 150 Years, KM 300
50 Euro, Gold
The obverse features a copy of one of the most famous paintings by Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, with his signature on the reverse. He was an artist who combined music and art into “an inimitable creative whole.”
Mongolia
Bison – Wild Mongolia, KM 475
25,000 Togrog, Gold
In incredible detail, a bison’s legs are seen running on the obverse, and the mighty face of a bison is on the reverse.
South Africa
Bateleur Eagle – The Odyssey of the Sky, KM 813
100 Rand, Gold
A bateleur eagle is the main focus of this coin. The detailed feathers frame the bird’s striking gaze.
Switzerland
100 Years 100-Franc Vreneli, KM 221
100 Swiss Francs, Gold
The 100th anniversary of the rarest Vreneli is honored on this coin. The obverse design echoes the original design. The original 100-franc Vreneli bust is seen on the reverse.
United Kingdom
200th Anniversary of Jean Baptiste Merlen’s Shield Design, KM 2786
Sovereign, Gold
This classic design first appeared in 1825.
United States of America
American Liberty, KM823
100 Dollar, Gold
The sunflower and bee on the obverse represent the stewardship necessary to maintain liberty. The obverse depicts a swirling eagle.
For more on the 2026 COTY 100 nominees:
