Gold Bars Explained: Cast, Minted and What Sizes Exist
Cast bars are poured into a mould. Minted bars are cut from a rolled sheet and pressed. The difference shows in the finish, the packaging and the price per gram.
A gold bar is the simplest form gold takes: metal, refined, stamped and sold by weight. The two manufacturing methods produce noticeably different objects, and the size you choose changes how much you pay per gram.
Key takeaways
- Cast bars are poured into a mould, giving a rougher, more organic finish.
- Minted bars are cut from rolled sheet and pressed, giving sharp edges and a smooth face.
- Minted bars usually come sealed in an assay card, which helps resale.
- Small bars cost more per gram because handling costs are charged per piece.
- An LBMA Good Delivery Rules Good Delivery bar holds 350 to 430 fine troy ounces at a minimum fineness of 995.0.
We do not sell bullion
Vanhess is a jewellery shop in Coquitlam, British Columbia. We sell solid gold jewellery. We do not sell, buy or broker bars, coins, ingots or wafers, and we are not a bullion dealer or a financial advisor. This page explains how bullion works so you can compare it fairly with jewellery. It is not a recommendation to buy anything.
Cast against minted
Poured
Cast bars
- Molten gold poured directly into a mould.
- Rounded edges and a slightly uneven surface.
- Usually cheaper per gram, especially in larger sizes.
- Common in larger weights such as 100 g, 500 g and 1 kg.
Pressed
Minted bars
- Cut from a rolled sheet, then struck with a press.
- Sharp edges, flat mirror faces, precise dimensions.
- Often sealed in a tamper-evident assay card.
- Dominant in small sizes from 1 g up to 100 g.
The size question
The metal in a bar is worth the same per gram whatever the bar's size. What changes is the manufacturing and handling cost, which is charged per bar rather than per gram. Producing, packaging and shipping ten 10 gram bars costs far more than producing one 100 gram bar, and that difference lands in the premium.
| Bar size | Practical notes |
|---|---|
| 1 g to 5 g | Lowest entry cost, highest premium per gram. Often sold in multi-bar sheets |
| 10 g to 20 g | Popular gifting size, still a noticeable premium per gram |
| 1 oz (31.1 g) | The most widely traded retail size, easy to price and resell |
| 50 g to 100 g | Better value per gram, still easy to sell to a dealer |
| 250 g to 1 kg | Lowest premium per gram, but a large single lump to sell at once |
| 350 to 430 fine oz | LBMA Good Delivery, wholesale only, rarely leaves a vault |
Worth knowing
There is a trade-off hidden in the size choice. A single 1 kg bar has the lowest premium, but you can only sell it all at once. Several smaller bars cost more up front and let you sell part of your holding.
The Good Delivery standard
The LBMA Good Delivery Rules set the specification for the wholesale bars that settle trades in the London market. A Good Delivery gold bar must be at least 995.0 parts per thousand fine, and must contain between 350 and 430 fine troy ounces, which is roughly 10.9 to 13.4 kilograms. The familiar 400 ounce bar sits in the middle of that range.
These are not bars a retail buyer purchases. They matter because Good Delivery is the standard the whole market references, and because being on the LBMA accredited refiner list is one of the conditions CRA sets for bullion held in a registered plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a cast and a minted gold bar?
A cast bar is made by pouring molten gold into a mould, which gives it rounded edges and a slightly uneven surface. A minted bar is cut from a rolled sheet and struck with a press, giving sharp edges and flat mirror faces, and it usually comes sealed in an assay card. Cast bars are typically cheaper per gram.
What size gold bar should I buy?
Larger bars carry a lower premium per gram because manufacturing and handling are charged per bar. But a large bar can only be sold in one piece. Several smaller bars cost more up front and give you the option of selling part of your holding, which many people find worth the extra.
How big is a standard gold bar?
The wholesale standard is the LBMA Good Delivery bar, which must contain between 350 and 430 fine troy ounces, roughly 10.9 to 13.4 kilograms, at a minimum fineness of 995.0. Retail bars are far smaller, most commonly one troy ounce or 100 grams.