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Gold and Silver Investment Jargon

Complicated jargon exists everywhere in life. Within the investment world, jargon can sometimes prevent you from understanding the details of the investment, or cloud key facts.

Some terminology stems from the historical use of words, while others seem convenient for financial advisors to validate their existence to explain these complications.

At Physical Gold, we believe in stripping back jargon to simplify what should really be very straightforward assets – gold and silver.

This video unravels a few select pieces of jargon which crop up time and again. For the full list of investment jargon busting, click here.

1. Bullion

This is one of the most widely used terms in the market but can refer to a number of things. Some people use the term as a blanket expression for non-numismatic gold. So any low-priced gold coins and bars. This tends to be when the price is the focus and suits those wishing to avoid paying premiums for more valuable older coins.

It can also be used to explain a certain type of coin production. Most of the main gold investment coins will be produced to a number of finishes, each with their corresponding price. Bullion finish is the most basic and cheapest finish, so is targeted at the investment market, where quantity and price are the primary focus. In contrast, proof finish coins, are struck 2-3 times when minted and offer a more detailed, albeit expensive finish.

Finally, the term bullion can be used to refer to gold or silver bars. Bullion is used interchangeably with bars and wafers to focus on this area of the market rather than coins.

My recommendation is to ask questions if it’s unclear which of these meanings is being indicated.

2. Alloy, purity, carat

Very simply, alloy denotes the mix of metals within a PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUcoin and ties in with a coin’s purity and carat. Investment grade coins will all be of a purity of at least 958 parts gold per 1,000. The terms carat and purity refer to the same thing. A coin of 958 per 1,000 purity is known as being 22 carat, while a coin of at least 995 parts gold or silver are referred to as 24 carat.

Alloys are used to toughen up a coin and minimise scratches. Some of the most common alloys in popular coins such as Sovereigns will be silver and copper.

One of the biggest misconceptions with carats and purity is that 24 carat coins are far better and more valuable than 22 carats. Looking at the Gold and Silver Britannia coin is a useful example.

Up until 2013, the Britannia was produced as a 22 carat coin. While it weighed around 34g in total, the gold or silver content was 31.103g (1oz). Coins produced after 2013 were minted as 24 carat coins. The newer coins still only contain 31.103g of pure precious metal and that is now also their total weight. So in other words, both coin purities still contained exactly 1oz of pure gold or silver.

3. Face Value

While this term is simpler to understand, its implications are crucial to precious metals investors.

When a coin benefits from having a face value, that means that the mint who produced the coin have actually allocated a face value in that country’s currency to the coin. This face value will be shown either on the front or back of the coin. In theory, that means you are legally allowed to walk into a shop in the relevant country and use the gold or silver coin to buy goods up to the face value.

Now, this may sound ridiculous because the face value of a Gold Britannia, for instance, is £100, while the coin’s gold content is worth ten times that. This is where the implications come in useful.

Any coin with a face value cannot be taxed for capital gains for residents of that country. In other words, if a UK investor buys £20,000 of Britannia coins and sells them 5 years later for £50,000, their profit of £30,000 is completely tax free!

4. Segregated

Next up is a term used in the storage of gold and silver. If you choose not to physically hold your coins or bars, then many dealers can offer storage solutions. But beware, not all solutions are the same.

If gold or silver is segregated, it means that it’s legally ring-fenced as yours. That means it isn’t mixed in as a pooled investment with other investors’ gold and crucially cannot be touched by any counterparty.

For investors seeking absolute security and minimal risk, segregated storage is the only way.

5. Premium

This final piece of investment jargon is bandied around when talking about the price of physical gold and silver. Rather than indicating a top end item, it refers to the spread over the gold or silver spot price of various coins and bars.

It’s important to understand that when buying any gold or silver, whether electronic or physical, you will always buy at a premium over the live spot price.

That premium varies according to a few factors.

Firstly, coins and bars trade at a higher premium than electronic gold and silver ETFs as they have to encompass production, design and delivery costs.

Secondly, the type of coin or bar will dictate the level of premium. Brand new mass-produced bullion coins are attainable at lower premiums, then rarer old gold coins.

Finally, quantity plays a large role in the premium. Buying one coin will cost a higher premium than buying 100 coins. Similarly, buying a small 5g gold bar will cost a higher premium than a huge 1kg bar.

Our team are here to make gold and silver simple

So there, you have it, 5 key pieces of jargon busted for you. Any dealer who cannot explain these, shouldn’t be used. Websites should clearly display live prices for various quantities of coins and bars, and each product should have a comprehensive description so you know what you’re buying. If you found this video helpful, be sure to check out 20 of our best video guides.

If you have questions regarding specific gold & silver investment jargon or are seeking guidance on how to invest, then our expert team are here to help. You can either call us on 020 7060 9992, engage on live chat or leave a call back request on our contact us page.

Reasons to Invest in Gold

We all know that the world we now live in is evolving at the fastest pace in history. Globalisation, technology and devalued currencies are leading to huge changes that are set to impact us all.

While the rise of the internet provides us with unprecedented access to consumer goods, it’s also quickly eroding the global economy as we know it. Margins are being squeezed, leading to high street giants closing down and job losses. Most of us have escaped these changes so far, but the bubbles being created in the stock and housing markets and record levels of national debts will cause a huge market adjustment in the coming years.

Investing in gold is the best way to protect ourselves from many of these dangers. Today, I want to highlight 5 compelling reasons to invest in gold.

1. Protection from a house market crash

In the UK, we’re a nation obsessed with property ownership and it’s easy to understand why. House prices have rocketed over the past decade in a market where investors have benefited from record low-interest rates and easy money. 5% deposits and low mortgage APRs have granted buyers easy access to the market. A competitive mortgage market has thrived on offering interest-only mortgages.

As prices have risen year on year, many house owners have remortgaged and pushed borrowing to its limits. But now we’re entering a period where all these dynamics are reversing at the same time.

Interest rates have now risen both in the UK and US, with promises of more hikes to come. No longer can mortgages be obtained with tiny deposits or interest-only repayments. New mortgages and remortgages are now based on higher rates, deposit requirements are higher and monthly repayments are sky-rocketing.  All of this is set against a backdrop of falling house prices.

With the average UK resident highly exposed to the property market, a crash in prices will impact us all. Repossessions will hit lenders hard, while stock markets will decline as less disposable income crimps corporate profits.

Owning gold offers protection against such market crashes. As a safe haven asset, it’s gold investors who will benefit when the markets go through a prolonged period of pain. Have a read of our study, Gold Investment versus Property.

2. Tax efficiency

A good reflection of how much tax can reduce your investment returns is the fact that every financial adviser will encourage you to fill your annual ISA allowance before you look at anything else.

However, returns on cash ISAs are lower than inflation, effectively reducing the buying power of your money. Even equity ISAs remain very exposed to market bubbles, and annual limits reduce the amount you can invest.

If the right type of gold is bought, then it can be a completely tax-free investment, with no annual limits whatsoever.

Any investment grade gold is exempt from VAT. Two elements are needed to qualify. The gold needs to be in the form of a coin or bar, and its purity needs to be 22 carats or higher. SO if you stick to these types of gold, you’ll pay no tax when you buy.

Even better, is that certain gold coins are also free from Capital Gains Tax. This means that unlike every other asset in the UK (except your primary residence), any profits made in this type of gold cannot be taxed.

To qualify, gold coins need to be UK legal tender. In other words, if it has a face value, it is classified as legal tender. Any profits made on selling legal tender are tax-free to UK residents!

3. No counterparty risk

Owning a variety of investments is a great way to diversify. PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUBut most investments are based on a piece of paper confirming your ownership. These so-called paper assets are great when things are going well, but can fall to zero overnight when matters turn sour.

Owning stocks has one huge risk, you’re depending on one particular company to perform. Look what happened to the entire banking sector in 2008. Values of bank shares plummeted in a matter of weeks.

Bonds are similar. Even owning Government bonds means you’re exposed to political choices. Italy is a great example where huge debts and political instability have led to plummeting prices.

Even cash in the bank and credit cards can be vulnerable to cybercrime and online fraud.

Owning physical gold means taking personal possession of the gold coins and bars you’ve bought. It doesn’t matter how a certain company performs, your gold always has an intrinsic value. In today’s digital globalised economy, the threat to paper assets and cybercrime is growing.

4. Liquidity

Gold can be traded anywhere around the world. It has a historical track record stretching back more than 5,000 years and the gold spot price is published daily. Gold coins allow for selling small parts of your asset when you need, so you can sell whatever quantity you want at the prevailing rate.

Compare this to the inflexibility of selling a property where the whole asset is sold, providing no scope to sell only part of it. Sales can extend to months or even years.


Check out our full suite of video tutorials here


5. Currency devaluation

Last but not least is the growing threat to today’s global currencies. Actually, global currency systems change every 30-40 years. We’ve seen a traditional gold standard, evolve into a gold exchange standard, then the Bretton Woods system, and finally into the US Dollar standard.

The problem with so-called Fiat currency like the Dollar is that its value becomes undermined as US Governments print more and more of it. Unchecked US debts in the Trillions further devalue the currency.

In Europe, we’re also seeing the dismantling of the Euro with Brexit. There’s a significant threat that other European countries will also withdraw in the coming years.

No doubt, when deflation and then inflation take hold, Governments around the world will seek a new system and new solution to replace the US Dollar standard. In that case, they’ll look at what’s worked best in the past, and likely return to gold.

This could be catastrophic if you’re holding all your assets in Dollars, Euros or Pounds, but provide huge riches if you already own gold.

 

There are many other benefits and reasons to invest in gold, a handful of which I’ve covered in today’s video. The key is recognising that the global economy is at breaking point and it’s a matter of when, not if, it will implode. Reverting to owning gold, takes the guessing game away, securing you in the knowledge that you’re prepared for any outcome.

We’re here to help

If you have questions about how to get started with gold investment, then please contact us by calling 020 7060 9992, using the live chat widget on the website, or by contacting us here. Our expert team has helped thousands of people with their first foray into gold.

Gold & Silver Video Guides

If the content is queen for websites, then the king must be multimedia content! With this in mind, Physical Gold set out to create 20 gold and silver industry videos, related to questions and topics, we are frequently asked about relating to the gold and silver industry.

Precious metal investments need careful thought and planning. In this article, we will review 20 important educational videos that have been published by Physical Gold, one of the most reputed gold dealers in the UK. These videos are an excellent educational tool for experienced and new investors alike. Each section below provides a brief summary of the video and tells you why it’s worth watching.

We have published these on YouTube, so, why not click on any of the 20 videos below and learn what Daniel Fisher, the CEO of Physical Gold has to say on each of the topics.

1)    1oz silver coins – the available options

Silver coins have steadily gained in popularity amongst investors. Learn about the value of buying 1oz silver coins, including the Krugerrand, Canadian Maple LeafAustralian Silver Kangaroo, the UK Royal Mint’s Lunar series and annual Britannia coin. In this video published by Physical Gold, Daniel Fisher, CEO some valuable insights are shared as to why this coin denomination is great to add to a portfolio as well as the tax-efficiency benefits, which are available for UK residents.

This video guides investors on how to make the best decisions when buying 1-ounce silver coins. Daniel reveals his top five choices, with each selection based on a different investor objective. As a silver investor, the video is an excellent guide to making smart silver investments.

2)    5 Reasons to buy gold sovereigns

Sovereigns have been around for centuries and enjoy a vibrant secondary market. Of course, this provides excellent liquidity for your portfolio. Divisibility and flexibility can be achieved, as the sovereign is available as a quarter ounce coin. Sovereigns were issued through the reigns of different monarchs, creating excellent variety and easy availability. In this Physical Gold video, five important reasons are unveiled as to why sovereigns can be an important inclusion in your portfolio. Watch the video to learn more.

PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPU

 3)    Britannia silver coins – a collectable investment

This video focuses on the fact that any investor thinking about buying silver should seriously consider buying the Britannia silver coin. An ideal low-priced 99.9% pure coin (since 2013) and are available with low premiums. The iconic image of Britannia is updated frequently, making it attractive to collectors. The silver Britannia is also available as a limited-edition proof set and in sets of fractional sizes.

The Britannia’s history is explored as well as investment potential, tax-efficient status as well as various options including proof sets and storage solutions. The video analyses several factors that make the silver Britannia a great choice for both collectors and investors.

4)    Buying gold online with Physical Gold LTD

The easiest way to purchase gold is to simply buy online. In this video, Daniel Fisher, CEO and founder of Physical Gold tells us how easy it is. The video walks buyers through five easy steps from creating a free online account on the website to adding products to your shopping cart and finally checking out. Daniel also explains the inherent advantages of purchasing gold online in the video.

Gold and silver videos

Several iconic British coins were struck at the Royal Mint

5)    Buying gold bars – a guide for investors

Why buy gold bars rather than gold coins? This video reveals all and expands upon many of the benefits and the investment philosophy to adopt when buying gold bars. Listen here to some quality investment tips and how having a combination of bars with differing sizes, weights and quantities all make perfect investment sense!

The investor awareness video kicks off with an analysis of the reasons why people buy gold bars, followed by a lesson on how to choose the best bars. Investors should be equipped with good knowledge of buying gold bars after watching this video.

6)    Buying gold – 5 reasons to invest

We could have written 55 reasons but limited ourselves to just five within this video! Daniel Fisher talks about how gold investments can protect you from exposure to global economic turmoil. Five compelling reasons are discussed in the video, including the impending possibility of a housing market crash. The thought-provoking video is a must-watch for every investor.

7)    6 Hacks to buying the best value gold sovereign coins

The next video from Physical Gold unveils six strategies that investors can employ when buying Sovereigns. So, you might be sold on the idea of buying gold sovereign coins, produced by the UK Royal Mint. But, how do you get the best value for your money when buying them This is the question posed and answered within this video, which explores a range of approaches (hacks) to getting more gold Sovereign coins for your money!

Investors are advised to buy the quintuple sovereign, as it’s a much bigger coin and provides greater value for money. Other strategies include buying nearly new used coins, waiting for a lull in the market and speaking to a dealer to buy a particular Sovereign when its price comes down.

Gold and silver videos

Gold bars have their purity value inscribed on the face

8)    5 best silver coins to invest in

This silver investment video addresses the confusion faced by investors about which silver coins to buy. In the video, Daniel Fisher, founder, and CEO of Physical Gold reveals his top five choices in silver coins. Analysts are predicting an explosive price rise for silver in the future, but which coins do you buy Daniel reveals all in this highly informative video, which selects five of the best silver coins, which can leave investors with no doubt as to which coins, they should buy. The list includes the legendary silver Britannia and Krugerrand. The Fiji 5 kg silver bar is also included as it has a face value.

9)    Gold & silver investment jargon explained

Insider's Guide to gold and silver

 

Do you know your alloys from your carats Learn about these and other gold and silver industry jargon terms in this helpful video. Listen to understand what the terms mean and blast away any myths or misunderstandings from the crevices of your mind! This video is an excellent educational tool for investors and the general public alike!

10) Gold Britannias or Gold Sovereigns – which is the best investment?

The flagship coins of British coinage have always been the gold Britannia and Sovereign.

Do you like the idea of investing in Gold Britannias and Gold Sovereigns, but only have funds for one, so which do you choose Daniel answers all in this informative video, Daniel Fisher explains the investment rationale behind both gold coins based on five essential factors. Learn about both coins in terms of tax efficiency, liquidity, and other factors too!

11) Gold coins – collecting as a hobby and for profit

Collecting coins makes you a Numismatist, but is it possible to make a profit too. The answer is YES, learn how in this Physical Gold video which explains how coin collecting is not only for fun but is for profit too! As with all investments, it’s important to let your head rule rather than your heart, so why not become an informed numismatic investor?

12) Gold investment as part of a balanced investment portfolio

Balanced it’s such a lovely word, especially when it’s used in the phrase “balanced investment portfolio”. Gold often plays a pivotal role in balancing a portfolio and providing portfolio insurance. In a ground-breaking video, Daniel Fisher, CEO of physical gold reveals seven great ways in which gold can play an important role in providing liquidity, hedging currency risks, and fighting inflation.  By watching this video, you can learn how gold can help protect your investments during economic uncertainty.

Gold and silver videos

The large gold bars seen in the movies are called ‘Good-Delivery’ bars and are used by central banks

13) How much is a gold bar worth?

There are so many different factors, which determine the value of a gold bar? So, how much is a gold bar worth? Find out by watching this video, which gives viewers the “lowdown” on the calculation process behind valuing gold bars and how this can be used to the advantage of informed, streetwise and “savvy” gold investors.

14) How to buy gold

Is there a formula for investing effectively in gold coins and bars? Open your eyes to the world of gold investment by watching Physical Gold’s video “How to buy gold”. It sounds like an easy question to answer, but we explore “buying gold well” here and guide listeners through the steps to a healthy buying process. From finding a reputable gold dealer and discussing objectives to the eventual buying process, every step is explained in detail in this comprehensive, insightful video. Many think that gold is only for the extremely wealthy, but Daniel also explores more affordable monthly saving options too.

10 commandments15) How to sell gold for the most cash

Do, you own some gold and want to realise the highest cash price for it? Of course, you do! Daniel Fisher explores the various techniques here and learns how to maximise your profits, with a particular emphasis on buying correctly in the first place. Are you intrigued to learn more about selling, then simply click on the video!

16) Should I invest in gold or silver?

We know the answer to this question, but the video explores the often-asked question of should people invest in gold and silver Daniel guides viewers through the many reasons that investors should consider these precious metals and the contrast between investing in the two of them.

gold and silver videos

The silver Britannia is a truly iconic British coin

17) Silver bars or silver coins – which is the best investment?

So, you have decided on investing in silver – but what suits your investment purposes better, silver bars or coins? Investors are hugely attracted to silver because it is 85 times cheaper than gold and holds the promise of rich dividends in the years to come. This illuminating video created by Physical Gold takes a look at four points of comparison between silver bars and coins. The video is extremely helpful for silver investors in making the right choice.

18) Silver investing in 2019 and beyond

We have come to 2019 and silver investment has now been popular for millennia. So, we can predict with optimism that silver will flourish into the future, it’s safer than low-interest earning cash. Listen to Daniel in this video to hear his views on the investment potential of silver in 2019 and in years to come.

19) The Gold price today & investing in gold medium to long term

The Holy Grail of the gold investment market is the spot price. In this back to basics video, Daniel Fisher, founder of Physical Gold teaches investors how to stay abreast of the current gold price and analyse it. He also explains effective strategies and themes that investors can employ when planning their investments with a medium to long-term horizon.

gold and silver videos

The Gold Krugerrand is one of the best-known coins in the world

20) Understanding the gold price per oz

Why is gold priced per oz (ounce), what is the spot price and why is this so important Daniel discusses this and more in our final of 20 videos. If you haven’t watched any then watch this video, which is highly educational to investors, Numismatists, and quizzers alike!

About Physical Gold Limited

Physical Gold is a highly reputed precious metals broker in the UK.  Please view the video links above to gain an understanding of the market.  The Physical Gold investment team is always open to discuss your investment goals.

Physical Gold – YouTube channel

We hope you have enjoyed these 20 gold and silver videos? If so, why not view all of our videos at the Physical Gold YouTube channel? As a business, we believe in removing the “trade jargon” and hope that visitors will find our videos to offer sound advice and information.

Buying gold and silver from Physical Gold

We are only a phone call away on 020 7060 9992 or complete our contact form for a speedy callback. We offer competitive prices, a fine selection of gold and silver coins and bars all with our hassle-free customer-focused service.

 

Image Credits:

Wikimedia CommonsMichael SteinbergEric GolubWikimedia Commons and Evan Bench

Buy Gold Online

Being able to buy gold coins and bars online has many advantages. Live pricing, the convenience of ordering from the comfort of your home and free insured delivery in many cases. But if you’re daunted by the process of how to place an order online, this video runs through 5 easy steps to placing an online order.

For those needing the human touch, our friendly team of experts can be contacted for help either by calling, live chat or emailing. But if you’re ready to buy and want to transact online, then you can order from our online store 24/7.

Step 1: Register a free online account

You can set up an online account with Physical Gold at any time. There’s no obligation to buy and you can benefit from the latest news, special offers and new product notifications if you also subscribe to the newsletter.

Simply click on ‘Register’ from the homepage’s top bar and enter some basic details

Step 2: Add products to your basket

Hovering over the ‘Buy Gold’ title in the black bar will reveal two columns of navigation. On the left is various product categories. So if you know you want gold coins but want to browse, click on this category. If you’ve narrowed your choice down to Gold Sovereigns, then this category will display the various Sovereign gold coins available on one page. From these category pages, simply click in to view each product and add to your basket from there. You can then either continue shopping to add more products or view your basket.

The second column of navigation goes directly to our best selling product pages. So if you know exactly which product you want or need inspiration from our best sellers, then this takes you straight there.

The final alternative is to use our intelligent search function. By clicking on the magnifying glass in the black bar, you’re able to search for particular products. As you start typing, it will make suggestions based on your search.

 Step 3: Proceed to checkout

When you’ve added all your PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUdesired gold products, click on ‘View basket’ or click on the small shopping trolley icon in the black bar.

Ensure the items in your basket are correct, adjust if necessary and click update cart.

On the right-hand side, you have the choice of selecting delivery or storage and adding a coupon code if you have one. Storage is only available for orders over £2,500 so smaller orders will not offer the choice. When everything is correct, click on the green ‘Proceed to checkout’ button.

Step 4: Make payment

Now you’re just 1 step away from completing your gold order. If logged in, you should see all your details on the left-hand side. If not, login now. On the right-hand side, you can now select your payment method.

After clicking the agreement to our terms and conditions, you simply click the green ‘place order’ button.

If you choose direct bank transfer, you’ll receive an email with the bank details and an order number for reference. If you selected card payment, then you’ll be taken to a secure Sage Pay portal to enter your card details once you click ‘place order’. You’ll be reassured to know that we use 3d Secure to protect you and your card.

Step 5: Receive your gold and documents

Once your order is placed, you’ll receive an email confirmation with your order number and our bank details if you’re paying by online banking. If you bought more than £10,000 of gold, you’ll also have to email over 2 forms of ID for anti-money laundering purposes.

Once payment has cleared, your gold will be packed and sent either directly to you or to the storage facility if selected. You’ll receive full documentation including a certificate of authenticity.

So it’s that simple. 5 quick steps to buying gold online from Physical Gold Ltd. Don’t forget that our team are here to help guide you if you get stuck in this process or simply need advice on which coins or bars to buy. They can be contacted on 020 7060 9992, on live chat or by leaving a message here

If you liked this video, don’t forget you can view all 20 of our videos here, covering all you need to know to successfully invest in gold and silver.

The lure of gold as a precious metal is infallible and has stood the test of time over centuries. The Bible records that the Magi brought gold, frankincense and anointing oil, known as myrrh as gifts for the baby Jesus. The tradition of gifting precious metals to people who are important in our lives, whom we care for and love has been passed down through time. Infact, gold occupies a status of being a much-desired gift of value across the world and is revered and appreciated by all.

Factors to consider when giving a gift

Successful gifting requires some thought and consideration, depending on who you are buying the gift for. There are three important elements to consider when purchasing a gift, according to an article published in Time magazine in 2015. These three factors are:

Mother’s Day Gift

Gold is a great choice for gifting across the world, and an ideal choice for Mother’s Day

Buying gold for Mother’s Day

An important day for an important woman in all our lives is fast approaching. March 31st is Mother’s Day, a day on which people in the UK celebrate motherhood and show appreciation for the most important woman in all our lives, without whom none of us would even be here. Many of us will be buying a gift for that day soon. Why not select gold?

Precious metals promise ease of liquidity and retain a great resale value, making it a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day. A gold bar of 99.99 purity could be your choice of gift. On the other hand, gold coins convey important feelings like appreciation, love and gratitude.

Mother’s Day Gift

Give the gift of gold this Mother’s Day

 

Here at Physical Gold, we don’t sell jewellery items such as gold brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, etc. Whilst, these make excellent Mother’s Day gifts we don’t believe they are as good an investment as gold coins or bars. This is because they often have an aesthetic premium, which prices them far above the spot price value of the gold. If you want to give a gift to your Mother and aren’t bothered first and foremost about the investment potential, then these are also a good choice to buy.

Talk to our experts to make the right choice

At www.physicalgold.com, our experts can help you choose the right gift for Mother’s Day. PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUIf you are new to buying gold, our investment advisors can talk you through the dos and don’ts of buying gold. We have certified, 100% genuine gifting options, which are well known throughout the world, like the gold sovereign coins, or the Canadian maple leaf gold coin.

There’s also the 30g gold Chinese panda or the gold lunar pig or Unicorn from the Queens Beast series if you’re looking to make a larger investment for your mum.

Contacting Physical Gold to discuss gold investment strategy

Call us today on 020 7060 9992 or get in touch online to speak to one of our staff. They can give you the right advice on how to buy gold and ensure that you maximise the value of your investment. Mother’s Day is on 31st March this year, and not too far away. Make it memorable for your mum by giving her a gift she will never forget, the gift of gold.

 

Image Credit: Icon 0 and Kalhh

 

Oscars and Gold

As the months fly by in 2019 towards March, film buffs all over the world wait with bated breath for the 91st Academy Awards – The Oscars, scheduled to take place in Hollywood, California at the prestigious Dolby Theatre. The event will commence at 1700 hours, Pacific Time on the 25th February 2019 (it will last from 01:00 – 05:30 UK time). The event is, of course, the most important film event in the world and notable films of 2018, their actors, directors and a host of other industry professionals will receive awards for their contributions to the world of cinema.

Origin of “Oscar” name

The “Oscar” name’s origin has been revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They say that Margaret Herrick, an Academy Librarian who went on to become an Executive Director said the statuette resembled her Uncle Oscar, so staff began calling the award an “Oscar”.

The Oscar statuette

The Academy Awards were started in 1929 and since then Insider's Guide to gold and silverthe committee has awarded 3,072 statuettes to honour the contributions of not just the great actors and actresses, but also the film professionals for their individual achievements in the field of cinema across the world. The famous and unmistakable statuette is 13.5 inches in height and weighs 8.5 lbs. The statuettes have always been plated with 24-carat gold. It is important to note that initially the body was actually made of bronze and only plated with gold on the surface.

Currently, Katherine Hepburn holds the record for the most Oscar awards for best actor with 4 awards and 12 nominations.

All change….

Since the 1930s, the bronze body was discontinued, and the new choice was an alloy called ‘Britannia Metal’, which was further mixed with a number of metals, including nickel and copper and finally plated with gold.  A lot of people mistakenly believe that the entire statuette is made of pure gold. A metal shortage during World War II resulted in painted plaster being used instead of metals for three years. The academy later recalled these statuettes during the post-war period and exchanged them for the gold-plated ones.

In 2016, the academy contracted a New York-based company to construct a 3D printed replica from a digital scan of the original 1929 statuette, which was then used to manufacture the new line of Oscars. Bronze is being used again in order to take the design back to its original version.

Oscars and gold

Contrary to popular belief, the Oscar statuette is plated with a thin film of gold

The price of the Oscar gold

The Oscar award is worth a lot more than its weight in gold they say.

This is literally quite true. The actual production cost of an Oscar is only $400. If the entire gold plating on the statuette was melted and sold, it would fetch a paltry $57, or thereabouts. Believe it or not, this is because the gold plating on the statue is approximately 200 times thinner than a human hair at 0.38 microns!  However, while the Oscars may not be worth their weight in gold, their collector value is immense. The academy has a clause in place wherein every winner signs a clause that gives the academy the first right of refusal at a price of $1 if a winner wanted to sell their statuette. In spite of that, 75 statuettes have reportedly been sold and the estimated market price is close to a million and a half USD.

Confusion as to the legality of selling an Oscar frequently arises after the death of the Oscar recipient where this clause becomes fuzzier.

Losing an Oscar!

With the busy lives that many of Hollywood’s elite live, you can excuse them a few indiscretions! Losing an Oscar sounds unbelievable but this has happened on numerous occasions, with celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, Marlon Brando, Matt Damon and Whoopi Goldberg all misplacing their statuettes.

Call us to know more about investing in gold

While you may not win an Oscar anytime soon, it’s heartening to know that there’s not much gold in it anyway! However, we want to ensure that your investments aren’t made in the same way. If you want to discuss your gold investments, please call us on 020 7060 9992 or get in touch with us online to discuss your investments in precious metals.

Image Credit: Prayitno Photography

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year starts on 5th February 2019 and lasts until 24th January 2020 – the next animal to be represented is the pig. This is good news for investors as the pig is seen as a symbol of luck and financial success, it’s viewed as a good year to make money and invest! With this sentiment and the size of the Chinese investment market this is a positive indicator for gold prices in 2019.

The year of the pig 2019

The pig is the twelfth and final of the Chinese zodiac animals. The pig is last because it is said that pig arrived last to the part of the emperor! The pig belongs to the earthly branch and is “yin” in terms of “yin and yang”.

In Chinese culture pigs are highly esteemed and viewed as a symbol of wealth, pigs are seen as a sign of good fortune, especially their large ears and chubby faces. People born in the year of the pig are said to be gentle, loyal and generous in personality.

Previous years of the pig occurring in the last 50 years were 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2007. Why not buy a year of the pig coin as unique gift for someone born in this zodiac sign? It makes for a unique gift.

Gold Lunar Pig

1oz Lunar Pig gold coin

Year of the pig – coin issues

These commemorative coins are typically offered in both gold and silver and always have a collectability premium when compared to the current gold/silver spot price. So, if getting the most metal for your money is a key priority, investing in gold bars or silver bars would work best.


Interested in starting a gold coin collection? Download our FREE ‘7 Crucial Considerations Before You Buy’ cheatsheet here first


Royal Mint

The UK Royal Mint has produced a range of coins in both gold and silver, click here for info. The coins were designed by Harry Brockway and feature a sow feeding piglets with a night-time country sky setting. The following coins are available:

Detailed information about the Royal Mail mintages is available here.

Insider's Guide to gold and silver

Other Countries with the year of the pig mintages in 2019

There are many countries, which will have the Chinese Year of the PIG issues. Just a few examples of a special year of the pig coins are:

Call Physical Gold – experts in Chinese Zodiac coins

It’s good to know if you need helpful advice on all aspects of gold investment that you can always turn to Physical Gold. We always recommend you call us on 020 7060 9992 or contact us by email before making an investment in gold coins. We believe in general that Chinese Zodiac coins are a worthwhile investment as part of a collectable gold coins portfolio. Speak to our experts now and we can guide you through the process.

On March 17th every year, Irish compatriots from across the world join together for St Patrick’s day celebrations, one of the most important dates in the Irish calendar. Traditionally the day was a commemoration of Saint Patrick, he is the patron saint of Ireland and is associated with the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Today the St Patrick’s day holiday is a celebration of all things Irish from shamrocks and Guinness to leprechauns and Gaelic football. In 2019, St Patricks Day falls on a Sunday making it even easier to celebrate as there is no need to book time off work!

Why is St Patrick’s day celebrated?

St Patrick grew up in Ireland after being captured by raiders at only 16 years of age and was kept as a slave. According to popular legend he famously rid Ireland of snakes, however, the truth behind this legend is shrouded in mystery as it’s believed that no snakes have been indigenous to Ireland since the last ice age. One theory is that the snakes being referred to in the story were actually druids or pagan worshipers that worshipped snake like gods. It is not known what year St Patrick actually died but we do know it was on the 17th March, the day on which we now celebrate St Patrick’s day.

Gift of gold

St Patrick’s day gold

Irish folklore – leprechauns and pots of gold at the end of every rainbow

Gold has a long association with Irish folklore. Gold is often seen as a symbol of good luck and a popular Irish myth tells the tale of leprechauns love for gold!

Leprechauns are often associated with wealth due to their love of gold coins, they know when they are onto a good thing! Leprechauns as the mischievous creatures they are scour the earth for gold and when they find it, they store it in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Whether you believe in this tale or not, it’s fun to indulge in the leprechauns love for gold on St Patricks Day.

Gold coins – one of the symbols of St Patricks Day

There are many symbols which relate to St Patricks Day, but one of them are gold coins. Other symbols include leprechauns, beer jugs, clover, hats, the Irish flag and much more!

Gift of gold

St Patricks Day wouldn’t be the same without some gold coins!

Why gold is the perfect gift for St Patrick’s day

If you’re looking for a special present to give to a loved one this St Patrick’s day, then gold represents the perfect gift idea. A gold coin or a small gold bar is a beautiful and unique gift that demonstrates just how much that special person in your life means to you. You can guarantee that not many people will be getting gold this St Patrick’s day, so your present will mean that much more.

The benefits of gold as a gift

Gold coins or gold wafer are often given as special gifts to a loved one. PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUNormally when they are celebrating a momentous occasion such as their 18th/21st birthday or as a wedding gift. Gold represents a great gift idea for several reasons. Not only is it an excellent store of wealth that has been proven to hold its value over long periods of time, but it also introduces your loved ones to the idea of saving/investing and the many benefits of collecting gold. Unlike money which just tends to be spent straight away, gold is a long-lasting gift that can be treasured over time. Whether it’s a small gold bar or a shiny gold sovereign, gold is the gift that keeps on giving.

Give the gift of gold this St Patrick’s day

Physical Gold, stock a large range of gold collector’s coins perfect for gift giving this St Patrick’s day. From gold sovereigns to Gold Lunar Dogs, we have a gold coin for every occasion. Call us today on 020 7060 9992 or browse our complete range of collectable gold coins here.

Image Credits: Tero Vesalainen and Tero Vesalainen

 

World Money Fair 2019

The 48th World Money Fair will be held in Berlin in February 2019. Starting on Friday 1st February 2019. The three-day event will close on 3rd February. The event is one of the most significant numismatic events in the world, where people come together to study old and new coins issued by nations around the world. The 47th event in 2018 saw participation from around 330 exhibitors, who arrived from all parts of the world. Visitor numbers were in excess of 15,000 and the event was a grand success. Over 50 countries from around the world took part in the 2018 event, making it the most important numismatic event on the planet.

History of the World Money Fair

The first international event of its kind took place on 22nd January 1972 in Basel, Switzerland. For the next twenty-six years, the event grew in stature and importance. Initially, the event was a classic coin exchange that was a family run business. However, by 1999 the event had grown to dizzying heights and a new company was incorporated in 1999 to manage and grow the event. This was a step in the right direction that created the path for greater developments.

It soon became a global destination for coin lovers all over the world and firmly ensconced its position as a world trade show for dealers, collectors, buyers and anyone who was a part of the numismatic community. The event moved from Basel to Berlin and soon found itself in the centre of the coin universe in Europe. The Berlin Estrel Convention Centre, where the event is held, is an ideal venue due to its location. The event was scaled up to include presentations, conferences, discussions and coin trading was now possible in a large spacious area full of professionals. Every year, approximately 330 exhibitors come together in celebration of one of the world’s greatest numismatic events, which is witnessed by around 15,000 visitors.

World Money Fair 2018

The World Money Fair is one of the most significant numismatic events in the world

The exhibition area

The exhibition area spans 9,000 sq. m. and during the three days of the fair, this area becomes the world’s most important hub for the numismatic trade. People come to the event to exchange information with each other about new trends and technology developments. Of course, many come to browse through the collections and trade in coins and banknotes, etc.

Representatives of the most important mints from across the world are present at the venue along with specialist coin experts. This creates a truly international symposium where an unfettered exchange of knowledge and ideas can take place. There are press conferences where new coins are issued, and new technical innovations are shared with the media and the attendees every year. More importantly, the World Money Fair has a Media Forum, which has evolved over the years into becoming an important marketing tool for coin manufacturers and suppliers globally.
Insider's Guide to gold and silver

The 2019 event

The 48th event will open its doors on Friday, 1st February 2019 at the Berlin Estrel Convention Centre. The event will continue till Sunday, 3rd February. The opening hours are from 10 am till 6 pm, every day, except for the closing day when the event will draw to a close at 4 pm.

Supporting events

However, the technical forum and the media forum will have different dates and timings.

Technical forum

The technical forum will be held on 31st January 2019 from 1:30 pm till 6:30 pm and is open to registered trade representatives only, not to the general public. Around 400-coin trade industry experts are expected to attend this event. This forum has a special focus on minting techniques and will include discussions on coin manufacturing, production processes, technical discussions and procedures as well as exposes of the latest products and solutions.

World Money Fair 2019

A guest speaker at the technical forum of the World Money Fair, Berlin, 2018

Media forum

The media forum will be held on 1st February from 10:30 am till 2pm and will be open to the general public as well. This forum will consist of a number of English language presentations from various mints around the world including the Austrian Mint, LBMA (London Bullion Market), Mincovna Kremnica, Royal Dutch Mint, South African Mint and others too.

14th Berlin Auction

The 14th Berlin auction will be held on 31st January from 10 am in Hall A at the Estrel Centre.

About the Estrel Centre

The Estrel Centre on Sonnenallee in Berlin is only half an hour by train from Berlin Schonefeld Airport and is a prominent landmark of the city.

The full address details of the venue are:

Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin, Germany

Phone: +49 30 68310

Speak to our experts before attending the event

If you are interested in attending this event and want to invest in gold and silver coins, we can help you make the right buying decisions. At Physical Gold, we have been advising numismatists for many years on making the right choices when it comes to investing in precious metals. Call us now on 020 7060 9992 or contact us via email. Our team of experts will be happy to guide you before you make a buying decision.

 

Image Credits: Peter Ashley and World Money Fair

 

Tax Year End

With the tax year end upon us, now’s the time that many take a hard look at their finances and make investment decisions for the following year. But if you’re one of the savvy investors already owning physical gold, then you’ll know buying gold and silver aren’t affected by the tax deadline.

Tax year-end brings a fresh start

If your money is currently in an ISA or savings account, then the tax year end might have you rethinking your investments and considering gold (or silver).

If you’re one of the thousands of investors wanting to move your money around, to reduce your tax exposure and maximise your gains, this article will provide insight into some important tax considerations, which every investor should know about.


Want to learn more about gold’s tax efficiency? Download the Insiders Guide to tax-efficient gold


ISAs are limited tax-free investments

Many investors just think of ISAs as tax-free investments, when in reality, they’re limited tax-free investments – meaning there’s an upper limit to how much you can save. The ISA limit for 2019/2020 remains at £20,000 maximum, but you can’t roll over any unused portion to the next year, so you have to use it or lose it.

Tax Year End

Keep TAX rates down with UK Gold

Regular savings accounts are taxed

If your money is in an old fashioned, regular savings account, you’ll be charged a tax on any interest it generates. This makes a savings account quite unappealing for those who’ve already maxed out their ISAs. Especially with the highest available rates being around 1.5% and the majority of interest rates currently yielding sub-1% even before tax!

Capital Gains Taxes on assets you sell

If you’re looking into selling an asset or Buy-to-Let property that you own, you’ll likely end up paying Capital Gains Tax on the profits of that sale. This is especially true for those who’ve already reached their CGT allowance for the year. Many forms of Gold, on the other hand, are actually CGT free.

The lifetime allowance could affect your pension

The lifetime allowance, which was previously reduced from £1.25 million to £1 million, PHYS01_Animated_Gif_2_MPUis a limit on the value of payments on your pension and could affect many people who’ve already reached this new allowance total. If you’ve saved into your pension throughout your working life, you could already be at this limit and you’ll be taxed heavier than in previous years. Check the Money Advice Service dedicated page for the latest allowance rates and related information.

UK Gold Coins have no Capital Gains Tax and no VAT

Physical gold has always been a worthy investment and gold investments make a great addition to any portfolio. Due to there being no upper limit on how much you can purchase in a year and certain forms of gold falling into the bracket for CGT and VAT free investments, it is looked on favourably by many investors. Currently, all bullion coins that are classed as legal tender in the UK which includes coins such as gold Sovereigns and gold Britannias, are CGT exempt. They are also VAT free providing the coins were minted after 1800 and classified as legal tender.

Coins to buy from Physical Gold

If you want to consider an investment that will appreciate tax-free, then take a look at our tax free-gold coins (including the Gold Sovereign and the Queen’s Beasts range) or our CGT free Silver.  www.physicalgold.com even offers the opportunity to add gold to your Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) to achieve a balanced portfolio. Currently, the UK Government are willing to pay up to 45% towards the cost of your gold if you invest through a SIPP. This is applicable to all investment-grade gold bars or wafer that are professionally stored and have a purity of at least 99.5%.

Contact Physical Gold for 2019/2020 Financial Planning

Providing you’re looking for an investment that will help you diversify and protect your assets, whilst avoiding CGT and VAT (for gold), you can’t go wrong with Physical Gold. Call us without delay on 020 7060 9992 to speak to us or complete our contact form. We can provide guidance on how gold can comfortably fit into a wider investment portfolio for the financial year ahead.

 

Image Sources: Geralt

 

Gold Information

Live Gold Spot Price in Sterling. Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements; an ounce (31.1 grams; gold is weighed in troy ounces) can be beaten out to 187 square feet (about 17 square metres) in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.

Silver Information

Live Silver Spot Price in Sterling. Silver (Ag), chemical element, a white lustrous metal valued for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is located in Group 11 (Ib) and Period 5 of the periodic table, between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), and its physical and chemical properties are intermediate between those two metals.