France issues gold coin with integrated serial number.

According to the French newspaper La Tribune, Monnaie de Paris – France's national mint – has just launched 100,000 new "Marianne Or" gold coins, allowing investors to own gold in both physical and digital forms.

Monnaie de Paris – France's national mint – has just released 100,000 new "Marianne Or" gold coins. Photo: Lemonde

The new gold coins are minted from 999‰ (99.9%) pure gold and come in various denominations, from 1 ounce worth approximately 4,000 euros to 1/10 ounce worth about 400 euros. A unique feature is that investors can purchase a digital version called e-Marianne Or without needing to receive the physical gold immediately.

Unlike gold ETFs – financial products that only track the price of gold – e-Marianne Or allows buyers to request the minting and receipt of physical gold at any time. This makes the new product more flexible and creates a sense of "real ownership" for investors.

However, this advantage comes with higher costs. Buyers of e-Marianne Or must pay approximately 3% transaction fees when buying and 1.3% when selling. If they want physical gold, they also have to pay additional minting and shipping fees. Furthermore, the annual custody fee is 0.5%, higher than most gold ETFs on the market.

Meanwhile, gold ETFs offer the advantages of fast trading, high liquidity, and significantly lower fees. Investors can easily buy and sell through their securities accounts, but they cannot receive physical gold.
Taxation also creates a significant difference between the two forms of investment. In France, physical gold is completely tax-exempt after 22 years of holding if proof of purchase is available. Gold ETFs are subject to regular financial taxes but offer advantages when invested through life insurance.

Experts believe that e-Marianne Or is suitable for those who want to both invest in gold and have the ability to own physical gold. Meanwhile, gold ETFs remain more attractive to investors who prioritize low costs and flexible trading.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thi-truong-tien-te/phap-phat-hanh-dong-xu-vang-tich-hop-so-20260527083221950.htm