If one is just trying to acquire as much gold as possible, both gold bars and standard gold bullion coins are a viable option. If one is simply looking to purchase gold for the lowest price possible, gold bars will often be the most cost-efficient way to buy gold bullion. Bars carry lower premiums than coins because they have no face value, are not backed by government mints, are rarely considered collectables, and most gold bars are easier to make than gold coins.
For example, today a 1 oz American Gold Eagle coin may be bought from a dealer for $1355. That same dealer is also offering a 1 oz OPM gold bar for $1323. That’s about a $30 difference per ounce of gold bullion! Gold bars can also be purchased in fractional sizes such as 1 gram, 2 gram, 5 gram, 20 gram, 50 gram and more. The fractional sizes, however, will typically carry larger premiums than a standard 1 ounce or 1-kilo bar due to higher manufacturing costs associated with producing smaller bullion items.