Greeks purchased 7,563 gold coins from the Bank of Greece (BoG), including 1,732 in the first quarter, 1,953 in the second, 1,714 in the third and 2,164 in the final quarter, according to data.
The figures show that large-scale liquidations of gold sovereign coins continued throughout 2025, with sales once again far exceeding purchases.
The central bank bought 40,031 gold sovereign coins from individuals during the year—11,150 in the first quarter, 11,487 in the second, 9,365 in the third and 8,029 in the fourth.
In Greece, the official purchase and sale of gold sovereign coins is carried out exclusively by the Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank. Piraeus Bank is the country’s only commercial lender active in gold-related products and services and acts as the official representative and distributor of the UK’s Royal Mint for British gold sovereigns.
According to the latest price bulletin, the Bank of Greece buys old-issue British gold sovereigns at €864.45 and sells them at €1,012.78. The wide spread between buying and selling prices has helped maintain investor caution toward physical gold purchases, despite the strong upward trend.
By comparison, at the start of January 2025, the corresponding prices stood at €577.78 and €677.17.
International analysts expect gold prices to continue rising. JP Morgan Global Research forecasts average gold prices of $5,055 an ounce in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the rally extending to $5,400 an ounce by the end of 2027.
Among 11 analysts surveyed by the Financial Times, the most optimistic forecast also stands at $5,400 an ounce, implying a 25% increase. Nicky Shiels of refiner KS Pamp said other analysts’ projections had been “consistently too conservative” in recent years.
Source: tovima.com
