Gold Bars

Gold bars, also known as gold bullion bars, are rectangular slabs of gold primarily used for investment purposes. They typically offer a lower premium over the spot price of gold compared to other gold products like coins. 

Characteristics

Purity: Gold bars are generally made from pure gold, with a fineness of 99.5% to 99.99%. Some may be 22-karat (91.6% pure), but the higher purity (24-karat or 99.99%) is more widely accepted, especially by institutional investors.

Weight: They come in various sizes, commonly 1 ounce, 10 ounces, and 1 kilogram. The international trading benchmark is the 400-ounce "Good Delivery" bar, used by central banks and institutional investors. Other sizes include Kilobars (1 kilogram) and Tola Bars (10 tolas or 3.75 ounces) prevalent in Asian markets.

Markings: Most gold bars are stamped with the manufacturers hallmark, weight, purity, and a unique serial number to ensure authenticity and traceability.