Gold bars purity markings

S

SteveS

Member
Can anybody tell me why Baird & Co minted bars, described as "99.99%" purity, are marked "999.9"?

Also, Scottsdale 99.99 bars are marked ".9999".

Eh?
 
Hi Steve;

Since purity is a 'parts per X' function and we use the metric system, it is just moving the decimal to mark the underlying fraction being expressed.

99.99% (ie 99.99/100, per cent literally meaning 'per 100 parts or pieces') is equal to 999.9/1000 is equal to 9999/10000 is equal to 0.9999/1.

I did explain it elsewhere in another post, which I can dig up for you if the above is not enough.

Monsta.
 
Monsta said:
Hi Steve;

Since purity is a 'parts per X' function and we use the metric system, it is just moving the decimal to mark the underlying fraction being expressed.

99.99% (ie 99.99/100, per cent literally meaning 'per 100 parts or pieces') is equal to 999.9/1000 is equal to 9999/10000 is equal to 0.9999/1.

I did explain it elsewhere in another post, which I can dig up for you if the above is not enough.

Monsta.
Click to expand...

OK, I get it. Thanks. Now I wonder why some use one method and others use another. Marketing I suspect.
 
SteveS said:
OK, I get it. Thanks. Now I wonder why some use one method and others use another. Marketing I suspect.
Click to expand...

It's not really marketing, but the choice of expressing the same thing due to the beauty of mathematics and the decimal system. There's no difference in the claim that they are making between 0.9999, 99.99 or 9999. The all claim a minimum fineness of 9999 parts per 10,000 being the target material.

I did find it, it's a bit hard to read but I think I wrote it better last time: http://forums.silverstackers.com/topic-70280-canadian-silver-bar-100-oz-9999-page-1.html
 
It has nothing to do with marketing. It's telling you what the Finesse of the metal is from the assayer
 
Silver Soul said:
It has nothing to do with marketing. It's telling you what the Finesse of the metal is from the assayer
Click to expand...

So why do some makers express purity as a percentage, while other use parts per thousand?
 
Because it costs alot of money to get a finesse of say .99999. That's why I feel RSC are no longer with us, premiums in $$ for such finesse were never there.

( It all comes down to dollars ) 100 V 1000 V 10000 .... .99.99% or .999 is cheaper to advertise, meaning less refining.
 
Silver Soul said:
Because it costs alot of money to get a finesse of say .99999. That's why I feel RSC are no longer with us, premiums in $$ for such finesse were never there.

( It all comes down to dollars ) 100 V 1000 V 10000 .... .99.99% or .999 is cheaper to advertise, meaning less refining.
Click to expand...

But they're both claiming the same purity, so why the differing ways to express it?
 
SteveS said:
Silver Soul said:
( It all comes down to dollars ) 100 V 1000 V 10000 .... .99.99% or .999 is cheaper to advertise, meaning less refining.
Click to expand...

But they're both claiming the same purity, so why the differing ways to express it?
Click to expand...

999 and 99.99 are not the same purity at all. 999 = 99.9(0)% and it is an order of magnitude less purity than 99.99/.9999/9999 (one extra integer).

Think of it as a kilo bar of silver. 1000g.

At three-nines purity (99.9%, or 999/1000 (grams), or 0.999/1 (in kg) then you are guaranteed of at least 999 grams of silver in your bar that weighs 1000g.

At four-nines purity (99.99%, or 999.9/1000 (grams), or 0.9999/1 (in kg), then you are guaranteed of at least 999.9 grams of silver in your 1000g bar.
 
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