10 Oz Gold Bar (Brand our Choice)

Is it Easy to Start Investing with 10 oz Gold Bars?

Owning gold is an important step toward true diversification and protecting your wealth from the ravages of inflation. That is why it is important not to get “hung up” on which item to buy.

There are hundreds of gold bullion products from around the world. Choosing which to purchase can seem daunting, but it needn’t be. It is as simple as choosing whether you prefer the lower cost rounds and bars, or the trust and recognizability of government-issue coins. Then select from among the most popular (and liquid) items in that category. Stay well away from collectibles, unless you really know your stuff. If you do these things, it is very hard to go wrong.

Investors who are focused on buying gold at the lowest cost should take a look at 10-oz bars. It is one of the largest sized bars to be widely traded outside of the futures markets, and, because the manufacturing cost is lower on a per ounce basis the buyer can expect to save.

This article will focus on why the 10-oz. gold bar is popular, and compare its availability and accessibility to other bars and bullion coins. We will also explain premiums and why prices vary slightly from one gold bullion product to another.

The 10 oz Gold Bar

There are a number of gold bar manufacturers around the world. The Swiss refiners, PAMP Suisse and Credit Suisse, are both premier names. US producers include Asahi (formerly Johnson-Matthey). The Royal Canadian Mint is one of the sovereign (national) mints producing bars this size. Australia’s Perth Mint rounds out the list of refiners whose bars are most widely traded.

The design of the Perth Mint bar is typical in terms of design elements. The front features a relatively simple image, in this case Australia’s beloved kangaroo. The Mint’s logo is stamped on the back. Each bar is also stamped the 99.99% purity, the weight at 10 troy ounces, and a serial number. The bar is encased in a clear plastic bubble, surrounded by a tamper evident assay card certifying the bar’s authenticity.

Gold bars, and the 10-oz size in particular, are designed for investors and not for collectors. They are produced in bulk and intended to be sold as close as possible to the gold’s melt value. The price of a bar, as of this writing, is approximately $20,000 – not a trifling sum. This product appeals most to people looking to build a significant position in gold.

Ten-ounce gold bars are easy to find, though smaller bullion dealers may not have a large inventory on hand. Whether you are looking to buy several or you want a single bar for your stack, Money Metals Exchange will be able to accommodate your needs.

10 oz Gold Bar Premiums

Premiums are a part of bullion trading, but people entering the market for the first time often aren’t familiar with what they represent. Allow us to explain.

There are two components to the price of any bullion product. The first is the “spot” price for the underlying metal. This is the price people most often see quoted – in the newspaper or on financial TV. The other component is the “premium”. This includes the cost of taking the raw, purified gold and converting it to finished bars or coins. It also includes the bullion dealer’s profit. And, if the dealer bought the item from a wholesaler and paid a premium, that will be included.

Fortunately for investors, the bullion market is extraordinarily competitive and premiums are driven down by market forces. In general, 10-oz. gold bars come with a lower premium than gold bullion coins. This is in part because government mints charge more than private refiners for producing the coins. The larger unit size also helps. The cost of manufacturing a 10-oz bar is nowhere near 10 times the cost of producing the equivalent weight in 1-oz bars.

This lower cost makes ten-ounce bars a great investment vehicle. Lower up-front costs can mean better returns on your investment.

10 oz Gold Bar vs. Gold Bullion Coins

Although 10-oz. gold bars are attractive due to the lower premiums, they are not as popular or widely traded as the most popular gold coin 1 oz. It is safe to say that the gold bar will cost less per ounce to buy, but it will also bring less when it is time to re-sell. For investors who want maximum liquidity, the gold coins from the US and Canadian mints are hard to beat.

The bars will offer the lowest overall price per ounce of gold. They may also be more efficient to store, if space is very limited. There is a “cool” factor. The size of a 10-oz bar makes quite an impression relative to the smaller coins and the packaging in assay holders is something you won’t get with coins.

After setting aside cost, the primary difference between bars and coins is one of aesthetics. Some investors will choose coins over 10-oz. gold bars because coins have widely varied designs and can offer some historical or ideological interest. Other investors will prefer the look of bars. And, perhaps most often, gold fans will accumulate some of both.

Where to Buy 10 oz Gold Bars?

Gold bars, including the 10-oz size are widely available at bullion dealers. Most towns will have coin shops who also buy and sell bars. There are also national dealers, such as Money Metals Exchange, who offer live pricing online and will ship your order directly to you.

Pricing will vary from dealer to dealer, so it will be worth your while to shop and compare prices. You will also want to check online reviews and see what customers are saying about a dealer before placing your order.

Buyers may also find bars on auction sites such as eBay. However, the transaction fees firms such as eBay charge to the seller often make the prices higher. And buyers will need to be careful because sellers can be less than reputable.

Conclusion

Ten-ounce bars are a great option for buyers whose main priority is to buy gold at the lowest possible price per ounce. These bars typically come attractively packaged in an assay holder, protected from scratches and scuffing. The certification included on the package will provide some assurance that the bar is genuine and untampered.

We don’t often recommend gold investors begin their holding with a bar this size. Smaller 1-oz coins and bars are more affordable and more versatile in that they can be resold an ounce at a time. But 10-oz bars are a great addition to any holding which already includes some smaller units.