1 oz Degussa Gold Bar

A Historic German Name in Gold Refining

The 1 oz Degussa gold bar carries one of the most recognised names in precious metals. Degussa's origins trace to 1843, when Friedrich Ernst Roessler, Keeper of the Frankfurt Mint, was authorised to operate the Mint's refinery as a private enterprise. The company was incorporated in 1873 as Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheideanstalt vormals Roessler (German Gold and Silver Refinery, formerly Roessler), with the name shortened to Degussa in the 1920s. It received LBMA accreditation in 1930.

There are effectively two Degussas in the bullion market. Historic Degussa AG bars were produced at the Frankfurt, Hanau, and Pforzheim facilities until the precious metals division was sold to OM Group in 2001, then acquired by Umicore in 2003. Umicore continued issuing Degussa-branded bars until the end of 2005 before rebranding to its own stamp. Separately, the Degussa brand was revived in 2010 by the von Finck family, launching retail operations in November 2011. By 2016, this revived Degussa had become Europe's largest gold retailer, selling 42.5 tonnes of physical gold that year.

The modern Degussa is a retailer, not a refiner. Its bars are manufactured by LBMA-accredited partner refineries and carry the iconic sun-moon-diamond logo that has been associated with the name for generations. The 1 oz bar contains 999.9 fine gold and comes with sealed tamper-evident packaging and a serial number, meeting the standard expected of modern retail gold bars.

Degussa 1 oz Gold Bar Specifications

The bar displays the distinctive Degussa sun-moon-diamond logo, which is one of the most widely recognised marks in the precious metals industry. Modern retail bars from the revived Degussa company are manufactured by LBMA-accredited partner refineries and meet the same 999.9 purity standard as bars from major Swiss and German competitors such as Heraeus and PAMP Suisse.

Historic Degussa AG bars (produced before 2006) went through multiple design variations across the Frankfurt, Hanau, and Pforzheim production periods. These vintage bars are identifiable by specific die markings that differ by era and facility, and they often command a collector premium on the secondary market above the standard gold bar price.

Degussa Gold Bar Tax Treatment

At 999.9 purity, the Degussa 1 oz gold bar qualifies as investment gold in every major jurisdiction, making it VAT/GST-exempt on purchase across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.

United Kingdom

Gold bars at 995+ fineness are VAT-exempt. Not UK legal tender, so subject to CGT at 18-24% above the 3,000 GBP annual allowance. UK investors seeking CGT efficiency should consider the 1 oz Britannia gold bar, which is CGT-exempt. Eligible for SIPP inclusion.

Germany

VAT-exempt as investment gold. Critically for German investors, gains on gold held for more than one year are completely tax-free. This makes Germany one of the most favourable jurisdictions for gold bar ownership, and Degussa's strong domestic presence (12 retail stores) makes purchasing straightforward.

United States

The .9999 purity meets the IRS threshold for IRA eligibility (99.5% minimum), provided the bar is from an LBMA-accredited manufacturer and stored by an approved custodian. Long-term capital gains taxed at up to 28% (collectibles rate). State sales tax varies.

EU (Other Countries)

VAT-exempt as investment gold under Directive 98/80/EC. CGT varies: 33% in Ireland, no CGT in Belgium, various rates elsewhere.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand

GST/HST-exempt (Canada), GST-free (Australia and New Zealand) as investment gold at 99.5%+ purity. Subject to local CGT rules on disposal.

Singapore and Hong Kong

No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax in either jurisdiction.

From the Frankfurt Mint to Europe's Largest Gold Retailer

Degussa's story begins in 1843 Frankfurt, when the keeper of the city's mint turned its refining operations into a private business. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, the new German Empire needed a refinery to convert the country's monetary system from a silver-backed to a gold-backed currency. The old Frankfurt Mint was chosen for this task, giving Degussa a foundational role in German monetary history. The company's full name, Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheideanstalt (German Gold and Silver Separation Works), describes exactly what it did.

Degussa received LBMA accreditation in 1930 and operated for 162 years as a gold bar producer, one of the longest continuous runs in the industry's history. The Frankfurt refinery ran from 1843 to 1975 before production moved to Hanau and Pforzheim. The company also established LBMA-accredited subsidiaries in the Netherlands (Schone Edelmetaal), Brazil, Singapore, and Canada.

The precious metals division changed hands twice in quick succession: sold to OM Group in 2001, then acquired by Umicore in 2003. Umicore produced Degussa-branded bars through 2005 before switching to its own mark. The parent company renamed itself Evonik in 2005, severing the last link between the original enterprise and the Degussa brand. In 2010, the von Finck family acquired the brand name and launched a retail precious metals business, opening the first store in November 2011. Within five years, it had grown into the largest gold retailer in Europe, with 12 German stores and additional locations in Geneva, Zurich, Madrid, and London.