Pendant Bars
Degussa (Germany) is recorded as
the first among accredited manufacturers to have
manufactured in 1978 a minted bar in an unconventional
(hexagonal) shape and incorporating a hole to facilitate
its use as a pendant. In 1984, Pamp (Switzerland)
expanded the concept, pioneering the production of minted
bars in many unusual shapes, as well as incorporating
hangers.
Double
Pendant
Bars
In 1996, Pamp (Switzerland)
launched double-pendant bars in the Middle
East. They are available in three weights (10 g, 7.5 g
and 5 g) with two inner shapes: heart and circular.
Bank Bars
Many banks issue minted bars,
marked with their own name but manufactured by an
external manufacturer. In Europe and Brazil, minted
bank bars are widely available.
Commemorative Bars
Some accredited manufacturers, most
notably Degussa (Germany) and Degussa (Brazil), issue
minted bars commemorating important national or
international events. The minting of
commemorative bars, incorporating the mark of
the accredited manufacturer.
Heart Bars
Innovative heart bars,
defined as heart-shaped or incorporating a heart design,
were first made by Pamp SA in 1994, the outcome of a
World Gold Council initiative in Singapore. The
heart bars of ARY Traders (UAE), launched in
1997, have aroused much interest in UAE, Pakistan and
India.
Kinebars
Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS),
through its subsidiary refinery, Argor-Heraeus SA, has
applied a KINEGRAM as a security device to
the reverse of its minted bars since December 1993. This
new bar is called kinebar and is the trade
mark of the security device developed by Landis & Gyr
Communications. |