916 Gold (22 Carat)

916 gold – also known as 22 carat gold – contains 916.6 parts per thousand of pure gold, i.e. exactly 22 of 24 possible parts. The remaining 8.33% consists of alloying metals, typically silver, copper or a combination of both. This places 916 gold in the fineness scale between the popular 750 gold (18 carat) and almost pure fine gold (999). The current gold price always forms the basis for calculating the material value of this fineness.

Fineness and carat calculation

The carat system divides the gold content into 24 equal parts. 22 carats means:

Fineness = 22 ÷ 24 × 1000 = 916.6 ‰

In hallmarking, the stamp number 916 or 916.6 therefore appears. Anyone wishing to determine the exact material value of a 916 gold piece can do so with the melt value calculator – this automatically takes into account weight, fineness and the current spot price.

Alloy and properties

The 8.33% additional metals give 916 gold considerably better mechanical properties than pure gold (999.9):

Thanks to the high gold content, 916 gold retains the characteristic rich yellow-gold colour – it is markedly more golden than 585 gold (14 carat) and shows barely any deviations in hue or lustre.

Typical areas of use

916 gold is used mainly in three areas:

1. Bullion coins – the South African Krugerrand, the British Sovereign and the American Eagle (gold) are struck in 916 gold. These coins are regarded worldwide as investment classics.
2. Jewellery – especially in India, the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia, 22-carat gold is the preferred standard for wedding jewellery and gold jewellery as a store of value.
3. Historical circulation coins – many of the great gold coins of the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the British Sovereign and US gold coins (Double Eagle, Eagle), were struck in 22 carat. Coins of the German Empire, by contrast, were issued in 900 gold (21.6 carats).

916 gold as an investment form

Coins such as the Krugerrand made of 916 gold are among the most traded investment gold coins in the world. Since the coin weight is standardised to the fine gold content (e.g. 1 troy ounce of pure gold), a 1-ounce Krugerrand coin actually weighs somewhat more than one fine ounce – namely approx. 33.93 g gross weight, which at 91.66% gold contains exactly 1 fine ounce (31.1035 g) of gold.

On tax treatment: under EU law, transposed into Maltese law via Council Directive 2006/112/EC, transactions in investment gold (including qualifying gold coins in 916 fineness) are exempt from VAT in Malta. Regarding 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). There is no German-style one-year speculation period. Note: This is not tax or investment advice – please contact a tax adviser for specific questions (cfr.gov.mt, legislation.mt).

Distinction from other finenesses

You can compare the current value of any amounts of gold of different finenesses directly with the gold calculator or the purchase price calculator.

In brief

916 gold (22 carat) combines a very high gold content of 91.66% with solid everyday suitability – it is the preferred material of the world's most important bullion coins and remains clearly distinguishable from cheaper alloys through its fineness.