How Much Is a Gold Bar Worth

Gold doesn’t lose value and keeps its exquisite look and quality over time. Therefore, a gold bar is an excellent investment if you are interested in long-term savings. When planning to invest in this precious metal, it is crucial to know how much is a gold bar worth.

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You can find gold bars of different sizes and weights on the gold market that significantly vary in price. In most cases, they weigh from 1 troy ounce (31.1 g) to more than 400 troy ounces (12.4 kg). You can check their price at any time on websites showing live gold spot prices.

Live Gold Spot Price

When you look up the price of gold, you will find a few different terms. While the live gold price gives you just enough information about the market, it is vital to understand all of the possible prices so you can get the best deal.

Live gold price


Gold price by GoldBroker.com

The current price of gold is called the spot price or live gold price. It means the buyer can purchase gold at that exact price at that particular moment. The trading between individual traders on over-the-counter trading determines this price.

The demand for gold also influences this value since higher demand means a higher price and the other way around.

For example, the live spot price of a gold bar weighing 1 troy ounce (31.1 g) is around $2,000 in the US market. Lately, that value has varied from $1,800 to $ 2,300 per troy ounce.

You can often find a surprisingly big difference between prices, depending on even the time of the day, so it is crucial to monitor the change of the live gold price if you want to make the most profitable investment.

Gold futures price

Besides live gold prices, you can also find gold futures prices. This term marks the price expected for a specific time in the future. The future prices apply to situations when buyers set the desired amount of money now for the trade that will happen in the future.

This way, you can sometimes get the gold for a discount price, and other times you will overpay it. It all depends on your ability to predict the market trends.

Gold fixed price

The third value is the gold fixed price. The London Bullion Market Association, an independent precious metals authority, sets this price twice a day in an auction administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration.

Even though LBMA is based in the UK, it works globally, so the gold fixed price is the same in all the markets worldwide.

Gold Bars Types

The second thing you should know is what kind of gold bars there are. You can find bars in many different sizes and shapes. Usually, all of them are called bullions or gold ingots.

These terms represent any shape of pure or nearly pure gold certified for its weight and purity. Only a bar producer who works by following standard manufacturing, labeling, and record-keeping can make certified gold.

Labels on such a gold bar represent its weight and purity. In most cases, the purity of a gold bar is 99.9%, meaning it is made of 24K gold. The minimum required for an investment-quality gold bar is 99.5% to be considered 24K gold.

With the purity of gold that rarely varies, the most significant label on a gold bar is its weight. For most investors, weight is the crucial factor in differentiating gold bars. Let’s take a look.

Good Delivery gold bar

Good Delivery gold bar
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Good Delivery is a standard for gold and silver bars set by the LBMA. Nowadays, all gold markets in the major international trading centers, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, use it as a standard. Many governments, central banks, and the IMF use it for their gold reserves.

This standard describes the physical characteristics of bars, such as their purity and weight. As I have already mentioned, the minimum purity for a gold bar is 99.5% or 24K. That marks pure gold, with just a tiny bit of another alloy necessary for shaping such a soft precious metal.

The set weight for a Good Delivery gold bar is 400 troy ounce (12.4 kg). A troy ounce is based on the troy system for measuring mass, primarily used in the precious metal industry. You should always measure gold bars in this measuring unit. Unfortunately, beginners in the gold trading business often have trouble calculating it.

Smaller gold bars

Smaller gold bars
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The kilobar is a bar weighing 1,000 g (32.15 troy ounces), convenient for trading and investments. The kilobars sometimes come in a brick shape but are typically flat. Another value suitable for trading is 100 troy ounces (3.11 kg) bars. These are the two most common types of gold bars among investors.

You can also find gold bars that weigh only 0.032 or 0.08 troy ounces (1 or 2.5 g), particularly popular in the Asian market. These smaller gold bars are widespread because their size makes them more manageable when it comes to investments.

Bigger bars are often hard to sell and store due to their large size. It is more convenient to sell a few smaller bars of gold from time to time than to sell a large one. Therefore, bars that weigh less are handy and more desirable for smaller transactions.

Gold Bars Making

Besides the weight, the making process is also what distinguishes different kinds of gold bars. Manufacturers usually make casted or minted models that differ both in appearance and prices.

Minted gold

The making of minted bars requires a lot of skill and precision. During the process, manufacturers cut a flat gold piece into gold blanks and then mint them into bars. This method produces gold bars with smooth and even surfaces.

Cast gold

Creating cast bars includes a method of pouring melted gold into bar-shaped molds and then leaving it to cool off and become solid. The downside of this process is that you can sometimes notice imperfections on the flat surface. On the other hand, such an uneven surface makes each bar unique.

Keep in mind that cast bars always cost less than minted bars. The primary reason for the difference in costs is using molds for cast bars that make the production faster and require less effort than minting.

Benefits of Investing in Gold

Benefits of Investing in Gold
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All factors you should consider when entering the gold market can seem a bit complex. However, they are essential for understanding the market better. Once you know the ways of a good trade, you will quickly find great offers and turn your investments into profit.

Nowadays, gold bars are an acceptable way of saving when you are interested in buying gold. Whether you wish to make more money or secure your savings, this is an excellent business decision. Let’s see numerous benefits you will get from investing in gold bars:

  • Value – Unlike currencies and stocks, gold never loses its value. The price of gold bars can go up and down depending on the current supply and demand, but never on a large scale enough for you to be at a significant loss.
  • Size – Gold bars come in many sizes, and you can buy any of the available models, depending on your preferences. That way, you can invest as much as you want at any moment.
  • Maintenance – Gold bars don’t require any maintenance. They won’t rust or tarnish over time and will always keep their vibrant yellow color. Most importantly, time can neither destroy gold nor lessen its quality regardless of the circumstances. As you have known, it is not the case with expensive artwork, for example.
  • Storing – Having your own gold reserves can be very useful on rainy days. You can keep gold bars for years or even decades practically anywhere and quickly sell them if you ever become short of money.
  • Re-selling – Selling gold bars is much easier than selling real estate, stocks, jewelry, or artworks. That is because you can sell gold at the gold market at all times. Besides, there are always private investors interested in buying gold bars.

Places for Buying Gold Bars

Most investors purchase gold bars online nowadays. You can find many sites and companies that sell them, but be careful. It is wise to look for reputable dealers and compare the prices they offer.

You can even buy gold at special ATMs and vending machines in some cities that work just like standard ATMs. In most cases, you can find them in Las Vegas, New York, and Atlantic City, usually within or near casinos.

There are also ATMs for gold in many cities in Europe, as well as in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Summary

Gold bars are a practical way to secure your savings because gold won’t lose its value over time. Also, trading gold can be highly profitable if you know how to get the best deal. It is essential to monitor price fluctuations because its price can vary from $1,800 to $2,300 per 1 troy ounce (31.1 g).

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