Does gold get stamped saying sterling?

No they do not have to be, but when it comes to selling, the buyer would have no guarantee as to the purity of the gold bar and therefore no idea of what price to pay. The gold bar would need to be 'assayed' in order to determine its purity and content. This is a time-consuming activity and makes selling your gold bar a slower and trickier process.

The point about stamped gold bars is that they authenticate the content, weight and purity of the gold bullion. Certain refineries around the world are recognised by the world's main bullion exchanges making buying and selling their gold bars a much more smoother and trusted process.

Credit Suisse gold bars for example are manufactured by Valcambi whose assayer stamp CHI Essayeur Fondeur decorates every bar. These bars are therefore popular with investors as they are easy to buy and sell. The stamp is globally recognised and assures the buyer and seller of authenticity.