Gold is the famous precious metal, put forward with the development of trade in first place in the system of monetary relations. Its use has gone through many stages of development: from primitive amulets and means of barter to a profitable investment. Over time, people learned to manage gold wisely: to clean, combine with other metals, turn into jewelry and money. The latter had the form of coins or bars.
The history of gold
The highest value of metal was noticed by even the most ancient civilizations. In the scripts of the Egyptians, a record was found about the equality of 1 g of gold 2.5 g of silver. With the growth of cities, the creation of an economy that would contribute to the development of states was required. There was a need to introduce a unified valuation of goods with which barter could be carried out. Precious metals and stones came to the fore: they were easily and profitably exchanged for any material goods.
The strengthening of commodity-money relations and the development of foreign economic relations strengthened gold as a universal method of payment. The metal was measured in grams. To do this, he had to constantly weigh. The ancient inhabitants found a way to alleviate their fate: approximately in the VI century BC. e. The first gold and silver alloy ingot was created.
What is an ingot?
An ingot is a shaped alloy of cooled metals of specified size. The same mass of precious blanks greatly simplified the processes of sale and account. The first ingots, of course, were far from ideal. The composition of gold in them was much less than 50%. Dimensions and weight often gave an error. But one of the main steps in the development of money has been taken.
How much does a gold bar weigh in those days? The blanks had different weights. The most common were packages of 10, 20 and 50 g.
Gold in modern times
So many centuries have passed, and mankind still uses gold as a universal currency. Is it outdated views or is metal really so valuable that it does not lose its relevance? The modern world knows many no less significant alloys, but it is gold that continues to measure the welfare of the state.
Of course, this metal no longer occupies such an important place in the economy as in antiquity. But bars of gold and other precious alloys can be found in almost every bank. This is a modern and profitable investment. The weight of a gold bar has a monetary equivalent, which most often increases. The exchange rate of the metal for other material values will always be beneficial to the owner of the ingot.
Varieties of gold blanks
Depending on the destination, the types of gold bars are divided into two groups: measured and standard. The main difference between them is the requirements for production and product quality. A standard ingot must comply with all the requirements of GOST RF. For measured blanks, compliance with the rules established by the refinery is sufficient. The weight of a gold ingot of this type should be determined in the range from 1 to 1000 g. The share of the precious metal in the total alloy should reach at least 99.99%.
Measured bars of gold and silver must meet special requirements, among which are mandatory:
- compliance with the established dimensions, depending on how much a bar of gold or silver weighs;
- the absence of a greasy film on the surface of the alloy and any physical damage;
- concavity / curvature of the ingot is allowed;
- on the sample should be marked with the country ("Russia") enclosed in an oval, weight, name of the alloy, mass fraction, trademark of the refinery and the number of the ingot;
- Each ingot has its own certificate, in which its characteristic is duplicated.
In addition to gold and silver, modern man also knows such noble metals as platinum and palladium. Volumetric ingots are made with a mass fraction of the main element of 99.5%, weighing from 5 to 100 grams. The remaining requirements for the manufacture and production of measured bullion of precious metals coincide with GOSTs established for gold and silver.
The cost of platinum is slightly higher than palladium. In general, metals are in the middle between the price category of gold and silver.
How much does a gold bar weigh according to GOST?
Depending on the mass of the workpiece, requirements are made to its shape: length and width values should not exceed the established standards. Consider the maximum permissible values for the main measured ingots of Russian refineries:
| Weight, gram of gold | Sizes, mm | |
| Stamped ingots | Length | Width |
| 1 | 12-15 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 22–25 | 13-15 |
| ten | 24–29 | 13.5–17 |
| 20 | 29–33 | 15–19 |
| 50 | 36–48 | 21–28 |
| 100 | 54–56 | 31–33 |
| Cast ingots | ||
| 20 | 23.5–27 | 11.5–13 |
| 50 | 30.5–32 | 16-17 |
| 100 | 40–43 | 20-23 |
The usual unit for measuring the weight of precious metals is gram. However, a troy ounce is used in world practice. Such a unit is often used by Russian banks engaged in the sale of ingots. In order not to get lost in the calculations, it is enough to remember that 31.1035 grams per 1 troy ounce.
Gold bar: price in Russia and abroad
Prices for measured gold bars can be different both in different cities and in individual banks. The Central Bank of Russia estimates 1 gram of gold at 2685 rubles. Sberbank in Moscow offers to buy a gram of metal for 2886 p. The cost of one troy ounce of a measured gold bar, according to the Forex market, is 1234 dollars.
