Aug 2024

What are the Types of Gold Bars?

By StoneX Bullion

If you’re new to buying gold bars, you’ll find a wealth of different types out on the market. From cast gold bars to minted gold bars, CombiBars, and Kinebars in numerous different sizes and denominations, it helps to understand the different types of gold bars available.

In this guide, we’ll explore what you need to know about gold bars, including the difference between cast, minted, and CombiBars, the various sizes and weights of gold bars, and different mints and refineries that produce gold bars.

Cast vs minted vs combi gold bars

Gold bars come in three main forms: cast, minted, and combi bars. Each of these is manufactured differently and has a distinct appearance. Let’s take a look at the difference between cast, minted, and combi gold bars.

Cast gold bars

Cast gold bars are one of the most traditional forms of bullion. They’re made by pouring molten gold into a mold until it cools and solidifies naturally. The casted gold is then removed from the mold and engraved with details, such as weight, purity, and manufacturer information.

The casting process gives cast gold bars a rougher, less polished appearance compared to their minted bar counterparts. Even if the same mold is used for several gold bars, each cast gold bullion bar is completely unique with slight variations in texture and shape. For certain investors, this adds to their appeal.

One of the main advantages of cast gold bars is their lower production cost. The simple manufacturing process makes a cast bar cheaper to produce, which often translates to a lower premium over the spot price of gold. This makes cast gold bars an attractive option for investors wanting to maximize the amount of gold they can buy for their money. Cast gold bars are also usually available in larger sizes, making them ideal for investors looking to invest in bulk amounts of gold.

On the other hand, cast gold bars can be more difficult to sell as some investors find their irregularities and visible blemishes less appealing compared to minted bars.

Buy cast gold bars

Minted gold bars

Minted gold bars have a more refined and polished appearance compared to cast bars. These are usually made by cutting or stamping gold blanks from a rolled sheet of gold. Each gold block is then inspected, measured, polished, and cleaned before being pressed with logos, designs, and information about the bar’s weight and purity. The result is a uniform minted gold bar with sharp edges, a smooth surface, and intricate levels of detail. For some investors, the clean-cut look of minted bars makes them more aesthetically pleasing.

Minted bars generally carry a higher premium than cast bars due to the more complex production process and higher level of craftsmanship involved. A lot of money, effort, and time is spent getting these bars to look the way they do, and they’re usually more expensive as a result.

Minted bars tend to be more popular amongst investors who value their visual appeal and plan to resell the bars in the future. They’re also available in a wider range of sizes compared to cast gold bars, making them more accessible to a broader range of investors.

Buy minted gold bars

Combi bars

Combi gold bars are a special type of gold bar produced by Swiss refinery, Valcambi, in collaboration with precious metals recycling company, ESG, and the Colorado-based Newmont Mining Corporation.

These gold bars are produced as a single unit but pre-scored into smaller segments, allowing them to be easily broken apart into individual pieces without losing value. For example, a 50 gram CombiBar® can be divided into 50 individual one gram wafers, each with its own serial number and purity mark.

The main advantage of CombiBars is their versatility and flexibility. Investors can pay lower premiums on a larger bar and then split it into smaller denominations as needed. This is much easier and more affordable than purchasing 50 small bars or melting down a 50 gram bar to sell off in portions.

Overall, CombiBars tend to have a slightly higher premium than standard cast or minted bars due to the additional workmanship required. However, their unique benefits justify the cost for investors who value the option of dividing their investment easily.

Buy CombiBars

Should I buy a cast, minted, or combi bar?

Let’s recap the difference between these three types of gold bars to help you choose which is best for your investment strategy.

	CAST GOLD BARS	MINTED GOLD BARS	COMBI GOLD BARS
PRODUCTION PROCESS	Molten gold poured into molds	Gold blanks stamped from rolled sheets	Large bar scored into smaller segments
APPEARANCE	Rough, unpolished, unique	Smooth, polished, intricate designs	Smooth, polished, scored segments
PREMIUMS	Lower premium	Higher premium	Higher premium
SIZE AVAILABILITY	Larger sizes	Wide range of sizes, from small to large	Larger bar that can be divided into smaller units
IDEAL FOR	Investors making bulk investments	Investors prioritizing visual appeal and resale value	Investors needing flexibility

What are the different sizes of gold bars?

Gold bars are usually sold in two different weight classes: grams and ounces. Each weight class has different sizes, shapes, and brands available. Let’s take a look at the different sizes of gold bars available.

1 gram gold bars

One gram gold bars are an excellent entry-level investment for new investors. Our range of 1-gram gold bars include:

2 gram gold bars

Two gram gold bars are a great option for those who want to slowly build their holdings with smaller gold bars. Our range of 2-gram gold bars include:

5 gram gold bars

Five gram gold bars are a popular choice for gifting gold. They’re less expensive than larger bars but still contain a substantial amount of 24-carat fine gold. Our range of 5-gram gold bars include:

10 gram gold bars

Ten gram gold bars are a big step up in terms of investment and offer a balance between value and affordability. These gold bars are still small enough to be portable and easily stored. Our range of 10-gram gold bars include:

20 gram gold bars

Twenty gram gold bars can substantially increase your portfolio value but are still easy to store and carry. They're also a great option for travelers who choose to use gold instead of cash. Our range of 20-gram gold bars include:

50 gram gold bars

Fifty gram gold bars can be either cast or minted. They add a substantial amount of gold to your portfolio while still being economical. Our range of 50-gram gold bars include:

100 gram gold bars

100 gram gold bars are one of the most popular sizes for investors and can be either cast or minted. Our range of 100-gram gold bars include:

250 gram gold bars

250 gram gold bars are an excellent option for any investor looking to diversify their investment portfolio or boost the value of their pension plan. Most 250-gram gold bars are cast and not minted, giving them that classic ingot look. Our range of 250-gram gold bars include:

500 gram gold bars

500 gram gold bars provide a substantial amount of gold with lower premiums than smaller bars. Our range of 500-gram gold bars include:

1 kilogram gold bars

Larger gold bars, such as the 1 kilo gold bars, are favored by institutional investors and any bullion buyer wishing to invest in large amounts of gold. Our range of 1-kilo gold bars include:

1 oz gold bars

One ounce gold bars are favored by investors who prefer the imperial measurement over metric. They’re a popular gold bar size that provide a good amount of gold in a single, easy-to-trade unit. Our range of 1-oz gold bars include:

10 oz gold bars

For those with more capital to invest, 10 oz gold bars offer a larger quantity of gold at a lower premium per ounce than 1 oz bars. Our range of 10-oz gold bars include:

10 oz PAMP Fortuna Gold Bar

400 oz gold bars

Known as ‘Good Delivery’ bars, 400 oz (12.4 kilograms) gold bars are the standard size used in major international markets. This is the size that central banks use to store gold bars and it’s typically reserved for large-scale transactions and institutional investors.

Which mints make gold bars?

Gold bars are manufactured by various mints and precious metals refineries around the world. At StoneX Bullion, we only stock gold bars from mints approved by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). These mints are internationally recognized for their high standards of quality and craftsmanship.

Here’s a look at some of the most prestigious mints that manufacture gold bars:

Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is famous for its Gold Maple Leaf coins, but it also produces a range of gold bars, such as the 1 oz Royal Canadian Mint Wafer Gold Bar.

Perth Mint

The Perth Mint is one of the most respected mints globally and offers a range of pure gold and silver bars, such as the 10 oz Perth Mint Gold Bar.

PAMP Suisse

PAMP Suisse is one of the world’s largest precious metals refineries with a highly prized range of gold bullion bars. Their famous Lady Fortuna Gold Bar is likely one of the most widely-traded gold bars worldwide. Other gold bars manufactured by PAMP Suisse include the 25 x 1g PAMP Multigram Gold Bar and the intricately-designed 5g PAMP Lunar Legends Azure Dragon Gold Bar.

Valcambi

Valcambi is a Swiss-based refinery known for their innovative CombiBars, which can be broken down into smaller, individual pieces. Their range of gold bars includes the 100g Minted Valcambi Gold Bar and 1 kilo Casted Valcambi Gold Bar.

Argor-Heraeus

Argor-Heraeus is another major Swiss refinery recognized for producing some of the most popular gold bars in the bullion market. They’re especially known for their Kinebar range, which feature a holographic design for added security. Other Argor-Heraeus gold bars include the 50g Argor-Heraeus Casted Gold Bar and the 1 oz Minted Argor-Heraeus Gold Bar.

Austrian Mint

While best known for their Vienna Philharmonic gold coins, the Austrian Mint also produces a range of high-quality gold bars. These include the 5g Austrian Mint Gold Kinebar and the 20g Austrian Mint Gold Bar.

Royal Mint

The United Kingdom’s Royal Mint, famous for its Britannia gold bullion coins, also produces high-purity gold bars such as the 1 oz Britannia Gold Bar and 1 oz Star Wars Gold Bar.

Buy gold bars from the best mints in the world

By now, you should be equipped with a sound understanding of the different types of gold bars, including their sizes, weights, manufacturing style, and the mints that produced them. With this information you can browse our collection and make an informed choice that suits your goals, investment budget, and personal preferences.

At StoneX Bullion, we only stock investment-grade gold bars from the most well-known mints and refineries in the world. All our gold bars are LBMA-approved, meaning they’re manufactured from high-purity physical gold to the highest standards of craftsmanship. As one of Europe’s leading precious metal bullion dealers, we buy our stock straight from the producers so you can enjoy competitive prices while remaining assured of quality. Browse our range of gold bars and start investing in your future today.