Gold in Iran: Karats & Coins

Gold purity measures the fraction of pure metal, while weight measures how much alloy you hold. Eighteen-karat gold contains 18/24 gold by weight, equivalent to 750 parts per thousand; multiplying the alloy weight by that fraction gives its pure-gold content. A troy ounce, used for international precious-metal quotations, differs from an ordinary ounce. Jewellery, melted gold and coins have different manufacturing, assay, resale and authenticity costs. A coin’s market price can exceed its metal value. Verify the actual product’s documented weight and fineness instead of assuming every coin or bar carries the same specification.

Worked example (hypothetical)

A hypothetical 8 gram alloy at 900 parts per thousand contains 7.2 grams of pure gold. At 10 million rial per pure gram its metal value is 72 million, before product costs or premium.

Check your understanding

Does an attractive stamped number alone prove purity? No. Reliable assay and ownership documentation answer a different question from market price.

Sources, reviewed 5 October 2026

• Purity of Gold
• Physical Market Guidelines