For millennia, gold has been a very reliable and profitable area for investing savings. It is slightly susceptible to various shocks that occur during political and financial crises. But in this particular case, let's talk about banking gold.
Introductory information
Noble metal is present on earth in limited quantities. If it is exhausted, then its value will increase over the years. Although it is possible to learn how to synthesize it. But now we have to do with what we have. Bank gold is bullion with 999 (.9) samples. What does this indicator mean? If the gold is 999, then this indicates that the ingot has 999 parts of the precious metal and 1 unit of impurities out of 1000. For 999.9, the quality is even better. In it, the amount of impurities is reduced by 10 times. But getting such a pure precious metal is a very problematic and expensive affair. A sample of banking gold affects the price, as well as weight.
What are the ingots?
There are two main varieties:
- Measured ingots. Their weight is not more than one kilogram. Are made for subsequent sale to individuals and legal entities. There are GOSTs governing the classification of products in this class. So, the ingot should be made in the form of a truncated pyramid or in the form of a parallelepiped. On the front side there should be a clear alphanumeric marking of the product. Allowable is the presence of the creator's logo, which indicate on the back. Products should be smooth and shiny. Stains, cracks, chips and scratches are the basis for the replacement of the product. Although a convex, concave or slightly wavy surface is considered acceptable. This is due to the fact that over time the metal undergoes shrinkage and crystallization processes.
- Standard bullion. They are necessary for the production of dimensional. Not on sale. In fact, they are a guideline for the smelting of measured ingots; they no longer fulfill any goals and objectives. For these products, the availability of GOST is also provided. According to him, they should have the shape of a truncated pyramid. In the upper part, the metal grade, weight, number, year, test and manufacturer's logo are clearly applied. There should be no chips, scratches or stains on the surface of the ingot. It must be smooth. Depressions should not exceed half a centimeter.
They also differ in manufacturing technology. Allocate:
- Stamped ingots. They have a weight of not more than 0.5 kilograms.
- Cast ingots. Weight over 0.5 kilograms.
About the mass
And now let's look at how much a gold bar weighs. Attention will be paid to measured objects, because they are the object of investment that is available to citizens with free cash. At the same time, they can be purchased at any banking institution that offers operations with precious metals. So what do they offer by mass? If you are guided by Sberbank, then you can purchase 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 grams. Moreover, they will be either in standard or gift packaging. A feature of the second is increased strength, as well as a lower face value available for purchase - a maximum of 50 grams. After the acquisition, gold bullion can be safely transferred to a third party, sold to a bank or stored at home in a safe (if someone takes a chance).
How much is it?
You can’t say so quickly. This is due to the fact that the answer to this question depends on a number of factors that can significantly affect the price.Banking gold varies in a certain range depending on:
- Value added. This includes the costs that were incurred in the production of the ingot at the refinery, its transportation to the bank, insurance contributions, and the percentage of profit.
- The value of pure gold. It is set daily at auctions that go on the largest exchanges of precious metals.
- Refining. In simple terms, this is a payment for the manufacturer’s brand. That is, ingots cast or stamped by well-known manufacturers will cost more than those that created the less popular ones.
- The presence / absence of a certificate of conformity, which are provided by the manufacturer.
- Production technology. Stamped ingots always cost more than cast ones.
- Forms of packaging. If it is not, then ingots will be cheaper. Then comes the standard, followed by a hardened (gift) look.
About pricing
There is a certain difference in buying and selling gold bullion. It is called a spread. It should be noted that the rate of banking gold is characterized by the presence of a rather significant difference. The year 2015 is indicative in this regard. So, then 1 gram of gold bullion was purchased for 3200-3500 rubles. But it was possible to sell it to banks for about 2200-2500.
Why is it so difficult with pricing?
It must be understood that gold should be considered solely as a long-term investment. Its real value is growing, albeit slowly, but confidently. So, over the past half century, it has doubled. That is, by selling a gram of gold you can now buy twice as much precious metal than in the early 70's. Although, if you are interested in long-term investment, then this is a good and very real prospect. It is suitable even for private investors. After all, you can make an investment in almost any commercial structure. As well as sell. Let's take a closer look at this.
Acquisition and sale
Good to know where you can buy gold bullion. After all, this is a specific material, you can not get it in the nearest store. It is necessary to have at least a basic concept of domestic and world standards. You need to understand how much gold is in the bar.
The most reliable option is to come to a banking institution and acquire value. You can use the service of depersonalized metal accounts. Another alternative is to purchase by hand or on the exchange through a brokerage company. We should not forget about jewelry stores, although they, as a rule, do not specialize in simple bullion trading.
As you can see, there are quite a few options. But care must be taken and a sober head so as not to acquire a fake. Although this option is unlikely, stories from time to time come up here and there about similar problems.
And now, how is banking gold sold? Locations are the same as with the purchase. Although the process has its own specifics. For example, in some cases, it is not possible to sell the bullion itself, but to securities that correspond to its equivalent. In this case, the gold itself will be in the bank cell. When selling an ingot, they usually request an examination. This negatively affects the amount of profit. Those who want to make money in the short term using bank gold usually use anonymized metal accounts.
Specific moments
Now let's talk about the individual details. First of all, about standard bullions. If they are mass-produced, then their weight does not exceed 13.5 kilograms. There may be large values, but this is an exception. Most manufactured ingots range from 10 to 13.5 kg. It is also necessary to note the difference in the measurement of masses. For example, in our country it is customary to use a unified measurement system, which is based on a gram.But if you go to an international exchange, such as the London, then there the precious metal will be measured, probably in troy ounces.
Conclusion
So, in general, all the information that you need to know about banking gold is considered. Of course, if you do not plan to purchase it. For in this case, you need to think through the issues of its conservation (for thieves are not asleep), possible use, to track prices and conditions. Much depends on the goals pursued - so, if you just plan to create a reserve for a rainy day, which may not have to be printed out, an ingot is good here. If you want to speculate on the price, it is better to look at anonymized metal accounts.