Kinebar and Veriscan: Security Features of Investment Bars and How They Work
Modern investment bars are protected against counterfeiting by several technologies. The two best known are Kinebar from the Argor-Heraeus refinery and Veriscan from PAMP. This article focuses only on them: how they work, how to check them when buying and how they differ. For the complete verification procedure, read our guide How to verify the authenticity of investment gold.
What are the security features of investment bars?
Security features are technical properties of a bar that make counterfeiting harder and verification easier. They complement the basic layers of protection – the sealed blister, the certificate and the unique serial number. Selected bar series add advanced technology straight from the manufacturer. We focus on two of them.
Kinebar® from Argor-Heraeus: holographic kinegram
Argor-Heraeus Kinebar bars carry a holographic kinegram on the reverse – a diffractive, optically variable image produced by OVD Kinegram AG. Argor-Heraeus has used this feature on its minted bars since 1993.
How Kinebar works
The kinegram is embossed at a microscopic depth and changes colour and structure depending on the viewing angle. This optical variability is practically impossible to reproduce with ordinary printing or minting, which makes counterfeiting much harder.
How to check it
Simply tilt the bar in the light: a genuine kinegram shifts smoothly between colours and patterns. A static, dull or “stuck-on” hologram is a warning sign.
Veriscan® from PAMP: a digital fingerprint of the surface
PAMP’s Veriscan technology uses the fact that the surface of every bar has a unique microstructure – much like a fingerprint. It is recorded in the manufacturer’s database during production. Veriscan is accredited by the LBMA.
How Veriscan works
During production the bar’s surface is scanned and stored in the PAMP database. For smaller bars the obverse and reverse are recorded, for larger ones all six sides – increasing the reliability of verification.
How to verify
In the PAMP app you scan the surface of the bar (even through the packaging) and the system compares it with the database. The result is a clear confirmation of authenticity, or a warning for a piece that does not match.
Kinebar vs. Veriscan: the differences
Both features protect authenticity, but in different ways – one visually, the other digitally:
- Kinebar (Argor-Heraeus): visual protection you check by eye by tilting the bar; no app needed.
- Veriscan (PAMP): digital verification via the app and the manufacturer’s database; works even through the packaging.
- In common: both come from renowned LBMA Good Delivery refineries and complement the certificate and serial number.
Security features are not everything
Kinebar and Veriscan are an excellent addition, but they are not enough on their own. Always also check that the blister is intact, that the serial number on the bar matches the certificate, and that the bar comes from a manufacturer meeting the LBMA standard. The safest option is to buy new, uncirculated bars from a trusted dealer.
And what if the packaging does get damaged or the certificate is lost? Security features then play an even bigger role, as they help prove authenticity without the original packaging.
Where to buy bars with security features
At GOLDU you will find only new, uncirculated investment gold bars from trusted manufacturers, depending on the model also with Kinebar or Veriscan. Authenticity is documented from the very first moment.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Argor-Heraeus bar have a Kinebar?
No. Kinebar is only found on the series explicitly marked as such. A regular bar in a blister does not necessarily have it.
Do I need a special device to verify Veriscan?
No, a smartphone with the PAMP app is enough. The scan works even through the bar’s original packaging.
Is a bar without Kinebar or Veriscan less secure?
Not necessarily. Authenticity is reliably proven by the blister, certificate, serial number and a renowned LBMA refinery. These features are an extra, not a requirement.
How do security features help when selling?
They let the buyer verify authenticity quickly, so the sale goes more smoothly and raises fewer doubts.
About the author
Adolf Baumann, analyst at Baumann Group a.s. (GOLDU), has been working with precious metals for over 30 years. He has seen euphoria, crashes and panic on the markets – and he still enjoys it. He explains in plain language what moves the price of gold and silver and how to handle them without unnecessary mistakes. His weakness? He refuses to wear a suit.
