Silver has been making waves in the precious metals segment with renewed investor interest. Speculation is rife that the price of the white metal could rise significantly. Many investors have therefore resorted to investing in silver coins and silver bars (such as 1KG). However, in this article, we move away from the market mechanisms of silver and explore 15 popular quotes about silver that can lend a philosophical perspective.
1)
“Our happiness is certainly mixed with the tragedies of life. You have to find the lemonade. You have to find the silver lining in the middle of everything that happens in life.” – Chandra Wilson
American actress Chandra Wilson reflects on life in this quote. She talks about the ups and downs that are experienced by everyone, as a part of life. She says that optimism and positivity are all about finding a silver lining in between those ups and downs. Source: Brainyquote.com
A large silver bar like this can be a great investment
2)
“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in Beverly Hills, but I was born with a great deal of self-worth.” – Yolanda Hadid
In the statement above, television personality Yolanda Hadid refers to the rich and famous as being born with a silver spoon. However, being rich doesn’t necessarily lead to self-worth. This is the essence of this hard-hitting quote. – Source: 9quotes.com
3)
“The air is of silver and pearl; the night is liquid with moonlight.” – Willa Cather
Willa Cather was an American writer who was born in the 19th century. She describes the beauty of nature in this quote by comparing the air to the soft and smooth texture of the white metal. Source: Pictame.com
4)
“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.” – Martin Luther
Martin Luther, not to be confused with Martin Luther King, was a German philosopher and key figure in the Protestant Reformation, who lived during the 15th century. In his thoughts above, he exemplifies the beauty of nature. He states that a green tree in its natural state is far more beautiful than a tree made of precious metals. Source: Quotefancy.com
5)
“Gold and silver have always had value, never gone to zero. Can you say the same for stocks and bonds?” – Mark Skousen
“Education is the silver bullet to improve this nation’s standing worldwide…. and our teachers know that.” – Solomon Ortiz
In this case, Ortiz, a former US representative, speaks about America. But, the quote is relevant to all nations in the world. Indeed, education is clearly the most important building block of a nation. Source: Allauthor.com
7)
“Many gold and silver experts will recommend you buy numismatic coins – rare and old coins. If you are not a rare coin expert, I’d encourage you to stay away from them. New
investors often pay too much for rare coins that are not really rare.” – Robert Kiyosaki
Robert Kiyosaki is a financial expert who is famous as an author of the book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’. The above statement reflects practical advice that any new gold coin or silver investor should follow, instead focusing on coins such as Silver Britannia coins. Source: Quotetab.com
8)
“If the people of Sheffield could only receive a tenth part of what their knives sell for by retail in America, Sheffield might pave its streets with silver.” – William Cobbett
An absolute truth! Manufacturers rarely receive even close to the final retail price for the goods they make. This quote goes back to 1830 and talks about how if Sheffield Knife Makers received the full price, they could pave the streets in silver! Source: Inspiringquotes.us
9)
“The Moon is a silver pin-head vast, that holds the heaven’s tent-hangings fast.” – William R. Alger
This poetic line is extracted from a literary work known as ‘The Use of the Moon’, written in 1865 by William Alger. In the quote, the night sky has been referred to as ‘the heaven’s tent-hangings’, and the author visualises the Moon to be a silver pin that holds it all together. Source: Wiseoldsayings.com
10)
“Gold and silver, like other commodities, have an intrinsic value, which is not arbitrary, but is dependent on their scarcity, the quantity of labour bestowed in procuring them, and the value of the capital employed in the mines which produce them.” – David Ricardo
David Ricardo was a classical British economist who lived during the 18th and 19th centuries. Once again, the quote explains the factors that contribute to the intrinsic value of silver. Source: Supanet.com
Silver coins that are legal tender are capital gains tax exempt in the UK
11)
“No lower can a man descend than to interpret his dreams into gold and silver.” – Khalil Gibran
Award-winning author Khalil Gibran talks about the futility of material desires, by saying that if a man only dreams about precious metals and wealth, he can stoop no lower. Source: Quotes.net
12)
“Too many people miss the silver lining, because they’re expecting gold.” – Maurice Setter
Maurice Setter is a former English football player. In the sentence above, he alludes to the recognition of opportunity. He points out that many of us miss a good opportunity, simply because our expectations may be too high. Source: Kathleen J Shields
13)
“Every silver lining has a cloud.” – Mary Kay Ash
This is an interesting reverse quote in many ways. Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay cosmetics points out that the contrary is also true. Thus, every great opportunity carries some element of risk. Source: thefreedictionary.com
14)
“Genius without education is like silver in the mine.” – Benjamin Franklin
Franklin, who needs no introduction, puts forth his thoughts on the value of education. He says, just like the value of silver can only be realised after mining, a person’s intellect must also be developed through education. Source: Quotationspage.com
15)
“Nobody cares about the bronze or silver medals” – Buzz Aldrin
Here, astronaut Edwin Aldrin is possibly referring to himself as he was the second man on the moon. According to the quote, being first is everything. Source: Allgreatquotes.com
For the best silver advice, call Physical Gold
If you liked our collection of ‘silver’ quotes, please let us know. As a silver investor, you can benefit greatly by speaking to our investment team about the prospects of the white metal in the precious metals segment. Please call Physical Gold on (020) 7060 9992. Alternatively, you can also get in touch with the investment team through our website.
Investing in silver is the biggest area of growth in the precious metals market, but what is best to invest in, the debate rages on about silver bars versus silver coins. Silver is 85 times cheaper than gold so is accessible to everyone and tempts investors with speculation of huge potential gains.
Today, I’ll take a look at 4 key comparisons between the two to help decide which one suits investment better.
Value
One of the key components of investing is getting the best possible purchase price for your asset in the first place. Certainly, 1oz silver coins are more expensive per gram than larger silver bars like 1kilo and 5 kilo silver bullion. If you’re simply focused on obtaining as much silver for your money as possible, then no doubt, buying big will achieve this. The cost of producing large bars is a far smaller percentage of the overall cost due to its scale and simpler design than coins.
However, coins are fighting back, many of the popular silver bullion coins are now also produced in 10oz and 1 kilo versions too, offering the chance to own silver coins at virtually the same price as silver bars.
Winner: Silver Bars
Divisibility
If you had the choice between buying one silver bar weighing 100 ounces or 100 one-ounce silver coins, then I’d generally recommend the coins for divisibility. Imagine a scenario where you’ve already bought your 100 ounces of silver and the market is moving up quickly.
When you choose to lock in some profit and sell, the large silver bar gives you one chance only. Once you’ve sold, your silver’s gone and you may miss further profits. With the silver coins, you’re able to drip feed the coins away, selling at various points to suit you.
The other scenario is if the financial system really does reach a breaking point. In that case, it would be far more practical to use your 1oz silver coins to barter for bread, milk and petrol than a 100 ounce bar.
Winner: Silver Coins
Storage
Next up is the practicalities of storing your silver investment.
For sure, silver bars are easier to store and take up less space. They’re larger and their rectangular size allows for simple silver stacking.
However, most of the popular 1oz silver investment coins can now be bought in monster boxes. These are specially designed storage boxes, tightly packing 500 coins at a time and permitting easy stacking of these boxes
The Royal Mint do not produce silver bars with a face value at present, so selling bars would be taxable. Now, that may not be an issue if your profits are under the tax threshold of around £12,000. But for many, looking to benefit from silver’s price potential, it’s perhaps not a risk worth taking.
Overall – bars or coins – which is the best investment?
So which type of silver investment wins overall? I’d recommend starting your silver investment with silver coins. Sticking to British coins provides good value, divisibility, tax efficiency and the chance to store in monster boxes.
But as you build your silver portfolio, there’s definitely a place for adding silver bars. This can bring the overall purchase cost per gram down by a few per cent and combine well in all areas with the silver coins.
If you found this video helpful, don’t forget we have loads more videos covering all aspects of gold and silver investing. Check them out here.
Invest in Silver Bars and Coins with Physical Gold
We’re the fastest growing dealer of silver coins and bars in the UK. Not only do we have a huge choice, but we also exclusively deliver the silver to your door! Combine this with live pricing and quantity discounts, it’s easy to see why we’re so popular for silver!
If you need advice or guidance about silver bars versus silver coins, or anything else! Then don’t hesitate to call a member of our expert team on 020 7060 9992. Alternatively, engage on our live chat on the website or leave us a message here.
Silver investing now and in the coming years
In this video, we’ll take a look at silver’s prospects for 2024 and beyond. Over the past 5 years, interest in silver has grown exponentially to the point where we now get almost as many silver enquiries as gold.
I’d like to start by looking at downside risk. The silver price has fallen from around £13 an ounce at the start of 2017, to £12.50/oz the following year, and nearer to £12 an ounce in 2019. Clearly, the prospect of owning a depreciating asset is unappealing.
Downside risk
However, unlike gold, silver’s demand consists predominantly from industrial use. As the world’s most conductive material, silver is used in most electronic components, solar panels, photography and medicines. The digital age is only going to develop over the coming years, creating new electronic demands on silver. The search for alternative energy will lead to increasing silver demand with electric cars and electric solar energy. So with industrial demand rising, downside risk to silver is minimal.
This theme may scare inexperienced investors, but this would suggest a buying opportunity in 2020 for silver. If you can lock in prices when the silver price is so low, your upside becomes magnified. The silver market is far smaller than that of gold, so prices can be more volatile. It also means that the price can move up in percentage terms far quicker and far greater.
The silver price could well receive a double boost over the coming years.
As well as the rising industrial demand, there’s plenty of uncertainty in the global economy to boost silver as a safe haven. 2019 and beyond marks a turn in the economic cycle. The middle of 2018 saw property prices begin to fall and global stock markets start to decline from their 9-year bull run. After nearly a decade of rising stock and property prices, the global economy is set for a big correction, especially with interest rates now on the rise. Throw in Brexit and a growing car leasing credit bubble, and safe havens could well become the flavour of the month once again. Gold will likely rise first, with silver following behind. But once silver starts its upward trend, the pace of increase will outstrip that of gold.
Diversify
A lot of investors ask me whether they should buy gold or silver. After all the two metals are quite different. For me, there’s a strong case to own both. Diversification is key in today’s digital globalised economy, so investing in silver and gold is a great way to hedge your hedge!
CGT tax free
By sticking to Silver Britannia coins, any profit you make is also free from Capital Gains Tax!
Silver investing in 2024 with Physical Gold Ltd
So there you have it. 2024 and beyond are set to be exciting years for silver investing. Courage may be needed to enter a market which has fallen in value, but history will tell you, that’s the exact time to stack your claim.
If you feel silver could play a role in your investment portfolio, or you simply want to buy some silver coins or bars, then don’t hesitate to call our team of experts on 020 7060 9992.
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 coin 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.
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.
Silver coins have steadily gained in popularity amongst investors. Learn about the value of buying 1oz silver coins, including the Krugerrand, Canadian Maple Leaf, Australian 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.
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.
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.
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.
Several iconic British coins were struck at the Royal Mint
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.
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.
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 bars have their purity value inscribed on the face
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.
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!
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!
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.
The large gold bars seen in the movies are called ‘Good-Delivery’ bars and are used by central banks
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.
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.
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!
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.
The silver Britannia is a truly iconic British coin
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.
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.
The Gold Krugerrand is one of the best-known coins in the world
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.
At this time of year, most people are making either fitness, health or financial resolutions, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be considering a new year’s financial review for 2019. However, according to a report from the University of Scranton, only 8% of new year’s resolutions are maintained or achieved. So, we’ve outlined 5 ways to help you keep those New Year’s financial resolutions.
Reviewing your finances in 2019 is a great idea
1. Undertake a financial review of your current assets
The new year is a perfect time to take stock of your current financial situation, including cash holdings, savings, ISAs, pensions and loans etc., to help identify any areas for potential savings and improvements. You may decide that cash savings held in the bank, for example, are yielding very little interest and may be exposed to an increasing inflation rate in 2019. It’s important that this first task identifies whether your portfolio is diversified enough to protect against volatility and downturns. You can Take this Test to see how exposed your family’s assets are to further market downturns.
2. Be realistic and specific
Setting goals that are too vague or too challenging sets you up for immediate failure, which will probably mean you are likely to give up. Instead, think about smaller, specific financial goals that can provide you with a sense of achievement. It’s important to give yourself a timeframe, so you can measure your achievements, for example, within 3, 6 or 12 months periods.
3. Budgeting
Budgeting is one of the fundamentals of good financial planning. Keeping track of your income and expenditure each month makes it easier to set realistic budgets. Allocating your income in percentages can be a useful habit; for example, 20% for financial priorities, 30% for lifestyle spending etc. This enables you to save and treat yourself at the same time. At Physical Gold we offer a popular monthly saver account, which helps spread the cost of buying gold and also helps with your budgeting plans.
4. Look for tax-free and VAT-free alternatives
It’s not just your ISA that offers you a tax shelter for your investment growth. Rather than paying tax on investment gains, why not consider tax-free gold or silver coins. Make sure you research the best physical gold investment to ensure your gains are tax free and meet your objectives. It’s also never too soon to start planning for your retirement as, any money you put into your pension fund, will grow through the power of compound growth. Plus, you’ll also benefit from the tax relief. Pension Gold provides the opportunity to add gold bullion and balance to your UK SIPP.
Invest in tax free gold and silver with Physical Gold Limited
5. Track your progress
It’s worth financially reviewing where you’re up to on a regular basis, in line with the goals you set, so you can take appropriate action. Step back and consider your portfolio holistically. If you don’t currently own any gold or silver, now could be a good time to consider these, so as to provide balance and protection to your other assets.
Invest in gold and silver as a safe haven in 2019
With 2019 looking likely to continue with uncertainty and instability, especially with both the ramifications of Brexit this year, a new year’s financial review is the perfect opportunity to adopt some new financial habits. Gold and silver have for centuries been safe havens for investors in time of political and economic turbulence. Take a look at our Guide on investing in Gold or Silver for further information on the benefits of precious metals in today’s volatile markets.
Contact Physical Gold for support to your financial review
We know completing a New Year’s financial review can be gruelling, but it’s a very worthwhile exercise. Why not call Physical Gold today on 020 7060 9992 or contact us online for a call back. We are to help and can recommend suitable gold and silver products (from our coins and bars selections) based on your specific financial circumstances.
The day following Thanksgiving in the US is, of course, Black Friday and typically kicks off the official Christmas shopping season. If you thought that people only shopped for clothes, shoes and electronics, you’re wrong. It’s the festive season and a great time of the year to bring cheer to your loved one by buying precious metals. Historically, Black Friday has featured great sales of jewellery with discounts of up to 78.75% in past years.
Gold and silver are great gift ideas for Black Friday
Prices of gold and silver through 2018
The spot price of silver has fallen around 17% in the last year from around $17 per ounce to its current price of around $14.15. This makes silver an enticing purchase with many analysts believing that silver is now at its bottom price and will rise sharply in the future.
The spot price of gold has stayed in a much narrower range, being $1210 per ounce now, starting last November at $1275, rising to a peak of $1362 and a low of $1177. So, there’s been a 5% fall in prices over the year, which makes it also a good time to buy gold.
With 2018 drawing to a close, the focus is now on 2018 with the pundits coming out with their precious metals forecasts for the coming year
Black Friday gold and silver deals in 2018
A number of high street retailers as well as specialist dealers in gold and silver are expected to come forward with great offers for Black Friday – November 23rd, 2018. Goldsmiths have a great range of jewellery that they typically bring out with special offers for Black Friday. Jewellers, Ernest Jones have a range of offers on watches and jewellery on offer.
A trend that is likely to dominate Black Friday 2018 is mobile commerce. Shoppers in the UK are likely to spend more than £1.54billion on 23rd November 2018 – a growth of 13% year on year. Gold and silver retailers like John Greed Jewellery or The Jewel Hut will also join the action to get a share of your wallet during this event.
Ensure you know more before getting a Black Friday deal
Before you rush off and splurge on that Black Friday deal, convinced that it’s a no brainer, stop and think a while. If you don’t have prior experience in buying gold, perhaps you could benefit from our gold buying guide. If it’s silver, you’re after, not a problem.
Here at Physical Gold, we call our pre-festive sale ‘Gold Friday’, to reflect all the golden bargains we offer for a few days. In 2018, our Gold Friday sale runs from 7pm Thursday 22nd November to midnight Monday 26th November. Like last year we’ll be offering discounts off gold and silver coins and bars. Discounts will range from 1% on current year bullion products Best Value 100g Gold Bar, Best Value Sovereigns and Best Value Krugerrands, to up to 3% off Gold bars and up to 10% off more numismatic coins such as the Young Head Victoria Sovereign.
But please don’t wait until Monday night to pick up a bargain. All offers are subject to availability, and we anticipate some of the newly issued coins, and the biggest discounted coins and bars to go quickly. Also, don’t forget our buyback guarantee, which guarantees your right to sell gold and silver to Physical Gold.
Contacting Physical Gold
Whether you are reading this page during Black Friday 2018 or not, Physical Gold provide great prices for gold and silver bars and coins. Why not call us today on 020 7060 9992 or complete our contact form.
In a previous article, we brought you ten amazing Flickr images of gold. Some years ago, gaining access to images about specialised topics was not easy. First of all, in order to produce high-quality images, you needed expensive cameras with special lenses and a whole lot of other photography equipment like lights, tripods, etc. This could easily cost you thousands of pounds and it wasn’t the kind of money you would spend if you were simply a hobbyist.
All that changed with the advent of new camera technology. Today, a mobile phone camera like the one on your smartphone right now harnesses the power of a really expensive camera from yesteryear. The other thing that we must consider is that it’s really easy to operate that high-quality camera on your phone when compared to the complicated operating procedures that came with specialised SLR cameras from the past. Back in the day, there were special courses that people took to learn how to get the most out of their recently acquired equipment.
Now, that’s all changed. Just press a single button and you’re done. This has resulted in ordinary day to day people being able to click high-quality images while they’re on the move and simply upload them and share them instantly from their phones. Therefore, we have libraries of user-generated images that can now be used in presentations, websites and other publications that are free to share with the world.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best images taken and shared by users via the image sharing website Flickr.
1. Commemorative silver coin for the FIFA world cup in Brazil
Silver coin commemorating the FIFA world cup in Brazil
The FIFA world cup in Brazil took place in 2014. The limited-edition silver coins were released by Brazil to commemorate the most important event for world football and one side of the coins feature the image of the cup with a goal featured on the obverse. 12,000 silver coins were released at the time. Sadly, the host country was defeated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.
American silver dollars carried the inscription ‘In God We Trust’ since the civil war
Kevin Dooley’s Flickr image of a silver dollar explores the history behind the inscription ‘In God We Trust’. Apparently, the words were included on the coins at the time of the US civil war in order to appease religious sentiments during the war. Since then, the motto disappeared for a while and then appeared again on US coins. Since 1908, all gold and silver dollars carried the slogan.
3. Dutch silver medal – Synod of Dort
This amazing image uploaded on Flickr shows a satirical silver medal created to commemorate the refusal of John Uytenbogaard who was a pastor to appear before the Synod of Dort. The Dutch silver artefact dates back to 1619. The image on the medal depicts a hand that seems to appear out of the clouds, holding grapes directly on top of a press intended for pressing grapes. A vineyard is depicted, and God’s name is shown in the clouds.
The Synod of Dort silver medal dates back to 1619
4. Silver coin from Armenia – 500 drams
Eric Golub’s image is spectacular due to its unusual background
This Flickr image features an image of 500 drams silver coin from Armenia. The image was uploaded by Eric Golub in September 2014 and has an unusual background, along with a blue luminescent effect that makes it an amazing picture on Flickr.
5. Silver lockets
Lockets made of silver have an irresistible natural lustre
Becky Stern’s stunning image of silver lockets on Flickr goes to prove
how beautiful silver jewellery can be. Silver’s smooth shine and lustre make it a perfect choice among precious metals for jewellery. This image was shot with an Olympus E-P2 camera and uploaded in 2011. The image was taken at the Renegade Crafts fair in New York and shared on Flickr.
6. Celtic silver torque – a historic artefact
Silver jewellery comes in all shapes and sizes. However, this image of an ancient Celtic artefact was taken with a Panasonic DMC – LX2 camera at the Historic Museum of Bern. The image was uploaded by photographer Xuan Che on Flickr in 2009 and is available to all. The historic significance and the starkness of the image make it a great image on Flickr.
This ancient Celtic silver artefact and its amazing detail make it a great image
7. The founder of cup noodles
Well, we’ve all had instant noodles and cup noodles at some point in time during our lives. But how many of us actually know who the founder of instant noodles was? Taken by photographer Ogiyoshisan using a Nikon E7900 camera, this image is of a silver statue at the cup noodle museum in Yokohama, Japan. The statue depicts Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles and cup noodles.
Momofuku Ando, the founder of instant noodles
8. Tibetan silver butter bowl
This stunning photograph on Flickr is that of a silver Tibetan butter bowl. The 19th-century masterpiece shows a dragon and phoenix on its sides. There are further decorations on the foot stand of the bowl. It is possibly an artefact used in certain religious ceremonies.
This highly detailed 19th-century silver artefact from Tibet is a masterpiece
9. Gilded Byzantine silver vase
Yet another stunning piece of history is depicted by this image of a gilded silver vase. This silver vase shows a grape harvesting scene and it is thought to be a common theme of art during the Sasanian and Byzantine period, which places this vase around 5th to 7th century AD. The harvesting theme symbolised fertility and eternal life.
This lovely Byzantine silver vase could date back to the 5th century AD
10. Vintage silver cigarette lighter
This ornate silver table top cigarette lighter dates back to 1947. It is 4.5 inches tall and was made by the Ronson lighter company at the time. The image was taken with a Polaroid camera and uploaded on Flickr in 2017.
A 1947 silver cigarette lighter is yet another example of a work of art
Call our silver experts to know more about investing in silver
When we view these images of silver on Flickr, we are often seriously attracted to buying silver. Since the precious metal is not as expensive as gold, it makes a great buy and regular purchase can soon see you holding a formidable portfolio of physical silver. To know more about investing in silver call our team on 020 7060 9992 or contact us via our website. With a little bit of guidance from our team, you could own some great pieces of silver in no time.
We have earlier spoken several times about investing in precious metals. However, precious metals investing isn’t always what it seems to be. There are myths that need to be debunked about precious metals and in this article, we’ll look at what they are. Investment guru Warren Buffett once said about gold that it’s dug out of the ground somewhere in Africa and that it is buried there again and people are paid to guard it. Now, Warren Buffett has frequently spoken out against investing in gold and precious metals, but could he be right?
Myth 1 – gold may be precious, but devoid of utility
As we all know, Buffett’s primary bias against gold is that his interests are in capital markets, banking and insurance. It’s a well-known fact that his company participated in bailing out the banks during the financial crisis of 2008. Being invested in the banking sector, it’s no surprise that his investment preferences would like in asset classes away from precious metals. If we look deep, we will realise that his outburst against gold is driven more by emotion and sentiment. For several thousand years, gold has been an investment vehicle of choice for the entire world. It was used for coinage and it has several wonderful attributes such as fungibility, rarity, durability and a great hedge against inflation. Its physical qualities make it invaluable in industries such as electronics and mobile technology, to name a few.
Investing in precious metals requires knowledge of the market
Myth 2 – precious metals will have no value in the future, as the world moves to digital currencies
The age of the crypto-currency has seen investors doubting stable investment classes such as gold and silver, as many believe that eventually as we move forward to the 22nd century, precious metals may become redundant. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that cryptocurrencies are a virtual medium. They are highly volatile and prone to great market risk and volatility. As they are not physical, investors have little control over the way they behave. Gold, on the other hand, is a highly physical and tangible asset that has been globally accepted as a repository of value for thousands of years. Gold is not a speculative asset, and investors looking to make a fast buck through short-selling would find gold unattractive. However, investors looking to build a rock solid portfolio that can outlive their own lives and can be bequeathed to future generations would find the stability of gold reassuring.
Myth 3 – the price of precious metals behaves inversely when interest rates rise
In order to look deeper into whether or not this myth has any basis, we need to take a long hard look at gold price trends over the years. It stands to logic, that when interest rates are on the rise, investors are better off putting their money into currency markets. However, if we see gold price trends as recent as 2015, we can see that the Fed initiated an interest rate hike in December of that year. It was commonly believed at the time that gold and silver would plummet. While the US interest rates rose from 2014 to 2016, both precious metals witnessed price increases
Gold investments are safe in storage like the Bank of England gold vault above
Myth 4 – in the event of a global economic crash, gold may crash completely
As gold is both a precious metal as well as a commodity, it has virtually no correlation with global stock markets, bond markets or housing. One of the factors that keep the price of gold and silver on the rise is scarcity, backed by high industrial demand. As technology progresses, this demand will continue to rise and as we all know, gold is a finite asset. A recent example is the famous 2008 global economic crisis. While virtually the entire stock market was wiped out, including stocks of mining companies, gold fared well for the year. Infact, we have ample proof that investor sentiment is geared towards investing in gold as a safe haven to protect against times of economic turmoil. Therefore, a global economic meltdown would see most investors turning to precious metals like gold and silver.
Myth number 5 – the gold market is manipulated and only insiders can make money
Physical gold and silver markets are very different from paper markets. When we say paper markets, it means exchange-traded funds or ETFs. It is true that some level of manipulation happens in the paper markets, which is mostly geared towards derivatives or futures. Size and clout do matter in these markets and ordinary investors are never privy to the information available to the top financial companies and big banks. These institutional investors have top-quality research, as well as key information that allows them to make smart decisions when trading. Moreover, since their trains are high volume, they are able to get the best price. Physical gold and silver are different. At Physical gold, many of our investors are ordinary customers, just like yourself. Our precious metal steam is able to advise investors like yourselves on the best way to buy gold and silver. We can also help you get price advantages since we are able to obtain large discounts.
Always research your broker rather than walk into a high street gold store
Myth 6 – gold doesn’t pay you any interest and this makes it a bad investment
Well, if you’re a shareholder of large companies you might notice that these big-ticket companies also pay you no interest and the annual dividend is a mere pittance. Infact, one of the biggest critics of gold – Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway does not pay interest or dividends. On the other hand, there are many junk bonds that can get you yield of 50% more for short spans of time, but they are highly risky and the market is very volatile. Even investments made in cash deposits, which are backed by your bank are prone to lose value, simply due to inflation. The reason that physical gold or silver doesn’t pay you interests is that they are not debt instruments. In the UK, many of your investments and physical gold are tax-free. This is an added advantage of investing in physical gold. However, your earnings from the equity and debt markets are subject to taxation.
Myth 7 – precious metals do not fit well into an asset allocation strategy
The reality is in fact far from it. Precious metals do form an integral part of any asset allocation strategy, along with several other asset classes ranging from real estate, capital markets, mutual funds and cash deposits. It aids in diversifying a portfolio. Infact, many investment experts do claim that investors should have at least 12 to 15% of their portfolio allocated to precious metals.
Myth 8 – buying precious metals are unsafe, as you are likely to be cheated or burgled
When buying precious metals, it is important to connect with a reputed online broker. A reputed online broker will have a team in place who would speak with you, discuss your investment goals, advise you on how to invest and guide you on the best way to invest in precious metals. For example, at Physical Gold, all our products come with a certificate of genuineness and a guaranteed buyback, should you want to liquidate your asset. Like all other investments, investing in physical gold and silver requires some knowledge of how when and where to buy. This ensures that you don’t end up trading with a rogue broker and get cheated. As far as storage goes, many reputed brokers, including Physical Gold do offer storage facilities to their customers, should they not be willing to take delivery of their physical gold and silver. Our customers get to store their assets safely in an LBMA approved vault. Even if you do prefer taking physical delivery of your purchases, we are able to dispatch them via insured courier and can advise you of certain accessories that you can buy in order to safely store your gold at home.
Talk to our investment experts before putting your money into precious metals
In the same way that it’s important to debunk myths about precious metals investing, it’s also important to speak with knowledgeable advisors before making investment decisions and buying precious metals. Call us now on 020 7060 9992, or drop us an email via our website and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly to discuss your investments.
Silver is a metal we’re all very familiar with thanks to its multiple everyday uses. You’ll find it everywhere from jewellery and electronics to cutlery, dentistry, currency, in medical procedures and numerous other applications besides. Thanks to its antimicrobial effect it’s also often used in water filtration and air conditioning too. But there are plenty of other facts about silver you may not know…
Five stacks of silver coins
1) Silver is mostly produced in Mexico
These days, silver is predominantly mined in the New World, including the USA, Russia, Canada and Australia. However, it is actually Mexico which produces the most, with Peru not far behind. Approximately 35% of the silver mined today is a by-product of zinc, copper and lead mining. Mexico mined 5,600 tonnes in 2017 alone.
2) Silver is a great reflector
Silver is more reflective than any other element which means it’s essential in things like telescopes, solar panels, batteries and mirrors. Although polished silver is capable of reflecting 95% of the visible light spectrum, it is actually poor at reflecting ultraviolet light.
Silver was one of the first five metals to be discovered by our prehistoric ancestors. Infact, early humans were actually able to separate lead and silver all the way back to 3000 BC. Silver coins and artefacts have even been unearthed which date back before 4000 BC. Silver occurs organically in nuggets in the same way as gold does, which means there is no need for manufacturing or processing.
4) Sterling silver is the most common type
Mostly found in jewellery making, sterling silver is the most common type of silver you’ll find on the high street. It consists of 92.5% silver, with the rest of it being made up of a mixture of compounds including copper.
A silver compact mirror
5) It’s a fantastic conductor
Silver is an outstanding electrical conductor and is the best of all the elements. Additionally, silver is also the best thermal conductor of any metal too. In fact, the horizontal lines you find in the back window of your car to defrost ice in the winter are made from silver for this reason.
On a scale of 0 to 100, silver comes in at number 100 for electrical conductivity and is used as a benchmark by which all other conductors are measured. Just behind it, copper is at number 97 out of 100, and gold is at 76. However, it isn’t used in electrical wiring as it’s simply too expensive.
6) Some say silver has special powers
Transcending time, tradition and religion, silver bars and jewellery have been said to possess magical powers in promoting fortune, wellness and healing. When worn, silver is also said to keep evil spirits away from the wearer. Whilst in the modern Western world these beliefs have all but disappeared, some people remain convinced of silver’s cosmic powers. In ancient China, it was traditional for babies to be presented with a silver necklace to be worn around the neck to keep the baby healthy and warn off any malevolent forces.
It’s a little-known fact that pure silver has excellent antibacterial qualities. Only a very tiny, concentrated amount of silver or silver salts is needed to kill bacteria, for example in an open wound. It works by chemically altering the membranes of the bacteria cells which then means they break down. Unlike conventional medicines and antibiotics, bacteria do not become resistant to silver, even over long periods of time. Thanks to this antimicrobial property, silver is also used in trace amounts in clothing and food storage containers like Tupperware boxes to help keep items fresh.
8) Silver formed our currency
During the Norman conquest, around 1066 AD, silver was used to create the metallic coins that we’re so familiar with today. In Great Britain, these silver coins formed the basic denominations of pounds, shillings, and pence. The pound is quite simply a pound of sterling silver.
9) Silver is used in mass technology – but you wouldn’t necessarily think it
Silver is routinely used in the mass production of industrial and technological applications. It’s ideal as a conductor, RFID (radio frequency identification chips), in GPS and tracking, Nano and Smart technology and surgical equipment where its excellent conductivity and antimicrobial properties are essential. Up until very recently, it was used mainly in photography equipment and cameras, but due to digital photography, this is now on the decline.
An Apple smart watch
10) Silver reacts with air
Over time, silver will start to tarnish as it reacts with the air and become less shiny. Black sulphide will form as a by-product of the reaction with sulphur compounds and this leads to a slight dullness in the colour.
11) It can survive serious heat!
The melting point of silver is 961.8ºC whilst its boiling point is an incredible 2162ºC.
12) It doesn’t get lost in translation
The actual words “money” and “silver” are completely identical in at least fourteen different languages, including Welsh, Swahili, Thai and French.
13) It turns up in spooky fiction
Over the centuries, gothic horror stories have brought about the idea that the way to kill off a wolf-man is with a silver bullet. Due to this, silver is supposed to be one of the only metals which is effective against werewolves, ghosts, vampires and other evil entities.
14) It doesn’t rhyme
Fun fact right here; the only word in the English language that will rhyme with the word “silver” is the word “chilver”. A chilver is actually the technical name for a female lamb.
15) Born with a silver spoon?
It’s a common phrase that we still use today; people who are ‘born with a silver spoon in their mouth’ are wealthy, or at least were born into a wealthy family. However, traditionally it’s actually nothing to do with financial wealth but is infact to do with physical health, as children who ate from silver spoons tended to be stronger and healthier.
Contact Physical Gold to invest in silver today
Here at Physical Gold our expert team are ready and waiting to assist with all of your silver investment needs. Drop us a line today on 020 7060 9992 or send us an email for individual advice on all aspects of buying and selling precious metal.
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.
