Format
Bullion bars.
Cast and minted bars from LBMA-accredited refiners such as PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Key takeaways
- Bars usually carry the lowest premium per ounce of any physical format, which is why larger buyers favor them.
- Larger bars cost less per ounce to buy but can only be sold whole, so divisibility is the main trade-off.
- A recognized refiner mark and an intact assay card or serial number make resale simpler.
- Many clients pair a core of larger bars with smaller bars or coins they can sell in pieces.
What this category is
Bars are the most cost-efficient way to hold larger positions in physical gold or silver. Minted bars are struck with a precise finish and often sealed in assay cards; cast bars are poured and typically carry a lower premium.
Recognized brand and refinery marks matter for resale. Bars from LBMA-accredited refiners are broadly accepted by dealers and depositories worldwide.
Why do bars cost less per ounce than coins?
Bars are simpler to make than coins. A refiner pours or stamps a bar to a stated weight and purity, with no legal-tender design or minting overhead, so the premium over spot is usually lower, and it falls further as bar size increases.
Every physical product is priced as spot plus a premium covering fabrication, distribution and dealer margin. On a large bar, those fixed costs are spread over many ounces, which is why a 10 oz or kilo bar normally costs less per ounce than ten or thirty-two single-ounce pieces.
The same logic works in reverse when you sell. Dealer bids on standard bars from well-known refiners tend to sit close to spot, though the exact spread depends on the product and the market at the time.
What is the difference between cast and minted bars?
Cast bars are poured from molten metal into a mold and have a rougher, more industrial finish. Minted bars are cut from rolled metal and struck for a sharp, polished surface, often sealed in an assay card. Cast bars usually carry a slightly lower premium; minted bars are more common in smaller sizes.
Neither is better metal. Both are sold to a stated weight and fineness, typically .9999 for gold and .999 for silver. The choice is mostly about premium, size and presentation.
Assay cards and serial numbers help a buyer identify the bar later. Keeping the packaging intact and your paperwork together makes the eventual sale straightforward.
Which bar size makes sense?
Choose the size by how you expect to sell, not only by price. One kilo or 100 oz bars give the lowest cost per ounce but must be sold whole. Smaller 1 oz and 10 oz bars cost a little more per ounce and let you sell part of a holding without breaking anything apart.
A common approach is to hold a core position in larger bars and keep a portion in smaller bars or sovereign coins for flexibility. We can quote several sizes side by side so you can see the per-ounce difference before deciding.
What makes a bar easy to resell?
Recognition. Bars from widely known refiners, with clear weight, fineness and serial markings, are readily accepted by dealers and depositories. Unbranded or damaged bars can still be sold, but a buyer may need to test them first, which takes time and can affect the bid.
This is the main reason we focus on established refinery brands for clients and keep written records of what was purchased. For bars held in a depository, the chain of custody is already documented.
Commonly requested
Products in this category
1 oz gold bar
.9999 fine · minted, assay-carded
Most divisible bar format; broad dealer recognition.
10 oz gold bar
.9999 fine · minted or cast
Efficient premium; common LBMA refiners.
1 kilo gold bar
.9999 fine · cast
Lowest premium per ounce; larger commitment size.
100 oz silver bar
.999 fine · cast
Workhorse silver format for larger positions.
1 kilo silver bar
.999 fine · cast or minted
Common depository-friendly silver size.
Availability, premiums, and spreads for any specific product are provided in a written, time-stamped quote.
Often suited for
Client situations where this category tends to fit
- • Cost-efficient sizing for larger physical positions.
- • Storage in an IRS-approved depository for IRA holdings.
- • Clients who prioritize price per ounce over collectibility.
Considerations
What to weigh before deciding
- • Larger bar sizes trade closer to spot but are less divisible on liquidation.
- • Chain-of-custody documentation matters for resale value.
- • Not all bars are IRA-eligible, verified at the product level in writing.
Questions
Common questions
Request written pricing
Written, time-stamped quotes only.
Speak with us about current product availability, premium, and spread, with no obligation.
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