1 oz Jerusalem Gold Coin

Gold From Israel's Historic National Mint

The 1 oz Holy Land Mint Jerusalem Gold Coin is a gold bullion piece from the Jerusalem series, produced by the Holy Land Mint (officially the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation, or ICMC). The mint was established in 1958 by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as the official minting institution of the State of Israel, making it one of the oldest national minting operations still in continuous production, founded just a decade after Israeli independence in 1948.

The Jerusalem series is closely associated with the "Dove of Peace" motif, which has been the Holy Land Mint's signature bullion design since its 2014 introduction. The obverse features an artistic rendition of the Old City of Jerusalem skyline, complete with its iconic walls, domes, and towers, with a dove in flight carrying an olive branch. The dove-and-olive-branch symbol draws on the biblical story of Noah, where the returning dove signalled the receding of flood waters. The 2024 issue marked the tenth anniversary of the Dove of Peace bullion series, celebrated with a special privy-mark edition limited to 10,000 pieces.

The Holy Land Mint was privatised in 2008, with ownership passing to G.R.A.S. Design Combinations Ltd. The new owners continued the mint's traditional product lines while expanding into bullion rounds and bars. In addition to the Jerusalem series, the mint produces legal tender commemorative coins for the Bank of Israel across series including Biblical Art, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel, and Views of Israel, issuing approximately five new coins annually.

Jerusalem Gold Coin Technical Details

The reverse carries the Holy Land Mint logo alongside inscriptions reading "JERUSALEM," "THE HOLY LAND MINT," the year of issue, "ONE TROY OUNCE," and ".999 FINE SILVER" (for the silver version) or equivalent gold markings. The design updates annually with the year but retains the same core visual elements, following the fixed-design model used by coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf.

The Holy Land Mint also produces a separate "Jerusalem of Gold" numismatic bullion coin series featuring specific Jerusalem landmarks (Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Tower of David) in .9999 gold, with mintages around 3,600 per issue. Those coins carry Bank of Israel legal tender status, distinguishing them from the rounds. The silver Jerusalem round is available at 38.7 mm diameter in .999 fine silver, along with 1 kilo silver bars and 1/10 oz gold rounds.

Jerusalem Gold Round Tax Treatment

The Jerusalem gold piece is a round (no face value), not a legal tender coin. This distinction affects tax treatment in some jurisdictions.

• United Kingdom: VAT-free as investment gold (gold of 995+ fineness in bar, coin, or wafer form qualifies regardless of legal tender status). No CGT exemption, as CGT-free status in the UK is reserved for UK legal tender coins such as the Britannia and Sovereign. Gains are subject to CGT at 18% or 24% after the annual £3,000 allowance.
• United States: The primary market for Holy Land Mint products. The .9999 purity exceeds the IRA threshold of 99.5% for gold. IRA eligibility for rounds (as opposed to legal tender coins) may depend on whether the product meets the IRS definition under Section 408(m), which requires coins to be legal tender or bars/rounds from accredited refiners. Buyers should confirm with their IRA custodian. Sales tax depends on the buyer's state.
• Canada: Gold of 99.5%+ purity in bar, ingot, coin, or wafer form is GST/HST-exempt. Rounds should qualify under the bar/ingot classification.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold exceeding 99.5% purity in a form commonly traded on commodity markets.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals (IPM) scheme for gold of 99.5%+ purity in qualifying forms. Rounds in bar or wafer form typically qualify.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax of any kind.

Jerusalem Gold vs Sovereign Mint Coins and Competing Rounds

The Jerusalem gold round competes in two categories: against other private mint or institutional rounds, and against sovereign legal tender coins at the same weight.

Among gold rounds, the Holy Land Mint's institutional heritage sets it apart from most competitors. The mint was Israel's government-owned minting facility for 50 years before privatisation, a pedigree that most private mints cannot match. Comparable rounds from mints like Scottsdale Mint, Sunshine Mint, or Elemetal are produced by commercial operations without a former sovereign mandate. The Jerusalem design's cultural and historical resonance, centred on one of the world's most significant cities, also differentiates it from generic or wildlife-themed rounds.

Against sovereign legal tender 1 oz gold coins, the Jerusalem round faces the disadvantage of lacking a face value. For UK buyers, this means no CGT exemption. For US buyers, IRA eligibility may be more complex than with a straightforward legal tender coin. For buyers in Australia, Canada, Singapore, or Hong Kong, where sales tax exemptions are based on purity and form rather than legal tender status, the practical difference is minimal.

The Holy Land Mint's separate "Jerusalem of Gold" coin series does carry Bank of Israel legal tender status and may be a better fit for buyers who need the legal tender distinction. Those coins have mintages around 3,600 per issue, making them more scarce than the rounds but harder to source.

For pure gold accumulation at the lowest premium, mainstream sovereign mint coins like the Maple Leaf, Britannia, or Philharmonic will offer tighter spreads and deeper liquidity. The Jerusalem round is best suited to buyers who value the cultural significance of the Jerusalem theme, the Holy Land Mint's institutional history, or who are building a collection with a Middle Eastern or biblical focus alongside their bullion holdings.