goudstaven

Goudstaven are bars of refined gold used as a form of investment and as reserve assets by individuals, financial institutions, and central banks. They come in a range of sizes and are valued for their Gold content rather than artistic factors, making them a common means to store wealth and hedge against economic fluctuations. The term is primarily used in Dutch-speaking contexts and is synonymous with gold bullion bars.

Purity and standards are important in the gold bar market. Most widely traded bars have high fineness, typically 99.5% or higher, and many are refined to 99.9% or more. Large institutional bars, often referred to as Good Delivery bars, are standardized by international bodies and usually weigh about 12.4 kilograms (around 400 troy ounces) with a fineness commonly at 995 (99.5%). Each bar is usually stamped with the fineness, weight, mint or refinery, and a serial number to aid authentication.

Sizes and forms vary to meet different needs. Retail investors commonly purchase bars ranging from 1 gram up to 1 kilogram, with popular smaller sizes including 1 oz (31.1035 g) and 10 g bars. Refined mints and private producers manufacture many other weights and shapes to facilitate buying, selling, and storage.

Market and handling considerations. Gold bars are traded on bullion markets where prices follow the spot price of gold plus premiums for minting, brand, and size. They are typically stored in secure vaults and insured, with authenticity verified through certificates, serial numbers, and sometimes assay reports. Buyers are advised to purchase from reputable dealers and to verify provenance and standards before acquisition.