I have been member of CoinTalk since 2008, I'm a lebanese numismatist and also the author of a book related to Tokens of Lebanon. I would like to inform you all, what is happening in Beirut. In the past three years, The gold notes were issued as Limited Edition by the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque Du Liban) described in the COA as "Created from a sheet of 99,99% Pure Gold". During the last 3 years, we have seen 10 different issues of these notes, collectors bought these notes without receiving any invoice. The ones who had limited issue of 2000 pcs were sold at 150$. Some of them had a shorter print run of 200 pcs and they were sold at $666. Many novice collectors were misled thinking that they were buying bullion. (see the certificate) Usually all the issues were "Sold Out" and the next day were available in the black market, The ones priced at 150$ were sold at 250$-300$ in the black market, while the ones priced at $666 were sold for $1000 in the black market, while these were housed in the acrylic displays come with serial numbers, many collectors paid too much premium for what so called "Golden Numbers" or "Special Serial Numbers" The CAO tells you about the fineness of the precious metal (99,99%) while it never defines you the exact content of it. What's more funny that some collectors were told that these gold notes contains at least 1 gram of PURE GOLD. After hearing that many people tested their Gold Banknote and they were really disappointed to find out that their note was made of Plastic Body & Nylon Cover. I wanted to test the example I owned, which I have bought it directly from the central bank in 2013. I have used many methods, The most important one was : With a simple light (Clipper Type), I have burnt it, instead of resisting, their "sheet of 99,99% pure gold" was burnt ! As we all know, that Gold starts melt at 1064 Celsius. Is there any difference of between the "Gold Notes" Selling at Alibaba.com & Ebay.com for 0.30 cents to 2$ and The ones offered for sale by our dear Central Bank ? I have did an amateur youtube video to show the collectors of what are they made of, also a TV report that I appear in it explaining the contents of the item, while a gold shop owner also uses another method of gold testing, and refuses that these items are gold. The TV channel contacted many times to BDL to get their opinions too about the item...Unfortunately they delayed their meetings. It was only after it went to the NEWS, Banque Du Liban replied us : GOLD NOTES Contain 99,99% of Pure Gold as the Certificate says (PS Certificate says that "Created from" not "Contains") and the gold inside these gold notes can only be tested by EDX method (Energy Dispersive X-ray). This was our Central Banks reply. Today,I am hearing rumors saying that there is a plan that the Central Bank will reveal the results of an EDX test to prove the Fantasy Gold in their item, so then I stopped and be in jail,because I have revealed the Plastic & the Nylon in their item and talking about their item with MORE DETAILS. Please share my message to all the international collectors societies & communities. Some of them are aware of this already... As a serious collector, it is my right to know what am I exactly collecting ! In case I will be stopped, will you the collectors of United Stated support me ? Here is the TV Report : And here is a Newspaper article : http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Le...r-spotlight-after-gold-bill-fraud-claims.ashx
BDL under spotlight after "Gold Bill" fraud claims. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Le...r-spotlight-after-gold-bill-fraud-claims.ashx
It says a sheet of 99.99% pure gold doesn't say how thick that sheet was. 'Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all known metals. A single ounce of gold can be beaten into a sheet measuring roughly 5 meters on a side. Thin sheets of gold, known as gold leaf, are primarily used in arts and crafts for gilding. One sheet of gold leaf can be as thin as 0.000127 millimeters, or about 400 times thinner than a human hair.' From this link http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele079.html
