Programmatically Get SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) Historical Prices using this API

In the world of finance, precious metals like gold have always held a significant place. For investors and developers alike, having access to accurate and timely data is crucial. This blog post delves into how to programmatically get SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) historical prices using the Metals-API, a powerful tool that provides real-time and historical data on various metals, including gold (XAU). With the rise of digital transformation in precious metals trading, data analytics, and technology integration, understanding how to leverage this API can empower developers to create innovative applications that enhance market insights and price discovery.

Metals-API Information

About Gold (XAU)

Gold, represented by the symbol XAU, is not just a metal; it is a digital asset that has transformed the way investors view wealth preservation. The digital transformation in precious metals has led to the integration of advanced technologies, allowing for real-time data analytics and market insights. As the demand for gold continues to rise, understanding its historical prices becomes essential for making informed investment decisions.

With the advent of technology in trading, the ability to access historical data on gold prices has become a game-changer. Developers can now build applications that utilize this data to provide users with insights into market trends, price fluctuations, and investment opportunities. The Metals-API serves as a bridge between developers and the wealth of data available in the precious metals market.

API Description

The Metals-API is a robust solution designed for developers seeking to access real-time and historical data on precious metals. It empowers users to build next-generation applications that can analyze market trends, track price movements, and provide insights into the precious metals market. The API offers a variety of endpoints, each tailored to meet specific data needs, from the latest rates to historical prices.

For more information, visit the Metals-API Website or check out the Metals-API Documentation for detailed guidance on implementation.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API provides several key features that developers can leverage to enhance their applications:

• Latest Rates Endpoint: This endpoint provides real-time exchange rate data for metals, updated based on your subscription plan. Depending on your plan, you can receive updates every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently.
• Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates for most currencies dating back to 2019. By appending a specific date to your query, you can retrieve the historical price of gold (XAU) and other metals.
• Bid And Ask Endpoint: This powerful feature allows you to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for metals, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing.
• Convert Endpoint: Easily convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD, facilitating seamless transactions and calculations.
• Time-Series Endpoint: Query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice, enabling detailed analysis of price trends over time.
• Fluctuation Endpoint: Track how metal prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, providing insights into market volatility.
• Carat Endpoint: Retrieve information about gold rates by carat, which is particularly useful for jewelers and consumers interested in gold jewelry.
• Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: Query the API to get the lowest and highest price of gold for a specified date range, helping investors identify market extremes.
• Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Get detailed OHLC data for a specific time period, which is essential for technical analysis.
• Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008, providing a comprehensive view of market trends.
• API Key: Your unique API key is required to access the API, ensuring secure and authorized usage.
• API Response: The API delivers exchange rates relative to USD, with all data returned in a structured JSON format.
• Supported Symbols Endpoint: Access a constantly updated list of all available currencies and metals supported by the API.
• News Endpoint: Retrieve the latest news articles related to various metals, keeping you informed about market developments.

List of Symbols

The Metals-API provides access to a comprehensive range of metal symbols. For a complete list of all supported symbols and their specifications, refer to the Metals-API Supported Symbols page.

API Endpoint Examples and Responses

Understanding the API responses is crucial for effective integration. Below are examples of various endpoints and their responses:

Latest Rates Endpoint

Get real-time exchange rates for all available metals:

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771287554,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-17",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912,
"XPD": 0.000744,
"XCU": 0.294118,
"XAL": 0.434783,
"XNI": 0.142857,
"XZN": 0.344828
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Historical Rates Endpoint

Access historical exchange rates for any date since 1999:

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771201154,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-16",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915,
"XPD": 0.000748
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Time-series Endpoint

Get exchange rates for a specific time period:

{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2026-02-10",
"end_date": "2026-02-17",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2026-02-10": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915
},
"2026-02-12": {
"XAU": 0.000483,
"XAG": 0.0382,
"XPT": 0.000913
},
"2026-02-17": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Convert Endpoint

Convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD:

{
"success": true,
"query": {
"from": "USD",
"to": "XAU",
"amount": 1000
},
"info": {
"timestamp": 1771287554,
"rate": 0.000482
},
"result": 0.482,
"unit": "troy ounces"
}

Fluctuation Endpoint

Track rate fluctuations between two dates:

{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2026-02-10",
"end_date": "2026-02-17",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"start_rate": 0.000485,
"end_rate": 0.000482,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.62
},
"XAG": {
"start_rate": 0.03825,
"end_rate": 0.03815,
"change": -0.0001,
"change_pct": -0.26
},
"XPT": {
"start_rate": 0.000915,
"end_rate": 0.000912,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.33
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

OHLC (Open/High/Low/Close) Endpoint

Get OHLC data for a specific time period:

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771287554,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-17",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"open": 0.000485,
"high": 0.000487,
"low": 0.000481,
"close": 0.000482
},
"XAG": {
"open": 0.03825,
"high": 0.0383,
"low": 0.0381,
"close": 0.03815
},
"XPT": {
"open": 0.000915,
"high": 0.000918,
"low": 0.00091,
"close": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Bid/Ask Endpoint

Get current bid and ask prices for metals:

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771287554,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-17",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"bid": 0.000481,
"ask": 0.000483,
"spread": 2.0e-6
},
"XAG": {
"bid": 0.0381,
"ask": 0.0382,
"spread": 0.0001
},
"XPT": {
"bid": 0.000911,
"ask": 0.000913,
"spread": 2.0e-6
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Metals-API provides a comprehensive suite of tools for developers looking to access historical prices and real-time data for precious metals like gold (XAU). By leveraging the various endpoints available, developers can create applications that offer valuable insights into market trends, price fluctuations, and investment opportunities. The API's capabilities, including the latest rates, historical data, and conversion features, empower users to make informed decisions in the ever-evolving landscape of precious metals trading.

For further exploration of the API's features and capabilities, be sure to visit the Metals-API Documentation and check out the Metals-API Supported Symbols page for a complete list of available metals. The future of precious metals trading is digital, and with the right tools, developers can harness the power of data to drive innovation and success.