986
Ducat gold (986) · 98.6% pure
986 means 98.6% pure gold — “ducat gold”, a historic near-pure German standard tied to the old ducat coinage. Struck as “986”, it's almost pure gold: deep-coloured and very soft, encountered mainly on antique and coin-related pieces rather than modern jewellery.
Hallmark Translator
Translate a purity you know into how any country marks it — gold, silver, platinum, palladium — or compare two countries side by side.
Why 98.6%?
986 (Dukatengold) was the fineness of the old ducat coin — near-pure gold — and survived as a recognised standard in the German tradition.
At 98.6% it's almost pure: soft, richly coloured and mostly seen today on historic pieces rather than everyday jewellery, where harder alloys make more sense.
Alloy 98.6% gold · 1.4% trace
And the standards around it
- 986Ducat gold
- 98.6% — near-pure, historic German standard.
How 1 countries strike 986
The number means the same metal everywhere — but every country marks it differently. Some strike a national emblem beside it; others, like the United States, mark it in type alone. Tap a country for its full system.
Voluntary marking
What people actually ask
What is 986 / ducat gold?
It's a historic near-pure German gold standard — 98.6% — taking its name from the old ducat coin.
Is 986 real gold?
Yes — almost pure, at 98.6%. You'll mostly see it on antique and coin-related pieces.
How is 986 different from 999?
Both are near-pure; 999 (99.9%) is the modern fine-gold standard, while 986 is the older ducat fineness.
What is 986 gold worth?
98.6% of its weight is pure gold, so its value is close to that of pure gold by weight.
A reference guide, not an authentication service. The same number can appear on different metals, and the mark beside it varies by country, date and maker — consult the relevant assay office or standards body for definitive identification.