Costco’s Gold Rush: How Shoppers Are Cashing in on Gold and Platinum Bars

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Costco Gold Bullion on Display in a Warehouse Location

In recent years, Costco has become more than just a one-stop shop for groceries and bulk household items—it’s now a destination for precious metal investors. Costco’s foray into selling 1-ounce gold bars began in 2023, and the demand for them has been nothing short of a gold rush.

With prices soaring and a steady stream of customers eager to invest in tangible assets, Costco’s gold bars have been flying off the shelves faster than they can be restocked.

More recently, the company has expanded its precious metal offerings to include platinum bars to their unique inventory.

The Popularity of Costco Gold Bars

Costco’s decision to sell gold bars proved to be a masterstroke. The 1-ounce PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna gold bars were priced at just under $2,000 when they began selling them last year.

Sealed PAMP Suisse 1 oz Lady Fortuna Gold Bar in Assay Card .9999 fine gold
Sealed PAMP Suisse 1 oz Lady Fortuna Gold Bar in Assay Card

Despite gold prices surging to over $2,600 per ounce, the company says that demand remains strong. Costco undercuts traditional precious metal dealers premiums while allowing members to receive additional perks in the form of cash back and rebates.

Member are allowed to take advantage of both membership rewards and credit card points to accumulate rebates which helps to further reduce the premiums.

One notable example comes from a 33-year-old customer named Sourav Sethia, who explained to Bloomberg that he frequently takes advantage of pullbacks in the price of gold after receiving phone calls from his local warehouse whenever they restock gold bars.

Costco’s Expansion into Platinum Bars

Costco’s success with gold prompted the retailer to expand its offerings by introducing platinum bars. The PAMP Suisse 1-ounce platinum bars, priced at $1,089.99, are available exclusively online and come with a one-transaction, five-bar limit per member.

PAMP Suisse 1 oz Lady Fortuna Platinum Bar .9995 fine platinum
Sealed PAMP Suisse 1 oz Lady Fortuna Platinum Bar in Assay Card.

PAMP Suisse Platinum Bars are made of .9995 fine platinum and meet the standards set by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), ensuring their quality and authenticity.

Although platinum is less popular with investors than gold, its introduction marks a significant step in bringing greater awareness to precious metals as a store of value.

With Costco entering the platinum market, the retailer is likely to see a similar level of enthusiasm from its members as it did with gold.

Combining Costco Membership and Credit Card Rewards

One of the most appealing aspects of buying gold and platinum bars from Costco is the ability for members to combine their Costco Executive Membership rewards with Costco Citi credit card points to maximize rebates and savings. Here’s how savvy shoppers are leveraging these rewards to gain even more from their investments:

Precious Metals Rebates Combining 2% Executive Membership Reward Plus 2% Citi Credit Card Cashback

While the annual Executive Membership costs $130, it includes a 2% annual reward on all purchases, including gold and platinum bars.

Additionally, customers who have the Costco-branded Citi credit card can earn an additional 2% cashback.

As of October 2024, Costco’s gold bars are selling at a 1.6% premium to the spot price, while the average premium from traditional bullion dealers is around 4.5%.

Members can receive as much as 4% back when combining the rewards, effectively acquiring gold bars for below spot price.

A Safe Haven for Investors

Costco’s entry into the precious metals market makes them more accessible to everyday investors.

Many of Costco’s members have higher household incomes and are already accustomed to the warehouse retailer’s bulk pricing model.

As Stefan Gleason, CEO of Money Metals Exchange, pointed out, only a tiny percentage of Americans own gold and silver outside of jewelry, but Costco’s offerings could change that. He estimates that increasing ownership to even 5% to 10% would dramatically impact the market.

The Future of Costco’s Precious Metal Sales

Costco sold more than $100 million in gold bars between September and November 2023 alone, proving its foray into precious metals to be highly successful.

With the introduction of platinum bars and plans to expand its precious metals lineup further, it’s clear that Costco sees an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for tangible assets.

While the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) warns that gold is not a “safe” investment and can fluctuate based on market demand, many Costco members view the metal as a hedge against instability. As one customer, Johnny Lee, put it, buying gold bars at Costco is an easy way to make a purchase, knowing the historical value of gold as a store of wealth.

As Costco continues innovating in the precious metals market, its customers benefit from the retailer’s competitive pricing, rewards programs, and the convenience of purchasing gold and platinum alongside their weekly groceries. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a first-time buyer, Costco’s offerings provide an accessible and rewarding way to diversify your portfolio with precious metals.

PAMP Suisse Converts Florida Airplane Hanger into New Silver Refinery

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MKS PAMP Group’s Expansion into North America

MKS PAMP Group’s decision to repurpose an aviation hangar in Florida for a silver mint reflects a strategic move to capitalize on robust investment demand in North America.

By enhancing its production capacity in the U.S., MKS PAMP Group is positioning itself to better serve the North American market.

Production Capacity and Product Offerings

The new Florida facility can produce over 20 million troy ounces of silver products annually, including 1-ounce silver rounds and 10-ounce bars. These privately minted, coin-shaped pieces of silver cater to both investment and industrial demands. The ability to produce such a significant quantity of silver products positions MKS PAMP Group to meet the ongoing demand in the U.S. and potentially the Middle East, where their products have also performed well.

Global Silver Market Trends

Investment Demand Shifts

The global investment market for silver bars and coins experienced notable shifts in 2023, with significant declines in Germany and India. The slump in these major markets can be attributed to policy changes and market dynamics:

  • Germany: Sales collapsed by 73% in 2023 following an increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) on some silver products.
  • India: Recorded a 38% decrease in demand due to various economic factors.

Despite these declines, the U.S. market remained relatively resilient, with only a 13% decrease in demand. This resilience is crucial for mints and refiners seeking stable outlets for their products.

Price Movements

Spot silver prices have risen by 27% in 2024, reaching an 11-year high on May 20. This increase is part of a broader rally in precious metals, including gold and copper. While global physical investment in silver bars and coins is expected to fall further after a 28% slump in 2023, the U.S. market continues to provide a significant outlet for investment products.

Strategic Implications

Strengthening Market Presence

By expanding its production capabilities in Florida, MKS PAMP Group is strengthening its market presence in a key region. This move allows the company to better serve North American investors who have shown sustained interest in PAMP Suisse silver products. Additionally, the ability to produce large quantities of silver rounds and bars enhances the group’s ability to meet both current and future demand.

Adapting to Market Conditions

The shift in global investment demand highlights the importance of adapting to market conditions. MKS PAMP Group’s expansion into Florida demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing changes in regional demand patterns. By focusing on the U.S. market, which remains historically high in terms of silver investment demand, the group can mitigate the impacts of declines in other markets.

Conclusion

MKS PAMP Group’s expansion into Florida reflects a strategic response to the evolving dynamics of the global silver market. By increasing production capacity in North America, the group is well-positioned to capitalize on strong investment demand in the U.S. and other resilient markets. This move not only strengthens their market presence but also ensures they can continue to provide investment-grade silver products to investors amid shifting global trends.

Divisible Gold Bars Can Help in Being Prepared

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Divisible gold bars are a popular solution for helping investors stay prepared for any financial emergency. These physical gold bars are a tangible asset that you can store at home alongside other valuables and are available from a variety of manufacturers in a variety of sizes and weights that can provide immediate liquidity.

Having fractional gold bars set aside is wise for financial preparedness because it offers a reliable and accessible reserve that can be used in times of need. Gold’s status as “real money” is backed by its physical properties, intrinsic value, and historical role as a medium of exchange and store of wealth, making it one of the most trusted assets to hold in uncertain times.

Gold is highly liquid and can be quickly and easily converted into cash, making it a practical asset to hold for emergency needs when quick access to funds is necessary.

Three of the leading precious metals refineries in Europe mint divisible gold bars that allow investors to break off the amount necessary if it becomes necessary to sell.

PAMP Suisse Multigram

The PAMP Suisse Multigram gold bars are especially suited for investors who appreciate the flexibility of smaller divisible units. They are also perfect as thoughtful, valuable gifts for special occasions.

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PAMP Suisse Multigram+25 Gold Bars

Each unit of gold is the same as every other unit and ensures that all gold of a particular weight and purity is valued the same.

In the Multigram+ series, multiple 1 gram bars are presented in a single sheet, where each bar is in its own compartment within a larger assay card. This card is perforated, allowing individual bars to be detached without compromising the remaining bars’ security and authenticity. Individual 1 gram gold bar is packaged in a sealed protective assay card, which includes the bar’s weight, purity, and a unique serial number.

The packaging is designed not only for protection but also provides essential assay information about the metal content and certification.

Argor-Heraeus GoldSeed 10×1 gram Gold Bar

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Argor-Hereaeus GoldSeed 10×1 gram gold bars

The GoldSeed 10x1gram is unique divisible gold bar from Argor-Heraeus that is presented in a circularly arranged assay which represents an innovative approach to combining traditional investment with modern concerns for being prepared for a variety of situations.

Divisible gold bars allow for a flexible approach to investment. The individual bars are ideal for gifting or trading, providing a practical and elegant option for transferring wealth or paying with gold in small increments. In emergency situations or times of economic instability, divisible bars can be used as a form of currency or barter, providing smaller, more practical units for everyday transactions. Owners can sell or trade small portions of their gold holdings without liquidating the entire bar. 

The GoldSeed bar provides immediate access to ten individual 1 gram gold bars that is minted with .9999 fine gold. Divisible gold bars are a popular way to buy a pragmatic option that offers investors flexibility and easy liquidity.

Valcambi Gold Combibars

The Valcambi Combibar is an innovative gold investment product that combines the security and stability of gold bullion with unmatched flexibility and practicality. Its unique design and features make it a valuable tool for financial preparedness, suitable for a wide range of scenarios from economic uncertainty to long-term wealth preservation.

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Combibar 1 oz Gold Bar, pre-scored to be easily divisible into individual 1/10 oz gold bars

Whether used for investment diversification, emergency preparedness, or as a portable store of wealth, the Combibar line offers significant advantages to modern investors looking for divisible gold bar options.

The Combibars are available in an array of weights, sizes and denominations that range from as small as 5 grams to as large as 100 grams.

Available Weight Denominations

The Valcambi Combibar is also available in a variety of other precious metals, including silver, platinum and palladium for those interested in creating greater diversity in their portfolio.

PAMP Suisse Installs Solar Panels Installs at its Castel San Pietro Refinery to Accelerate Supply of Renewable Energy

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MKS PAMP, the parent company of PAMP Suisse has announced the completion of a project to supply their Castel San Pietro refinery with renewable solar energy. The solar panel installation covers a total area 2000m² rooftop with an expected annual production of 519.7 MWh of electricity.

In 2016, MKS PAMP entered into an agreement with the Swiss Confederation to reduce Co₂ emissions. Since then, the company has reduced its CO₂ emissions at its production site by 41%.  Moreover, they continue to source 100% renewable electricity long-term.

“This renewable energy installation demonstrates our path to continued environmental sustainability – we are proud to achieve such objectives with the support of the Castel San Pietro municipality ”, said Phaedon Stamatopoulos, Managing Director, MKS PAMP Ticino in a press release.  

Silver is utilized in solar panels as part of the conductive paste that is contained in photovoltaic cells. Silver is well known for its excellent electrical conductivity, which helps in efficiently collecting and transmitting the electricity generated by the solar cells.

MKS PAMP

MKS PAMP GROUP has a significant international footprint and is known for its commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices.

The company’s operations span the gamut of the precious metals industry from refining and manufacturing to trading and finance across key markets worldwide while adhering to strict environmental standards.

PAMP’s refinery is accredited as a Good Delivery provider of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) underscoring its reputation for reliability and the high quality of its products.

Throughout its more than 60 year history, PAMP has been at the forefront of integrating advanced security features into its products, including Veriscan® technology, which uses microscopic surface topography to register and verify the authenticity of gold bars.

PAMP Suisse and Activision Collaborate on Gold and Silver Bars to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

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To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Call of Duty video game franchise, Activision has partnered with PAMP Suisse to develop a line of limited edition silver and gold bars featuring the imagery from the game.

The obverse shows the outline of a shield with a game character dressed in military fatigues along with the franchise title “Call of Duty” in vertical orientation. The reverse shows a diagonal pattern of Call of Duty Modern Warfare III logo, with the makers hallmark, weight and purity in the center and includes a unique serial number that is also printed on the matching assay card.

Additionally, all of the COD silver and gold bars include a code that is redeemable for a bonus in-game weapon charm.

Further details can be found in the press release from MKS PAMP.

PAMP Suisse

Founded in 1977 and based in Ticino, Switzerland, PAMP is one of the world’s leading bullion brands, known for its high-quality gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products. The company produces a wide range of bullion products, including bars, coins, and ingots, which are popular among investors and collectors alike for their purity, craftsmanship, and innovative designs.

PAMP Suisse gold bars come with an assay certificate, which guarantees the purity, weight, and authenticity of the bar. Each PAMP Suisse gold bar is individually serialized, which aids in authentication and adds to its collectibility. While the intrinsic value of the gold itself is a significant factor in the value, the collectibility of these limited edition bars can add a premium above the spot price of gold.

Call of Duty

“Call of Duty” is an influential and popular first-person shooter video game franchise developed and published by Activision. The series began with the launch of the original “Call of Duty” game on October 29, 2003. The game was initially set in World War II and was praised for its immersive storytelling, realistic gameplay, and engaging multiplayer modes. Over the years, the franchise has expanded to include various settings, including modern times, futuristic worlds, and even space.

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” is an update of the original game that features missions that mirror modern military conflicts and tactics. The franchise itself is developed and published by Activision, with various development studios working on different entries, including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games.

The original “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” launched in November 2007 and was a pivotal game in the series, marking a shift from World War II settings to contemporary battlefields and significantly influencing the first-person shooter genre with its realistic gameplay, narrative depth, and multiplayer modes.

The “Call of Duty” franchise boasts millions of active players across its various titles and has extended its reach beyond video games into a broad array of merchandise and media, including Action figures, LEGO sets, gaming peripherals like branded controllers, headsets, and mouse pads and narrative extensions of the franchise’s storylines, offering deeper dives into its lore and characters.

How to Verify a PAMP Suisse Gold Bar? 

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The number of counterfeit PAMP Suisse bars in the market has increased in recent years due to the rising demand for precious metals like gold and silver. While PAMP Suisse is one of the most trusted and reputable precious metals refiners globally, the high value associated with its products makes it a target for counterfeiters. That said, authentic PAMP Suisse bars have several security features that make it difficult for counterfeit versions to go unnoticed.

PAMP’s VeriScan system uses a microscopic surface topography unique to each bar. Buyers can scan their bar and verify its authenticity against the PAMP database using a mobile app.

PAMP bars typically come in tamper-proof packaging that includes a certificate of authenticity, a serial number, and detailed specifications. Each authentic PAMP bar is stamped with a unique serial number and the assayer’s mark, adding another layer of security.

Counterfeiters often attempt to replicate this packaging, but discrepancies are often detectable.

You’re more likely to encounter counterfeits in private transactions, social media, online forums, or from unknown or untrustworthy dealers. The likelihood of encountering a counterfeit bar increases significantly when purchasing from non-reputable sources or when the price seems “too good to be true.”

PAMP Suisse has made it easy to verify the authenticity of its products with the Veriscan app, which can be downloaded on the App Store for iPhones and iPads.

PAMP Veriscan Mobile App

The surface of all precious metals has microscopic topographic features as unique as human fingerprints. Using the app, you can scan the front surface of the bar, allowing the app to interpret the surface topography of the bar. The bar’s surface topography is then compared against the data stored in the PAMP VERISCAN database. The app will display an affirmative result for authentic products and issue a failing result for products that it suspects may be counterfeit. 

PAMP Suisse Veriscan Instant Authentication Mobile App
Authentic PAMP Suisse products can be verified with the PAMP VERISCAN App

The PAMP Suisse Veriscan Mobile Application can authenticate gold, silver, and platinum bars issued by PAMP Suisse, along with bullion coins and bars issued by a handful of other established mints, including the Royal Australian Mint, Bank of China, Lombard Bank Malta, and UBS.

You can scan larger silver bars and gold bars from any of the six sides of the bar.

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Scan the product’s QR Code with the PAMP VERISCAN App

All PAMP Suisse Veriscan-enabled products are issued with a unique QR code that, when scanned with the app, allows the lookup of the specific bar’s topographic features that were scanned during the manufacturing process.

After scanning, the Veriscan app will open a corresponding page that contains the bar’s details, including its weight, purity, mint mark, and serial number. 

Verify PAMP Suisse products with the PAMP VERISCAN App
The PAMP VERISCAN App provides information to authenticate PAMP Products

This allows you to compare the information from the mint with the information from the packaging of your PAMP Suisse product. If they match, you have a genuine PAMP Suisse product. Having the application verify PAMP Suisse products allows greater confidence in the authenticity of your gold bar. If they do not match, verify that you’ve followed the provided instructions to determine if your product is counterfeit.

Instruction for scanning larger-size PAMP Suisse Silver and Gold Bars is available in the application’s menu. When scanning larger-size bars, the Veriscan application provides options to choose which sides of the product will be scanned. Authenticating larger PAMP gold and silver bars is easy with the enhanced authentication option, which can scan any of the six sides of a gold, silver, or platinum bar. 

The PAMP Suisse Veriscan App can be downloaded from the Apple App Store directly to your iPhone or iPad for easy verification and authentication at home.

Is the Costco Gold Bar a Good Deal?

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While best known for its large selection of consumer goods and services ranging from groceries to electronics to clothing, travel booking, insurance, and optical, Costco has recently added several 1 oz gold bars to their lineup.

Periodically, warehouse club now periodically offers both Rand Refinery 1 oz Gold Bars and PAMP Suisse 1 oz Gold Bars available for sale on their website.

When the bars are available on the retailer’s website, members must be logged into their account in order to see the pricing. The pricing is based on the spot gold price, plus a traditional retail markup that conforms with their pricing model.

Observations comparing recent sales show against the prevailing gold spot price during the same time have shown that the premium appears to be in the range of 2.3%-3%.

“I’ve gotten a couple of calls that people have seen online that we’ve been selling one-ounce gold bars,” CFO Richard Galanti told investors during a recent quarterly earnings call.

“Yes, but when we load them on the (web)site, they’re typically gone within a few hours and we limit two per member.”

Both of the brands that Costco has made available so far are also readily available from many trusted and reputable online bullion dealers.

In general, gold bars come with lower premiums over the spot price of gold than coins. Meaning, investors can often get more gold for their money when buying bars compared to coins.

Buying gold bars from Costco may be a convenient option for some investors, but it is important to consider other factors before making a purchase.

Costco sells only a single gold denomination

Both PAMP Suisse and RAND Refinery offer fractional gold bars that are available at a variety of price points, making them more affordable to a larger group of investors looking for a trusted store of value.

The Lady Fortuna line has been PAMP’s signature line for decades and fractional gold bars are available sizes as small as one gram and in industry standard increments of 5 gram, 10 gram, and 20 gram. These fractional gold bars are more accessible and also make an excellent store of value.

Costco does not offer a buyback program for gold bullion. So when it comes time to sell, you will need to find a different gold buyer. Looking through the number of bullion dealers and coin stores in your area is a good way to check how easy it might be to sell locally.

Online bullion dealers update their prices in real-time according to changing market conditions, while Costco prices their gold bars at a fixed price. These bars are sold only on their website for a limited time.

Depending on the timing of your purchase, this could lead to paying a substantially higher premium to Costco for the same 1 oz gold bar than you might from an online bullion dealer.

Costco also has a strict no returns policy for bullion products, which deviates from their normal return policies.

Cheaper Alternatives to Costco Gold Bars

The PAMP Suisse Azure Dragon 1 oz Gold Bars that are offered by Costco are an excellent value for collectors, as these bars are a limited mintage and quickly sell out from online bullion dealers when they are available.

RAND Refinery is a large South African company that produces a variety of gold bars for investors, often at a much lower premium than other mints.

There are many private mints, like RAND, that have longstanding and trusted reputations of delivering pure .9999 fine gold to both industry and investors. These refiners have long standing affiliations with international gold markets like the LBMA, Shanghai Exchange and COMEX.

Some are based here in the United States, such as Sunshine Minting, located in Coere d’Alene, Idaho, which has been operating as a full service private mint since 1979. Sunshine Mint 1 oz Gold Bars incorporate the MintMark SI security feature on the reverse and etched with a unique serial number. This will match the assay card that comes encapsulated with newly minted bars.

Arizona based Scottsdale Minting produces coins on behalf of a variety of governments and issues both gold bars and rounds for investors and collectors under their own hallmark.

Scottsdale Mint 1 oz Gold bars often contain innovative designs that incorporate advanced security features and laser etched features.

Fractional Gold Bars from PAMP Suisse

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PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna 10 gram gold bar

PAMP Suisse is one of the most notable and trusted names in precious metals. Since 1984, the company has been located in Castel San Pietro with a state of the art refinery operation that purifies gold and silver that is mined throughout the world.

Beginning in their first year of operation, the company include fractional the 1/2 troy ounce, 20 gram, 10 gram, 5 gram sizes that are all still minted today.

PAMP Suisse gold bars have featured the Lady Fortuna design since 1979. Other front designs have been introduced throughout the history of the company.

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PAMP Suisse 2.5 gram Heart Pendant with Zebra Hologram

In the 1980s, the company expanded the fractional gold bar sizes to include 1 gram, 2.5 gram as well as 1 tola (11.7 grams).

In addition to the Goddess of Luck design, PAMP has developed and issued more than 50 unique and illustrative designs that have included flowers, birds and animals, Zodiac signs, Hindu gods, Buddha and other religious icons.

PAMP 24k Gold Bar Pendant Jewelry

In certain years, PAMP has included a line of fractional gold bars designed to be worn as pendants on a necklace. Some 24k gold pendants simply show the lady fortuna design into an oval shape on the obverse. A small hasp hole is manufactured into the top of the design with a small gold chain link attachment incorporated to make it easy to wear as jewelry on a chain.

The PAMP gold pendants are stamped on the back with their weight and purity and include the mint hallmark. They have been minted in a variety of denominations as small

PAMP Lunar Gold Bars

In 2012, PAMP launched the Lunar Calendar Series of gold bars. The series captures a unique design each year based on the 12 year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar. The series is issued annually with three weight denominations of 100 gram, 1 troy ounce and the smaller 5 gram gold bar.

For the current year, the PAMP Suisse Lunar Series incorporates a lovely and warmly designed Rabbit. The design includes a tipped over basket as a reminder of the good that the animal brings to the world with butterflies fluttering above.

The back of the design includes the reverse of the portrait on the front, showing the back of the hare and his fluffy tail in front of the basket. The weight and purity are stamped on the back.

Newly minted 2023 Lunar 5 gram gold bars are offered sealed inside a specially designed assay card that includes a matching serial number that is laser-engraved on the bar.

All PAMP Suisse fractional gold bars are minted with .9999 fine gold.

Largest Swiss Gold Refiners

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Switzerland has long been a mecca for finance, banking and precious metals. Although all of the country’s native metal deposits were mined long ago, some of the most renowned and legendary refiners continue to operate there.

The World Gold Council estimates that to date, approximately 200,000 tons of gold has been extracted from the earth’s crust and miners are extracting roughly 2,600 tons of new gold each year.

Much of the newly mined gold ore is sent for processing at various private mints and refineries in Switzerland.

Valcambi-Suisse, Balerna, Ticino

Valcambi was founded in 1957. The company is headquarters is nestled along the Swiss-Italian border just 35 miles from Milan. The refinery processes more than 2,000 tons of precious metals each year and is owned by Global Gold Refineries Ltd.

Valcambi bars, ingots and rounds are produced from gold, silver, platinum and palladium. That are also a certified Good Delivery provider for the London Bullion Market (LMBA).

Valcambi manufacturers some of the most unique, practical and popular products for investors and stackers with their CombiBar series.

Valcambi CombiBars come in a variety of industry-standard weights. The thickness of each bar is similar to that of a credit card and they are uniquely minted with scored lines making them easy to break apart into smaller fractional bars if the need to sell, barter or trade arises.

The most popular weight variation is the 100 gram gold CombiBar, which is minted from 99.99% pure gold and often has the lowest dealer premiums when compared to others in the series.

Argor-Heraeus, Mendrisio, Ticino

Argor was in 1961 in Chiasso. In 1986, Argor merged with Heraeus and become the Argor-Heraeus we known today. Now headquartered in Hanau, Germany, the refinery in Mendrisio produces many different weights of gold, silver and platinum bullion bars for investors.

The Argor-Heraeus Gold KineBar is minted to incorporate a unique holographic image that adds an additional level of anti-counterfeiting protection to give investors further confidence in the authenticity of their gold stack.

Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux (PAMP), Castel San Pietro, Ticino

PAMP-Suisse is one of the most well-known Swiss-based refineries to many investors. The Lady Fortuna series features the ancient Roman and Greek goddess of luck and fortune in the obverse design which is instantly recognizable.

PAMP processes more than 450 tons of gold annually. In addition to supplying jewelry manufacturers with industry standard 400 troy ounce ingots, the company is a leading provider of investment bullion bars ranging in size from 1 kilogram to as small as 1 gram.

Metalor Technologies, Neuchâtel

Founded in 1852, Metalor is one of the oldest continuously operating refineries in the country. The company began supplying refined fine gold to watchmakers for the creation of Swiss watches.

The company was acquired by the Japanese based Tanaka Kikinzoku Group in 2016 and continues to refine silver and gold into a variety of bullion bars for investors.

Metalor kilogram silver bars and poured from .999 fine silver and can often be found with low premiums from various online bullion dealers.