How to Check a Gold Bar’s Serial Number | Authenticating Gold Bars

 

Authenticating Gold Bars | How to Check a Gold Bar’s Serial Number

Verifying a gold bar’s serial number is one effective way to test if gold is real. Almost every gold bar has a serial number – a small series of digits that help identify it. To verify a gold bar’s serial number, investors need to find the number, make sure that it hasn’t been altered or tampered with, and then compare it to online examples of the same bar. 

A serial number by itself can’t prove whether a gold bar is authentic or not. Smart investors use a variety of tactics to evaluate a gold bar’s authenticity. Verifying that a bar’s serial number is unaltered, in the right place, and properly formatting is a good way to begin the process of authenticating your gold bars. On this page, we’ll explain the basics of how to check a gold bar’s serial number to verify its authenticity. 

What is a Serial Number? 

Gold bars usually feature two sets of numbers. The first number on a gold bar signifies its purity. The purity of a gold bar is usually represented by a decimal – often either .999 or .9999, depending on the percentage of pure gold it contains. Underneath the purity, gold bars usually also feature a serial number. 

Serial numbers often range from 3-6 digits or more and might include letters. The number of gold bars minted in a given series determine how many digits a gold bar’s serial number will have. Mints usually include at least three digits in a serial number, even if your gold bar’s serial number is “1.” Refiners do this to avoid tampering. If a serial number just said “1,” a scammer could add two zeros behind it and sell it as bar number 100. 

What Are Gold Bar Serial Numbers Used For?

The main purpose of a gold bar serial number is to verify which gold bar it is. No two gold bars from a minting run should have the same serial number. If a serialized gold bar is stolen, authorities can use its serial number to track it down and return it to its rightful owner. In other words, serial numbers are an essential security feature meant to deter theft. 

How to Find a Serial Number on a Gold Bar

There are no rules for where refiners must place serial numbers on their gold bars. Mints generally etch serial numbers into one of three locations on their gold bars. Most gold bar serial numbers are located on the bottom of the bar’s obverse – the front side. Another place to check for a serial number is closer to the center of its obverse. It’s not extremely common, but some refiners choose to place gold bar serial numbers on the reverse side. 

To check for a serial number, look for a series of digits other than the bar’s purity. Some mints structure serial numbers as a fraction (1/300) as another way to deter theft and identify your gold bar. Make sure to check your bar thoroughly to find the serial number. Since serial numbers range in size, they can be easy to miss if investors aren’t careful. 

Verifying a Gold Bar’s Serial Number | Step By Step Guide 

Verifying a gold bar’s security number is actually pretty easy. To find and check your gold bar’s serial number, you’ll need to do three things. First, locate the serial number by checking the bar’s front and back side. Second, scan for signs of tampering, paying careful attention to any suspicious markings or blemishes. Finally, compare your bar’s serial number with online examples of how it is supposed to look. 

Step 1: Locate the Serial Number 

You can find a gold bar’s serial number by carefully scanning both sides of the bar. Serial numbers can be found on either the obverse or reverse and should look like a series of digits. Purity markings look a lot like serial numbers, so be sure that you’ve found the right set of markings. Generally, purity is quoted in a decimal and includes 3-4 identical digits. By contrast, a serial number will include multiple digits, and each digit is usually different from the others. Serial numbers also sometimes include letters, while purity etchings are usually only numbers.

Step 2: Scan For Signs of Tampering or Suspicious Markings 

Once you’ve located the serial number, take a closer look to identify any signs of tampering. The design and lettering of your serial number should be consistent across all digits. If someone tries to manipulate a gold bar’s serial number, they’ll usually fail to match the original font and lettering of the mint-issued etch. 

Suspicious markings around the serial number can also help you identify a fake gold bar. It’s normal for gold bars to have imperfections or scratches, especially for circulated or very large bars. These markings shouldn’t be specifically concentrated near the serial number, though. Suspicious markings or imperfections around a gold bar’s serial number can be evidence that someone tried to tamper with it. 

Step 3: Compare Your Serial Numbers to Online Examples 

Finally, compare the serial number of your gold bar to online examples of the same bar. Most mints publish images of their gold bars online, so they’re pretty easy to find. If your gold bar’s refiner doesn’t offer examples on their website, you still might be able to find pictures of popular gold bars on dealer sites. 

To verify a gold bar’s serial number, make sure that it looks like the serial numbers featured on other gold bars from the same series. No two gold bars are completely identical. Expect a few minor differences in the precise location and etching of your serial number compared to online examples. Each gold bar has a unique serial number, too, so your bar won’t look identical to the bars you find online. 

Different fonts, etching styles, or numerical systems from online examples can reveal that your gold bar’s serial number might be altered or fake. 

How to Verify a Gold Bar Serial Numbers Online – Pamp Suisse Veriscan Explained

A few refiners allow investors to verify gold bar serial numbers online. Certain PAMP Suisse gold bars with Veriscan can be verified using PAMP’s mobile app. To verify a PAMP Suisse gold bar’s serial number, you’ll need to have the Veriscan app. Using the app, investors can scan the Veriscan QR code located on the gold bar’s Assay card. 

Most mints don’t offer online authentication like PAMP Suisse, but it’s always a good idea to email your refiner or dealer if you have questions about the authenticity of your gold bar. Contacting a mint directly is a great way to verify a gold bar’s serial number. 

Frequently Asked Questions – Gold Bar Serial Numbers 

Serial numbers are a fixture of most modern gold bars. These etchings function as an added security measure to protect investors against theft. However, finding and verifying a gold bar’s serial number can be tricky. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about how to verify a gold bar’s serial number. 

Do All Gold Bars Have Serial Numbers? 

Not all gold bars have serial numbers. For the most part, respectable refiners and mints will include serial numbers on their large gold bars. Not all refiners play by these rules, though. Small refiners and private mints may not include serial numbers on their gold bars at all. Gold bars that are cast by individuals usually won’t include a serial number. 

Many small gold bars also won’t come with an individualized serial number. It’s both costly and difficult to etch a serial number small enough to appear on a tiny 1 gram gold bar. Because fractional gold bars are so inexpensive compared to large bars, they’re also less likely to be targeted for theft or counterfeiting. 

Is It Illegal to Own Non-Serialized Gold? 

It is not federally illegal to buy, own, or trade gold bars without serial numbers. Some states may place regulations that force manufacturers to include serial numbers on their gold bars. While it’s not illegal to buy non-serialized gold bars, it can be a dangerous way to stack gold. Gold bar serial numbers are an important deterrent for would-be thieves. Without a serial number, it’s difficult to prove that a recovered gold bar rightfully belongs to you. 

Can Serial Numbers Prove Gold is Real? 

Serial numbers are one of several methods used to prove that a gold bar is authentic. Because no two bars have the same serial number, two gold bars having identical serial numbers suggests that one of them is probably a counterfeit. Some mints also allow investors to verify their gold bars online, and you can use a serial number to do that. 

Serial numbers alone can’t prove that a gold bar is authentic – or that it contains real gold. We recommend using several different tests and methods to prove that your gold bar is legitimate and not a fake. When in doubt, turn to professionals. Gold certification can be expensive, but the investment pays off ten-fold if an expert can prove that your gold is real. 

Where are Serial Numbers Located on Gold Bars? 

On gold bars, serial numbers can be located on either the obverse (front) or reverse (back). Most mints place the serial number of a gold bar at the bottom of its obverse. Other refiners may put the figure on another part of the obverse – or even on the reverse side. Be sure to check both sides of your gold bar to find its serial number. 

Wondering if Your Gold is Real? Serial Numbers Might Help!

Serial numbers can be an excellent tool for investors trying to prove that their gold bar is real and authentic. A serial number is a series of letters and numbers that identify a gold bar. If your gold bar is stolen, its serial number can help you recover it before it’s too late. Checking a gold bar’s security number is an important step in avoiding fake gold and protecting what’s yours. 

If you’ve verified your bar’s security number and you still aren’t sure that your bar is authentic, consider testing its gold content or contacting the refiner who produced it. 

You might also be interested in: 

• How to Tell if Gold is Real | Testing Gold At Home
• Buying and Selling Gold Bars – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• How to Invest in Gold | A Step By Step Guide