I'd say finding a big chunk of tungsten in your gold bar that is stamped .999 is a purity issue. Google "tungsten in gold bars".

I was a bit tongue in cheek in my comment about copper but you said the same thing by commenting that purity isn't as much as an issue with silver as it was with gold. I just ratcheted down a notch in value where copper purity isn't as much as an issue as with silver. Pretty easy to stamp anything with .999 And any mint stamp in the world can be copied.



All the hoity-toity mint stamps and .999 stamps means nothing. Might as well trust paper currency.

I wouldn't trust buying any precious metal without melting it to check for junk in it and an assay on the purity. So much for pretty, shiny bars with stamps on them. Gold wire or foil would make more sense. Harder to hide shzt in it....just the purity needs to be checked then.

This rant isn't directed at anyone...just pointing out that the high priced snooty boys flogging gold can't even keep themselves from getting burned.

Jon.