The Standard Swiss One-Ounce Bar
Argor-Heraeus holds status as one of just seven refiners the London Bullion Market Association names a reference manufacturer, a tier above ordinary Good Delivery accreditation, and its one-ounce bars are recognized at resale from Zurich to any dealer counter in the US. Every bar holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, sealed new in the refiner’s own assay card.
One Face Carries Everything, the Other Stays Bare
The face opens with the Argor-Heraeus roundel, the interlocking AH monogram ringed by the company name, followed by the country of origin, weight, and fineness stamped in individual lines. A small MELTER ASSAYER hallmark sits below that, with the bar’s own serial number at the base. The reverse is left entirely smooth and unstamped, since Swiss minted bars conventionally keep every mark of identification on a single face rather than splitting the design across both. One face holds every mark, the other stays polished and bare.
Sealed and Matched, Not Just Struck
The assay card itself carries the Argor-Heraeus name printed in the refiner’s black-and-yellow scheme, with the serial number repeated in a window near the edge so it can be checked without opening the seal. The reverse of the card lists the weight and fineness alongside the Swiss flag. Leaving the card sealed is what preserves a bar’s strongest resale position, since a broken seal means a dealer has to test the bar from scratch instead of trusting the seal. The window shows the serial, no need to break the seal to check it.
Backed by Reference-Manufacturer Status
Argor-Heraeus has held its LBMA reference manufacturer status since 2003, a distinction only six other refiners worldwide share. That standing is what lets its bars move between dealers and depositories without a fresh test each time. At .9999 fine, the bar also clears the IRS’s minimum for a precious metals IRA. Reference status since 2003, a tier above ordinary accreditation.
Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Gold Bar Specifications
Every bar holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, sealed in Argor-Heraeus’s own assay card with a matching serial number. One troy ounce, .9999 fine, every bar. Full current specs are on the Specifications tab above.
Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Gold Bar FAQ
Is the Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Gold Bar IRA eligible?
Yes. At .9999 fine from an LBMA reference manufacturer, it clears the IRS’s requirements for a precious metals IRA. Eligibility isn’t a close call, given how far past the floor it sits.
How can I confirm this bar is genuine?
Match the serial number struck into the bar against the number printed in the window on its sealed assay card. Weight and dimensions should also match the published specification. The serial number matches, bar to card, on a genuine piece.
Why is the back of the bar completely blank?
Argor-Heraeus puts every identifying mark, the roundel, weight, fineness, and serial number, on a single face, leaving the reverse polished and unstamped. It’s standard practice among Swiss minted bars, not a sign anything was left off. One face carries every mark.
What does the “Melter Assayer” hallmark mean?
It identifies Argor-Heraeus itself as the licensed party that melted and assayed the gold, distinct from the refiner’s main roundel logo. It names the melter-assayer, a separate mark from the main hallmark.
What condition does it ship in?
New, straight from the refiner with no handling in between. Condition is new, not a numeric or third-party grade.
Curious how this compares to other refiners at this size? Browse our full selection.
Ready to add a recognized Swiss ounce to your stack? Add the Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Gold Bar to your cart.
Allen P (verified owner) –
These Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Gold Bars are one type of gold I buy for my Gold-Backed IRA. All the Gold in my IRA has a serial number. A layer of security for me as I had the bullion depository not list one of my bars and I could tell them the serial number of the unaccounted bar. Good value.