Heraeus is a global Fortune 500 company that is recognised around the world for their high quality gold bars and state of the art precious metals refining process. The company has over 160 years of experience as a leading supplier of precious metals. Their bars are among the most popular investment products.

Heraeus fine gold bars are distributed through banks, savings banks and leading precious metal traders. Heraeus gold bars are also exempt from VAT in Europe.

Fine Gold Content

The Heraeus gold bars have a fineness of 999.9 /1000.

Production

In the production of gold bars, a distinction is made between casting and embossing. Traditionally, gold bars have been poured, since the weights of the bars were relatively high.

Nowadays smaller gold bars with a weight of 1 gram are also produced. For gold bars with a weight of 1 g to about 100 g, the production method is “minted” as it is more efficient for smaller weights.

The only exception is the Heraeus 100 g Gold Bar, which is available in minted and cast versions.

Cast gold bars

The casting of gold bars is carried out using two different methods. In the first method, gold granules with a fineness of 99.99% are heated in a crucible at above 1064°C and poured into the ingot mould.

In the second method, the granules are directly placed into the form of a bar and heated in a special blast furnace so that the gold does not have to be recoated again. In both methods, the fine content, the fine weight and the manufacturer are stamped on the gold bar by a hydraulic press.

The new 500 and 1000 gram bars are rolled again after casting. This leads to a flat and uniform bar shape.

Heraeus Gold Bar Cast:

Fineweight        Fineness            Dimensions (Length x Width)    Thickness         Serial Number

100 g                  999.9/1000       44.0 x 26.0 mm                             4.5 mm              2 Letters 4 Numbers

250 g                  999.9/1000       50.0 x 30.5 mm                             9.0 mm              5 Numbers

500 g                  999.9/1000       91.0 x 41.0 mm                             7.6 mm              1 Letter 5 Numbers

1000 g / 1 kg     999.9/1000       116.5 x 51.0 mm                          9.5 mm              1 Letter 5 Numbers

Minted gold bars

The mintage of gold bars is similar to coinage. First blanks are produced, which have the weight of the gold bar. The blanks are produced by rolling plates, sheets and strips and then formed to specification.

With a slight weight deviation upwards, the blank is manually adjusted to the exact fine weight. The last step is to mint the blank in a press so that it receives its final shape of a gold bar. The label is then added, just like a coin.

Heraeus gold bars in Grams:

Fineweight          Fineness           Dimensions (Length x Width)    Thickness         Serial Number

1 g                        999.9/1000       15.0 x 8.7 mm                               0.5 mm              6 Numbers

5 g                        999.9/1000       23.0 x 14.0 mm                             0.95 mm            6 Numbers

10 g                      999.9/1000       31.5 x 18.5 mm                             1.05 mm            6 Numbers

20 g                      999.9/1000       40.4 x 23.3 mm                             1.3 mm              6 Numbers

50 g                      999.9/1000       49.65 x 28.45 mm                         1.95 mm            6 Numbers

100 g                    999.9/1000       49.65 x 28.45 mm                         3.85 mm            6 Numbers

Heraeus Gold Bars in Ounces

Next to the metric gold bar portfolio with grams and kilos, Heraeus also produces minted gold bars that are measured in a weight of 1 ounce, which equates to about 31.1 grams of finegold.

Fineweight        Fineness            Dimensions (Length x Width)    Thickness

31.103 g             999.9/1000       40.4 x 23.3 mm                             1.75 mm

Since 2013, Heraeus has been producing the popular MultiCard Gold Bars. The MultiCard gold blister cards are available in five or ten individual 1 gram gold bars. Each of the  individual gold bars in the MultiCard blisters carry their own unique serial number, which is also noted on the blister card.

The MultiCard gold bars are a cost-effective alternative to the individual gram bars.

Heraeus Gold Bar - MultiCard

Fineweight        Fineness            Dimensions (Length x Width)    Thickness         Serial Number

5 x 1 g                999.9/1000       10.0 x 10.0 mm                              0.7 mm             1 Letter 5 Numbers

10 x 1 g              999.9/1000       10.0 x 10.0 mm                              0.7 mm             1 Letter 5 Numbers

Appearance

Heraeus gold bars depict the "hand with roses" logo. The circular inscription that surrounds the logo reads "Heraeus Edelmetalle -Hanau-". Below the logo, is the weight of the bar and since 2011 the serial number has also been imprinted. Above the portrait the inscription Heraeus Feingold 999.9 can be seen.

From 2001 to 2011 there is no serial number and the logo (circularly arranged lettering) bears the addition "GmbH". However, the dimensions are identical to the bars of the new version.

In 2011, the design was changed on all gold bars. Individual serial numbers with a corresponding certificate were also added.

History and Business

In 1851 the company was founded in Hanau, when the pharmacist's son Wilhelm Carl Heraeus took over the business from his father. He developed the world's first process for melting platinum, using an oxyhydrogen flame technique.

In 1856 he founded the "First German Platinum Melt" in Hanau (near Frankfurt on the Main). In the following generations, the business segments expanded to include new technology segments.

All gold bars produced by Heraeus since May 2011 bear an individual serial number and are given a certificate, which also contains the corresponding serial number of the bar.

The new blister packs come in a durable light grey package. The packaging makes it easy to store and protects the bars from damage.

Heraeus Kinebar

Kinebars were introduced in 1994 by Argor-Heraeus and are equipped with an advanced safety feature. The sophisticated technology features a proprietary image that protects against counterfeiting. The safety element is added by means of a complex machining process. These security holograms are often used in EU passports or banknotes.

Heraeus Kinebars are one of the most innovative gold bullion products on the market today and are gaining in popularity.

Fine content

The Heraeus Kinebars have a fine content of 999.9/1000.

Size, Dimensions and Appearance

The Kinebar Gold Bar differs from conventional bars only by the hologram on the back. On the front side, as with other bars, the weight and purity, as well as the inscription "Fine Gold" and the check mark are shown. In addition, a serial number is embossed.

Production

Kinebars are produced exclusively by Argor-Heraeus, based in Switzerland.

The production process is complex and involves proprietary technology. The bars with the Argor-Heraeus logo on the front are produced using a punching process in the sizes 1 gram, 2 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram, 20 gram and 1 oz (31.1035 grams).

The hologram extends over the entire backside of the Kinebars. Other sizes are also produced as commissioned workpieces and provided with third party logos and the Kinebar trademark. In the production process, fine microstructures are applied directly to the surface of the gold bars, which produce the unique effect.

The counterfeit-proof safety feature is applied directly to the bottom of the bar with a laser. The safety feature was developed under the patent of the Swiss OVD Kinegram AG. These silvery shining kinegrams show a multidimensional effect. The name is derived from the concept of kinematics, since depending on the angle the kinegram, it shows a fixed, predefined sequence.

Kinebars have only been produced as gold bars.

The Kinebar gold bars are issued in protective blister cards. The individual serial number is located both on the ingot itself and on the blister card.

History

The Kinegram technology was jointly developed by Argor-Heraeus and OVD Kinegram corp. Argor-Heraeus has minted the Kinebars with a fine content of 99.99% since 1994. However, the name rights for the Kinebar lie with the Swiss bank UBS. The different sizes from one gram to one ounce are produced and offered under the Argor-Heraeus name as well as on behalf of third parties.

The technique used for the kinegram on the back of the gold bars is based on diffraction optics. This technique also successfully serves as an authentication element on banknotes, identity cards, credit and money cards as well as documents and tickets.

The uniqueness of the Kinebars is achieved with an increased production expenditure compared to conventional gold bars, which is why the Kinebars are somewhat higher in price compared to conventional gold bars.

Kinebars are an excellent gold bar for investors and collectors or to buy as gifts. The bars come in beautiful tamper resistant packaging and the reverse side of the bar depicts a beautiful rainbow of colors that offers visual appeal. Through the hologram, the additional security features go way beyond the normal production standards.