Homepage / Popular Bullion Refiners: PAMP Suisse

Updated 01/03/24

PAMP
Bullion

PAMP - Corporate History

"PAMP" is a acronym for "Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux." (French to English Translation: "Products Artistic Metal Precious")  

PAMP is a private, family-owned, leading international precious metals refining and fabricating company and a member of the MKS Group.

In 1977, PAMP began doing business in the town of Castel San Pietro in the southern Canton of Ticino, Switzerland.

Mahmoud Kassem Shakarchi was an early investor in PAMP and saw a great future for the company through its refining, bullion design, and manufacturing of small gold bars, in addition to its resourcefulness.

In 1979, Mahmoud Kassem Shakarchi founded MKS Group in Geneva, Switzerland, and started a close relationship with PAMP; the MKS Group  marketed and traded PAMP bullion to international markets.

Mahmoud Kassem Shakarchi grew up in Northern Iraq; his fascination for gold came to him as a young boy when his mother found some gold coins buried in the ground.

In 1948, his skills in mathematics and business helped Shakarchi start a currency exchange and gold trading company in Beirut, Lebanon.

Two years after the start of the MKS Group in 1981, the company acquired a majority stake in the shares of PAMP SA; the merger made MKS Group a global financial and precious metals refining and trading company based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mahmoud Kassem Shakarchi passed away in 1983; his daughter Karma and his son Marwan took over their father's business and made it into the multi-faceted company it is today.

In 2008, PAMP started a joint venture with MMTC Limited, India's largest international trading company.

MMTC-PAMP operates a fully integrated precious metals processing facility, which includes refining and minting, under the direct technical supervision of PAMP in Switzerland.

In 2021, MKS Group and PAMP merged into one.

Today, MKS PAMP Group's expertise has turned it into a diverse group of companies, becoming the world's largest, independently owned precious metals refiner, trader, and retailer.

The MKS PAMP Group of Companies include: MKS PAMP, MTB, MMTC PAMP, APMEX, GOLD AVENUE, ONE GOLD, and ENVIRO-TEK.

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MKS PAMP Bullion
Manufacturing

MKS PAMP produces two types bullion bars, Cast & Minted Bars. 

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PAMP Assay Cards

PAMP was the first bullion brand to adopt secure assay-card packaging.

To protect each customer's investment from counterfeiters, PAMP has designed many different Assay Cards to ensure the purity and weight of their precious metal bullion.

CertiPAMP™
Assay Cards

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VERISCAN™

VERISCAN™ offers immediate authentication for the PAMP assay card holder, reducing the risk of it being a counterfeit copy.

PAMP has developed the VERISCAN™ system to recognize its bullion products' unique fingerprint; its technology scans and analyzes the VERISCAN bullion in the assay card with PAMP's in-house product imaging record to certify its authenticity.

How to use VERISCAN™

• Download the free VERISCAN™ app from the App Store or use a scanner with PC software (Compatibility: iPhone 7 and newer models running iOS 12 and above)
• Open the VERISCAN™ App, Sign in and view the tutorial video, or see the same tutorial video below.
• Choose ‘Automatic Scan’ and carefully follow the on-screen instructions:
• 1) Scan the QR code on the PAMP assay card packaging or certificate. The QR code must be scanned in the VERISCAN™ app, not beforehand using your iPhone’s QR code reader or camera.
• 2) Choose which side of the assay card or certificate you want to authenticate (Front / Back). Determine authenticity packaging: "CertiPAMP™" Minted bullion bar in Assay Card or "None" Unpackaged Cast/Poured bullion bar.
  
• 3) Hold your phone camera over the product, keeping it aligned with the outline on the screen as shown on the App. Keep your camera flat and level for the best result.
  
• 4) View the result, receiving a "Check for Pass" or No Check for Fail.

How to Use VERISCAN™
Bullion Identification Security System

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PAMP's
Artistic Bars

The meaning behind the PAMP name, "Products Artistic Metal Precious," is synonymous with precious metals bullion made with artistic designs.

Lady Fortuna

PAMP's most recognized art design is the Lady Fortuna, which has become synonymous with the PAMP name. 

One reason for PAMP to develop the VERISCAN assay card to stop counterfeiters is the popularity of the Lady Fortuna bullion bar, which is available with a frosted finish or a proof-like finish and is highly polished.

PAMP was the first precious metals refiner to decorate the reverse of their small bullion bars with artistic designs amongst a broad array of their product line. 

As an industry first, they have aimed to emphasize the intrinsic beauty and value of precious metals bullion.

Their collection of decorative motifs opened new doors for ingots in every market.

MKS PAMP has a wide range of designs, from mythological and astrological themes to religious icons.

Their designs also include historic monuments and botanical renderings.

PAMP offers these designs in all the precious metals and offers a wide variety of sizes and styles. Here are some you may like.

You can also make a custom order to PAMP.

Proprietary designs are encouraged, and client specifications are followed with precise detail.

PAMP's creative staff can also suggest a variety of exclusive design concepts, of any shape or gram weight, from which to choose.

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MKS PAMP
Cast & Minted Bars
Types & Sizes

Today, the MKS PAMP accounts for more than half of the world market for gold bullion bars weighing less than 50-grams.

Gold Bullion Bars

• Cast Gold Bars: 1 tael, 50 grams, 100 grams, 10 tolas, 250 grams, 500 grams, 1 kilogram, 400 oz.
• Minted Gold Bars: 0.3 grams, .5 grams, 1 gram, 2.5 grams, 5 grams, 8 grams, 10 grams, 20 grams, 1/4oz., 1/2 oz, 1 oz., 5 oz., 10 oz., 50 gram, 100 gram, 250 gram, 500 gram, 1 kg.
  

Silver Bullion Bars

• Cast Silver Bars: 500 gram, 1 kilo gram, 1000 oz.
  
• Minted Silver Bars: 2.5 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram, 15 gram, 20 gram, 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz., 1oz., 5oz., 10oz., 50 gram, 100 gram, 250 gram, 500 gram, 1 kilogram
  

Platinum Bullion Bars

• Cast Platinum Bars: 1 to 6 kilograms
  
• Minted Platinum Bars: 1 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram, 20 gram, 1/2 oz., 1 oz., 10 oz., 50 gram, 100 gram, 500 gram, 1 kg.
  

Palladium Bullion Bars

• Cast Palladium Bars: 1 to 6 kilograms
  
• Minted Palladium Bars: 1 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram, 20 gram, 1/2 oz., 1 oz., 10 oz., 50 gram, 100 gram, 500 gram, 1 kg.
  

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PAMP
Precious Metals Refining

PAMP refines Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium from mines, recycling industries, and jewelers.

Pamp purifies precious metals using the Electrolytic anode process of refining metals.

Electrolytic anode: ore is converted into anodes that are then positioned in electrolytic cells where the precious metal is separated from other elements.

The results of the electrolysis are deposits of gold, silver, platinum or palladium on a cathode with purity ranging from 99.95% to 99.999% or 999.5 to 999.99 per mille.

Once the precious metal's purity is determined, the manufacturing process begins, and the precious metal is minted or cast into a variety of bullion products.

The short video below gives you many examples of how electro-refining is done.

Electro-Refining Precious Metals - Using Electrolysis

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MKS PAMP
Industry Accreditation's

MKS PAMP is the most accredited international refiner and manufacturer of precious metals.

PAMP products are accredited as ‘Good Delivery’ Refiners by:

Good Delivery accreditation is the standard in the precious metals
industry. It measures product standards as well as industry and market
practices.

• London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).  PAMP SA is one of the many Refiners who produce London Good Delivery system.
• London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM). PAMP Suisse has the rare distinction of being only one of three refineries in the world designated as ‘Referee’ by both the LBMA and the LPPM
• Swiss National Bank (SNB)

Accreditation's from leading futures markets:

• Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM)
  
• COMEX/NYMEX/Chicago Metals Exchange (CME)
  
• Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)

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PAMP
Serial Numbers

As stated on the Engelhard page: "It is common practice for refiners to put serial numbers on bullion to help individual investors keep track of the bars they own."  

The following information about PAMP's serial numbers was previously on their website: 

A serial numbering system was applied as standard practice only on 400 oz and 100 oz bars since 1984. Serial numbers on other bar weights were only applied on request.

Since 2012, almost all smaller cast and minted bars are now stamped with a letter and serial number. 

The respective certificate or CertiPAMP packaging always bears the serial number

Currently, all PAMP bars are delivered to the international markets bearing individual serial numbers. 

The following offers a little more in-depth serial number information concerning 400oz. "Good Delivery" PAMP Gold Bullion Bars.

Serial numbering systems: 400 oz. Letter plus 8 numbers. The serial number comprises 4 different codes.

• 1st code is a letter, which indicates the year the bar was made. 
• 2nd code is a 4-digit number, which indicates the number assigned to the fusion (melting) process of a specific day. 
• 3rd code is a 2-digit number,which indicates the progressive number assigned to each fusion cycle progressed during the day noted by the 2nd code. 
• 4th code is a 2-digit number, which indicates the progressive number assigned to each bar. An example: A 01230212             

Source: GoldBarsWorldWide's PAMP page,

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PAMP's
Refining Capabilities

PAMP provides industrial customers with semi-finished precious metal
products in the form of grain, wire, plates, strips, and rods.

"Our ambition is to add value to each of our products and services with the aim of exceeding the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele and to set new standards in our industry. We are globally recognized as a model of excellence and sustainable sourcing."
                                        Marwan Shakarchi — MKS PAMP Chairman

PAMP provides International Mints with precious metals blanks for coining bullion.

The following is a List of World Mints and the Coins that PAMP provides precious metal blanks for their mintage.  

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The Royal Mint

(Gold Sovereigns, Gold & Silver Britannia)

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The Royal Canadian Mint

(Gold and Silver Maple Leaf)

PAMP has partnered with the Royal Canadian Mint to provide a wide array of Precious Metal Bullion Designs.'

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The United States Mint

(Gold and Silver American Eagle)

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The Austrian Mint

(Gold and Silver Philharmonic)

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China Gold Coin Corp.

(Gold and Silver Panda)

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The Perth Mint

(Gold Nugget (Kangaroo) & Silver Koala)

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The Rand Refinery

The Gold Krugerrand

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SilverGoldBull - Customer Reviews - 5.0 stars

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PAMP - A video tour

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Other pages you may like...

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Pamp Bullion Sources

PAMP - Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux

MKS Group

GoldAvenue

Gold Bars World Wide - Pamp Page (pdf.)

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