You may have struck gold — quite literally.
Costco customers who purchased a gold bar last year are now finding the item soaring in value thanks to increased demand.
Since the retail company began selling these bars in 2023, they’ve been a draw for customers, as investors historically tend to turn to gold during times of geopolitical instability, inflation and concerns over the US dollar.
According to CNBC, gold traded around $3,390 per ounce as of Tuesday morning, about 45% higher than it was at this time last year and near a recent record high.
In June 2024, the listed purchase price for a one-ounce gold bar at Costco was $2,399.99.
The spot price as of June 17, 2025, was $3,390, which is an unrealized gain of $990 and a 41.3% percentage increase.
If you bought the bar of gold last year, you might be considering selling it for a profit — but it’s not that simple.
The spot price is a benchmark for price negotiation, but sellers typically receive about 5-10% less than that, depending on where and how they sell their gold, Jon Ulin, a certified financial planner based in Boca Raton, Florida, told CNBC.
“I would avoid private buyers or marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace,” Ulin said. “You’re dealing with a high-value item and there’s a risk of encountering less-than-reputable individuals.”
Meanwhile, brick-and-mortar bullion dealers offer in-person evaluations and immediate payment — and may pay 1-5% below the spot price, which is often more than pawn shops offer, according to a 2024 Wall Street Journal report.
Regardless, it’s important to vet potential buyers on platforms such as Yelp, Google or the Better Business Bureau to help avoid lowball offers or scams.
Any profits made from selling gold can also be taxed at a higher rate than other investments since the Internal Revenue Service typically classifies physical gold as a collectible, according to CNBC.
A “collectible” classification means that federal long-term capital gains can be taxed at a rate up to 28%, and if it’s sold within one year, profit is taxed as ordinary income, which could lead to an even higher rate depending on the seller’s tax bracket.
In May, Costco restricted purchases on the coveted gold bars, limiting customers to up to two bars with only one transaction per membership every 24 hours.
Around the same time, a finance influencer who purchased one of the retailer’s gold bars sold the nugget nearly a year later for a $600 in profit.
Humphrey Yang had reportedly purchased the one-ounce bar for $2,359 from Costco in April 2024 and sold it in March 2025 at the bullion dealer Witter Coin in San Francisco for $2,955.42.
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