Wealthsimple Is Mailing Out Pure Gold Coins — Here’s What They Look Like

Wealthsimple recently rolled out a new feature that lets customers buy real, physical gold directly in the app. One iPhone in Canada reader, Jason, even redeemed his gold for a coin and shared photos of what Wealthsimple actually sends you.

Inside the package is a small certificate that reads: “Congratulations! Enclosed you will find a Wealthsimple gold coin, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint and made of pure gold, humanity’s most durable store of value.” The note goes on to list quirky examples of what a tenth of an ounce of gold was worth in different eras, including “.004 bitcoin in summer 2025,” “20 days of skilled labour in 350 bce greece,” “1 pig in ancient rome,” and “72 litres of wine, or 1 nice tunic, in 1400s italy.” It ends with a warning not to forget the coin in your jeans pocket before doing laundry.

Wealthsimple’s gold works differently from buying a gold ETF. Inside the app, you’re purchasing 99.99% pure physical gold that’s actually stored for you at secure facilities like the Royal Canadian Mint and Brinks. There are no storage fees, and your ownership is tracked separately from Wealthsimple’s own assets.

Once you’ve bought enough gold to equal either 1/10 oz or 1 oz, you can redeem it and get one of Wealthsimple’s custom coins delivered to your door. The coins are batch-made for Wealthsimple by the Royal Canadian Mint and shipped fully insured. Most deliveries arrive within seven to ten business days. The company says redemption fees cover minting, materials, and insured courier shipping. With gold trading at $4,120 USD per troy ounce (about $5,768 CAD), the coin Jason has is worth about $577 CAD today.

Gold trading is available inside all Wealthsimple self-directed accounts, including RRSPs and TFSAs, but redeeming physical coins is only allowed from non-registered accounts. Wealthsimple notes that CIPF protection applies while the gold stays inside your account, but once redeemed as a coin, it’s up to you to insure it.

The company partnered with Silver Gold Bull, a Canadian precious metals dealer, to handle sourcing, custody, and shipping. Wealthsimple says it’s currently the only brokerage in Canada that lets people buy and sell physically backed gold fully online, with 24/7 trading. Gold trading normally carries a 1% fee, though as of October 2025, the fee is temporarily 0%.

For Jason, the experience ended with an actual gold coin in his hand — and a reminder from Wealthsimple not to let it fall into a tip jar by accident (that would be one heck of a tip for your barista).

Click here to sign up for Wealthsimple and get $25 free–plus enter into their $175,000 gold bar giveaway.