A 1 oz gold bar contains 1 troy ounce of .999+ fine gold (31.1035 grams). Popular brands include PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, and Asahi. Gold bars typically carry lower premiums than gold coins — usually 2-4% over spot versus 3-6% for coins.
PAMP Suisse bars with the Lady Fortuna design and Valcambi CombiBar (divisible into smaller pieces) are the most recognized and liquid gold bars in the world. Most 1 oz gold bars come sealed in assay card packaging that certifies weight and purity, which should be kept intact to maintain resale value.
The tradeoff versus coins is that gold bars are not government-minted legal tender, which means slightly lower buyback prices from some dealers and non-eligibility for certain IRA custodians (though many accept bars from approved refiners). For pure gold investors focused on lowest premium per ounce, bars are the optimal choice.
No numismatic premium on standard bars. PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna bars carry slight premium due to brand recognition. Keep assay card sealed for best resale value.