Gold has a density of 19.30 grams per cubic centimeter at room temperature and a liquid density at the melting point of 1,947.5°F of 17.31 grams per cubic centimeter. Tungsten has a density of 19.25 grams per cubic centimeter at room temprature and a liquid density of 17.6 grams per cubic centimeter at the melting point of 6,192°F.

But despite being used for jewelry and having similar densities as gold, AU 79, and tungsten, W 74, are not the same element. The higher profit margin bar using small tungsten slugs with lead alloy would still pass a sound and feeling test but would be slightly underweight and it is likely that neither a chemical test nor a x-ray fluorescence test would be passed because the gold coating would not be thick enough.