The invention relates to a mold wall for plate molds, tubular molds or similar, especially a broadside wall of a continuous casting mold for steel. The inventive plates consisting of copper or a copper alloy, which are either provided with coolant channels or are in thermally conductive contact with a water tank. Said plates have a surface which comes into direct contact with the steel melt and a protective layer applied to said surface. The wear resistance and mechanical workability are improved as a result of the protective layer consisting of a galvanically manufactured binary or ternary metal alloy dispersion, e.g. based on nickel with intercalated dispersants.