Gold bars are commonly refined into two different types of bars. Cast gold bars are simpler products that are made through a simple process. Most cast gold bars have only a refinery logo stamped onto the surface and come with the most important markings: weight, purity, and metal content. A cast gold bar is produced by melting gold in a large vat and then pouring it into prefabricated molds which are designed to ensure the proper weight and purity for the desired final product. The bars are then left to air cool in the molds or dropped into cold water to speed up the cooling process.

Minted ingots are made with a more refined process. All minted gold ingots start out as long cast bars which are fed into a stamping press. This press is computer-controlled and stamps (cuts) the minted ingots to a desired size and shape, and then continues along the press production line to have an image engraved onto the bars. These bars typically have brilliant visual finishes, more intricate design elements, and sharp edges.

As you might imagine, the complication of the production process results in varying premiums for these gold products. Generally speaking, cast gold bars are more affordable with a lower premium over the spot price of gold than minted ingots.

Common Weights of Gold Bars

The most common weights purchased by investors are 1 oz gold bars and 10 oz gold bars. 1 Kilogram bars are also popular among gold buyers because the weight combined with the singularity of a product (a single 32 Troy oz bar rather than 32 individual 1 Troy oz bars) offers a better value when you consider the price of gold per ounce in that singular 1 Kilo gold bar. However, gold bars are popularly offered in a wide range of weights that surpasses the variety of any other precious metal product. You’ll find gold bars for sale in the following weights:

• 1/2 Gram
• 1 Gram
• 2 Grams
• 5 Grams
• 10 Grams
• 20 Grams
• 50 Grams
• 100 Grams
• 250 Grams
• 500 Grams

Popular Designs of Gold Bars

As mentioned above, you’ll find a great deal of variety awaiting as you shop for gold bars. However, the variety doesn’t stop at the weights of the available bars. Gold bars also come with a wide array of designs. Some are so popular they are viewed as symbols of excellence within the precious metals industry, while others represent limited-time offerings. The following is a brief overview of some of the most popular gold bar designs:

• PAMP Fortuna: No gold bar design is more emblematic of craftsmanship and attention to detail than the PAMP Fortuna. These bars all feature the left-profile portrait of the Roman goddess of fortune known as Fortuna. PAMP gold bars are available in weights as small as 1 Gram and as large as 1 Kilogram.

• PAMP Lunar: The PAMP Lunar Gold Bars represent one of the few limited-issue options. The bars are released with front-and-back designs reflecting the animals from the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The bars are only available with a given design during the year of that animal’s appearance on the lunar calendar.

• Valcambi CombiBar: The Valcambi CombiBar is a brilliant offering from a Swiss refinery that allows gold buyers flexibility. A common option is the 50 Gram CombiBar, which is sold as a solid 50 Gram gold bar capable of being easily divided into 50 individual 1 Gram bars. The large bar itself is marked as a 50 Gram .9999 pure gold bar on one side, with 50 individual reverse designs marking 1 Gram .9999 pure gold for the individually separated bars. Valcambi’s technology ensures no loss of gold content or purity resulting from the split.

• Perth Mint Gold Bar: Perth Mint’s world-renowned Swan logo is featured on the obverse face of all Perth Mint gold bars, with a jumping kangaroo logo repeating across the reverse side.

• Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bar: The Royal Canadian Mint is one of the few sovereign mints that also issues gold bullion bars. The bars feature the maple leaf logo of the mint, along with its name in English and French.

• Sunshine Mint Gold Bar: A private American refiner, Sunshine Minting’s gold bars feature the company’s popular American bald eagle logo with the bird in flight on the obverse face.

• Credit Suisse Gold Bar: One of the world’s oldest operating precious metals firms, Credit Suisse gold bars stand in high regard around the world. The bars have a simple design of the company logo on the obverse.

What to Expect in Gold Bullion Bars

Beyond the size, shape, and style of the gold bars available, you can expect a few commonalities among the bars offered. The vast majority of gold bars today are refined with .9999 pure gold content regardless of weight or type (cast vs. minted ingot). Minted ingots are originally available in most cases housed inside of tamper-evident protective packaging and come with an assay card that verifies the weight, purity, and metal content of the product as judged by a certified assayer. In most cases, gold bars also have a unique serial number issued by the refiner. When bars are available with a serial number and assay card, that card will also reflect the individual serial number as engraved onto the surface of the bar.