Stamp, seal of authenticity (hallmark) on bars of precious metals in general and gold bars in particular (a stamped impression on the surface of a precious metals bar that indicates the producer, serial number, weight, and purity of metal content). The hallmark testifies that the metal comes from a recognized refinery (refinery: an industrial plant for purifying crude noble metals). The hallmark is an indispensable prerequisite for the marketability of gold and platinum bars. – However, because hallmarks on counterfeited ingots have been cleverly imitated, refineries now use an additional marking on higher-weight ingots that can be deciphered only with special reading equipment. – The proportion of counterfeit ingots – the metal piece consists here in the core of inferior material such as iron and has then as a rule only a coating of precious metal – is estimated in the worldwide trade outside the banks at more than seventy percent. When purchased through a bank, there is a guarantee of authenticity in Germany; cases of counterfeit pieces have so far been quite rare here. – See Bullion, London Good Delivery Standard, Wardein.
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University Professor Dr. Gerhard Merk, Dipl.rer.pol., Dipl.rer.oec.
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