You whitethorn person struck golden — rather literally.
Costco customers who purchased a golden barroom past twelvemonth are now uncovering nan point soaring successful worth acknowledgment to accrued demand.
Since nan unit institution began trading these bars successful 2023, they’ve been a tie for customers, arsenic investors historically thin to move to golden during times of geopolitical instability, ostentation and concerns complete nan US dollar.
According to CNBC, golden traded astir $3,390 per ounce arsenic of Tuesday morning, astir 45% higher than it was astatine this clip past twelvemonth and adjacent a caller grounds high.
In June 2024, nan listed acquisition value for a one-ounce golden barroom astatine Costco was $2,399.99.
The spot value arsenic of June 17, 2025, was $3,390, which is an unrealized summation of $990 and a 41.3% percent increase.
If you bought nan barroom of golden past year, you mightiness beryllium considering trading it for a profit — but it’s not that simple.
The spot value is simply a benchmark for value negotiation, but sellers typically person astir 5-10% little than that, depending connected wherever and really they waste their gold, Jon Ulin, a certified financial planner based successful Boca Raton, Florida, told CNBC.
“I would debar backstage buyers aliases marketplaces for illustration eBay aliases Facebook Marketplace,” Ulin said. “You’re dealing pinch a high-value point and there’s a consequence of encountering less-than-reputable individuals.”
Meanwhile, brick-and-mortar bullion dealers connection in-person evaluations and contiguous costs — and whitethorn salary 1-5% beneath nan spot price, which is often much than pawn shops offer, according to a 2024 Wall Street Journal report.
Regardless, it’s important to vet imaginable buyers connected platforms specified arsenic Yelp, Google aliases nan Better Business Bureau to thief debar lowball offers aliases scams.
Any profits made from trading golden tin besides beryllium taxed astatine a higher complaint than different investments since nan Internal Revenue Service typically classifies beingness golden arsenic a collectible, according to CNBC.
A “collectible” classification intends that national semipermanent superior gains tin beryllium taxed astatine a complaint up to 28%, and if it’s sold wrong 1 year, profit is taxed arsenic mean income, which could lead to an moreover higher complaint depending connected nan seller’s taxation bracket.
In May, Costco restricted purchases connected nan coveted golden bars, limiting customers to up to 2 bars pinch only 1 transaction per rank each 24 hours.
Around nan aforesaid time, a finance influencer who purchased 1 of nan retailer’s golden bars sold nan nugget astir a twelvemonth later for a $600 successful profit.
Humphrey nan had reportedly purchased nan one-ounce barroom for $2,359 from Costco successful April 2024 and sold it successful March 2025 astatine nan bullion trader Witter Coin successful San Francisco for $2,955.42.