Legal-tender status is determined by the issuing country's law at the time of importation. A coin officially recognized as currency by its issuing sovereign — even if rarely used in commerce — is legal tender. Bullion coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf or South African Krugerrand may or may not qualify depending on their legal status in the issuing country; importers should confirm this with the mint or a customs broker before classifying.

No — coins are classified under heading 7118 regardless of their gold content, and the duty treatment differs from that of unwrought gold (heading 7108) or gold semimanufactures. The coin's form and legal status, not its metal content alone, govern its classification. Importers should not assume that a gold coin's duty rate mirrors that of gold bullion bars.