900 Gold
Also: 21.6 Carat, 900/1000
900 gold denotes a gold alloy with a fineness of 900 parts per thousand (90%), corresponding to 21.6 carats – a historically important standard for European and American circulation coins.
900 gold contains exactly 900 parts of fine gold per 1,000 parts of total weight. That corresponds to a fineness of 90% and 21.6 carats. The remaining 10% usually consists of copper, occasionally supplemented by silver, giving the alloy a characteristic, slightly reddish-warm colour. Anyone wishing to determine the current material value of a 900 piece can use the melt value calculator.
Historical significance
900/1000 established itself over centuries as a widespread standard for circulation coins in Europe and America. In Germany, 900 gold was the mandatory alloy for imperial gold coins of the Empire (1871–1915): the 20 Mark gold coin (Wilhelmine era, 7.965 g gross weight) as well as the 10 Mark coin were struck in 900/1000 and are today among the most collected historical gold coins of Germany. The Swiss Vreneli and many French, American and Latin American circulation coins of the 19th and early 20th centuries also follow this fineness.
Note on the term "Crown gold": This designation is occasionally equated incorrectly with 900/1000. Historically, Crown gold correctly stands for the English 22-carat system (916.7 ‰), introduced under Henry VIII in 1526. 900 gold has no separate trivial name in international usage.
Calculating the fine weight
The fine-weight proportion can be calculated simply:
Fine weight = Gross weight × 0.900
Example: 7.965 g (20 Mark gold coin) × 0.900 = 7.169 g fine gold ≈ 0.2305 troy ounces
With the gold calculator, the material value in euros can be determined directly from this.
Well-known 900 coins at a glance
| Coin | Country | Fineness | Fine ounce (approx.) | Gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mark gold coin | German Empire | 900 ‰ | approx. 0.2305 oz | 7.965 g |
| Vreneli (20 Fr.) | Switzerland | 900 ‰ | approx. 0.1867 oz | 6.452 g |
| 20 Franc (Napoleon) | France | 900 ‰ | approx. 0.1867 oz | 6.452 g |
| Liberty Head Eagle | USA | 900 ‰ | approx. 0.4837 oz | 16.718 g |
The Krugerrand, by contrast, has a fineness of 916.7 ‰ (22 carats) and is therefore not 900 gold – it is covered under 916 gold.
900 gold compared with other finenesses
- 333 gold (8 carat): only 33.3% fine gold – not regarded as genuine gold in many countries.
- 585 gold (14 carat): 58.5% fine gold – the most popular jewellery standard in Germany.
- 750 gold (18 carat): 75% fine gold – an internationally sought-after jewellery and watch standard.
- 900 gold (21.6 carat): 90% fine gold – historical circulation coins of Europe and America.
- 916 gold (22 carat): 91.67% fine gold – Krugerrand, Sovereign, British tradition.
- 999 / 999.9 gold: fine gold – bars and modern investment coins (Maple Leaf, Philharmonic).
Tax classification (Malta)
Under EU law, transposed into Maltese law via Council Directive 2006/112/EC, gold coins of at least 900/1000 fineness (provided they were minted after 1800 and were legal tender in their country of origin) qualify as investment gold and are exempt from VAT. Classic 900 coins such as the 20 Mark gold coin or the Vreneli can therefore be acquired free of VAT in Malta. For bars, a stricter minimum of 995/1000 applies.
On disposals: Malta levies no capital gains tax on private disposals of movable assets such as gold coins. Maltese capital gains tax applies only to specific asset categories (immovable property, securities, business interests and similar). There is no German-style one-year speculation period under Maltese law. Note: This is not tax or investment advice; consult a tax adviser for individual cases (cfr.gov.mt, legislation.mt).
You will find the historical gold-price trend as well as the current gold price on the relevant pages.
In brief
900 gold is a tradition-rich fineness with 90% gold content, known above all through the German imperial gold coins, the Swiss Vreneli and numerous other historical circulation coins – more robust than fine gold, higher-grade than common jewellery alloys and, as an investment coin, VAT-exempt in Malta.