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Different Types of Gold Bars

There are two different types of gold bars: cast (or poured) gold bars and minted gold bars. You may see both of these types of gold bars offered from the different mints and companies below, so let's start by taking a look at the differences between each type of bar.

To make a cast gold bar, liquid gold is poured into a mold. After the gold cools completely, it is removed from the mold. Once removed from the mold, the manufacturer engages key details on the bar. These may include the mint's name and the weight of the bar.

While some investors choose cast, or poured, gold bars, minted gold bars tend to be the bar of choice for most. If you're picturing a shiny and expertly finished gold bar, chances are you're thinking of a minted bar.

Minted gold bars are produced in a similar fashion to gold coins or rounds. They are made using a continuous casting machine. Each gold bar is inspected to verify its weight. If any imperfections are discovered, those bars a melted down to be remade.

Minted gold bars tend to cost a bit more than cast gold bars. However, they are also more likely to offer a higher resale value, often making the initial investment worthwhile.

Name Brands vs Generic Gold Bars

You may have noticed that there are a number of different gold bar brands. Some of these brands are categorized as "name brands" while others are "generic." Just as there are name brand clothing manufacturers that sell their items for a premium compared to off-brands, there are name brand and generic gold bar manufacturers.

With name brand gold bars, you should expect to pay a higher premium. This premium comes with the well-known and trusted status of the mint or manufacturer. While you will initially pay more for a name brand gold bar, you will also be able to get more for the bar when you sell it.

Generic gold bars are made by smaller, lesser-known private mints. The benefit of purchasing a generic silver bar is that you won't pay a premium. Generic silver bars should match the spot price of silver. However, on the other hand, you also shouldn't expect to get a premium when you sell the bar.

In the next few sections, we'll take a look at Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bars, Valcambi Suisse Gold Bars, PAMP Suisse Gold Bars, Engelhard Gold Bars, and Johnson Matthey Gold Bars, some of the top name-brand gold bar companies. We'll also explore three generic gold bar companies: Sunshine Minting Gold Bars, Scottsdale Mint Gold Bars, and 9Fine Gold Bars.

Name Brand Gold Bar Companies

The biggest name brand gold bar companies include the Royal Canadian Mint, Valcambi Suisse, PAMP Suisse, Engelhard, and Johnson Matthey. In the next few sections, we'll take a closer look at each of these companies and the gold bars that they offer.

❑ Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bars

If you're at all familiar with investing in precious metals, you've surely heard of the Royal Canadian Mint. The mint, which has been operating since 1911, employs technologically advanced equipment to product gold, silver, platinum, a