SilverStorm

For anyone interested in the GVS Bullion Tester, see the YouTube video below posted by SWP (a private, independent vaulting service located in the Cayman Islands).  The guy shows the GVS machine in action and explains how it works.  I recommend all to watch the video from the beginning, but if you only want to see the GVS, then go to 8:23 mark of the video.

On 11/10/2022 at 03:08, LawrenceChard said:

Unfortunately, your response is what I feared, and tried to avoid. I do commend the fact that you bought the machine, and also took the time and effort to relate them here on the Forum.

While I can understand you defending your work, if you publish test results, you also invite critique and analysis of your results, methods, and conclusions. It is your decision whether to accept such criticism or reject it.

I would have guessed that you were not a scientist or an engineer. Neither am I, at least in the sense that I have no engineering qualifications, experience, or skills. I also do not have any higher level formal scientific qualifications, and have not been immersed in a lifetime of scientific research. Nevertheless, this does not stop me from taking a logical, thorough, analytical, approach to things in a scientific manner.

Having read your contributions, and noted some of the shortcomings, it would have been lazy of me to simply ignore them, and dishonest of me if I had failed to point them out.

I am disappointed that you failed to answer or even acknowledge my questions about the dates of the coins, and also about the "sovereigns". This information might have helped to improve your understanding, and also be helpful for other TSF members.

Even from my limited understanding or experience with a GVS Bullion Tester, I can safely infer that it is not as useful for testing precious metals as as XRF machine, and almost certainly less convenient than a Sigma Tester.

I have no wish to "bash the product" as you charmingly put it, but it would be difficult for anyone to objectively consider it to be equal to or better then a suitable XRF machine for the purpose of PM testing. Indeed your own conclusions seem to recognise its limitations.

We recently ordered one each of the three different Sigma tester, of which two have arrived. We have been too busy recently to thoroughly test and compare them, although a few colleagues have experience with them, and acknowledge both their usefulness and their limitations. At some time in the future, we may indeed acquire a GVS Bullion Tester, although I suspect it may spend much of its time in a corner as an interesting toy.

"If you feel that the GVS is inferior to your XRF, then that's your opinion and prerogative." 

While I have tried to be objective in my analysis, it is disappointing that you are quite clearly being highly emotional about it. There is clear evidence of this in your use of "your XRF and your opinion", While it is correct that my company owns a Niton XRF machine, I can assure you that my thoughts about it are not skewed by the pride of ownership, and I have little or no emotional attachment to it. Essentially it is a very useful piece of equipment, which does have some limitations. While it is easy to use, it does require some understanding interpretation before coming to conclusions from its use.

You appear to have misunderstood my conclusions. These were not particularly about the machine, but much more about your lack of a thorough or consistent approach to the testing, and a lack of knowledge or logic in reaching your own conclusions. A fellow TSF member recently labelled me as "didactic". This was very observant of him, and he is correct. Although I will sometimes dispense simple information, I prefer to enlighten people, and encourage them to think things out for themselves so that they can reach their own sound conclusions. In fact I try to "inform, educate, entertain" as the newly released UK BBC fifty pence coin states.

You may notice that I only commented on the first two of your major posts, and not the third one. This was for two man reasons, the main one of which was it was late, and I wanted to go to bed.

I fear that you may dislike my thoughts on it even more than you appear to have done so far on the first two.

I do realise that none of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes. I am always happy for someone to point mine out so that I can correct them, and earn if required. I believe that this approach has stood me in good stead for many years.

You would do well to adopt it, but I suspect you will not.

😎

I did not reply to your other comments as I felt I could not add anything that would leave you satisfied.   So why bother.  I did not provide more details on the Sovereigns because it is in storage, and I am not going to the bank safety deposit box to retrieve it just to take better pictures.  I have never stated I have full knowledge of proper testing procedures or methodologies; I certainly don't.   I'm just a regular guy that loves to stack and test my precious metals.  Period.  Full stop.   

I am not a bullion dealer nor in the PM business.  Therefore, the level of accountability for my post is lower than it is for you.  You are a professional bullion dealer, and therefore you have a higher accountability to be accurate.   You also have a reputation to uphold.  Therefore, YOU need to be as accurate as possible.  Me, I'm just a regular guy on the forum posting my experience.  I got into PM in early 2021, and I'm still learning. So while you may see inconsistencies or errors in my review, it is as truthful as I can make it from my point of view.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  It would be unfair to compare your decades worth of experience to my almost 2 years of experience.  If everyone was required to provide Lawrence Chard's level of experience and expertise when posting, then what's the point of posting anything at all?  Because you have more knowledge and expertise than 95% of the forum! 

My GVS post is part of the learning experience/process for me.  Take it for what it's worth.  Or not.   IMHO, the GVS test results confirmed the Sigma's results, and that is all that matters to me.   That my stack is free of fakes.  And when it didn't, it raised a red flag that required further investigation.   And in the end, knowing my stack is free of fakes is all that matters to me.

I'm not against learning as you have erroneously inferred.  If you want me to do a better job testing the GVS next time, you could outline the proper steps you would take to ensure that the testing process is accurate as possible.  I may consider it the next time I use the GVS machine.  And on a side note, it is your brash responses that I dislike.  If you were more diplomatic in your tone and way of questioning, I would be more receptive to your suggestions and questions.  But I suspect you will not.  

8 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

I think I remember seeing this post shortly after you posted it.

I hope you don't mind me saying so, but it sounds rather like an advert. Possibly because you like it and believe in it.

There are a few of your statements which raise doubts:

3) Can detect fakes that the Sigma failed to pick up

I think this refers to a test of a silver coin you describe later, but this was not convincing.

5) A PM's magnetism can't be faked, making this a perfect tool 

You have not fully explained what you mean by this.

There are some of your "cons" which I suspect make GVS rather impractical or inconvenient to us.

There are some errors, assumptions, or omissions in some of your later posts showing tests.

😎

I'm not a scientist or an engineer, nor do I claim to be one.  I'm relating my personal experience based on what I observe.  Your questions may be valid but that does not make my experience impractical nor inconvenient.   I'm sharing details of my purchase and experience; it is up to the reader to determine if further research is needed to determine if the product in question is a suitable purchase.  No one has posted a review of the GVS Bullion Tester, and I'm contributing to this forum by providing feedback to those who may be interested.   If you feel that the GVS is inferior to your XRF, then that's your opinion and prerogative.  If you want to bash the product, why don't you buy one and do the testing yourself.  Your company surely is wealthy enough to afford to splurge and debunk the product for the benefit of all forum members.  😛

On 29/08/2022 at 15:54, GreatCoins4U said:

If anyone has a gold 1oz Lynx version of this coin that they want to sell, please let me know, Gracias. 🌞

I believe EMK still has some available for sale.  And silvergoldbull.ca also has it.  

On 13/08/2022 at 02:58, stefffana said:

For me, stacking gold is more suitable in jewellery shape. So, my main gold stack is in pre-owned carat gold, from 9ct up to 22ct. I am buying every month some, mostly at spot price. Very easy to travel, sell, buy everywhere around the Europe without too many questions at borders. Also, I consider them a kind of fractional gold. If necessary, I can sell at any pawn shop in any country a ring or a light chain to fill my fuel tank.😁

Of course, I am accumulating as well sovereigns and gold francs, easy to sell everywhere in minutes for the right price.

Imho, “stacking” gold jewelry brings less scrutiny when crossing the border.   Sometimes customs officer will overlook the jewelry you’re wearing.  But the same dollar amount in bullion coins might get flagged for additional scrutiny. 

Having said that, if anyone gonna be wearing lots of gold chains and bracelets like Mr T or some gangsta rapper, you’re gonna draw unwanted customs (or criminal) attention no matter what.  Best to be modest in the amount of gold jewelry one wears when travelling abroad.  

Any other reputable online bullion dealers that sell the Spanish gold Bull?   EMK isn't letting me register, FML.  😭

On 12/07/2022 at 04:44, LawrenceChard said:

Never heard of them, although their name and URL sound familiar. This does not mean much as there are many variations of names around which sound similar to each other, and therefore familiar to the gullible.

 

Perhaps you may be thinking of Silver Gold Bull, a Canadian online bullion dealer.  Link: Buy Silver & Gold Bullion Online | Silver Gold Bull Canada

The fake online bullion dealer that OP posted is probably using their naming familiarity to trick noobs to buy from them.

On 31/07/2022 at 12:37, AaaGee said:

A question for the stackers.

What have you got most of? 

Im just wondering what is most popular for an average stacker.

Im an average bloke on average earnings and can probably squeeze 2 to 300 pounds a month to spend on coins or bars.

Is it worth saving a couple of months and buy larger weights, eg  quarters or halves? Or even saving and buying ounces?

Premium aside, wont the average stacker want smaller weights as they are more pocket friendly to buy?

The gold that you should stack should be the coin (or bar) that is most popular in your country.   As a Canadian, I stack gold maple leaf.  An American would stack the American gold eagle or the Buffalo.  And for you Brits over there, the Sovereign and/or Britannia.  The reason you want to stack popular gold coins in your home country is because it will be easier for you to liquidate for a higher price when you need to convert gold to fiat.   But having said that, stacking the major gold bullion from Canada, USA, UK, Australia, Austria, South Africa...you can't really go wrong as they all have international appeal.  

IMHO...if money is a factor, save up for the 1/10 oz size.  Buy on a regular basis to take advantage of dollar cost averaging.   You can never time the market (price) perfectly, so don't worry about price fluctuations.  If you are consistent in your buying, the average cost will correct itself in the long run.  What's important is to define your gold stacking goal and stick with it for the long run.  Your future self will thank you.  My 2 cents.

Thanks stefffana, learned something new today. 👍

Interesting topic!   But a hardened 24 karat can’t possibly be as hard or as durable as a 22 karat can it?   🤔   Can anyone shed any light?

I saw this on YouTube several days ago, and I thought it was interesting how this criminal had the audacity and devilish ingenuity to pull this off.   In a nutshell, the AGE was cored out and replaced with tungsten.  So the outsides is genuine, but the inside is not.  So a surface test will NOT pick up this fake.  This takes a lot of skill (IMHO) to pull it off.   See the YouTube video below for details. 

I am currently behind schedule, the cost of every day living and damn income taxes has cut into my stacking ability.  Hopefully I can double up somewhere and get to my stacking goals by end of the year.

21 hours ago, Roy said:

You'll need a bigger safe! 😄

He's gonna need a lot more than a bigger safe lol.  How about trigger happy armed guards with attack dogs, ninja assassins, Indiana Jones type traps and puzzles, etc.  I digress but you get the picture!  😝

In terms of off-site storage (eg. bank vault, private vaulting services), be aware of counter-party risk.   Never assume that your PM stored in these vaults are safe.  Banks may fail, fraud may occur.  Be aware of the potential risks.  There are always pros and cons of storage, whether it is at home or in a vault.  

Pic 2 of 2

2022 Majestic Polar Bear, 1 oz 99.99% pure silver.  First Strikes limited to 5,000 mintage, comes in light gray packaging.   Regular is limited to 35,000 mintage, comes in blue packaging.   I apologize for less than perfect pictures in not ideal lighting conditions; I am not taking the plastic wrapping off in order to maintain the authenticity seal at the back of the packaging.   Enjoy! 

Pic 1 of 2

On 10/05/2022 at 09:45, LawrenceChard said:

And the correct answer is of course, the usual 160.

😎

Of course it was 160, what else could it be?  😜  All kidding aside, this is good, accurate info.  Thanks for posting this Lawrence.

Received my 2022 TSF silver bar this afternoon.  Thanks BYB!

On 11/04/2022 at 03:26, Gary5566 said:

If I can buy Gold below spot or at spot but it’s 9ct or 14ct is it still worth getting? 
 

I’ve seen 6ct Gold in the US and it seems crazy. 

IMHO, I don't think it's worth it.  The hassle of dealing with non-pure gold, especially when it's time to sell may be problematic.   Before you buy, consider "shopping" around and ask what the non-pure (9ct or 14 ct) gold item would fetch if you were to sell it.  You may be surprised at the lower value.   

The lowest karat gold I personally would buy is 22 karat (or 91.67% pure).  Lots of choices out there, including the beloved Sovereigns. 

Totally addicted to buying Au lol.   April will be a very slow month, as there will be c**p loads of income taxes to pay (damn Canada Revenue Agency for high tax rates😠).  

7 hours ago, Ukbullionfan said:

So I am wanting to purchase some gold bars or coins in store in London was thinking ats or sharps . Both reputable companies I know. But if I go there and ask for what I want to be tested should I feel embarrassed ? Would they do that for me ? Or would I get laughed off the premises with the whole “do you know who we are” line. Lol.

what would be a good procedure for me purchasing gold in store for the first time but wary of what I’m getting with the amount I want to part with. 
 

thanks for any replies in advance

IMHO, I would go with gold Britannia's.  If you read up on the security features of the Britannia, you can then inspect the coin to confirm authenticity before purchasing.  The security features on the Britannias are really good, and it is extremely unlikely for a counterfeiter to duplicate all the features.   To save you some time, here's the list of security features you should look for:

1) Lower left corner of Britannia's gown is another trident.  When you move the coin, you can see the trident change into a padlock.

2) Waves in the background will appear to be moving when you move the coin side to side.

3) Britannia's shield has tincture lines highlighting the Union flag.

4) Around the border of the waves, written in micro-text are the words "Decus et Tutamen."

All of these security features make it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to copy.  If any of the 4 security features fail the visual test, you should return the coin and run as fast as possible.

And as some have mentioned already, buying from a well known and established bullion dealer is your first line of defense against buying fake coins.

Good luck!

23 minutes ago, ryanp007 said:

Today I received this absolutely gorgeous 1863 Shield Sovereign from @richatthecroft. Even nicer in person. Thanks!!

gawd damn, you're picking up lots of nice stuff!  Congrats!

On 10/04/2022 at 02:10, dikefalos said:

2022 1 OZ canadian Peace Dollar, lovely design by Susan Taylor. The pulsating fields effect should be much better on the 5 OZ coin, but also in 1 OZ a great addition to my collection. 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Canadian Peace Dollar Club!  😆

Thanks for sharing.