A Swiss Ounce of Palladium From Argor-Heraeus
The Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Palladium Bar is a minted bar from one of the best known refiners in Switzerland, and it comes new in its sealed assay packaging. It holds one troy ounce of .9995 fine palladium, stamped on the bar as 999.5 and certified by the refiner’s sworn assayer.
Argor-Heraeus, From Ticino Since 1951
Argor began in 1951 in Ticino, Switzerland’s southern canton, taking its name from the Italian words for silver and gold. The Heraeus Group joined in 1986 and the company became Argor-Heraeus SA, with its refinery in Mendrisio. In 2003 the London Bullion Market Association appointed it an LBMA reference manufacturer, and the refiner lists itself today among the LBMA’s approved Good Delivery referees.
Two Designs Are Shipping Right Now
Argor-Heraeus began rolling out a redesign of its minted bars in July 2026, and the refiner says both designs may be on the market at the same time during the changeover. The front of the bar did not change. It carries the Argor-Heraeus emblem with the AH monogram, followed by Switzerland, 1 ounce, Palladium and 999.5, and an assayer’s mark.
The reverse is where they differ. Earlier bars carry a repeating AH monogram across the reverse. New-design bars carry a guilloché pattern centered on the Swiss cross and come in a redesigned black assay card. We ship from the stock we have, so we cannot promise either design. Argor-Heraeus states that the redesign did not change the weight, purity or dimensions of the bar, and both are the same ounce of palladium.
Why Palladium, and Why This Bar
William Hyde Wollaston discovered palladium in 1802 and named it after the asteroid Pallas. More than half of the supply of palladium and platinum goes into catalytic converters, and Russia and South Africa lead mine production. That is why palladium prices on its own terms, separate from gold and silver.
A refiner’s bar is the plainest way to hold it. There is no denomination and no collector premium for a design. You get a recognized Swiss mark, a stated fineness and an assay card, and the bar is priced on the palladium market.
Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Palladium Bar Specifications
Each bar holds one troy ounce, or 31.1 grams, of .9995 fine palladium with a smooth edge. It ships new, in an assay card from the refiner, with a serial number for that bar. Full current specs are on the Specifications tab above.
Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Palladium Bar FAQ
Which design will I receive?
It depends on the stock on hand when your order ships. Argor-Heraeus is changing over from the older reverse with the repeating AH monogram to a new Swiss cross reverse, and both designs are genuine Argor-Heraeus bars with the same weight and purity.
What does 999.5 mean on the bar?
It means the bar is 99.95% palladium, written as parts per thousand in the European style. It is the same purity as .9995 fine, which is how it appears on our Specifications tab.
Why is the packaging so much bigger than the bar?
Argor-Heraeus packs each minted bar in a transparent blister alongside a credit-card-sized assay card. The card sets the outer size of the package. The bar inside is much smaller.
Do new-design bars have different serial numbers?
Yes. Argor-Heraeus started a new serial numbering sequence for bars made in the new design, beginning from zero. The refiner says bars made before the change remain fully recognized.
How is palladium different from platinum?
They belong to the same family of metals and are used side by side in catalytic converters. Palladium has the lowest melting point and is the least dense of the platinum group metals.
Want more palladium in a single piece from the same refiner? See the .
Ready to add a Swiss ounce of palladium to your stack? Add the Argor-Heraeus 1 oz Palladium Bar to your cart.
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