Every gold bar tells you who made it, what it weighs and how pure it is. Here is what each stamp means and what to check against the paperwork.
Short answer: a gold bar normally carries the refiner's name or mark, its weight, its fineness (such as 999.9) and often a serial number. Check each against the assay card and the dealer's invoice, because a mismatch is the first sign that something is wrong.
The refiner's name or logo shows who made the bar. A bar from a recognised refiner is easier to sell, because buyers trust the brand. Compare the stamp's lettering and logo with images from the refiner's own site.
Weight is stamped in grams or ounces, for example 100 g or 1 oz. This is the fine weight of the gold. Weigh the bar on an accurate scale and confirm it matches, remembering that a troy ounce is 31.1035 g.
Fineness is the purity in parts per thousand. Modern investment bars are commonly 999.9, meaning 99.99% gold, or 995 for larger bars. Lower numbers, such as 916 or 750, are alloys used in jewelry rather than bullion.
Many bars are numbered. The serial number should match the one on the sealed assay card. Record it with your purchase details so the bar can be matched to its paperwork later.
You may also see an assay or hallmark stamp, the year, and the country of origin. If you are unsure about a mark, ask the dealer or refiner before you buy, and keep the bar in its sealed packaging if it came in one.
Photograph the front and back, and store the refiner, weight, fineness and serial number with the purchase record. That record is what lets you prove what you own when you sell or insure it.
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