Availability of Newly Minted Coins
We have been receiving deliveries of newly minted Gold Sovereigns, and Australian One Ounce Gold Coins.
Although our premiums on these are slightly higher than our premiums on similar "our choice secondary market" coins, they remain much lower than the premiums many of our competitors are asking, and getting.

Rip-Off Prices
We see and hear of common bullion coins changing hands at premiums of 20% or more. This is a stupid price to pay for common gold bullion items. Unlike our competitors, we do not believe in overcharging (ripping-off) our customers. If you are so desperate to get your hands on physical gold quickly, we can always find you some proof or other collectable gold coins, which will be competitively priced.

December
The mad stampede we saw in September and October calmed slightly during November. Supplies of secondary market bullion sovereigns and Krugerrands have improved very slightly, but are still outstripped by demand. Most investors are now being quite sensible and opting for available coins. Our direct links with Perth Mint have proved very important to us, as we are able to secure supplies direct from one of the best sources around. Even for these, we have to wait, as everybody in the world seems to want gold coins now.

Premium changes
In December, we increased our selling premiums on secondary market sovereigns and most one ounce coins. We remain reluctant to sell secondary market coins, unless we have them in stock, and these further premium increases are partially to deter buyers from these categories, and into goods we either have in stock, or on order for reasonably early delivery.

No New Krugerrands Nor Britannias
We had originally been expecting to take delivery of new 2008 one ounce gold Britannias and Krugerrands, which we normally source from a major international bank. We booked flights well in advance to be able to collect these in late October. We are told that they we only receiving relatively small batches (several thousand) against orders 10 times larger, and had no spare coins available for us, as they needed them all to supply their own domestic demand. We also offered to take 1,500 Britannias direct from the Royal Mint, but our bid was declined. We declined a counter-offer, at a higher premium than we normally pay, as we can continue to source the superb Perth Mint products at more competitive prices, with a wider selection of designs, more flexible quantities, gold pricing, shipping, insurance, and service.
We are hopeful that the supply situation will ease towards the end of the year, as mints have increased their production capacities. Perth Mint, for example, have doubled their production already this year.

Silver Lining?
The gold silver ratio remains unusually high at around 77. This compared with a 2008 mean average of about 55, therefore at 77/55, silver looks 40% underpriced compared with gold.

We have also compiled a historic gold silver ratio table from 1970 to 2007, which shows its mean value ranging from a low of 20.35 in 1970, to a high of 89.31 in 1991. In 2006 and 2007, it averaged just over 52. Whenever ratios like this diverge significantly from the norm, there is a strong tendency for them to revert back towards the longer term average. On this basis, therefore, we would suggest investors buying silver, despite its VAT loading, rather than gold, at least until the ratio drops.
Putting our money where our mouth is, we bought over 100,000 ounces of silver bullion coins (over 3 tonnes), and over a tonne of silver kilo bars. Some of this has already arrived here, with most of the balance due to arrive before the middle of November.

VAT Reduction in Silver
The reduction of UK VAT rates from 17.5% to 15% will help any investor buying silver coins or bars for investment. Although we have not necessarily changed our prices on purchases of single small silver coins, we have changed all our costing formulae to calculate VAT at 15% as from December 1st.

August Slowdown 2008
How annual European holidays affect the physical gold bullion market.

September Silly Season 2008
In recent years, it has taken longer for supplies to return to normal after the break.

October Goldfest 2008
In October 2008, it already looks like gold buyers are in a festive and merry mood.

November News 2008
Nearing normality in November?

December Deliveries 2008
We received our order for 5,000 x 2008 new "bullion" sovereigns from the Royal Mint around the 8th December, and sold out within a few days. We immediately re-ordered another 500, but can't have them before the end of January, possibly early February.

February Fasnacht Festival 2009
Including news from the World Money Fair in Berlin.

March Mayhem? 2009
The 1st of March 2009 should see the launch of the new one ounce "Pacific Sovereign" made for Fiji by the New Zealand Mint. We expect to receive one of the very first deliveries.
We also have good news about important new distributorships.
Please watch this space.

April Arrivals 2009
The 1st of March 2009 should see the launch of the new one ounce "Pacific Sovereign" made for Fiji by the New Zealand Mint. We expect to receive one of the very first deliveries.
We should also receive our first delivery of one ounce gold bullion Britannias direct from the Royal Mint.
We should be able to place our first direct order for one ounce gold bullion Krugerrands fro the Rand Refinery, but will probably not receive delivery until May.
Please watch this space.

Flexibility We would remind potential investors to read our "flexibility" page, part of the gold investment advice section of our website.

Investment Advice
You may wish to look at our gold investment advice page.

Identification
Please be aware that for callers to our showroom hoping to buy Investment Gold we must see two forms of identification. Please see our identification page for further details.

Gold Prices
There are now live spot gold prices available on this website, please see our gold prices page.