They say variety is the spice of life, and there’s no reason that can’t apply to your investments in gold. While there is much to be said for the long-standing reputation of some of the globe’s most prominent mints, at the end of the day your investment in gold is all about the purity of the gold bar itself and availability of particular products. If you’re looking for new options when it comes to your gold investments, JM Bullion has a new lineup of gold bars available now from Istanbul Gold Refinery.
IGR Gold Bars
Istanbul Gold Refinery offers two types of gold bars to investors. The refinery’s first gold bar was a 1000 Gram (1 Kilo) cast gold bar introduced in 2002. In 2004, IGR’s collection expanded to minted ingots in a variety of weights which includes Gram and Troy ounce measurements. JM Bullion carries a variety of IGR gold from the latter category, with bars available in the following weights:
- 1/2 Gram
- 1 Gram
- 5 Gram
- 5 Gram
- 10 Gram
- 20 Gram
- 1 Troy oz
- 50 Gram
- 100 Gram
Each of the gold bars from IGR have the same design features on both surfaces. The obverse of every bar includes various markings which identify the refinery itself and provide assurance of the bar’s quality. As you view the obverse, you’ll note the initials of “IGR” at the top of the bars. Below that are engravings of the weight, metal content, and purity of each bar. All IGR gold bars contain .9999 pure gold content.
On the bottom of each gold bar there are two final engravings. The company’s logo is featured just above the individual serial number assigned to each bar. IGR uses a seven-digit numeric coding for its serial numbers. The reverse face of each bar has a simple design which includes the initials “IGR” in a repeating pattern across the surface area and set on an angle.
IGR Security Features & Packaging
Many investors prefer to buy gold bars that come with security features designed to help combat counterfeiting as this ensures the authenticity of the product purchased. IGR has been hard at work in recent years increasing the anti-counterfeiting measures included in its packaging and assay cards.
Each of the IGR gold bars available from JM Bullion ships inside of tamper-evident packaging, meaning you’ll notice immediately if any attempts have been made to alter the bar’s condition after it leaves the refinery. The assay card packaging includes the IGR company logo design on the obverse side, along with markings of the weight and metal content. Flip the assay card over, and on the back you’ll find a number of security features which include:
- Certified Assayer’s signature
- A hologram of the Istanbul Gold Refinery Logo
- Invisible security marks
The latter security feature mentioned above is not visible to the naked eye. On the reverse of the assay card there are two invisible security marks which only appear when the card is exposed to a UV light source. Each assay’s reverse also includes the weight, purity, and metal content of the bar, along with a matching serial number from the bar’s obverse side.
IGR’s History & Accreditations
Istanbul Gold Refinery was formed in 1996 with the backing of the Turkish government, the Turkish Treasury Department, and the Istanbul Gold Exchange. The company’s refinery option was up and running by the early 2000s, with gold bar production commencing in 2002. Istanbul Gold Refinery was the first Turkish refinery to refine gold to .9999 fineness for both cast gold bars and minted ingots.
The company’s refining operation is located near the so-called “Goldsmith’s City” in Istanbul, Turkey near the city’s international Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The accreditations of the refinery are also impressive. It was the first Turkish refinery accredited by the Istanbul Gold Exchange (2004) and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (2007). More recently, it earned accreditation from the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) in 2011 and received Good Delivery Refinery status from COMEX in 2014.
Today, Istanbul Gold Refinery is part of IGR Global, a professional service provider to the precious metals market. The company consists of the IGR refinery itself, as well as e-Waste factory, Gramaltin, and IGR offices in Germany, Spain, Dubai, and the Americas. The primary buyers to this point of IGR gold have been investors in Turkey and others from across the Middle East.
Shop IGR Gold Bars at JM Bullion Today!
Istanbul Gold Refinery bars are brand new to JM Bullion, and you’ll find all the weights mentioned above in stock and ready for purchase right now. As always, you can contact us if you have any questions by calling our customer service team at 800-276-6508, chatting with us live online, or simply sending us an email. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for the latest updates on JM Bullion sales, new products, and special promotions. You can also check in with our blog each week for more in-depth information on products and specials.
