Gold bar values, 1g to 1kg

How a gold bar is valued

Investment gold bars from recognised refiners (The Royal Mint, PAMP, Metalor, Umicore, Heraeus and others) are almost always 999.9 fine, which is 24 carat, 99.99% pure gold. That makes them the simplest thing in the market to value: the bar’s stated weight is its fine gold content.

A bar’s value starts from its weight in fine gold, valued against the live gold market. A 1kg bar holds 32.15 troy ounces; a 100g bar holds 3.215 oz; a 1oz bar holds exactly one.

Gold bar sizes and gold content

Recognised investment bars are 999.9 fine, so the stated weight is the fine gold content. The figures below are the published specifications, not a quote.

Minted bars, cast bars and packaging

• Minted bars are pressed and finished, often sealed in a certified assay card. The card and serial number help confirm the bar and are worth keeping. Most modern bars under 100g are minted.
• Cast bars are poured into a mould and have a rougher finish, softer corners and often a shrinkage mark. They contain exactly the same gold and are valued the same way. Bars from 250g upwards are usually cast.
• Assay certificates. Keep them. They do not change the gold content, but they speed up confirmation and reassure on provenance.
• Smaller bars (1 to 20g) often carry a higher manufacturing premium when bought. When you sell, all bars are valued on their gold content.

Refiner, assay card and condition

The London Bullion Market Association keeps the Good Delivery List of refiners whose bars the wholesale market accepts without re-assay: PAMP, Metalor, Argor-Heraeus, Valcambi, Umicore, Heraeus, the Perth Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint among them. Good Delivery status itself applies to the large wholesale bars; for a small retail bar, what matters is that it comes from a refiner on the list, which makes it quicker to verify. A bar from an unlisted refiner is still bought, but may need a fuller XRF and density check before the offer is firm.

• Leave the card sealed. Do not break the tamper seal yourself. A bar out of its card, or with a torn card, is still bought, but it can take extra checking; send whatever card or certificate you have.
• Condition. A scratch does not change the gold content. Damage to the stamp or re-engraving can matter more, because a downstream buyer may want a re-assay, and the written offer says if condition has been a factor.
• Packing. Keep the bar in its card, wrap the card in a padded sleeve and use a rigid box so its corners stay sharp.

Credit Suisse and other discontinued brands

Credit Suisse was taken over by UBS in 2023 and no new bars carry its name, but a bar does not lose any gold when its brand ends. Credit Suisse bars were made for the bank principally by Valcambi, and existing bars still trade. The checks are the same as for any bar: the serial on the bar matches the assay card, the weight is exactly what the stamp says, the bar is not magnetic and the stamping is crisp. A soft stamp, a serial that does not match or a card seal that looks re-applied means a full XRF and density check before any offer.

Tax on selling gold bars

Gold bars are not legal tender, so unlike Sovereigns and Britannias they are not exempt from Capital Gains Tax. A gain above your annual CGT allowance may be taxable. Investment gold is generally exempt from VAT. GoldPaid is not a tax adviser. Check your own position with HMRC or a qualified accountant before selling. For the reasoning, and for how the £6,000 personal-possessions rule applies to a bar, see why UK gold coins are CGT-free and bars are not.

How to sell gold bars by post

1. Send a photo on WhatsApp of the bar, both sides, and the assay card if it has one. We reply with a rough estimate.
2. Talk through the postage. A larger bar can be worth more than Royal Mail cover reaches. Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, tracked and signed for. Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. GoldPaid can confirm the appropriate postal option before you post, so message us before sending a higher-value bar.
3. Request your free label once you are happy to proceed.
4. Read the offer, then decide. It arrives in writing with the weight and purity we measured. Accept and we aim to pay by Faster Payments within one working hour of acceptance. Decline and the bar comes back free.

Common questions