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Our Best Value range of coins and bars offer lower prices for pre-owned gold.

Buying gold – Where to start

Buying physical gold gives you a choice of coins and bars in a range of sizes and values. The right option will depend on factors such as how much you want to invest, whether flexibility when selling is important to you, and the tax treatment of the gold you choose.

At Physical Gold, you can buy gold coins including British Sovereigns and Britannias, or choose from our range of gold bars. All of the investment-grade gold we sell is VAT-free, with fully insured UK delivery or secure storage available.

If you’re new to buying physical gold, our complete guide to buying gold bullion covers the key considerations in more detail.

Gold coins or gold bars?

Both gold coins and gold bars provide a way to own physical gold, but there are some important differences.

Gold bars generally carry lower premiums over the underlying gold price, particularly at larger sizes, which can make them a cost-effective way of buying a greater quantity of gold. Coins can provide greater flexibility because a holding can be sold in smaller amounts. Certain UK legal-tender gold coins also have an additional tax advantage because they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.

Our complete guide to buying gold bullion explains the different options in more detail.

Popular UK gold investment coins

Two of the most popular choices for UK investors are Gold Sovereigns and Gold Britannias.

Gold Sovereigns are smaller British gold coins, which can make it easier to divide a holding into smaller amounts when selling. They are VAT-free and, as UK legal tender, are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.

Gold Britannias are available in a range of sizes, including the widely recognised 1oz Britannia. Modern Britannias have been produced in 999.9 fine gold since 2013 and, like Sovereigns, are VAT-free and exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.

Understanding gold premiums

The price of a physical gold coin or bar is normally higher than the underlying value of the gold it contains. This difference is known as the premium and can reflect factors including manufacturing, distribution, availability and market demand.

Premiums vary between products. Larger gold bars will generally have lower premiums per gram than smaller bars, while premiums on individual coins can vary according to their type, size and availability.

Understanding premiums can help when comparing different ways of buying physical gold. Read our guide to gold coin premiums for a more detailed explanation.

Tax on physical gold

Investment-grade gold benefits from favourable tax treatment in the UK. Qualifying investment gold is exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged when you purchase eligible gold coins or bars.

Capital Gains Tax is different. Gold bars and many overseas gold coins can potentially be subject to CGT when sold at a profit, whereas qualifying UK legal-tender coins, including Gold Sovereigns and Gold Britannias, are exempt from CGT for UK residents.

The tax position can therefore be an important consideration when choosing which type of physical gold to buy. Read more about Capital Gains Tax and precious metals.

Delivery and secure storage

Once you have chosen your gold, you can have it delivered or arrange for it to be stored securely.

Physical Gold offers fully insured UK delivery as well as specialist vault storage for investors who would prefer not to keep their gold at home. Both options allow you to retain ownership of physical gold while choosing the arrangement that best suits your requirements.

Find out more about gold delivery and secure storage.

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