CombiBar / Divisible Bar

The CombiBar — also known as a divisible bar or table bar — marries the cost efficiency of a larger bar with the divisibility of the smallest units. The rectangular sheet is grooved into even 1-gram segments that break away cleanly with bare fingers. Each segment carries a fineness stamp and weight marking, so individual gram pieces can be traded or verified on their own if needed. You can always use the current gold price per gram as a reference.

Construction and manufacture

CombiBars are minted (not cast), which allows a more precise surface and sharper stamping. The best-known product line comes from Valcambi (Switzerland), one of the world's leading refineries. Other suppliers include Argor-Heraeus and C. Hafner. The finished bar ships in a sealed assay card (blister) that confirms authenticity and weight.

Common sizes (gold)

Silver CombiBars are usually offered as a 100 g sheet (100 × 1 g); a 10 g variant appears occasionally.

Fineness and quality

Gold divisible bars are made exclusively from fine gold 999.9 (24 carat) and therefore meet the requirements for investment gold under European tax law. Silver variants consist of fine silver 999. CombiBars thus have the same material value as conventional bars of the same weight — only the shape, and the extra manufacturing effort it entails, is reflected in the premium.

Premium and cost structure

The premium on a CombiBar sits noticeably above that of a classic cast bar of the same weight. The reasons are:

• Higher minting effort and material precision
• A sealed blister certificate per unit
• Brand presence (Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus)

Anyone who breaks the sheet apart and passes on or sells individual segments should bear in mind that broken segments without their original packaging are harder to market and may be bought back by some dealers only at the melt value. Check the buy-back price in advance with the gold calculator.

Use cases

1. Emergency reserve in small units — divisible without a bank connection or change problem.
2. Gifts — individual 1 g segments can be handed over one at a time.
3. Gradual selling — anyone wishing to sell only part of a gold reserve simply snaps off the amount needed.
4. Building savings — regular purchase of small units, similar to a precious-metal savings plan.

Authenticity testing

Each segment of a CombiBar can be checked with the usual methods: weight, dimensions and density match the maker's specifications exactly for genuine fine gold. Use the coin authenticity check for this. Tungsten forgeries can be reliably exposed through density measurement (Archimedes' principle), because tungsten has almost the same density as gold but shows up immediately under X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Tax treatment in Ireland

Gold CombiBar: because gold divisible bars have a fineness of 999.9, they qualify as investment gold and are exempt from VAT on purchase under the VAT Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1. On a sale at a profit: a private individual's gain is liable to Capital Gains Tax at 33 %, after the annual personal exemption of €1,270. Ireland grants no holding-period relief — unlike Germany's one-year speculative period — so the duration of ownership does not change the liability.

Silver CombiBar: silver is not investment gold and attracts the full Irish VAT rate of 23 % on purchase. The same 33 % CGT (after the €1,270 exemption) applies to any gain on resale.

For cash payments of €10,000 or more, dealers are subject to identity-verification obligations under the anti-money-laundering law (Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010).

Note: This is not tax advice. For your individual situation, please turn to a qualified tax adviser.

In brief

The CombiBar is a mature product for anyone wanting to split physical fine gold or fine silver into the smallest possible units without buying several separate bars. The higher premium over standard bars is the price of that flexibility — those who do not need it fare more cheaply with classic bars or bullion coins.