The Different Types of Gold Bullion

Gold bullion has always been a smart and stable investment choice, and it is a popular trading and investment asset all over the world. If you’re interested in gold bullion, you will be surprised to find out that it’s available in many different forms and sizes, ideal for purchase by almost anyone.

Gold Bullion Bars

When people speak about gold bullion the first image that comes to mind is the large gold bullion bars that one often sees depicted in movies. But this kind of size of gold bar usually weighs around 12.4 kilograms and is generally reserved for large entities that have a lot of money to spend, like central banks, Hedge funds, and governments.

What is available for the average individual investor, however, is a range of gold bars available in various sizes from is as small as 1 gram to as large as 1 kilo. The most popular size however is the 1 ounce gold bar.

Gold bars are also classified into two distinct types: Cast gold bars and Minted gold bars.

Cast gold bars are created using a much simpler process and they will often only have a stamp with information about the refinery where they were created, as well as the weight, purity, and metal content.

Minted gold bars are much more elaborate. They are made from long casted bars which are passed through a stamping press that cuts and engraves the bars. These bars end up with intricate visual designs that are not only attractively finished but can be of value as collector’s items or limited edition designs.

One of the most appealing benefits of gold bars as the bullion of choice is that they are very easy to store because they stack quite neatly and compactly.

Gold Bullion Coins

Like bullion bars, gold bullion coins also come in a range of sizes and designs. Many countries cast their own special ranges of gold bullion coins with designs that are commemorative, limited, or collectable. There are also ranges of standard minted coins for general purchase.

These gold bullion coins will also contain information about their purity and weight endorsed by the mints and governments that issue them.

These coins are often sold in a sealed security capsule alongside a certificate of authenticity, but it is also possible to buy certain types of gold bullion coins loose, and then you will have to store them properly in order not to damage them and decrease their value.

Looking for Something Different? Gold Bullion Notes

Finally, a more unusual concept are gold bullion notes which are thin sheets of gold bullion encased in secure but flexible polyester layers.

These notes can be replicas of historic banknotes from different countries, or they can be unique designs that are one-of-a-kind or part of a special series.

Gold bullion notes also come in different weights, from as small as 1/1000 oz to 1/20 oz.

In some instances, gold bullion notes can actually be used as real currency in a specific area, such as the Utah Goldbacks. However, these aren’t really for investment purposes. More so for collectable.