A 1 gram Argor-Heraeus platinum bar is a small, high-purity piece of platinum bullion produced by the world-renowned Swiss refinery, Argor-Heraeus. Like their gold counterparts, these bars are typically “carded,” meaning they are sealed in a tamper-evident package that includes an official assay certificate.
Key Features:
- Manufacturer: Argor-Heraeus, a prominent precious metals refiner with a long history of excellence and a strong reputation in the global market. They are accredited by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), which ensures their products meet stringent quality and purity standards.
- Weight and Purity: This bar contains 1 gram of .9995 fine platinum. Unlike gold, which is typically .9999 fine, platinum bullion is most often produced at a purity of .9995 (99.95% pure).
- Assay Card: The carded format is a crucial security and authentication feature. The assay card is a certificate of authenticity from the refiner, verifying the bar’s weight, purity, and often a unique serial number that matches the one on the bar itself. This makes the bar easily verifiable and highly liquid in the precious metals market.
- Design:
- Obverse (Front): The bar typically features the Argor-Heraeus logo, the weight (1 g), the metal type and chemical symbol (e.g., “PLATINUM,” “Pt”), and the purity (.9995 Fine).
- Reverse (Back): The reverse is often a simple, clean design, sometimes featuring a repeating pattern of the Argor-Heraeus logo.
- Investment Considerations:
- Diversification: Platinum is a valuable addition to a precious metals portfolio as its price can fluctuate independently of gold and silver, offering a hedge against different economic conditions.
- Affordability: Like other fractional bars, the 1 gram platinum bar is an accessible way to begin investing in this rare metal.
- Premium: Due to the costs of manufacturing and certification, these small bars command a higher premium over the spot price of platinum compared to larger bars.
- Liquidity: The “carded” format from a reputable refiner like Argor-Heraeus ensures that the bar is widely recognized and easy to sell to dealers and other investors.
