Gold by the Pound: Frequently Asked Questions
Prices on this page use gold spot at $3,929.50/troy oz ($57,305/lb) · updated
Short answers to the questions readers ask most, with links to the page that covers each in full. Prices on this page are spot values and update with the rest of the site.
The Pound
What does "gold by the pound" actually mean?
It means sizing a gold purchase in pounds of weight. The gold itself is still sold in troy ounces, so a pound becomes an order of 14.583 troy ounces, normally rounded to fifteen one-ounce pieces.
Which pound is it?
The everyday one: 453.59 grams, the pound on a bathroom scale. There is also an old "troy pound" of 12 troy ounces (373.24 grams), but it dropped out of general use in the 1800s and nobody prices gold in it today.
Why are there 14.583 troy ounces in a pound and not 16?
A pound has 16 ordinary ounces of 28.35 grams. Gold uses the troy ounce of 31.10 grams, which is heavier, so fewer of them fit in the same pound.
Does "pound" ever mean British money on this site?
Never. Every figure here is in US dollars, and "pound" always means weight. The sterling gold price you may see elsewhere is the price of one ounce in British currency.
How heavy does a pound of gold feel?
Exactly like a pound of anything else, but in a far smaller package. A pound of gold takes up a little over half the volume of a golf ball.
Buying
Who sells gold by the pound?
Online bullion dealers, local coin shops and full-service precious metals companies all sell the coins and bars that make up a pound. None lists a product called a pound. Where to buy gold by the pound compares them.
What should I ask for if I want a pound?
Name the pieces. "Fifteen one-ounce Gold Eagles" or "one ten-ounce bar and five one-ounce coins" will get you a price per piece that you can check.
How much over the spot price will I pay?
In normal conditions, typically about 1–3% for larger bars and about 3–6% for American Gold Eagles. On a pound, 1% is about $573. The premium per pound calculator works it out from any quote.
Is it cheaper to buy a whole pound at once?
Usually a little, because a larger order can include a ten-ounce bar, and bigger bars carry lower premiums than single coins. Some sellers also reduce the price per coin at quantity breaks.
Is there a minimum to buy from Goldco?
Goldco doesn't publish a minimum on the pages we checked, and figures quoted by other websites disagree. Ask Goldco directly.
What is Goldco's free silver offer?
Up to 5% back in free silver on qualified orders of $50,000 to $99,999, and up to 10% on qualified orders of $100,000 or more.* At today's spot, $50,000 is 0.87 lb of gold. Goldco decides which orders qualify.
What happens when I click the green button?
You go to Goldco's page for its free Gold & Silver Kit. Filling in the form sends you a printed guide, an audio guide and a video guide, and it gives Goldco permission to contact you. Nothing is bought at that point.
Do you sell gold?
No. We publish prices and guides. We earn a commission if a reader becomes a Goldco customer through our link. Full disclosure.
Coins and Bars
Which is better for a pound: coins or bars?
Bars cost less over spot; coins are easier to sell in parts. A mix of a ten-ounce bar and five coins gives some of both.
Do fifteen coins equal exactly a pound?
No. Fifteen one-ounce coins hold 15 troy ounces, which is 0.42 ounces more than a pound. That extra gold is worth $1,637 at today's spot.
Are 22-karat coins worth less than 24-karat coins?
Not per coin. An American Gold Eagle is 22-karat and a Gold Buffalo is 24-karat, but each contains one full troy ounce of gold. The Eagle is simply heavier overall. A pound of gold in coins has the weights.
What is the closest gold bar to one pound?
The 500-gram bar, at 1.10 pounds, worth $63,168 at spot. The next size down, the ten-ounce bar, is 0.69 pounds. See gold bars by the pound.
Are the cheap 1 lb gold bars online real?
No. A real pound of gold is worth $57,305 today. Bars sold for a fraction of that are plated base metal.
Price
What is a pound of gold worth right now?
$57,305 at the spot price, as of November 3, 2026. The gold price per pound page has a table from half a pound to ten.
Where does your price come from?
The headline figure is the gold spot price from gold-api.com. Charts and history use COMEX gold futures closes. Both are converted at 14.583 troy ounces to the pound. Our About page explains the method.
How often is the price updated?
The whole site is rebuilt every 6 hours, and the headline price re-checks itself in your browser while a page is open. Every figure carries the time it was taken.
How much gold does $10,000 buy?
2.54 troy ounces at today's spot price, before premiums. The how much gold can I buy calculator handles any amount.
Why does your per-pound price differ from another site's?
Either timing, since gold moves by the minute, or the other site multiplied by 16. Spot times 16 gives $62,872, which is $5,567 too high.
Storage and IRAs
Is it safe to keep a pound of gold at home?
It can be, with a bolted-down safe, very few people knowing, and insurance that actually covers it. Standard homeowners policies often have low limits for valuables. How to store a pound of gold goes through the options.
Can a pound of gold go into an IRA?
Yes, if it's made up of IRA-eligible coins or bars and held by the account's trustee at a depository. It can't be kept at home. Gold at home or gold in an IRA explains the rules.
Do I pay tax when I sell gold?
A gain on gold you own personally is taxable, and the IRS applies its collectibles rules to coins and bullion. This site doesn't give tax advice; the IRS's Topic 409 is the place to start.
Can I sell gold back to the company I bought it from?
Often, yes. Goldco says it will buy back metals it sold, and most dealers buy bullion coins and bars. You're never obliged to sell to the original seller, so get more than one bid.
*Goldco offer terms. Applies only to qualified orders. Get up to 5% back in FREE Silver when you purchase $50,000 - $99,999. Get up to 10% in FREE Silver when you purchase $100,000 or more. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Additional rules may apply. Contact your representative to find out if your order qualifies. For additional details, please see your customer agreement. Goldco does not offer financial or tax advice.
This is Goldco's offer, in Goldco's words, as supplied to us. Whether an order qualifies is Goldco's decision, and the offer can change or end.