Most gold bars are classified into two ‘types’, depending on their method of manufacture: cast and minted. Cast bars are those made by the pouring of molten gold into a mould of specified dimensions. Markings are then applied manually or by a press. Minted bars are made from gold blanks that have been stamped out to the required dimensions from a flat strip of gold. Markings are normally applied by minting presses (as in the case of gold coins).
Bar Weights
Gold bars can be denominated in different units of weight to accommodate the preferences of different geographical regions:
* Grammes - International
* Ounces - Mainly English-speaking countries: USA, UK and Australia
* Tolas - Mainly India, Pakistan, Middle East, Singapore
* Taels - Mainly Chinese-speaking countries: Hong Kong, Taiwan, China
* Bahts - Thailand
* Chi - Vietnam
* Dons - Korea
* Argor-Heraeus - Subsidiary of Union Bank of Switzerland
* Metalor - Subsidiary of Swiss Bank Corporation
* Valcambi - Subsidiary of Credit Suisse
* Pamp SA
The three Swiss manufacturers, which are subsidiaries of banks, normally issue their bars internationally with the brand name of the bank.
Since 1974, an innovation of Credit Suisse, many minted bars have a plain decorative design (incorporating the name of the issuer) on the reverse side of the bar. An example of this is displayed in the Exhibition.
In grammes, 16 weights are available, ranging from 500 g to 0.3 g. In ounces, 8 weights are available, from 20 oz to 1/10 oz. The Exhibition displays the world’s largest minted bars: the 20 oz and 500 g which are manufactured by Johnson Matthey (Canada).
Smallest Minted Bars Tanaka (Japan) has manufactured the world’s smallest minted bars, mainly for the jewellery industry since 1990. They weigh only 0.5 g and 0.3 g. 1 g minted bars, first issued by Credit Suisse (Switzerland) in 1980, are manufactured by 12 accredited manufacturers worldwide, including Degussa and Heraeus.
Although there is an international trend to 99.99% gold bars, standard bars still vary among countries. For example:
* Dubai - 99.9%
* Iran - 99.5%
* Hong Kong - 99%
* Thailand - 96.5% Large 400 oz (12.5 kg) ‘London Good Delivery’ bars, held by central banks, normally have a minimum purity of 99.5%.
Source of gold bar information and photographs: "The Industry Catalogue of Gold Bars Worldwide" (344 pages, 950 illustrations). Sponsor: World Gold Council. Published in 1998 by Grendon International Research Pty Ltd. (grendon@global.net.au)
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