Argor-Heraeus Changes the Design of Its Minted Bars: What Changes and What Stays
The Swiss refinery Argor-Heraeus is changing the look of its minted bars from summer 2026. It is the first major redesign in a long time – a new motif on the reverse, an improved certificate and sturdier packaging. What exactly is changing, when will it affect your next purchase and, above all, does it affect the value of the bars you already own? Here are the key points.
What is changing
The changes concern the reverse of the bar, the certificate and the packaging:
- New reverse motif – a Swiss cross in the centre with a fine guilloche pattern, emphasising the refinery’s Swiss origin.
- Unified design across metals – gold, silver, platinum and palladium bars from Argor-Heraeus will now share the same reverse design and a uniform black certificate.
- Improved packaging – reinforced packaging materials are intended to protect the bar better during transport and storage and improve its appearance (shine, clarity of the film).
- New serial numbers – bars with the new design are numbered from zero, separately from the existing series.
When the change takes effect
The roll-out of the new design began in July 2026, and since autumn 2026 bars in the new design have been widely available – GOLDU is already buying them from its suppliers. Dealers may still hold pieces from older stock, however, so for a transition period both designs are in circulation side by side.
Do older bars keep their value?
Yes, absolutely. The redesign is purely a matter of appearance and packaging, not technical parameters. The weight, the 999.9/1000 Au fineness and the dimensions of the bars do not change. Bars with the existing design retain their full value, authenticity and worldwide recognition – this is not the “ageing” of an older pattern, just a visual evolution.
What it means for your purchase at GOLDU
Argor-Heraeus is one of the best-selling brands at GOLDU – you will find it in many weights in our Argor-Heraeus investment gold range. We now buy new pieces in the new design. Until older stock has sold out, the bar you receive may still have the previous design – in both cases it is an equivalent, original, certified product straight from the manufacturer. If a particular design matters to you, write to us before ordering and we will check which design we have in stock for the weight you want.
Frequently asked questions
Since when have Argor-Heraeus bars in the new design been on sale?
The roll-out began in July 2026, and since autumn 2026 bars in the new design have been widely available. Pieces in the previous design are gradually being sold from existing stock.
How can I recognise a bar in the new design?
By the reverse with the Swiss cross and fine guilloche pattern, and by the uniform black certificate. Bars in the new design also carry serial numbers from a new series that starts at zero.
Do older Argor-Heraeus bars lose value because of the redesign?
No. The value, authenticity and recognition of older bars remain unchanged – only the appearance and packaging of newly produced pieces change.
Have the fineness or weight of the bars changed?
No, the technical parameters (weight, 999.9/1000 Au fineness, dimensions) remain exactly the same with the new design.
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About the author
Adolf Baumann, analyst at Baumann Group a.s. (GOLDU), has been working with precious metals for over 30 years. He has seen euphoria, crashes and panic on the markets – and he still enjoys it. He explains in plain language what moves the price of gold and silver and how to handle them without unnecessary mistakes. His weakness? He refuses to wear a suit.
