France gold market
Gold in France is quoted per gram at retail level and per kilogram for larger bars, always in euros. The benchmark most French buyers watch is the international spot price converted to euros per gram, with dealers adding a premium that varies by product. Bars typically come in 1 kg, 500 g, 100 g and smaller sizes, while coins are priced individually with a premium over their gold content.
The most traded product by far is the Napoleon 20-franc coin: 6.45 grams gross weight, 90% pure (5.807 grams of fine gold), minted from 1803 onward. It is the default "value coin" in France — liquid, widely recognised, and easy to resell. The 20-franc Marianne Coq (minted 1899–1914 and again 1951–1960) is similarly popular. Foreign coins such as the Krugerrand and the British Sovereign also trade actively.
Buyers are mainly private household savers aged 40 and above who treat gold as a long-term store of value rather than a trading asset. France has no deep-rooted wedding-gold culture like South Asia; demand is driven by savings, inheritance and crisis hedging. Gold is bought through specialist dealers (comptoirs), bank branch networks, and online platforms with home delivery. There is no annual tax on simply holding gold, which makes buy-and-hold strategies straightforward.
Taxes and rules
Investment gold is exempt from VAT in France, so you pay no tax at the point of purchase on qualifying bars and coins. The tax event happens when you sell. On resale, the seller chooses between two regimes: the flat precious-metals tax (TMP) of 11.5% on the total sale price, or capital-gains tax (TPV) of 36.2% on the actual gain — provided the purchase can be documented with a nominative invoice.
The capital-gains rate falls the longer you hold: after two years it declines by 5 percentage points per year of ownership, reaching full exemption after 22 years. Keeping purchase invoices is therefore essential. Sales must be declared, and buyers' identities are recorded by dealers under anti-money-laundering rules. Jewellery is treated differently from investment gold and does not enjoy the same purchase exemption. Because rules are stable but paperwork matters, confirm the current regime before a large sale.
For zakat calculators
French Muslims calculating zakat convert their gold holdings to euros using the current per-gram price, then compare the total against the nisab of 87.48 grams of gold. Since France quotes gold per gram, the maths is direct: multiply your grams by today's rate. Silver nisab (612.36 grams) works the same way for mixed assets.
Try our free zakat calculator with live prices and automatic nisab check. Farmers: also see our ushr calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is the gold price quoted in France?
Retail gold is quoted in euros per gram; wholesale bars are quoted per kilogram. Coin prices are listed per coin and include a premium above the metal value — for example, a Napoleon 20-franc typically carries a small premium that rises in times of uncertainty.
What is the most popular gold coin in France?
The Napoleon 20-franc coin, weighing 6.45 grams at 90% purity (5.807 grams of pure gold). It has been the reference French investment coin since 1803 and is the easiest coin to buy and resell in the French market.
Do I pay VAT when buying gold in France?
No. Investment-grade gold bars and qualifying coins are exempt from VAT at purchase. Tax applies only on resale, where you choose between an 11.5% flat tax on the sale price or 36.2% on the capital gain, with full exemption after 22 years of documented ownership.
Where can I buy gold in France?
Through specialist precious-metal dealers (comptoirs) in major cities, bank branches, and regulated online dealers offering insured delivery. Always buy from an established dealer, keep your invoice, and check the premium over spot before purchasing.
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