What is the difference between gold coins and gold bars?

Question

Accepted Answer

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.