Gold bullion bars might all look alike at first glance—shiny, rectangular, and valuable—but there’s much more going on beneath the surface. If you’re thinking about buying gold bars for the first time, understanding the differences in type, weight, and purity is essential.
To begin, gold bars generally come in two main types: cast and minted. Cast bars are made by pouring molten gold into molds. They tend to have a rough, rugged appearance with slight variations from one bar to the next. Think of them as the industrial version of gold—simple, functional, and a bit raw. Minted bars, on the other hand, are created by cutting flat gold sheets and stamping them with clean, detailed designs. These bars are sleek, shiny, and highly uniform, often packaged in tamper-evident cases. Some investors prefer the character and uniqueness of cast bars, while others value the polished finish and presentation of minted ones.
Gold bars are available in a wide range of sizes to suit different budgets and investment goals. Smaller bars—such as 1g, 5g, 10g, 20g, 50g, and 100g—are often chosen by beginners or as gifts. Once you move into more serious territory, you’ll find larger sizes like 250g, 500g, and the hefty 1kg bar, which is a favorite among seasoned investors. For institutional buyers, there are the massive 400-ounce bars held in central bank vaults—worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each.
Purity is another key factor. You’ll usually see numbers like 999.9 or 995 stamped directly onto the bar. These figures represent how many parts out of 1,000 are pure gold. A 999.9 bar is considered 99.99% pure, which is the standard for investment-grade gold. Lower purity levels, like 91.6% (22-karat), are more common in gold jewelry than in bars.
Brand matters, too. Trusted names like PAMP Suisse, Heraeus, the Perth Mint, and The Royal Mint are known worldwide for producing high-quality, authentic gold bars. Each bar will typically have important markings: weight, purity, a unique serial number, and often the logo of the refining company. These details help confirm the bar’s legitimacy and make resale easier down the line.
When you evaluate a gold bar, consider more than just its weight. Its production method, appearance, purity level, and brand all play a part in its market value and how easily it can be sold. Whether you’re drawn to the bold look of cast bars or the precise beauty of minted ones, there’s a gold bar out there that’s the right fit for your portfolio.