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The best gold bar sizes and weights to invest in, according to experts

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If you’re going to invest in gold bars, it’s important to understand which weights and sizes make the most sense for your portfolio.

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Although the pace of inflation has started to slow down, prices continue to rise, and interest rates remain high. Meanwhile, there’s continued economic uncertainty caused by issues such as geopolitical strife and upcoming elections. Against this backdrop, gold prices have reached record highs recently.

However, not all gold investments are the same. Not only do people have different motivations for investing in gold, such as portfolio diversification or trying to hedge against inflation, but investors also choose different ways to invest in gold. Some prefer gold stocks or gold ETFs for liquidity purposes, for instance, while others prefer to buy physical gold for more control.

Yet the choices for investing in gold don’t end there. If you decide to buy gold bullion, such as physical gold bars, there are different sizes and weights to consider, and that can affect areas like liquidity and price — so it’s important to understand which options may make the most sense for your portfolio. 

Ready to invest in gold? Compare your best options here.

The best gold bar sizes and weights to invest in, according to experts

If you’re trying to decide the best weight and size of gold bullion to invest in, here are some scenarios to consider.

The case for gold bars smaller than one ounce

Some investors prefer small gold bars, particularly those weighing less than one ounce. Note that in the gold investing world, an ounce typically means a troy ounce, which at just over 31 grams is slightly more than a standard ounce that’s a little over 28 grams.

“The industry makes it somewhat confusing because typically smaller bars are weighed in grams and larger bars are weighed in troy ounces,” says Brandon Aversano, CEO and founder of Alloy.

Smaller gold bars can come in a variety of sizes, such as 1-gram, 5-gram and 10-gram, he adds.

You can also find 50-gram bars, for instance, though that might tip more into medium-sized bars, depending on your perspective. 

In general, smaller gold bars, like those weighing less than an ounce, can make sense for those looking for an easier way to invest in gold.

“Small gold bars are easily transportable and highly liquid, which makes them great for buying and selling quickly. They also require less storage and are more readily available for purchase,” says Aversano.

However, this portability can come at a cost.

“It’s worth noting that bars smaller than one ounce often come with higher premiums, necessitating a balance between enhanced liquidity and flexibility with the higher cost,” says Andy Schectman, CEO at Miles Franklin.

Plus, smaller gold bars, because of their popularity, are more susceptible to counterfeiting, says Aversano.

Learn more about the benefits of gold investing here.

The case for 1-ounce gold bars

If you want a slightly larger gold bar, though still one that’s relatively small in the grand scheme of things, then you might opt for a 1-ounce gold bar.

“One-ounce gold bars boast very strong retail demand and liquidity, making them highly tradable assets. Their affordability also enables gradual accumulation, appealing to a much larger and more diverse investor base,” says Schectman.

These gold bars can also sit in a sweet spot in terms of pricing. While you do need to afford the overall price of an ounce of gold — the spot price is nearly $2,500  — you might pay lower premiums in comparison to smaller gold bars and gold coins that might just weigh a few grams. Premiums might still be higher than they are for larger gold bars, but that could be worth it.

“While investing in gold bars larger than one ounce may offer marginal savings, these savings are arguably not commensurate with the reduced demand and flexibility inherent in 10-ounce and kilo gold bars,” adds Schectman.

The case for gold bars larger than one ounce

As you move past 1-ounce gold bars, there can be a wide range of larger gold bars — some of which can still be easily transportable, while others are physically difficult to handle.

“Investors consider various sizes and weights of gold bars depending on their storage and investment capacity. Due to their large holdings, central banks tend to favor larger bars such as the Good Delivery bars, typically weighing 400 troy ounces,” says Bas Kooijman, CEO and assets manager at DHF Capital S.A.

“Other large investors and institutions also use smaller bars such as the one-kilogram bars. For individual investors seeking a balance between affordability and ease of storage, 100-gram bars are popular,” adds Koojiman.

Note, however, that these are still much larger than one ounce and thus cost several thousand if not tens of thousands of dollars to buy.

Large gold bars are a solid long-term investment and are often purchased as a hedge against challenging macroeconomic conditions or geopolitical instability,” says Aversano. “While there is a higher cost to purchase overall, the premium on the cost is smaller because of the total amount of gold being purchased.”

Still, there are some possible drawbacks to consider. 

“Due to the high value of each bar, larger gold bars are often held in depositories which carry a monthly fee. They are also more challenging to liquidate quickly,” he adds.

The bottom line

There are pros and cons to different gold bar sizes and weights. If you want more liquidity and lower overall cost, you might prefer a smaller gold bar. If you want to pay a lower per-ounce price and can afford more of an upfront investment, you might prefer larger gold bars. However, larger gold bars, such as those weighing several ounces or more, might prompt the usage of a depository, which can add fees but perhaps improve security.



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Transcript: House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Turner on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Oct. 6, 2024

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The following is a transcript of an interview with House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Oct. 6, 2024.


MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Ohio Republican, Mike Turner. Good to have you back with us. 

REP. MIKE TURNER: Thank you for having me on, Margaret.  

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to get to the Middle East, but first on this issue of concern regarding political violence. Would you agree that language like what we just heard there is unhelpful? 

REP. TURNER: Well, I think it certainly characterizes the reality that Donald Trump has had two attempts on his life. And I do think that there is work that needs to be done, both by the administration and by Vice President Harris. The administration has come out and publicly stated- Matt Olsen from the Department of Justice on CBS News acknowledged that there is an active, ongoing threat from Iran to kill, actively plotting, to kill Donald Trump. You’ve had no statements from the administration towards Iran as to what that would be, which would be an act of war, and you don’t have any statement from Vice President Harris condemning this or even recognizing that there’s an active plot from a foreign nation to kill her opponent. I think there’s certainly a role for her to play and for the President to play in this, in both identifying that there are threats against Donald Trump that need to be acknowledged and responded to, to deter. I think all the candidates need to de-escalate, certainly in their language. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it is the Biden-Harris Justice Department, Matt Olsen works for them, who laid out those charges about the Iranian state. You don’t mean to imply here anything that would suggest Eric Trump’s allegations that Democrats are trying to kill him?

REP. TURNER: No, of course not. But I do think that Vice President Harris needs to actively state and acknowledge that her administration is saying a foreign power, which would be an act of war, is actively trying to kill her opponent. They have- this administration has made stronger statements– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: — okay, that’s different– 

REP. TURNER:– about Iran’s hacking activities than they have about the active plot to kill Donald Trump, which the administration acknowledges ongoing.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, because of the concern in regard to anti-government violence in this country and domestic violent extremists, the language specific to who is carrying this out, I think you would agree is important. 

REP. TURNER: I absolutely agree that there needs to be a toning down of rhetoric on both sides, but there has to be an acknowledgement, which has not happened, from Vice President Harris that there’s active plots from a foreign nation to kill her opponent. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you want the FBI to release the results of its investigations prior to November 5, as Senator Rubio on Senate Intelligence has called for? 

REP. TURNER: Its investigations into the assassination attempt?

MARGARET BRENNAN: The two assassination attempts at this point, which are not substantiated to have any ties to the state of Iran or to political actors at this time. 

REP. TURNER: Well actually, it really can’t be said that they’re- saying that there have been no substantiated ties doesn’t mean that the investigation has concluded that there are no ties. And I want those investigations to- to come to a conclusion and determine whether or not either of these plots have any nexus or connection to the active plot the administration is saying that Iran is- is plotting in attempting to kill Donald Trump. Which, again, this administration needs to make clear to Iran that would be an act of war, and needs to have a very strong response from the administration 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, before the investigation is concluded, because it may not wind up before November the fifth, would you like the FBI to make public some of its findings, to rule out some of the conspiracy theories like we just heard from that stage that the political opposition is responsible? 

REP. TURNER: I don’t think they’d be able to do that. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t think they would be able to? 

REP. TURNER: I think they need to conclude and they need to get to truth. I don’t think they would be able to get to a point to release information that would conclusively indicate that either of those individuals acted completely alone. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to turn to the Middle East. You’ve already taken us there and talking about Iran specifically, but where we are right now is nearly exactly a year from that terrorist attack on October the seventh. You called that a huge intelligence failure from the Israelis when it happened. Given all that has happened in recent weeks, I wonder what you assess about Israeli intelligence now. 

REP. TURNER: Well, the United States is working cooperatively with- with Israel in ways that we were not necessarily working prior to October 7 and- and I do think that- that Israel has changed its focus in its intelligence collecting and its assessments of its- of its intelligence. I mean, they certainly have risen to the occasion to understand that they’re in an active conflict and looking to ways- and to diminish the capabilities of their adversaries.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That nearest adversary at the moment appears to be the government of Iran. What should the 40,000 US troops that President Biden has deployed to the region be bracing for? Are you concerned that the United States will get drawn into this conflict if Israel carries out strikes on Iran. 

REP. TURNER: Right, so this is another area where the administration has not risen to the occasion. President Biden said that the nuclear program of Iran is off the table. It should not be a valid military target by Israel and, or, the United States– 

MARGARET BRENNAN:– Do you think it should be?– 

REP. TURNER: — Absolutely. In fact, the President himself, President Biden, has previously said that the United States would not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, and that he would use military action if necessary. His own Secretary of State has said, more than two weeks ago that Iran’s breakout time to become a nuclear state was two weeks. So you have Iran now actively– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it’s still not weaponizing. US intelligence has not said Iran has made the decision– 

REP. TURNER: — They have not publicly stated the- the current status of the program, other than what Blinken has said that the breakout time was- was two weeks. The- looking to proportionality, where Biden says that Israel can only respond in proportion, is as if this administration says Iran can send 200 missiles into Israel, and as long as we have missile defense that takes them out, we won’t look at Iran’s provocation there trying to kill and destroy individuals and towns in Israel. That should be the response. The understanding should be that Iran has moved beyond their proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis to have direct attacks to Israel, and Israel needs to be able to defend itself, and Iran needs to pay a price. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the CENTCOM commander is currently in Israel, helping to advise some of the Israeli military. But just to be clear, the United States really only has the equipment that could take out the kind of underground facilities that are essential to the Iranian nuclear program. Are you advocating for the United States to be involved in offensive action? 

REP. TURNER: I believe it’s completely irresponsible for the President to say that it is off the table when he’s previously said it’s on the table. For him to give Iran the comfort that their actions of attacking directly, Iran, will not have any consequences for their nuclear weapons program is irresponsible.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So not a yes or a no. But- but I want to ask you about something that’s happening in your district, because you have a vested interest in what’s happening in Springfield, Ohio. This is the town that’s gotten so much attention in the past few weeks because the Haitian migrant population there. Going all the way back to February, you’ve been sending letters asking for federal help. You’ve brought some of the local officials here to Washington to advocate how to deal with the strain of the population growth. Have you gotten the federal help you’ve asked for- for Springfield, Ohio?

REP. TURNER: No. You know, Mayor Rue has done an excellent job in Springfield, both in advocating and in trying to pull the community together. He’s come here. We’ve taken him to the federal agencies that have the type of funding that should be released for what is a federally created problem. The Biden administration, through expanding the parole program, I believe illegally, brought 500,000 people here from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and others. And 15,000 to 20,000 people settled in Springfield, Ohio. But then the administration did something even more shocking last week. They indicated that they were not going to extend, but the temporary protected status that these individuals have, which could result in their going into an illegal status, and Springfield would have, these individuals would not have, in any direct federal support, and the community would get no additional assistance as to how to handle this almost 10% of the population of the of the city that now would fall into an illegal status as a result of the administration terminating their protected status. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Which may happen in the coming year, so this could be an issue for the next president, whoever that President is. Congressman, thank you for explaining. Face the Nation will be back in a minute. Stay with us.



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Christopher Ciccone, artist and Madonna’s younger brother, dies at 63

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Christopher Ciccone, an artist and former dancer who was also singer Madonna’s younger brother, has died, his rep Brad Taylor confirmed to CBS News. He was 63.

He died from cancer on Oct. 4, surrounded by his husband, Ray Thacker, Taylor said in a statement.

Born on Nov. 22, 1960, in Pontiac, Michigan, Ciccone was an artist, interior decorator and designer, who began his career as a dancer. He joined the Le Group de La Palace Royale in Ottawa in 1980 before moving to New York two years later to support his older sister’s music career as a backup dancer.

LS.GlobeParty.3.0119.GF.b Madonna, winner of Golden Globe for Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical
Madonna, winner of the Golden Globe for Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy with her brother Christopher Ciccone at the Disney party following the awards ceremony.

Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images


As Madonna’s career grew, Ciccone became more involved — serving as the art director on his sister’s Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and as the tour director for her The Girlie Show in 1993. He also directed music videos for megastars Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett in the 1990s.

His role expanded away from music when Ciccone took on the role of interior designer within the homes his sister owned and occupied in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.

In 2012, Ciccone released his own shoe line, The Ciccone Collection, at London Fashion Week.

He told CBS News at the time that his goal is to make the brand “accessible to everybody” and not too pricey.

“The great thing about doing shoes is that potentially everyone could have a pair. When you’re doing art, there’s only one,” Ciccone said

Ciccone, who was openly gay, claimed that his sister outed him during her 1991 interview with The Advocate.

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Christopher Ciccone attends OUT Magazine and Buick’s celebration of The OUT100 on November 29, 2012, in New York City.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for OUT Magazine


Ciccone released a tell-all autobiography called “Life With My Sister Madonna,” leading to reports that the two had been estranged, but Ciccone told CBS News in 2012 that he was glad he wrote the book. 

“I don’t regret any of that,” he said. “I think because of that it sort of led me to this. It gave people an opportunity to think of me as a creative person, as an artist and not just as Madonna’s brother, which is a tag I’m going to wear forever,” Ciccone said in 2012. “But I’m hopeful that at some point it will be Christopher Ciccone first. It’s cool…I’m perfectly happy being what I am.”

The two eventually made up.

“Our relationship is fine as far as I’m concerned,” he told CBS News.

Ciccone and Thacker — a British-born actor — married in 2016.

Ciccone’s death comes fewer than two weeks after the death of his and Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, from cancer. His eldest brother Anthony died in 2023.



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One year after Oct. 7 attack, the toll on civilians remains high

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One year after Oct. 7 attack, the toll on civilians remains high – CBS News


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Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Israel has been waging a war on multiple fronts, and Gaza is now in near-total ruins with nearly 41,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Imtiaz Tyab reports.

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