Austrian 1 Ducat Gold Coin (3.44 g)

The Austrian 1 ducat gold coin is one of the smallest classic bullion coins you can buy in the UK. It is an official restrike from the Austrian Mint in Vienna, always dated 1915, and it carries 3.44 g of fine gold. On this page you can compare what UK dealers charge for the same 1 ducat gold coin, side by side, in one table.

What is the 1 ducat gold coin?

The ducat was a trade coin across Europe for centuries. Austria struck its last circulating ducats in 1915, and the Austrian Mint has kept producing restrikes with that date ever since. The design shows Emperor Franz Joseph I on the obverse and the double-headed imperial eagle on the reverse.

Key facts from the Austrian Mint:

• Fine gold: 3.44 g
• Total weight: 3.49 g
• Fineness: 986/1000 (so-called ducat gold, alloyed with copper for hardness)
• Diameter: 19.75 mm
• Year on the coin: 1915 (restrike)
• Mint: Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich), Vienna

The coin is very thin for its weight, which is why it looks larger than a 1/10 oz coin even though it holds roughly the same amount of gold.

Who is it for?

Do you want a small, recognisable gold coin that is easy to sell later? The ducat suits a few types of buyer:

• Savers who add gold in small steps, one coin at a time.
• Buyers who like historic designs but want bullion pricing, not collector pricing.
• Anyone building a mix of coin sizes so they can sell part of their holding without selling a full ounce.

If you prefer coins in standard fractions of an ounce, look at the 1/10 oz Britannia gold coin or the Gold Half Sovereign, which is close in gold content.

What to check before you buy

How much are you really paying above the gold value? Small coins carry a higher premium per gram than ounce coins, so the difference between dealers matters more. Before you order, check:

• Premium over spot: compare the dealer price with the live gold price per gram multiplied by 3.44 g.
• Delivery and insurance: on a single small coin, a delivery fee can change which dealer is cheapest.
• Condition: restrikes are sold as bullion, so expect light handling marks rather than a perfect finish.
• Authenticity: the genuine coin is 19.75 mm wide and weighs 3.49 g in total. Buy from established dealers and check both figures if you have scales and calipers.

VAT and Capital Gains Tax in the UK

Gold coins that meet the investment gold rules in HMRC VAT Notice 701/21A are sold free of VAT. UK dealers list the ducat as investment gold, but it is worth confirming on the invoice.

Capital Gains Tax is a different story. Sovereigns and Britannias are UK legal tender and therefore exempt from CGT. The Austrian ducat is not sterling currency, so a gain on it can be taxable once your total gains pass the annual exempt amount. Read our guide to Capital Gains Tax on gold before you choose between a ducat and a British coin.

Ducat vs other small gold coins

• Half Sovereign: slightly more fine gold, CGT exempt in the UK, more widely traded here.
• 1/10 oz Britannia: 3.11 g of fine gold at 999.9 fineness, also CGT exempt.
• 1 ducat: 3.44 g of fine gold and a historic design, often priced close to the coins above per gram.

You can browse every option in our gold coins category or see the cheapest gold coins right now.