Switzerland puts Einstein on world's smallest gold coin

Deutsche Welle ^ | 01.23.2020 | Melissa Van Brunnersum

[Olog-hai]

Switzerland has minted the smallest gold coin the world has ever seen, state-owned Swissmint announced Thursday.

The 2.96-millimeter (0.12-inch) gold coin, weighing only 0.063 grams (¹⁄500^th of an ounce), is so small the viewer needs to squint closely to see world-famous physicist Albert Einstein sticking his tongue out.

The coin has a nominal value of ¼ of a Swiss franc (26¢, €0.23) and can be ordered online.

According to Swissmint, 999 of the coins have been made, and a single coin will be sold for 199 francs and accompanied with a special magnifying glass so owners can see Einstein. …

[Olog-hai]

[Pearls Before Swine]

Diversify, buy a little gold.

[grobdriver]

I can imagine some meeting in Switzerland and some guy saying, "Hey, why don't we..."

And no one asks, "Why?"

[coloradan]

So, a coin denominated at $0.26 is actually worth about $3.00 and is being sold for $200. Gotta hand it to governments to build value!

[ClearCase_guy]

In Theory, this seemed clever. But the execution seems Relatively silly.

[21twelve]

https://allthatsinteresting.com/albert-einstein-tongue-photo

Here is the article behind the photo. I wonder what he would think about his image on this small gold piece at $200?

“Oy vey! The joke’s on you!”

[Roccus]

"Why?"

Gold is about $1550 US

1/500 oz gold = $31 US

199 Swiss francs = $205.75 US

[Moltke]

You can pound it out to the size of a manhole cover. The image may suffer somewhat, though.

[Moltke]

Nope, 1550/500 = 3.1

[Roccus]

Somehow, I missed your post.

More coffee.....

[alloysteel]

You could sneeze, and blow a fortune all over the room.

Next they shall be putting engravings on a particle of gold dust.

[Roccus]

see my #10

}:^/

[TangoLimaSierra]

Article is wrong. There are about 31 grams in an ounce of gold. So this coin is worth about $31.68 today.
I think they confused grams and grains. But even that would be a little off.

[TangoLimaSierra]

See my #13

[Moltke]

The nominal value (of any coin, actually) is not the actual (material) value, but just some arbitrary amount that’s stamped on one side of the coin. The actual value here is just over $3, not $31.

[zeugma]

I buy gold and silver bullion. This is just stupid. That said, I did buy a 1-gram maple leaf a few years ago. You pretty much need a magnifying glass to see any details on it. The Royal Mint (Britain) has been doing a series of “Queen’s Beasts” coins the past few years. The premium on them is a little higher than most stuff I buy, but I liked it, so have been getting them as they came out. This year will close out the set of 10. The Royal Mint wants way too much for their proof coins though.

[Kommodor]

Cute. I’d like the pseudo-bronze “challenge coin” sized version, though.

[TangoLimaSierra]

The nominal value (of any coin, actually) is not the actual (material) value, but just some arbitrary amount that’s stamped on one side of the coin. The actual value here is just over $3, not $31.

Symantics. Melt value is $31.
Wouldn't actually have to melt it down either. Just like my Silver Eagles.

[Moltke]

It’s 1/500 oz, not 1/50 oz - ~$1500/500 = $3 not $30.

[TangoLimaSierra]

It’s 1/500 oz, not 1/50 oz - ~$1500/500 = $3 not $30.

Show me what I'm missing here.

How Many Grams Are In An Ounce of Gold?