20g ABC Cast Bar Gold Bar

Australia's Only Independent LBMA Refiner, in Cast Gold

The 20g ABC Cast Bar is a poured gold bar from ABC Refinery, Australia's only independent LBMA-accredited gold and silver refinery. Operating since 1978 as part of the Pallion group, ABC Refinery holds accreditation from the LBMA, COMEX, and the Shanghai Gold Exchange, placing it among a select group of refiners whose products are accepted by central banks, ETFs, and institutional traders worldwide.

Cast bars are made by pouring molten gold into a mould, giving each bar a slightly unique surface texture that contrasts with the polished uniformity of minted bars. This traditional production method is simpler and cheaper, which translates to lower premiums for the buyer. The 20g ABC Cast Bar offers a way to buy gold from an internationally accredited refiner at a competitive price point, with the cast format adding a tactile, artisanal quality that some buyers prefer.

At 999.9 fine gold and a current value of approximately $2,100, the 20g weight is a popular mid-range size in metric markets. It contains 0.643 troy ounces, just under two-thirds of a full troy ounce. For Australian buyers, the ABC Cast Bar is the domestic product: refined in Sydney, widely available through ABC Bullion's retail stores in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and sold without import considerations. ABC Bullion also offers pool-allocated vault storage for those who prefer not to take physical delivery.

The ABC Bullion swan logo, stamped into each bar alongside the weight, purity, and serial number, is one of the most recognisable bullion marks in the Australian market. Each bar is serialised for tracking and authentication, and the LBMA accreditation ensures the purity stamp is backed by internationally verified assaying processes.

20g ABC Cast Bar Specifications

Cast vs Minted Production

The distinction between cast and minted bars is primarily one of production method and resulting finish. Cast bars are produced by pouring molten gold into a mould, resulting in a rougher, more organic surface with natural variations between individual bars. Each cast bar has a slightly different texture, making every piece unique in a way that minted bars are not. Minted bars are cut from rolled gold sheet and stamped with a die, producing a smooth, uniform finish with precise edges.

Both formats contain identical gold content at the same purity. Cast bars typically carry slightly lower premiums because the production process is less labour-intensive and does not require the precision tooling of minted production. For resale, both formats from an LBMA-accredited refiner command equivalent prices based on gold content. The ABC Bullion swan logo, weight, purity, and serial number are stamped into the surface of each cast bar, providing the same identification marks found on minted products. ABC Refinery's labs hold NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) and ISO accreditation for assaying, meaning the purity stamps are independently verified.

Tax Treatment for Australian and International Buyers

• Australia: GST-free. Investment gold bars at 99.5%+ purity in investment form are exempt from GST on first supply after refining, and input-taxed on subsequent supplies. ABC Refinery explicitly markets its cast bars as GST-exempt. Capital gains tax applies on disposal; individuals holding for more than 12 months receive a 50% CGT discount. There is no CGT exemption for bars in Australia (unlike the UK, which exempts legal tender coins).
• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt as investment gold (bars at 995+ fineness qualify). Subject to Capital Gains Tax on disposal at 18% or 24% depending on income, with a £3,000 annual exempt amount. Not eligible for the CGT exemption that applies to UK legal tender coins. SIPP-eligible for pension investors.
• United States: No federal sales tax. State-level exemptions vary, with roughly 35 states exempting bullion. IRA-eligible given ABC Refinery's LBMA accreditation and the bar's 999.9 purity, exceeding the IRS 99.5% minimum. Capital gains taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt at 99.5%+ purity.
• European Union: VAT-exempt under the EU Investment Gold Directive for bars at 995+ fineness.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. ABC Bullion has a Singapore presence. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. ABC Refinery produces Tael-weight (37.5g) bars specifically targeting the Hong Kong and Chinese markets.

ABC Cast Bar vs Other 20g Gold Bars

The 20g gold bar market is well served by established refiners, primarily Swiss. The ABC Cast Bar competes on price and Australian provenance against products from PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus, Heraeus, and the Perth Mint.

The PAMP Suisse Fortuna 20g bar is the global benchmark for brand recognition at this weight. The Lady Fortuna design commands a premium above other refiners' products, and PAMP's presence in Asian and Middle Eastern markets gives it unmatched secondary market liquidity internationally. The ABC Cast Bar will not match PAMP for global brand cachet, but for Australian buyers, the domestic availability and GST-free supply chain make it the more practical choice.

The 20g Argor-Heraeus Classic Gold Bar represents the Swiss refiner alternative: clean design, LBMA accreditation since 1961, and competitive premiums. Argor-Heraeus is also one of only seven LBMA referees globally, giving it a distinctive quality assurance credential. The Classic range is a minted bar, offering a smoother finish than the ABC cast format.

The Perth Mint 20g bar is the closest competitor for Australian buyers. Both are Australian, both are LBMA-accredited, and both produce at 999.9 purity. Perth Mint is government-owned (Government of Western Australia), which some buyers perceive as stronger provenance. ABC Refinery is independent and private but is the only independent LBMA refiner in Australia. The cast format of the ABC bar typically carries a slight premium advantage over Perth Mint's minted bar, and some buyers prefer the traditional poured appearance.

The 20g Baird Gold Bar from the UK offers another comparison point. Baird is the only LBMA-accredited gold refinery in Britain, and its bars are popular with UK pension investors. For buyers outside Australia and the UK, the choice between ABC, Baird, and the Swiss refiners comes down to regional availability and dealer pricing.