The Gold-Bar

Production Methods of Gold Bars

A Gold bar can be cast or minted. Those are two different gold bar production methods. Melting means to melt the Gold and pour it into an ingot mold which gives it the commonly recognized shape of a gold bar. A minted gold bar is minted from a hand cut block of gold from a larger piece of solid gold.
 

How heavy is a gold bar?

Gold bars, whether minted or cast, come in all sorts of diferent weights, shapes and categories. The largest gold bar in the world weighs in at a stunning 250,000 Kilogramm or a quarter of a ton. It is part of the exposition at the Toi Gold Mine in Japan. You can actually touch it there, the risk of it being stolen is rather small due to its weight. Gold bullion bars can have various weights and dimensions, it really depends on the requirements. The most well known gold bar shape that you might now from the bank is the "400 ounce London Good Delivery" bar. These Gold Bars weigh 12.44kg.

What does it say on a real gold bar?

Gold bars are usually marked with their weight, their carat and the symbol of the gold producer. Such a seal is applied by press and therefore not an unforgeable proof of authenticity. Recently, gold bars have become a lot smaller (ingots of a few grams) and put in a sealed and certified package. The value of a gold bar depends entirely on its weight and its purity (carat). Click here to read more about gold carat.