Go back My Account
Current prices (kg): Gold €131.945 Silver €2.564
    
Go back
Other questions
Related questions
How do I know if the gold is real? What does carat mean? Which gold coin is best to buy? How long does it take to start up a gold mine? Can you counterfeit gold with tungsten? How harmful are gold mines to the environment? Will gold ever come back as money? How much gold is there in the world? What types of gold mines are there? What does the LBMA quality mark mean? Which silver coin is best to buy? Where are the above-ground gold deposits? Why is gold so valuable? Can the government demand (confiscate) gold? Which countries have the largest production of gold? How much silver does a silver investment coin contain? What is the difference between silver coins and silver bars? What are LBMA gold bars? How much gold is used for gold bars and gold coins? Which countries have the largest gold reserves? What investment coins are there? Can I take my gold abroad? Which Dutch coins are used for investments? How big is the gold market? How much gold is left in the ground? What does the spot price mean? Why do countries have a gold reserve? Do I pay VAT on silver coins? Where is the Netherlands in the top 10 gold countries? Do I choose platinum and palladium coins or bars? Why is the price of gold rising or falling? Where can I buy gold? What is the daily fixing for gold? How is the weight of gold expressed? How much gold is used for jewelry? What is the difference between platinum and palladium? How much gold does a gold investment coin contain? What is an ETF? What are bullion coins? When did the Netherlands leave the gold standard? How does the VAT margin scheme on silver coins work? Do I pay VAT on silver? What does the supply and demand of gold consist of? (The Golden Tree) Do I choose gold coins or gold bars? What is the difference between buying physical goud and an exchange-traded gold product such as the iShares Physical How is gold recycled? How much gold comes out of gold mines each year? Which silver bar should I choose? Can silver discolor? Is the savings plan precious metal account physically secured? What size gold bar or coin do I choose? Are there any other uses for gold? Is the gold price being manipulated? Is gold scarce? What is the Central Bank Gold Agreement? How has the gold price developed over the longer term? Do gold bars have a certificate? How can I invest in gold? Why doesn’t the gold price change over the weekend? Cheapest provider of gold Is the purchase of silver exempt from VAT? What is the lifespan of a gold mine? What is Gold? How much gold is used in industry? Do silver bars have a certificate? Is gold exempt from VAT? Why should I buy gold? Why do central banks own so much gold? Why are gold coins and bars more expensive than the price of gold? Where is gold found in the world? How much gold comes out of recycling each year? What does the gold agreement entail? Do I pay VAT on platinum and palladium?
What is the difference between gold coins and gold bars?

The difference between gold bars and gold coins lies in their weight, purity, and variety. Gold coins come in many different types and designs, such as bullion coins, historical coins, and 22- or 24-carat coins. Gold bars are always 24-carat and vary only in weight and brand, ranging from 1 gram to as much as 1,000 grams. The largest gold coin we offer, by contrast, weighs just 62.2 grams.

Below you can find the benefits and characteristics of both gold coins and gold bars:

Gold Coins

Gold coins are divided into historical and bullion coins. Historical coins, such as the Dutch 10 Guilder or the French 20 Franc, were once used as legal tender and are sometimes over a century old. Bullion coins, on the other hand, are minted specifically for investment in physical gold. This trend began in 1967 with the introduction of the Krugerrand.

Features of Gold Bullion Coins

  • Minted by internationally recognised mints
  • Available in a wide range of weights: from 1/20 troy ounce to 2 troy ounces (1.56 – 62.21 grams)
  • Newest issues include advanced security features
  • Choice between new issues or various years
  • 1 troy ounce coin: a competitively priced alternative to a gold bar of the same weight

Gold Bars

Gold bars are produced by several well-known refiners, including C. Hafner, Umicore, Valcambi, and Argor Heraeus. It is essential to always buy LBMA-certified gold, as these bars are globally recognised and tradable. In terms of brand, it makes little difference which you choose. From an investment perspective, it is generally best to purchase the lowest-priced LBMA-certified gold bar, since every bar of the same weight and purity will fetch the same resale value.

Features of Gold Bars

  • Available in weights from 0.5 grams to 1,000 grams
  • Always LBMA-certified (999.9 fine, 24-carat gold)
  • Delivered with a certificate of authenticity
  • Larger bars are usually priced lower per gram than coins

Similarities between Gold Coins and Gold Bars

  • Both are measured in troy ounces or kilograms
  • Both are traded worldwide
  • Both are exempt from VAT
  • Both can be delivered to your home or stored securely

Which is the Better Option?

Weight plays an important role when choosing between coins and bars. In general, the larger the bar, the lower the price per gram. Smaller coins — especially historical ones — can sometimes be more cost-effective than small bars. Gold coins range from 1.56 to 62.21 grams, while bars range from 0.5 to 1,000 grams. When purchasing physical gold, it is wise to consider both the price per gram and how often you might wish to sell. Buying one large bar gives you the best price per gram, but it can only be sold in one transaction.

Buying Gold via the Precious Metals Account

With the precious metals account, you buy physical gold and decide the amount or weight yourself — without being limited to specific coin or bar forms. You can easily make purchases via the website, client portal, or the Holland Gold App.

Did it work? Let us know!
Is your question not answered?
Please fill in the contact form with your question.
Or contact us by phone: 
+31(0)88 468 8400
We care about your privacy

You can set your cookie preferences by accepting or rejecting the various cookies described below

Necessary

Necessary cookies help make a website more usable by enabling basic functions such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Without these cookies, the website cannot function properly.

Necessary
Preferences

Preference cookies allow a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, such as your preferred language or the region you are in.

Statistics

Statistical cookies help website owners understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.

Marketing

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across different websites. The aim is to display ads that are relevant and appealing to the individual user and therefore more valuable to publishers and third-party advertisers.