How old is this PM 1/2 oz blob

Bought this the other day, paid a good amount over spot but I liked it, It is an oldie as the Swan faces the other way, and definitely a different style, but I'm not sure how old? couple years, 10 years etc. they seemed to think it was 90's or earlier, but I have my doubts. Though i really have no idea!!

 

Nice blob, I was looking for one of these for ages. 90s is probably a reasonable guess - still makes it over 20yrs old.

 

I'd guess early 90's. Take it out of the 2x2 and have good auld fondle

 

Good pickup. Not seen one before. Lots of round ones (no longer produced)

 

I have a round one but I haven't seen the square 1/2oz
Thanks for the pic

 

Thanks guys! yeah i can't find any images either, only 1 oz squares.

 

996???

 

you mean 1996?

I just realised, there is no purity mark on this bar??? whats the go with that?

 

typo 916???

The 1/2 oz were made circa as 1976 for all the round buttons.

 

I'm totally confused? is this only 22ct?

 

Bingo!!
Get it check at the Perth Mint, the next trip you go there.
Come back here and let us know.

 

Fantastic photo by the way

 

ahah thanks, trusty iPhone 6 camera

Ok so i did a specific gravity test, i know they aren't 100% accurate, but i had 15.6 dry weight, 0.81 wet weight, so thats 19.25 SG.

22ct is 17.8, 24ct is 19.3

So i can only assume it would be 999?

By comparison a gold nugget of mine, 17.82g, had a wet weight of 1.02, giving 17.47SG which is close to, and i would assume approx 22t gold nugget. So id say the scales were fairly accurate.

 

#7 post is not a typo, 995 or 996. more likely to be 995.
During the era Perth did actually made 995 Au. Up to a stage circa 1980; they changes the styles of the bars.
I read some where, I am still looking for the actual documents, some where in my research.

I know I have them.

 

Here you go



And a good read on the history of the PM

 

But here it says half oz only round, where it is square above. Hmm:/

 

Didn't even see that, it was more for the .995 mentioned in Chip's post.

 

back to the drawing board haha, I mean i assume its 24ct due to SG test, regardless of how primitive that is, though that wouldn't show the difference between 995 and 999 ever in my scales.

I might just have to drive the hour to the PM and ask ha!

 

Email them the pic, save yourself the hassle Bron or Ron might be a bit more helpful too

 

It is 99.60, I confirmed, saving you from going to the mint.