The 5 Best Gold Bars to Buy For Investment in 2024

Disclaimer: The owners of this website may be paid to recommend Goldco or other companies. The content of this website, including any positive reviews of Goldco & other reviews, may not be neutral or independent. We may receive a commission from the companies we recommend. The content of this site is informational in nature and should not be relied upon without consulting an investment professional.

Last Updated: July 18, 2024

The magnetism of gold has fascinated investors for generations, offering a tangible and timeless shield against economic instability. In the dynamic landscape of investments, gold emerges as a symbol of steadiness, providing financial safety and an appealing avenue for growth.

However, not every bar is the same, and picking the best gold bars for investment is critical to maximizing profits and minimizing risk. This information will navigate you through the top best gold bars for investment, their distinctive advantages, and vital factors to remember when purchasing them.

From Credit Suisse to Engelhard, we will explore the intriguing realm of gold bars and why they have remained a popular choice for investors globally. Whether you are an experienced investor or just beginning to build your precious metals portfolio, this information will equip you with valuable knowledge and expert advice on selecting the best gold bars to buy for investment.

Key Takeaways

Top 5 Gold Bars for Investment

Gold bars come in various shapes, sizes, and purities, but only a select few rise above the rest as the best options for investment. These top gold bullion bars are produced by reputable manufacturers, guaranteeing their quality and global recognition.

We'll explore the best brands for investment, discussing their unique features and benefits. The five gold bullion coins and five gold bullion bars that we'll be focusing on are:

  1. Credit Suisse
  2. Johnson Matthey
  3. Perth Mint
  4. Valcambi
  5. Engelhard


Navigating the world of gold investments requires focusing on investments that meet high purity, weight, and manufacturer reputation standards. By selecting top-tier gold brands, you can be confident in the quality and value of your investment. In the subsequent sections, we will examine the top five bars, outlining their unique features and advantages.

Credit Suisse Gold Bars

Credit Suisse gold bars are renowned for their simplicity and elegance, making them popular among investors. These bullion products, also known as gold bullion bars, are developed by the prestigious Credit Suisse Group and feature unique serial numbers for authentication purposes.

With a purity of .9999, a Credit Suisse bar is available in various sizes, ranging from 0.05 to 50 oz. PAMP (Products Artistiques and Métaux Précieux or “artistic gold products”) manufactures these Credit Suisse gold bars. The name itself reflects their commitment to creating high-quality art with gold.

An investment in Credit Suisse bars offers the following benefits:

Johnson Matthey Gold Bars

Johnson Matthey bars are trusted worldwide for their affordability and variety of sizes. Johnson Matthey, a British conglomerate, is responsible for these gold bullion bars. They come in the following sizes:

Their accreditation by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) further solidifies their reputation as a reliable gold bullion investment option.

The benefits of investing in these bars include their worldwide trust, range of sizes and designs, and lower premiums. Opting for these bars equates to investing in a product with a proven track record and robust market presence.

Top 3 Companies to Buy Gold Bars From in 2024

Best Overall
9.7

Bar Code Score Card ™

5/5
Goldco
Excellent customer service from precious metals experts.
Best For Service
9.4

Bar Code Score Card ™

5/5
American Hartford Gold
5 Star customer service, easy to work with, and a low price guarantee.
Best For Education
8.9

Bar Code Score Card ™

4.5/5
Augusta Precious Metals
Earned best overall gold IRA company of 2022 by Investopedia's most transparent.

Perth Mint Bars

Perth gold and gold-minted bars offer a unique combination of beauty, quality, and investment potential. The Perth Mint is a government-owned institution that produces high-quality gold bullion and gold-minted bars. These gold minted bars are available in various weights, with a fineness of 0.9999 and denominations of:

The distinctive design features a rectangular shape with tapered corners, the Perth Mint’s logo, and a recurrent pattern of hopping kangaroo motifs on the reverse.

Perth Mint bars have the following features:

Investing in Perth Mint bars yields a high-quality and globally recognized bullion product with a high gold fineness. They are a gold brand you can trust when you buy gold bars online.

Valcambi Gold CombiBar

The Valcambi Gold CombiBar is a unique and innovative bar offering investors customization and flexibility. This bar features:

Valcambi Gold CombiBars are advantageous for investment and IRA purposes due to their customizable features.

Choosing Valcambi Gold CombiBars equates to investing in a versatile and unique gold bullion product, offering enhanced flexibility and control over your investment.

Engelhard Gold Bars

Engelhard gold bars are highly sought for their rarity, variety of designs and sizes, and high purity level. These bars are produced by the well-established American metal company Engelhard, which has operated for over a century.

The bars have a purity of 0.9999, and their design features the Engelhard logo of ‘E’ inside a globe, weight, purity, ‘ENGELHARD’ logo, and serial number on the obverse. At the same time, the reverse displays a repeating diagonal design of the ‘Engelhard’ logo and a slightly raised border.

The one-ounce Engelhard bars are highly sought after in the gold bullion market due to their superior quality and longevity. As they are no longer in production, they are also valuable to collectors.

Investing in Engelhard bars secures a rare, high-quality gold product with a robust market presence, making them popular among bullion bars enthusiasts.

Advantages of Gold Investments

Gold investments offer numerous benefits, making them the preferred choice for investors seeking stability, ease of storage and transport, and lower premiums than gold investments.

Bars hedge against market volatility and inflation, ensuring your investment remains secure even during economic uncertainty. Buying bars is a wise decision for those looking to protect their wealth.

In addition to the financial advantages, bars are also convenient for storage and transportation due to their compact size and shape. Gold bars typically have lower premiums than gold coins, making them a more cost-effective option for investors.

Gold bars have long been considered a safe haven for investors during economic and political uncertainty. As a tangible asset, gold provides a hedge against market volatility and inflation, protecting your investment from the unpredictable fluctuations of the stock market.

This stability makes bars attractive for investors looking to diversify their portfolios and shield their assets from potential economic downturns.

In addition to their inherent stability, gold offers tax advantages when included in a gold IRA, providing further protection for your retirement funds.

One of the primary advantages of investing in bars is their ease of storage and transport. Unlike other investment assets, bars are compact and lightweight, making them simple to store in various locations, such as a home safe, bank deposit box, or secure storage facility.

This convenience allows investors to maintain control over their investments and have peace of mind knowing their assets are secure.
Ensuring the safe storage and transport of your gold bars helps protect your investment, preserving its value for the long term.

Gold bars typically have lower premiums than Royal Canadian Mint gold coins, making them a more cost-effective option for investors. The lower premiums associated with gold bars are due to their larger size, resulting in lower production costs and, consequently, lower premiums.

Investing in a pure bar allows you to purchase gold at a lower cost, amplifying your investment potential and enabling more gold acquisition for your money.

In addition to their lower premiums, smaller bars also offer a high level of purity, typically .9999 fineness, ensuring a quality investment.

Carefully choosing gold bars with lower premiums and high purity lets investors maximize their investment dollars and secure a valuable portfolio asset while keeping an eye on gold ingot prices.

Choosing the Right Bar Size

Selecting the ideal bar size for your investment is an important decision that can significantly impact your success. Choosing the right bar size necessitates considering factors like lower premiums for larger bars and easier divisibility for smaller bars.

Each investor’s preferences and financial goals will determine the best bar size for their needs when first buying gold bars.

We will explore the benefits of investing in larger gold bars with lower premiums and smaller ones with easier divisibility.

By understanding the advantages and implications of each gold bullion bar size, investors can make an informed decision and add gold bullion and bars to buy those that best suit their investment goals and requirements.

Investing in larger gold bars can lower premiums, making them more cost-effective for investors. Larger traditional gold bars typically have reduced production costs, resulting in lower premiums than smaller ones.

Investing in larger gold bars allows you to optimize your investment potential and acquire more gold for your money when you purchase the best gold bars to buy for investment.

Some popular larger gold bars include the 1 kg Metal Bar. While larger gold bars may require a more significant initial investment, the potential for lower premiums and increased value over time makes them an attractive option for investors seeking gold bars to buy as a cost-effective gold investment. You will also profit more when you sell your gold bars to buy one with more considerable gold weight.

On the other hand, smaller bars offer easier divisibility, allowing for more flexibility when cashing out or liquidating investments.

Smaller gold bars can be sold or traded in smaller portions, giving investors more flexibility and liquidity. This increased divisibility can be particularly advantageous for investors needing to liquidate a part of their basic bar investment without selling the entire bar.

While smaller gold bars may come with higher premiums than larger gold bars, their benefits in terms of divisibility and flexibility can outweigh the additional costs for some investors.

Gold Bars and Precious Metals IRAs

Investing in gold bars through a gold IRA offers an attractive option for investors looking to diversify their retirement portfolio and protect their assets from economic uncertainty.

If you buy gold bars for a gold IRA, you can provide a hedge against inflation, safeguarding your retirement funds from potential financial risks. In addition, gold bars that meet IRS requirements for gold fineness can be included in a self-directed IRA, offering tax benefits and a stable, long-term investment option when you buy gold.

In the following sections, we will explore the process of investing in gold bars and bullion coins through a Precious Metals IRA, including information on IRS-approved gold bars and tips for choosing a reputable Gold IRA company to help you buy gold bars.

Investors can make informed decisions and secure their financial future by understanding the requirements and benefits of investing in gold bars and silver bullion through a Precious Metals IRA.

IRS-Approved Gold Bars

Ensuring that the gold bars meet the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements is critical when you buy gold through a Precious Metals IRA.

IRS-approved gold bars must have a purity of at least 99.5% to be eligible for inclusion in a self-directed IRA. Selecting gold bars that meet these fine gold requirements allows investors to enjoy the tax benefits and stability offered by a Precious Metals IRA to protect against stock market volatility when they add gold bullion bars from an official silver coin producer.

Some examples of IRS-approved gold bars include:

By carefully buying gold bars that meet IRS requirements, investors can maximize the benefits of their Precious Metals IRA and protect their retirement funds from potential financial risks since gold bars tend to retain or rise in value during times of economic downturn

Choosing a Reputable Gold IRA Company

Selecting a reputable Gold IRA company is crucial for the success of your precious metals bullion investment. A trustworthy and experienced Gold IRA company can help you with:

Considering factors like the company’s reputation, customer reviews, and the range of services it offers is crucial when choosing a Gold IRA company for financial security.

By comparing multiple Gold IRA companies and conducting thorough research, investors can select a reliable and trustworthy partner to manage their popular gold bars investment and safeguard their retirement funds.

Factors to Consider When Buying Bars

Considering several crucial factors to ensure the quality and value of your investment is a must before investing in a pure gold bar. This section will discuss the importance of bar purity, weight, and manufacturer reputation – factors that can significantly impact the success of your first purchase of gold bars quarters and make high-quality gold bars for investment.

Carefully considering these aspects enables investors to make informed decisions and optimize the potential of their British Royal Mint gold investments. Research is critical when you invest in gold.

Understanding these factors helps investors invest in gold for their portfolios and offers insights into the gold market, gold price, and the nuances of gold investment, including precious metals production. Knowing these essential factors allows investors to make better-informed decisions and secure a valuable portfolio asset at competitive prices.

Purity is critical when searching for bar brands to buy, as it directly impacts the value of the gold bar and gold ingots. Bar purity is typically measured in karats or fineness, with 24 karats being the highest level of purity and .9999 fineness representing a bar with 99.99% pure gold content. The fineness level is determined when the manufacturers are pouring molten gold.

Ensuring a high purity level when buying gold is essential for a quality investment, particularly when including gold bars in a Precious Metals IRA, as the IRS has established minimum gold purity requirements.

By choosing a basic gold bar with a high level of purity, such as the Engelhard Gold Bar brand mentioned earlier, investors can be confident in the quality and value of their investment, especially when they sell gold bars.

Weight is another essential factor to consider when investing in the most basic gold bar or gold quarters, as it directly affects the cost of the gold bar. Gold bars are available in various weight categories, including grams, ounces, and kilograms, with common weight categories ranging from 1 gram to 1 kilogram.

The weight of a gold bar not only determines its value but also influences its size and dimensions, making it easier to store and transport.

By carefully considering the weight of the gold bar, investors can ensure they are purchasing a gold bar that aligns with their investment goals and preferences. Whether you prefer larger gold bars with lower premiums or smaller ones with easier divisibility, the weight of the gold bar plays a significant role in determining the overall cost and success of your gold investment.

Lastly, the reputation of the gold bar manufacturer is a critical element to consider when investing in gold bars. Reputable manufacturers, such as those behind the top five gold bars mentioned earlier in the article, ensure the quality and legitimacy of the best gold bar brands.

By buying gold and bars from reputable manufacturers, investors can have confidence in the quality of their investment and minimize the risk of purchasing counterfeit or low-quality gold bars. In addition, well-established manufacturers often have strong relationships with gold dealers and refiners, ensuring a secure supply chain and reliable market presence for your gold bar investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Johnson Matthey gold bars are widely regarded as the best for investors due to their high-quality standards and distinctive design. Credit Suisse, Sunshine Mint 1 oz Gold Bars, Perth Mint “Gold Minted Bars,” and 1 oz Gold Bar Valcambi Suisse are popular gold bar brands for investors.

 

For those seeking a long-term investment, 1-ounce or 10-ounce gold bars are the best size as they offer a lower premium over spot gold prices. These gold bars are easier to store and transport and are available in 99.99% pure gold, making them an excellent option for investment when you want to buy gold bars.

Buying the best gold bar brands is a wise choice for investors, as it offers security in uncertain times, providing a hedge against inflation and holding value, which gives diversification to an investment portfolio and can be easily converted to cash.

 

Investors with large budgets can add bullion bars for a low premium, making them one of the most cost-effective gold investments. Thus, 1 oz gold bars can be good, especially when you sell gold.

Beginners can buy gold through local licensed retailers, online retailers, private dealers, jewelry stores, coin shops, central banks, and private and government mints. Buying from a reputable source is important to ensure you get precisely what is represented. You can also purchase physical gold from online gold dealers or pawn shops.

Our Final Thoughts

We have explored the fascinating world of gold bars and Royal Canadian Mint gold coins and their role as a reliable and valuable investment option. Investors can ensure the quality and value of their gold bar investments by selecting top-tier gold bars, such as Credit Suisse, Johnson Matthey, Perth Mint, Valcambi, and Engelhard.

Furthermore, considering factors such as purity, weight, and manufacturer reputation can help investors make informed decisions and choose the best gold bars for their portfolios. Gold prices also play a pivotal role in selecting gold and silver bars and gold coins.

As a timeless and tangible asset, gold bars and silver bars hedge against economic uncertainty, portfolio stability, and growth opportunities. By understanding the nuances of gold bar investments and carefully selecting the right gold bars, investors can secure their financial future and protect their assets for generations to come.

Top Rated Gold & Silver Companies in 2024
Best Overall
9.7

Bar Code Score Card ™

5/5
Goldco
Excellent customer service from precious metals experts.
Best For Service
9.4

Bar Code Score Card ™

5/5
American Hartford Gold
5 Star customer service, easy to work with, and a low price guarantee.
Best For Education
8.9

Bar Code Score Card ™

4.5/5
Augusta Precious Metals
Earned best overall gold IRA company of 2022 by Investopedia's most transparent.
4
7.9

Bar Code Score Card ™

4/5
Birch Gold
High level of customer service and a solid reputation
5
7.0

Bar Code Score Card ™

4/5
Noble Gold
High level of customer service and a solid reputation