500 g Cast Gold Bar | Valcambi

500 g Valcambi Cast Gold Bar — large-format cast bar with raw surface texture, minimal premium per gram and full LBMA accreditation

500 g of 999.9/1000 fine gold (.9999) in a cast bar format from Valcambi SA — a Swiss refinery with LBMA Good Delivery accreditation since 1968. Each bar carries an individual serial number and is delivered with an assay card confirming weight, fineness and authenticity.

The cast bar is produced by pouring molten gold into a graphite mould and allowing it to cool under controlled conditions — a method used for millennia and the oldest technique for shaping precious metal. Each piece has a unique, slightly rough surface texture that distinguishes it from minted bars with their smooth, mirror-like finish. The 500 g cast is the second-largest in Valcambi's cast bar series — offering a minimal premium per gram at a one-off outlay that remains well below the cost of a kilo bar. It is the preferred weight for buyers making large single purchases of gold bullion.

Technical specification

Why this product?

• Traditional casting technique — the cast bar is the oldest form of bullion bar. The 500 g format emphasises this character particularly well — a substantial, heavy casting with a pronounced surface texture that is difficult to achieve in smaller weights.
• 999.9/1000 fineness (.9999) — identical purity standard to Valcambi's minted bars. The production technique does not affect fineness — both cast and minted bars contain the same amount of fine gold per gram.
• LBMA Good Delivery since 1968 — Valcambi meets the highest quality standards of the London Bullion Market Association regardless of production form.
• Minimal premium per gram — the 500 g cast is the second-largest in the series. The premium is among the lowest available in retail — only the 1 kg format offers a lower per-gram cost. The gap between 500 g and 1 kg is already narrow, while the drop from smaller weights to 500 g is substantial.
• Individual serial number — stamped directly on the bar and confirmed on the assay card, ensuring full product traceability on the secondary market and at resale.

Valcambi SA — Swiss precious metals refinery

Valcambi SA has operated since 1961 from Balerna in Canton Ticino, southern Switzerland. The refinery processes the four main precious metals — gold, silver, platinum and palladium — with an annual capacity exceeding 2,000 tonnes. It ranks among the world's largest and most recognised precious metals processors, serving central banks, state mints and global bullion dealers.

Valcambi obtained LBMA Good Delivery accreditation for gold in 1968. The refinery holds accreditations for all four main precious metals — one of the few worldwide with the complete set. The Balerna facility runs the entire production cycle — from refining through casting and minting to final packaging.

Valcambi produces both minted bars with a smooth surface and cast bars with a characteristic rough texture — both forms in identical 999.9/1000 fineness. The refinery operates responsible sourcing programmes in accordance with OECD Due Diligence and LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance standards, with regular independent audits ensuring full supply chain traceability.

Casting technology — cast bar vs. minted bar

The cast bar (pourbar) is produced by pouring molten gold at over 1,064 °C into a precision graphite mould. After controlled cooling, the bar is removed, cleaned and marked — the producer logo, weight, fineness and individual serial number are mechanically stamped into the surface.

Unlike minted bars, which are cut from a gold strip and struck in a press to achieve a smooth mirror finish, cast bars retain the natural surface structure formed during metal solidification. The result is a matte, slightly irregular texture — each piece is a visual one-off.

The casting technique is the oldest known method of shaping precious metal into standardised trade units — used from antiquity through to today's LBMA refineries. Modern Valcambi cast bars combine this traditional method with 21st-century quality control: each bar is weighed to 0.01 g accuracy and spectrometrically verified for fineness.

Casting bars at 500 g requires particular precision — the longer solidification time of the metal in the graphite mould demands careful control of pour temperature and cooling rate to ensure uniform density across the full cross-section. The result is a substantial, heavy casting with a deep, varied surface texture that is more pronounced than in lighter cast bars from the same series.

Formats and weights — Valcambi cast gold bars

Valcambi SA produces cast gold bars in five weights: 50 g, 100 g, 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg. The cast bar series complements the full range of minted bars (0.5 g to 1 kg) and the CombiBar format.

The 500 g format is the second-largest in the series — the weight at which the premium per gram approaches the minimum achieved only by the kilo bar. The one-off outlay is high, but the per-gram cost of metal remains among the lowest available in retail. It is the choice of buyers making large single purchases of gold or consolidating smaller positions into a single, large-format casting.

A full overview of available weights can be found in the gold bullion bars category. Current precious metals prices at precious metals prices.

What to consider before buying?

Before purchasing, check the current gold price and compare the product price with the spot price. The premium over spot for the 500 g format is among the lowest in the entire retail range — only the 1 kg bar offers a lower per-gram price. The difference between 500 g and 250 g in premium terms is already relatively small, while the drop from 100 g to 500 g is substantial.

The matte, slightly rough surface is a natural feature of the casting process. In the 500 g format, the texture is particularly pronounced — the large casting surface displays varied solidification marks that give each piece an individual, distinctive appearance. For resale, what matters is the individual serial number, assay card and producer reputation (Valcambi, LBMA Good Delivery).

Why GoldInvest24?

• Producers with LBMA Good Delivery accreditation — Valcambi, PAMP, Argor-Heraeus, Heraeus, Umicore and other world-renowned refineries.
• Wide range of weights and forms — minted, cast and CombiBar bars from 0.5 g to 1 kg in gold, plus silver bars and bullion coins.
• Three language versions of the shop — PL, DE, EN — with complete product descriptions.
• Live precious metals prices — gold, silver, platinum and palladium in real time.
• Insured shipping and discreet packaging with every order.

Comparison table — Valcambi cast gold bars

FAQ — Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a cast bar and a minted bar?

A cast bar is produced by pouring molten gold into a mould, giving it a matte, slightly rough surface — each piece is unique. A minted bar is cut from a gold strip and struck in a press, producing a smooth mirror finish. Both forms contain identical 999.9/1000 gold per gram and are fully tradable on the bullion market.

What is the fineness of the 500 g Valcambi cast gold bar?

The bar is made of 999.9/1000 fine gold (.9999) — the highest purity standard in bullion bars, identical across all Valcambi weights and production forms.

What are the dimensions of the 500 g Valcambi cast gold bar?

The bar measures approx. 78 × 41 × 12 mm. Due to the casting process, dimensions may vary slightly between pieces — this is a natural feature of the production technique.

Why is the premium per gram among the lowest for the 500 g format?

Fixed costs of production, packaging and handling are spread across a very large amount of metal. The 500 g format is the second-largest in Valcambi's cast bar series — only the kilo bar offers a lower premium. The gap between 500 g and 1 kg is already narrow, while the drop from smaller weights to 500 g is substantial.

What weights are available for Valcambi cast gold bars?

Valcambi SA produces cast gold bars in five weights: 50 g, 100 g, 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg. The 500 g format is the second-largest — combining minimal premium with a format below the kilo bar. All weights have identical fineness of 999.9/1000 (.9999).

Is the 500 g cast gold bar VAT-exempt?

Yes. Gold bullion in bar form meeting the conditions of EU Directive 98/80/EC is exempt from value added tax — regardless of whether the bar is cast or minted.

How do I buy the 500 g Valcambi cast gold bar from GoldInvest24?

Simply add the product to your basket and complete the order. Before purchasing, check the current gold price and compare the premium with other weights in the gold bullion bars category.