Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but the Krugerrand is an investor’s dream. In 1967, it became the first gold coin to be distributed as legal tender at market value. Today, it has the largest market share of any gold coin – around 55 % – so it is easily traded, sold and admired. Krugerrands also come in a number of different weights and sizes, but the brand remains instantly recognisable.

To quote Anthony S. Fell, of the Royal Bank of Canada: ‘To some extent, I regret to say, all paper currencies are becoming somewhat suspect. And, accordingly, it is my view that gold bullion, rather than being the barbarous relic described by John Maynard Keynes, may well become the asset of choice for many investors over the coming decade… it represents a great opportunity.’

What Mr. Fell could also, perhaps, have mentioned is that gold – and Krugerrands in particular – are ‘portable power’. At most, they weigh 33.93g and have a pure gold contents of 1 Troy Ounce (31.1035 g) – and yet can set you free from the world’s banking system. Unlike paper currencies, a Krugerrand will never lose its intrinsic value.

And it fits rather nicely in your wallet, too.