FAQ – Investment Gold and Silver

Looking for answers about investment gold and silver? We have put together an overview of the most frequent questions from GOLDU clients – how to buy investment gold and investment silver, how buy-back works, what fineness bars have, why gold is exempt from VAT and silver is subject to VAT, and how price fixing and delivery work.

Buying Investment Gold and Silver

How do I buy investment gold and silver?

Investment gold and silver can be bought safely online from a specialised precious metals dealer. At GOLDU you choose from the offer of investment gold and investment silver – in particular gold bars, gold coins, silver bars and silver coins –, create an order, and once it is confirmed we fix the price for you to pay.

What is investment gold?

Investment gold is physical gold intended primarily to preserve value. It is most often sold in the form of gold bars and investment gold coins. The key factors are weight, fineness, origin, manufacturer and tradeability. The GOLDU offer features products from reputable refineries and mints that are well recognised and tradeable on the international market.

What is investment silver?

Investment silver is physical silver for long-term holding, portfolio diversification or regular purchases. It is most often sold as silver bars and investment silver coins. Unlike investment gold, investment silver is not exempt from VAT – so VAT applies when buying silver.

What is the difference between investment gold and silver?

Gold is usually a more stable store of value and is exempt from VAT within the EU when statutory conditions are met. Silver is often more affordable and more volatile, but it is subject to VAT. The choice depends on your goals, budget and investment horizon.

Is a gold bar or an investment gold coin better?

It depends on the purpose of the purchase. Gold bars are suitable especially for clients who watch the price per gram and want to build value in physical gold efficiently; smaller bars suit beginners, regular smaller purchases or a valuable gift. Investment gold coins are popular for their well-known designs, international recognisability and good tradeability; the year of issue, mint, design and face value can also play a role.

Which products are suitable for beginners?

For beginners, smaller gold bar weights are often suitable, for example 1g, 2g, 5g or 10g. They allow you to enter the world of physical investment gold with a lower amount and gradually build a portfolio. For larger purchases, higher weights or ounce products may be more advantageous, as they usually offer a better price per gram.

Which refineries and mints does GOLDU buy from?

We buy exclusively from renowned refineries on the LBMA Good Delivery list (e.g. Argor-Heraeus, PAMP, Valcambi) and from recognised state mints (Münze Österreich, The Royal Mint, The Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and others). You can find an overview on the Investment Gold and Silver Refineries page.

Price, VAT and Taxes

How is the price of investment gold determined?

The price depends mainly on the current world gold price, the exchange rate, the weight of the product, the manufacturer, the type of workmanship, the trade margin and the current market situation. The price is shown directly with each item in the shop; after the order is created and confirmed, the price is fixed in accordance with the Delivery and Payment Terms.

Is investment gold exempt from VAT?

Yes. Investment gold is exempt from VAT within the EU when the statutory conditions are met. This applies in particular to investment gold bars and selected investment gold coins meeting the legal requirements.

Is VAT charged on investment silver?

Yes. VAT applies to investment silver; silver bars and coins are not exempt in the same way as investment gold. When comparing gold and silver, therefore, allow for a different tax regime.

Why does the gold price change?

The price changes according to supply and demand on world markets, the development of exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, the geopolitical situation and investor sentiment. Physical gold is also affected by the availability of specific products, production costs and margin. Past performance is no guarantee of future development – more in the Risk Disclosure document.

Authenticity, Fineness and Security

How do I recognise the authenticity of a gold bar or coin?

Authenticity is assessed by several features: manufacturer, weight, dimensions, fineness, certificate, protective packaging, serial number and overall workmanship. For reputable products, authenticity is supported by protective features, for example a sealed blister, a certificate or a special technology (Kinebar, VeriScan).

What does fineness 999.9/1000 Au mean?

Fineness 999.9/1000 Au means the product contains 999.9 parts of gold out of 1000 parts of material – a standard designation for the very high fineness of investment gold. For silver, the designation 999/1000 Ag is often used. For GOLDU products we state the manufacturer, origin and standard where relevant.

What is LBMA Good Delivery?

LBMA Good Delivery is a globally recognised quality standard for gold and silver refineries. Bars from refineries on this list are internationally recognised and easily tradeable. More on the Investment Gold and Silver Refineries page.

What is Kinebar?

Kinebar is a security technology used on selected gold bars. On the back of the bar there is a holographic protective feature, Kinegram®, which increases protection against counterfeiting and makes visual verification easier.

What is VeriScan?

VeriScan is a security technology used on selected PAMP products. It allows verification of the bar's unique microscopic surface, which works like a fingerprint of the specific piece, and increases confidence in authenticity.

What is an authenticity certificate (assay certificate)?

An authenticity certificate (assay certificate, e.g. CertiPAMP or assay card) confirms the manufacturer, weight and fineness of the bar. For bars it is often part of the sealed blister and makes future sale and buy-back easier. We recommend keeping the certificate together with the product.

Order, Price Fixing, Payment and Delivery

What does price fixing mean?

Price fixing means that after the order is confirmed, the price is set according to the current conditions and is binding for 12 hours, within which the order must be paid. Because the price of gold and silver changes continuously, fixing protects both the client and the seller against a price change after confirmation.

How do I pay for my order?

You pay for the order by bank transfer according to the payment instructions; by arrangement, cash payment upon personal collection is also possible. You can find the bank details on the Bank Details page and the details in the Delivery and Payment Terms.

Can I pay in EUR or USD?

Yes, we accept payments in CZK, EUR and USD. You can find the current payment details on the Bank Details page; for transactions in foreign currency, please take currency risk into account.

How quickly is the goods dispatched?

We have all the offered goods in stock. After payment is credited, the order is ready for dispatch or personal collection, and we usually dispatch it no later than the next business day.

How is the goods packed and are shipments insured?

The goods are checked before dispatch and packed discreetly in multiple protective layers, with no indication of the contents. Packing and dispatch take place under camera surveillance, and shipments are insured for the value of the goods. Details can be found in the Delivery and Payment Terms.

Is personal collection possible?

Yes, personal collection is possible by prior arrangement in Prague (BETA building – Brumlovka). Please arrange an appointment in advance – see Contact.

Buy-back of Investment Gold and Silver

How does gold buy-back work?

Buy-back takes place on the basis of presenting the product, verifying its authenticity, checking the condition, weight, fineness and manufacturer, and determining the current buy-back price. After the check we inform you of the final offer. Details can be found in the Buy-back Conditions.

Does GOLDU also buy back silver?

Buy-back of silver is possible by individual arrangement and depends on the type of product, condition, origin, tradeability and current demand. For silver, allow for a different tax regime and market conditions than for gold.

Is the buy-back price the same as the sale price?

No. The sale price includes, in addition to the metal value, the costs of production, distribution, packaging, transport, storage, insurance and margin. The buy-back price is determined according to the current market situation and the specific product and may be lower than the acquisition price.

Storage, Risks and the Nature of Information

How do I store investment gold and silver safely?

Physical precious metals require safe storage (e.g. a home safe or a bank safe-deposit box) and ideally insurance. We recommend keeping the products in their original sealed packaging together with the certificate, which makes later sale or buy-back easier.

What are the risks of investing in precious metals?

The prices of precious metals fluctuate according to developments on world markets; the value of the investment may rise as well as fall, and past performance is no guarantee of future returns. A summary of the risks can be found in the Risk Disclosure and Nature of the Information Provided document.

Is buying gold investment advice?

No. The information on the GOLDU website is of a general, informative nature and does not constitute investment advice or an individual recommendation. Each client should consider their financial situation, investment horizon and own goals.

Why Buy at GOLDU?

Why choose GOLDU?

GOLDU is a specialised dealer in investment gold and silver. We focus on new, original and uncirculated products from reputable global refineries and mints; we never sell goods from buy-backs. We offer transparent prices, products in stock, secure packaging and a professional approach – more on the Why GOLDU page.

What products does GOLDU offer?

The offer features in particular investment gold bars and coins and investment silver bars and coins. We select products with emphasis on origin, quality, tradeability and the credibility of the manufacturer.

Want to Start Buying Investment Gold or Silver?

Browse the offer of investment gold and investment silver, or contact us – we are happy to advise you on your choice.

Contact and Identification Details

Baumann Group a.s., operator of the GOLDU® brand

  • Registered office / personal collection: BETA building – Brumlovka, Vyskočilova 1481/4, 140 00 Praha 4, Czech Republic
  • Company ID (IČO): 22263284
  • VAT ID (DIČ): CZ22263284
  • Commercial Register: Municipal Court in Prague, Section B, Insert 29197
  • Assay Office – registration number: 15961
  • Web: www.goldu.cz
  • Data box: xtps2mn
  • E-mail: info@goldu.eu
  • Phone: +420 601 359 200
Exclusively New Products

Exclusively New Products

We sell only new and unused investment bars and coins. Our range does not include products from buy-backs.

Secure shipping

Secure shipping

Each shipment is carefully packed and dispatched under constant camera surveillance.

Available immediately

Available immediately

All offered bars and coins are in stock and are usually dispatched on the next business day.

LBMA Good Delivery

LBMA Good Delivery

The investment bars come from refineries listed on the LBMA Good Delivery List.