Current prices (kg): Gold €114.437 Silver €1.799
    
Go back
Other questions
Related questions
How much gold is there in the world? What types of gold mines are there? Why do central banks own so much gold? Where is gold found in the world? Is the gold price being manipulated? How do I know if the gold is real? What does carat mean? Which countries have the largest gold reserves? What are LBMA gold bars? Will gold ever come back as money? Which gold coin is best to buy? How much gold is left in the ground? How is the weight of gold expressed? How much gold is used for gold bars and gold coins? Do silver bars have a certificate? Where is the Netherlands in the top 10 gold countries? How long does it take to start up a gold mine? What is the difference between buying physical goud and an exchange-traded gold product such as the iShares Physical What is the Central Bank Gold Agreement? How much gold does a gold investment coin contain? How harmful are gold mines to the environment? How much silver does a silver investment coin contain? What does the spot price mean? How can I invest in gold? Where are the above-ground gold deposits? Is gold exempt from VAT? Why is gold so valuable? Which countries have the largest production of gold? How does the VAT margin scheme on silver coins work? What is Gold? What does the gold agreement entail? Can the government demand (confiscate) gold? Why is the price of gold rising or falling? What are bullion coins? Why do countries have a gold reserve? What does the LBMA quality mark mean? What does the supply and demand of gold consist of? (The Golden Tree) Do I pay VAT on silver? What is the difference between platinum and palladium? Where can I buy gold? Which Dutch coins are used for investments? How much gold comes out of recycling each year? Are there any other uses for gold? What is the daily fixing for gold? How much gold comes out of gold mines each year? When did the Netherlands leave the gold standard? How much gold is used in industry? Is the savings plan precious metal account physically secured? How has the gold price developed over the longer term? Why are gold coins and bars more expensive than the price of gold? Why should I buy gold? Can silver discolor? Why doesn’t the gold price change over the weekend? Do I pay VAT on silver coins? How much gold is used for jewelry? Cheapest provider of gold Do I choose gold coins or gold bars? Which silver bar should I choose? What is the lifespan of a gold mine? Can I take my gold abroad? How big is the gold market? Is gold scarce? What is an ETF? What is the difference between silver coins and silver bars? Which silver coin is best to buy? Do gold bars have a certificate? What size gold bar or coin do I choose? Can you counterfeit gold with tungsten? Do I choose platinum and palladium coins or bars? Do I pay VAT on platinum and palladium? Is the purchase of silver exempt from VAT? How is gold recycled? What investment coins are there?
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.