How I Rob Banks

Chapter 20The Gold Bar

I am a big fan of movies, so I like to understand what happens behind-the-scenes. Many things in movies are not remotely like reality, and this happens for a lot of reasons. There are those things that are complete fantasy, like an 80-foot dragon. Some are effects meant to appear real, but for the sake of safety or cost, they are faked, like buildings exploding. Some are real effects but carried out under stringent safety rules and so must be augmented, with things like safety wires removed with CGI.

But there is one movie effect I cannot abide: the lack of awareness of just how heavy a gold bar is. I have seen it pulled off sensibly—almost believably, in fact—in only a couple of movies, most notably Die Hard with a Vengeance. The weight of your average gold bar (the one that you are no doubt picturing in your mind as you read this) is 12.5 kg or 400 oz.

It is what is known in the finance world as a “Good Delivery Bar.” These bars are regulated worldwide and must meet standards set by the London Bullion Market Association.

To be a Good Delivery Bar of gold, the specifications are:

• Fineness: Minimum of 995.0 parts per 1,000 fine gold
• Marks: Serial number, refiner's hallmark, fineness, year of manufacture
• Gold content: 350–430 troy ounces (11–13 kg)
• Recommended dimensions:
  • Length (top): 210–290 mm (8.3–11.4 inches)
  • Width (top): 55–85 mm (2.2–3.3 inches)
  • Height: 25–45 mm (0.98–1.77 inches)

As you can tell, it is a very small item, but it weighs as much ...