How to Invest in Gold - The Definitive New Zealand Guide
Our guide explains everything you need to know before investing in gold, and outlines gold investment products specifically available from New Zealand.
Updated 5 December 2023
Background: As humans, we have a natural attraction to gold. Gold is the original form of money; the precious metal has been used as a medium of exchange for several thousand. Somehow, numerous ancient isolated cultures worldwide recognised the rare metal as a store of value and wealth. Today, there are numerous gold and gold-derivative products for investing or speculating.
In this guide, we outline the different gold investment products, such as buying physical coins and bullion. We also explain related products like mining stocks, or gold themed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a handful of derivative products. We cover:
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investments advice. This guide’s contents simply present various investment products associated with gold but do not suggest the appropriateness of any of these products to our readers.
Background: As humans, we have a natural attraction to gold. Gold is the original form of money; the precious metal has been used as a medium of exchange for several thousand. Somehow, numerous ancient isolated cultures worldwide recognised the rare metal as a store of value and wealth. Today, there are numerous gold and gold-derivative products for investing or speculating.
In this guide, we outline the different gold investment products, such as buying physical coins and bullion. We also explain related products like mining stocks, or gold themed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a handful of derivative products. We cover:
- Buying Gold - an Introduction to Coins, Bars and Jewellery
- Introduction to the New Zealand Mint
- Where to Buy Gold in New Zealand
- Gold - Taxes, Travelling and Safety
- Understanding Gold Premiums
- Other Ways to Invest (or Speculate) with Gold
- Investing in Gold - Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investments advice. This guide’s contents simply present various investment products associated with gold but do not suggest the appropriateness of any of these products to our readers.
Summary of investing in gold
- Physical gold comes from different producers in various formats, weights and purities; all of these attributes affect the prices you buy for and the price you may sell at in the future.
- Unfortunately, there is an active counterfeit gold market and other fraud and theft risks involved in buying and selling gold. Before keeping any quantity of gold at your home, you should evaluate the risks and consider professional storage solutions. Both approaches have pros and cons. Bullion Buyer was a fraudulent gold scheme that collapsed in 2012 and we believe there are many more currently operating.
- The New Zealand Mint is a privately owned company, unlike other mints in the commonwealth, such as Royal Mint, Perth Mint, and Royal Canadian Mint, which are owned by their respective state governments.
- New Zealand boasts several reputable dealers where you can buy gold in New Zealand dollars online.
- Various mints offer gold investment products allowing you to buy gold incrementally on an account where you don’t need to worry about buying fixed weights or paying premiums on physical coins.
- There are various indirect ways to invest in gold, such as investing in gold mining companies. Examples include Barrick Gold Corp ($GOLD), ETFs tracking gold mining companies like the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF ($GDX), or an ETC tracking the price of gold such as the iShares Physical Gold ETC ($SGNL). We do not endorse these investments in any way and only list them for relevance.
Your free guide to investing and trading in gold, thanks to BlackBull Markets
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Buying Gold - an Introduction to Coins, Bars and Jewellery
There are three primary ways to buy physical gold: coins, bars and jewellery. When deciding which to invest in, you should consider the characteristics of each format, which we outline in detail below.
1. Buying Gold Bullion Coins
Know this:
Know This: What are the most popular coins?
- Bullion coins come in different weights, purity and may or may not have a face value.
- Some coins are widely distributed, and others may be limited edition. Second-hand coins may be damaged, making them harder to authenticate.
- Coins can only be minted by mints authorised or owned by the government or state where it operates.
Know This: What are the most popular coins?
- The most popular investment coins are Britannias, Australian Nugget, Canadian Maples, American Eagles and Vienna Philharmonic and South African Krugerrands.
Coin |
Mint |
Fineness |
Face value (1 ozt) |
Denominations ozt |
Britannia |
Royal Mint |
999.9 (24 carats) |
£100 |
1, ½, ¼, 1/10 |
Australian Nugget |
Perth Mint |
999.9 (24 carats) |
AU$100 |
1kg, 10, 1, 1, ½, ¼, 1/10, 1/20 |
Canadian Maple |
Royal Canadian Mint |
999.9 (24 carats) |
CA$50 |
1, ½, ¼, 1/10, 1/20, 1g |
American Eagle |
US Mint |
916.7 (22 carats) |
US$50 |
1, ½, ¼ |
Vienna Philharmonic |
Austrian Mint |
999.9 (24 carats) |
€100 |
1, ½, ¼, 1/10, 1/25 |
South African Krugerrand |
Rand Refinery |
916.7 (22 carats) |
N/A |
1, ½, ¼, 1/10, 1/20, 1/50 |
As you can see from the table above, each coin has a fineness and face value. Coins may also have different compositions or be available in various denominations.
Although a coin might have lower fineness, it will still have the specified amount of gold. For example, a Britania coin is 99.9% gold and weighs 31.1 grams, whereas an American Eagle contains 91.67% gold but weighs 33.93 grams to account for the other metals in the composition. The American Eagle contains 91.67% gold, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper, whereas the South African Krugerrand is 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper.
Although a coin might have lower fineness, it will still have the specified amount of gold. For example, a Britania coin is 99.9% gold and weighs 31.1 grams, whereas an American Eagle contains 91.67% gold but weighs 33.93 grams to account for the other metals in the composition. The American Eagle contains 91.67% gold, 3% silver, and 5.33% copper, whereas the South African Krugerrand is 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper.
What is the best gold coin to buy?
While MoneyHub never offers any form of investment advice, logic would suggest the best option for investing in gold coins would be similar to the following strategy:
- Buy internationally recognised coins that everyone is familiar with, and buy standard 1 troy ounce weights.
- Avoid having an inconsistent collection of coins.
- If you want to sell multiple coins to the same person, it’s easier for them to authenticate a set rather than several different coins with individual hallmarks and security features.
2. Buying Gold Bullion Bars
Gold bars are a popular product for investing in gold. They come in various sizes, so you can scale all the way down to 1g and up to 1kg. Bars are generally cheaper than coins since they are easier to produce due to the lack of detail and intricacies in the production process.
Unlike coins produced by authorised mints either owned by or closely affiliated with the state issuing the coins, bars are also produced by refineries.
Here’s a brief list of popular gold refineries producing gold bars that you’ll see listed on various dealers’ websites:
Gold bars are produced by mints such as Perth Mint, Royal Mint, not just refineries. This means the number of producers for bars is significantly greater, leading to some uncertainty when selling. Refineries are private businesses and may be acquired or merged, causing the name to change or go out of business completely. Although the Royal Mint could be dissolved in the future, it would remain a legacy institution and part of centuries of British history and not quickly forgotten. This may seem far fetched but imagine for a second what if your children or grandchildren are selling the gold bars you passed on to them.
Unlike coins produced by authorised mints either owned by or closely affiliated with the state issuing the coins, bars are also produced by refineries.
Here’s a brief list of popular gold refineries producing gold bars that you’ll see listed on various dealers’ websites:
- PAMP SA - Switzerland
- Argor-Heraeus SA - Switzerland
- Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. - Japan
- Heraeus - Germany
- Credit Suisse - Switzerland
- Valcambi SA - Switzerland
Gold bars are produced by mints such as Perth Mint, Royal Mint, not just refineries. This means the number of producers for bars is significantly greater, leading to some uncertainty when selling. Refineries are private businesses and may be acquired or merged, causing the name to change or go out of business completely. Although the Royal Mint could be dissolved in the future, it would remain a legacy institution and part of centuries of British history and not quickly forgotten. This may seem far fetched but imagine for a second what if your children or grandchildren are selling the gold bars you passed on to them.
What is the best size gold bar to buy?
It depends on how much you’re prepared to invest and what your objectives are. The smaller the bar, the higher the premium you pay in proportion to the metal’s value. The cost to mint or stamp a bar and then package and transport it will be roughly the same whether it’s a 1g or 1 ozt bar.
3. Buying Gold Jewellery for Investing
Many consider buying jewellery as an instrument for investing in gold. In 2019, 48.5% of the global gold demand was attributed to jewellery, and only 29.2% was for investment. Gold jewellery adds another dimension to your investment; fashion. Instead of locking away coins or bars in a safe, you can opt for rings and chains.
Know this:
Rose gold is blended with copper and silver to gain a rosy colour. 14 carat rose gold is 58.3% gold, 32.5% copper and 9.2% silver.
When you buy gold jewellery, you’ll pay a much higher premium to cover the cost of the jeweller's time. When it comes time to sell, it will be much harder to find someone who wants to buy the item as it is, meaning you’ll probably sell for the scrap price as it will be melted down and repurposed.
Know this:
- Whenever you buy gold jewellery, it will never be 24 carats. Gold is a soft metal that you can easily damage, especially if you’re wearing it on you. Gold is alloyed with copper and zinc, and 22 carat is the purest you’ll find.
- 22 carat means it contains 91.67% gold, mixed with 8.33% of other precious or base metals; it’s the same fineness as the American Eagle and Krugerrand coins.
- 18 carat means it contains 75% gold and 25% other metals.
- Keep in mind that white and rose gold are alloys mixed with different metals to alter the colours. White gold could be blended with palladium, platinum and silver; the typical composition of 14 carats white gold is 58.3% gold, 32.3% silver and 9.5% palladium.
Rose gold is blended with copper and silver to gain a rosy colour. 14 carat rose gold is 58.3% gold, 32.5% copper and 9.2% silver.
When you buy gold jewellery, you’ll pay a much higher premium to cover the cost of the jeweller's time. When it comes time to sell, it will be much harder to find someone who wants to buy the item as it is, meaning you’ll probably sell for the scrap price as it will be melted down and repurposed.
Introduction to the New Zealand Mint
The New Zealand Mint is the only mint in New Zealand. Contrary to what the name suggests, NZ Mint is not the national mint of New Zealand. It is a privately owned company. The mint is not authorised to produce New Zealand dollars; however, it does produce bullion coins for some Pacific Islands like Niue and Fiji, which can be licensed to other countries.
For example, the Czech Mint’s Czech Lion flagship coin has a face value of NZD$50, issued by Niue, minted by NZ Mint. Some coins minted by NZ Mint have a face value, such as the 1oz Gold Turtle, issued by Niue, with a face value of NZ$250, whereas the 1oz Gold Kiwi does not have a face value.
Instead of using NZ Mint, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand uses the Royal Mint and Royal Canadian Mint to produce banknotes and coins for the legal tender in circulation.
For example, the Czech Mint’s Czech Lion flagship coin has a face value of NZD$50, issued by Niue, minted by NZ Mint. Some coins minted by NZ Mint have a face value, such as the 1oz Gold Turtle, issued by Niue, with a face value of NZ$250, whereas the 1oz Gold Kiwi does not have a face value.
Instead of using NZ Mint, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand uses the Royal Mint and Royal Canadian Mint to produce banknotes and coins for the legal tender in circulation.
Where to Buy Gold in New Zealand
New Zealand is fortunate to have several reputable gold dealers that sell new coins and bullion and repurchase them. We list three popular dealers below - the inclusion of any company listed below is not an endorsement.
NZ Mint
As outlined above, the New Zealand Mint is a reliable place to buy bullion in New Zealand. Although it’s a reputable company, the range of investment products is limited and does not offer coins or bars smaller than one ozt, unless you want a Harry Potter or Mickey Mouse coin, then ¼ ozt coins are available. It would be fair to categorise those coins as collectables rather than investments. If you’re looking to invest large amounts over a long-term horizon, it might be a good option for secure storage.
An account is not required to purchase coins from NZ Mint, and you can pay in USD or NZD by bank transfer, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard.
An account is not required to purchase coins from NZ Mint, and you can pay in USD or NZD by bank transfer, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard.
MyGold
MyGold is a popular bullion dealer with a wide range of products. The company is an authorised distributor of the Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and South African Mint. As a result, they stock Nuggets, Maples and Krugerrands. They even stock a variety of Chubb safes to keep your valuables safe at home.
MyGold offers safety deposit boxes in Auckland. The primary characteristics are:
MyGold offers a few ancillary services worth knowing about. They will buy back most coins and bars and any gold jewellery and offer gold testing using advanced techniques.
MyGold offers safety deposit boxes in Auckland. The primary characteristics are:
- 100% allocated, meaning your property is recorded as yours and cannot be accidentally sold to other customers;
- segregated, meaning your gold is not commingled with other customers; and,
- insured, meaning that in case of theft, destruction or another worst-case scenario, you will be protected from their negligence.
MyGold offers a few ancillary services worth knowing about. They will buy back most coins and bars and any gold jewellery and offer gold testing using advanced techniques.
New Zealand Gold Merchants
New Zealand Gold Merchants is a refinery based in Auckland. From the company’s website, you can buy a variety of globally recognised coins, minted bars from PAMP and ABC Refinery and their own brand of cast bars called NZ Pure, which are available in sizes between 1/2 ozt and 1kg.
New Zealand Gold Merchants buys old gold and silver and from jewellery or bullion. The prices they offer are transparently quoted for different purities in grams on their website.
They also offer a gold and silver storage saver account that allows you to buy gold in increments of 1g incrementally. The gold is sold for spot price plus 3.5%, which allows you to avoid paying high premiums on coins, bars or jewellery. At any time, you can sell the gold accrued in your account back to New Zealand Gold Merchants, and you can convert your gold into physical bars on demand.
New Zealand Gold Merchants buys old gold and silver and from jewellery or bullion. The prices they offer are transparently quoted for different purities in grams on their website.
They also offer a gold and silver storage saver account that allows you to buy gold in increments of 1g incrementally. The gold is sold for spot price plus 3.5%, which allows you to avoid paying high premiums on coins, bars or jewellery. At any time, you can sell the gold accrued in your account back to New Zealand Gold Merchants, and you can convert your gold into physical bars on demand.
Gold - Taxes, Travelling and Safety
Gold is not like a standard investment, although it's less complex than you may think. To help you understand the unique characteristics, we outline the tax, travel and security issues below.
New Zealand Taxes on Gold
According to the IRD, in New Zealand, if the fineness of the gold is greater than 99.5%, it is exempt from Goods and Services Tax (GST). Therefore, if you bought an Australian Nugget which is 99.99% fine, no GST would be added to the purchase price. However, if you bought an American Eagle, which is 91.67% fine, then GST is applicable.
Unfortunately, whether you should pay tax on the profits earned when selling gold is unclear. As there is no capital gains tax (CGT) in New Zealand, that’s not something you need to worry about. However, there are several specific rules concerning the tax obligation when disposing of certain assets, such as property, businesses or shares, but the Inland Revenue does not explicitly mention gold. In most cases, ignorance of the law is not a valid defence when defending your actions.
Whether you pay tax on the profits of a gold sale is subjective and something you should discuss with a qualified accountant or tax advisor. The advice you get will probably depend on your circumstances, such as how long you owned the gold, how much gold you’re selling, and the reason you’re selling.
For reference, in the UK, value-added tax (VAT), which is equivalent to GST, does not apply to any investment gold coins or bars. Capital gains tax applies to any profits from the sale of gold investments, except Britannia and Sovereign gold coins classed as currency and sterling are not considered assets for capital gains calculations.
Unfortunately, whether you should pay tax on the profits earned when selling gold is unclear. As there is no capital gains tax (CGT) in New Zealand, that’s not something you need to worry about. However, there are several specific rules concerning the tax obligation when disposing of certain assets, such as property, businesses or shares, but the Inland Revenue does not explicitly mention gold. In most cases, ignorance of the law is not a valid defence when defending your actions.
Whether you pay tax on the profits of a gold sale is subjective and something you should discuss with a qualified accountant or tax advisor. The advice you get will probably depend on your circumstances, such as how long you owned the gold, how much gold you’re selling, and the reason you’re selling.
For reference, in the UK, value-added tax (VAT), which is equivalent to GST, does not apply to any investment gold coins or bars. Capital gains tax applies to any profits from the sale of gold investments, except Britannia and Sovereign gold coins classed as currency and sterling are not considered assets for capital gains calculations.
Travelling with Gold
Travelling with gold can be complicated as rules vary depending on the departure and destination countries, the type of gold you’re travelling with and how much you have.
Most countries have a requirement to declare how much cash you’re taking from or bringing to their country according to global anti-money laundering efforts. When you depart from or arrive in New Zealand, you must complete an NZCS 337 Border Cash Report if you’re carrying NZ$10,000 or more in cash or foreign equivalent. Gold is considered cash, and therefore its value should be factored into whether you’re exceeding the limit.
It is not illegal or prohibited to carry more than NZ$10,000 in gold, but it is a nuisance, and you should be prepared to justify how you acquired it.
Many people naively assume that gold coins can be declared based on their face value. If you’re travelling with five Britannia coins with a face value of £100 each, you’re not actually travelling with £500 (NZ$1,000). If the current market value is NZ$2,500 per ozt, it would mean you’re travelling with an equivalent of NZ$12,500.
Some countries can have very creative rules for travelling with gold. In India, men have a duty free allowance of ₹50,000 (NZ$1,000) worth of gold, and women may travel with twice as much. Coins and bars are not permitted, only jewellery. Duty charged may be either 10% or 36.05%, depending on the quantity and how long you have been out of the country.
Most countries have a requirement to declare how much cash you’re taking from or bringing to their country according to global anti-money laundering efforts. When you depart from or arrive in New Zealand, you must complete an NZCS 337 Border Cash Report if you’re carrying NZ$10,000 or more in cash or foreign equivalent. Gold is considered cash, and therefore its value should be factored into whether you’re exceeding the limit.
It is not illegal or prohibited to carry more than NZ$10,000 in gold, but it is a nuisance, and you should be prepared to justify how you acquired it.
Many people naively assume that gold coins can be declared based on their face value. If you’re travelling with five Britannia coins with a face value of £100 each, you’re not actually travelling with £500 (NZ$1,000). If the current market value is NZ$2,500 per ozt, it would mean you’re travelling with an equivalent of NZ$12,500.
Some countries can have very creative rules for travelling with gold. In India, men have a duty free allowance of ₹50,000 (NZ$1,000) worth of gold, and women may travel with twice as much. Coins and bars are not permitted, only jewellery. Duty charged may be either 10% or 36.05%, depending on the quantity and how long you have been out of the country.
How to Keep Your Gold Safe
If you’re keeping your gold at home, there are several precautions to consider taking:
Larger bullion suppliers offer storage solutions for a fee. If your gold investment is large enough, it would be appropriate to consider keeping it in a vault or safety deposit box. Storing your gold with a vault also saves on delivery costs, making it easier to invest with international dealers or producers.
- Don’t tell anyone you keep gold at your house. Even if you tell someone you trust, they may share it with people you don’t know.
- Buy a safe with a fire-resistant rating. Even if you can’t bolt it down, it will still make it harder for thieves and protect your gold in the event of a fire.
- Check that your contents insurance covers gold and what the maximum payout would be in the event of an accident or incident.
Larger bullion suppliers offer storage solutions for a fee. If your gold investment is large enough, it would be appropriate to consider keeping it in a vault or safety deposit box. Storing your gold with a vault also saves on delivery costs, making it easier to invest with international dealers or producers.
Understanding Gold Premiums
The price of gold you see in trading platforms, shown on TV or given when you search online, is known as the spot price. The spot price is the international benchmark for raw metal and does not consider other factors like production, packaging, operational costs, logistics, or profit margins for dealers. We’re going to compare a few options with products and prices taken from New Zealand Gold Merchants (GoGold).
Important: Our researched for the following comparison was prepared on 4 October 2022. The spot price was $3,002.09
When prices have been around NZ$2,500, we have noted the following premiums and prices per gram:
Important: Our researched for the following comparison was prepared on 4 October 2022. The spot price was $3,002.09
When prices have been around NZ$2,500, we have noted the following premiums and prices per gram:
Product |
Weight |
Price (NZ$) |
Premium (NZ$) |
Premium (%) |
Price per gram (NZ$) |
Royal Mint Britannia Coin Gold |
1/10 ozt |
294.90 |
47.32 |
16.05 |
94.82 |
Royal Mint Britannia Coin Gold |
1/4 ozt |
701.20 |
82.26 |
11.73 |
90.18 |
Royal Mint Britannia Coin Gold |
1/2 ozt |
1,359.30 |
121.42 |
8.93 |
87.41 |
Royal Mint Britannia Coin Gold |
1 ozt |
2,645.70 |
169.94 |
6.42 |
85.07 |
PAMP Suisse Gold Minted Bar |
1g |
111.20 |
31.59 |
28.41 |
111.20 |
PAMP Suisse Gold Minted Bar |
5g |
453.90 |
55.87 |
12.31 |
90.78 |
PAMP Suisse Gold Minted Bar |
20g |
1,702.70 |
110.57 |
6.49 |
85.14 |
PAMP Suisse Gold Minted Bar |
1 ozt |
2,638.90 |
163.14 |
6.18 |
84.85 |
PAMP Suisse Gold Minted Bar |
50g |
4,192.20 |
211.88 |
5.05 |
83.84 |
Besides different weights having varying premiums, some producers have a tendency to be cheaper than others, which makes sense, as the NZ Pure bars produced domestically by GoGold are understandably going to be cheaper than those imported from Switzerland.
The table below compares different products that all contain one troy ounce:
The table below compares different products that all contain one troy ounce:
Product |
Weight |
Price (NZ$) |
Premium (NZ$) |
Premium (%) |
NZ Pure Gold Cast Bar |
1 ozt |
2,568.70 |
92.94 |
3.62 |
ABC Bullion Gold Cast Bar |
1 ozt |
2,587.70 |
111.94 |
4.33 |
ABC Bullion Minted Tablet Gold |
1 ozt |
2,605.70 |
129.94 |
4.99 |
PAMP Minted Bar Gold |
1 ozt |
2,638.90 |
163.14 |
6.18 |
Royal Mint Britannia Coin Gold |
1 ozt |
2,645.70 |
169.94 |
6.42 |
Royal Canadian Mint Maple Gold |
1 ozt |
2,649.90 |
174.14 |
6.57 |
Royal Australian Mint Gold Kangaroo |
1 ozt |
2,664.90 |
189.14 |
7.10 |
Other Ways to Invest (or Speculate) with Gold
There are many ways to invest or trade in gold, as we outline below:
1. Gold Investment Plans
Many gold dealers and refineries offer precious metal investments accounts that allow you to buy increments of gold and silver over time and adjust the amount you buy and when you buy. The advantages of precious metal investing account are that you can gradually increase your exposure without paying high premiums on smaller bars or coins. Meanwhile, you can get physical delivery in the future. It’s a great way to follow a dollar-cost averaging strategy.
One thing to remember is that gold dealers offering investment accounts are not licensed investment firms, so you’re relying exclusively on their corporate governance rather than regulatory oversight. Our advice is to do extra personal due diligence on any company you’re trusting with your gold savings account.
One thing to remember is that gold dealers offering investment accounts are not licensed investment firms, so you’re relying exclusively on their corporate governance rather than regulatory oversight. Our advice is to do extra personal due diligence on any company you’re trusting with your gold savings account.
2. Gold Stocks
Besides physically purchasing gold, there’s a variety of indirect ways to invest in gold. The gold and mineral mining sector grab attention whenever the gold price rallies. It’s only logical that the value of companies producing gold will increase as the cost of gold rises. The reasons miners benefit whenever gold experiences a bullish trend because demand increases alongside rising prices.
The most discussed gold stocks are:
To purchase gold-based stocks, you'll need to invest in the US markets. Our US share investing guide has more details.
The most discussed gold stocks are:
- Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)
- Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD; TSX:ABX)
- Yamana Gold Inc. (TSX:YRI; NYSE:AUY; LSE:AUY)
- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE:KGC)
- Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV)
To purchase gold-based stocks, you'll need to invest in the US markets. Our US share investing guide has more details.
3. Gold Mining Thematic ETFs
You can buy shares in gold-producing related companies, numerous thematic exchange-traded funds, indices, and baskets available from various exchanges and brokers.
Investing in the stock of a particular company relies on more than the associated sector thriving. Just because a niche is in vogue doesn’t guarantee the company will seize the opportunities. You’d still need to perform due diligence on any shares you purchase. By investing in gold-sector themed ETFs, you get balanced exposure to numerous companies.
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is the largest gold miner ETF with US$13.8bn in assets. The ETF consists of 52 securities; the five miners listed in the previous section comprise 39.5% of the fund. You can find a complete list of GDX constituents here.
Other popular gold mining ETFs are:
More details: Our guide to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has you covered.
Investing in the stock of a particular company relies on more than the associated sector thriving. Just because a niche is in vogue doesn’t guarantee the company will seize the opportunities. You’d still need to perform due diligence on any shares you purchase. By investing in gold-sector themed ETFs, you get balanced exposure to numerous companies.
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is the largest gold miner ETF with US$13.8bn in assets. The ETF consists of 52 securities; the five miners listed in the previous section comprise 39.5% of the fund. You can find a complete list of GDX constituents here.
Other popular gold mining ETFs are:
- VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ)
- Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares (NUGT)
- Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2x Shares (JNUG)
- iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)
More details: Our guide to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has you covered.
4. Gold ETFs and ETCs
Gold ETFs, sometimes known as exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), are a popular way to get incremental exposure to the price of gold. Unlike the thematic ETFs described in the previous section, gold ETCs hold one asset, gold. As the fund consists of a single commodity rather than a portfolio of instruments, they are often defined as exchange-traded commodities.
Well-known gold exchange-traded commodities are:
These ETFs can be purchased using investment platforms such as Stake, Sharesies and Hatch.
Well-known gold exchange-traded commodities are:
- SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)
- iShares Gold Trust (IAU)
- SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM)
- Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL)
- GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR)
These ETFs can be purchased using investment platforms such as Stake, Sharesies and Hatch.
5. Contracts for Difference, Futures and Options
Whenever you do an online search for “investing in gold”, it’s likely you’ll see ads for forex and CFD brokers that offer leveraged CFDs to speculate on gold. However, this isn’t investing. CFDs can be a useful instrument for hedging.
For example: Suppose you own 20 ounces of gold and the price begins to fall; you could enter a short position using a CFD to hedge against the price going down. For most traders, this would be too advanced and unnecessary for long term investors. CFDs are risky and have a high risk of returning losses - please do not get sucked into risky products by accident.
Beyond CFDs, Tiger Brokers (NZ) is one example of a share investing platform that also offers gold futures trading (along with futures in many other commodities).
For example: Suppose you own 20 ounces of gold and the price begins to fall; you could enter a short position using a CFD to hedge against the price going down. For most traders, this would be too advanced and unnecessary for long term investors. CFDs are risky and have a high risk of returning losses - please do not get sucked into risky products by accident.
Beyond CFDs, Tiger Brokers (NZ) is one example of a share investing platform that also offers gold futures trading (along with futures in many other commodities).
Investing in Gold - Frequently Asked Questions
Investing in gold can be complicated - we anticipate common concerns and queries below.
​What’s the difference between an ounce (oz) and a troy ounce (ozt)?
If you’ve ever followed a cooking recipe, you’ll probably have needed to convert ounces to grams. An ounce is 28.35 grams. A troy ounce is different, weighing in at 31.1 grams. A troy ounce is used almost exclusively in the precious metals industry, and most coins are produced according to the troy weight system.
What’s an ETC, and how is it different from an ETF?
ETC is an acronym for exchange-traded commodity. Whereas ETF is an acronym for exchange-traded fund. The difference between the two terms is the words commodity and fund. An ETC has most characteristics of an ETF except for it consisting exclusively of a commodity.
How can I invest in gold if I don’t have enough money for an entire ounce?
A few techniques for micro-investing in gold are outlined above. You could start purchasing smaller size coins or bars. Most coins are available as 1/10 ozt, and most bars are available as 1 gram. Another strategy is to incrementally buy gold using a savings account provided by a reputable dealer.
How do I sell gold in New Zealand?
If you need to sell your gold, don’t rush into any deals and make sure you’re getting a fair price. The safest and most reliable way to sell your gold is to sell it to a dealer. Other ways to sell could be at a pawn shop or online or newspaper classifieds. Unfortunately, a pawn shop will pay below market, and a private sale exposes you to counterparty risk. Because of this, it's most likely that your best bet is to deal with qualified gold dealers.
Is fake gold common in New Zealand?
Your ability to detect fake gold depends on the quality of the counterfeit. Fake coins are rare, as they possess much greater detail, so counterfeiters tend to avoid producing them. Smaller gold bars are minted, making it easier to spot imperfections, and they come in professional packaging, which is hard to mimic. Large 1kg cast bars are the easiest to fake, as they have less detail, and it’s relatively common to see scuff and marks. When you buy gold second-hand or resellers, you run the risk of exposing yourself to fake gold.
Your free guide to investing and trading in gold, thanks to BlackBull Markets
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