# US 2014/0197242 A1 · Precious metal authentication system and method

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- Number: US 2014/0197242 A1
- Document ID: US20140197242A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/008,485
- Filed: 2012-03-28
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-28
- Assignees: Peerless Worldwide, LLC
- Inventors: Richard S. Shankman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197242A1

## CPC

- A44C 21/00: Coins (coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms G07F1/06); Emergency money; Beer or gambling coins or tokens, or the like
- G01H 13/00: Measuring resonant frequency
- G01N 29/045: {by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks (measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00)}
- G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)}
- G01N 29/4427: {with stored values, e.g. threshold values}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- G06K 19/0773: {the record carrier comprising means to protect itself against external heat sources}
- G06K 19/07749: {the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card}
- G06K 19/07758: {arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag}
- G07D 5/005: {Testing the surface pattern, e.g. relief}
- G10K 1/07: mechanically operated; Hand bells; Bells for animals
- G01N 2291/0427: Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever
- Y10T 428/2457: Parallel ribs and/or grooves
- A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Structures, systems, and methods verify the authenticity of a precious metal unit. A “ping bar” is designed to have a distinctive sound only if authentic and unadulterated. A “waffle bar” is shaped to discourage adulteration, damage, or counterfeiting and to facilitate easy core sampling and assay of the constituent metal's purity. Reeded edge features may additionally be employed to discourage tampering. An RFID device and a global registry system verify various attributes and ownership of the precious metal units.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-9. (canceled)

### Claim 10

A precious metal bullion object having anti-counterfeiting features, comprising:
a precious metal bullion object comprising one or more anti-counterfeiting features configured to result in noticeable deformation of the precious metal bullion object from attempts to drill, shave, or otherwise alter the precious metal bullion object, wherein the precious metal bullion object is cast in a form resembling a waffle pattern.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The precious metal bullion object of claim 10, wherein the precious metal bullion object further comprises a plurality of pits, wherein the precious metal bullion object can be scratch-tested or drilled in one or more of the pits to determine the composition of the interior of the precious metal bullion object with minimal aesthetic damage to the precious metal bullion object.

### Claim at position 4

12-21. (canceled)

### Claim 22

A precious metal bullion object having anti-counterfeiting features, comprising:
a precious metal bullion object comprising one or more anti-counterfeiting features configured to evidence attempts to tamper with, remove or alter one or more of the anti-counterfeiting features, wherein the precious metal bullion object comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag,
wherein the RFID tag comprises a thermally-protective coating, wherein further the thermally-protective coated RFID tag is inserted into the molten precious metal object at the time of manufacture of the molten precious metal object.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The precious metal bullion object of claim 22, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises a modified polyphenylene ether (PPE)/olefin resin blend, a vinyl ester resin, a reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) resin, a phenolic resin, a ceramic enamel, a glass enamel, a vermiculite enamel, a silicate-based fiber, a cloth resin-impregnated enamel, a flame-resistant meta-aramid material-based fiber, a flame-resistant meta-aramid material-based cloth resin-impregnated enamel, a silicon-based resin, silica glass fibers, or a multi-layer or multi-component composite coating including at least one of the above-mentioned coatings.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The precious metal bullion object of claim 23, wherein the thermally-protective coating is effective to protect the RFID tag up to temperatures from about 900° C. (1,652° F.) to about 1,770° C. (3,220° F.).

### Claim at position 8

25-47. (canceled)