The gold bars that banks trade in London weigh about 400 troy ounces each, according to the LBMA’s Good Delivery rules. The bars most people buy for themselves are far smaller. On October 25, 2026, The Royal Mint lists its minted Britannia bars at 1 g, 5 g, 10 g, 20 g, 50 g and 100 g, with cast bars at 500 g and 1 kg. Popular bullion coins cover a similar spread, from a tenth of an ounce up to one ounce.
So the real first-time choice is usually a small bar against a one-ounce coin of similar weight. The differences come down to who stands behind the metal, how it is packed, how easily it sells and where you keep it.
A simple way to see those trade-offs side by side is to browse a dealer that stocks both forms. Bitgolder’s gold coins and bars can be filtered by form, weight and mint or refiner, with names such as The Royal Mint, The Perth Mint, the United States Mint, Valcambi and PAMP Suisse. Five points are worth settling before you compare prices.
1. Coins Carry a Government Name, Bars Carry a Refiner’s Mark
Bullion coins are struck by national mints and carry a face value. The United States Mint, for example, says the US Government guarantees the weight, content and purity of each American Eagle. The Royal Mint has made its Britannia gold coin since 1987, and the mint says the current design includes four security features that make copies much harder to pass off.
Bars are made by private refiners as well as mints. The Perth Mint says its cast bars are stamped with its logo, which is a London Bullion Market Association registered mark, along with the weight and purity. For any bar brand, check whether the refiner appears on the LBMA Good Delivery list. To be listed, a refinery must produce at least 10 tonnes of refined gold, hold a tangible net worth of at least 15 million pounds and make bars that meet strict standards for purity and appearance.
Neither route is better by default. A well-known coin or a bar from a listed refiner is easy for any dealer to identify, which makes it simple to sell later.
2. Purity and Gold Content Are Not the Same Number
Many first-time buyers assume every gold coin is 24 carat. It is not. The US Mint says American Eagles use the durable 22-karat standard long used for circulating gold coins, while its American Buffalo is .9999 fine 24-karat gold. The Royal Mint describes its gold bars as 24-carat with a fineness of 999.9, and The Perth Mint lists its minted and cast gold bars at 99.99% pure.
Whatever the karat, look for the fine gold content on the listing, since that figure, not the total weight of the piece, sets the value. Bars make this easy, with fine weight and purity struck on the face.
3. Smaller Pieces Cost More per Gram but Sell More Flexibly
Premiums, the amount you pay above the spot price of gold, tend to fall as size rises. The Royal Mint notes that its cast bars often carry a lower manufacturer’s premium than its minted range, which is why kilo bars appeal to people buying a larger amount in one go.
The trade-off is flexibility. Ten one-ounce coins let you sell one and keep nine. A single ten-ounce bar has to be sold whole. Many buyers settle on a mix: a few one-ounce coins or 20 g to 50 g bars for flexibility, and larger bars only when they expect to leave the metal untouched for a long time.
4. Keep the Packaging, Because It Is Part of the Product
Minted bars usually arrive sealed. The Royal Mint says its Britannia bars come in serialised security packaging, printed with a serial number that matches the one on the bar and acts as a certificate of authenticity. The Perth Mint supplies each minted bar in a tamper-proof display card that carries its own serial number. A bar still in its original seal is quicker for the next buyer to accept.
Coins usually come in plastic capsules or mint tubes. Leave them there, and hold any loose coin by its edge, since fingerprints and small marks can lower what a dealer will offer for an otherwise perfect piece.
Packaging also matters if you change your mind soon after buying. Bitgolder’s returns policy, for instance, asks for notice within 14 days and for items to come back unopened with all original packaging, capsules and certificates, free from scratches or testing marks. Most dealers set similar conditions.
5. Plan Storage Around the Shape You Choose
Bars stack flat and fit easily in a home safe or a safe deposit box at a bank. Coins in tubes are just as compact, while loose capsules take a little more room. Keep both dry, away from household cleaning products and out of sight.
If you would rather not keep metal at home, some mints and dealers offer vault storage. The Royal Mint, for example, runs The Vault, where bars bought from it are independently audited and fully insured. Whichever option you pick, check whether your contents cover includes bullion, keep every invoice, and record bar serial numbers somewhere separate from the metal itself.
Final Thoughts
Coins suit buyers who want a widely recognised design and the option to sell in small steps. Bars suit those who care most about the lowest cost per gram and are happy to sell in larger blocks. For a first purchase, a one-ounce coin from a national mint or a small minted bar from an LBMA listed refiner keeps things simple. Check the fine weight, keep the packaging sealed and know the dealer’s return terms before you order.
