The Fed only gave Germany back 5 tonnes of gold in over a year

Fast forward a year and the Germans have managed to bring home a paltry 37 tonnes of gold.

And a mere 5 tonnes of that came from the US, the rest from Paris. The Fed holds 45% of the total 3,396 tonnes German gold.

Needless to say this prompted renewed questions whether Germany's gold still exists in those Manhattan vaults or if it has been melted down, leased or even sold. At the time of the original Bundesbank announcement, there were rumours that Germany wanted their gold back because the Fed refused German officials a viewing of the bullion a couple of months earlier.

The rather flimsy reasons supplied by German officials to Die Welt am Sondag  why only 5 tonnes have been repatriated from America, won't satisfy the conspiracy theorists who maintain there is no gold in US vaults:

"The Bundesbank explained by saying that the transport from Paris were  simpler and therefore were able to start up quickly."

Another explanation was that the gold held by the Fed on the Bundesbank's behalf in the US were non-standard size and shape:

"The bullion stored in Paris possesses the elongated shape with beveled edges of the "London Good Delivery" standard. The bars in the basement of the Fed on the other hand have a previously common form. They will need to be remelted. And the capacity of smelters are just limited."

Read More: www.mining.com/the-fed-only-gave-germany-back-5-tonnes-of-gold-in-over-a-year-82989/