While you shop for bullion, you'll run across many different products in various shapes and sizes. The most common products you'll find are rounds, coins and bars.

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Coins Vs Rounds

The main difference between rounds and coins is who mints them. Coins are minted by a nation's government and are a legal form of payment. Rounds are produced by companies and are not a legal form of payment.

Difference in Premiums

You will typically notice a higher premium on coins when compared to rounds. Bars will typically have the lowest premium of all three, since there is usually less work involved in making them.

Which Is Best?

This comes down to personal preference. Bars are the most efficient way to store larger quantities of bullion, while rounds offer flexibility if you want to sell or trade just a portion of your holdings. Coins are the most recognizable of all three and the easiest to sell or trade. In general, it's typically advisable to hold a combination of bars and coins or rounds, to give you the most flexibility at the lowest possible price.