Silverlocks

That's very nice. I only saw that KOMSCO did gold coins quite recently, and I'm sort of tempted to get one if I can find it. Currently I don't have anything bigger than a quarter ounce or so, but I'm considering buying a 1oz coin at some point, most likely a Kanga or something from Perth Mint.

I would not be surprised to find that they have a segment of their customers who refuse to use a mobile app for the same reasons that I gave up on the tech.

You can get a dohickey that looks like a little calculator and lets you key in a PIN from which it will generate a random number that changes over time. This lets you do two factor authentication and is not dependent on mobile phone infrastructure. If you ask for one at a branch they will give it to you and help you set it up. The batteries are built in and last a few years, so you have to replace it periodically. It's interesting to note that I replaced mine just around the end of last year, and the folks at the branch didn't even try to sell me on the mobile app. This suggests that enough of their punters find the app to be troublesome that they just don't go there. I can use mine from Indonesia. As long as you can actually reach the website from a browser, it will work.

TL;DR: Mobile software is c**p and will always be c**p because of the nature of the platform and the industry. If you have the option of doing your banking without being reliant on a mobile phone, take it.

I've been banking with HSBC since 2004. Their retail operation is .. better than it used to be. However, they're now nagging me to start using the app, and I really don't want that part of my critical infrastructure to be dependent on a mobile phone. Mobile software just isn't carrier-grade anymore, and there's really no SLA about mobile comms. Five-Nines was a term actually coined for AT&T's SLA in their '60s vintage consent decree, but there's no way any mobile based software is going to hit that level of service, or anywhere near. I had to get a non-connected 2FA token for my business account, as their banking app was so unreliable. I got locked out of my business account on several occasions, once for 3 weeks. The trouble with mobile software is that it's got an entire culture based about cheap, disposable consumer apps, and an unreliable network at its foundations. There's no culture of even attempting to make good quality mobile apps. Software in general is 💩 but mobile software is even more 💩. At least my little banking tokens work and produce their random numbers when I go to log into the account.

There is a bit of visible damage from the mount, and the coin is quite badly worn for a quint - these were never circulated currency. It does put it at the bottom of the heap by the quality standards of these coins.

Lovely photos - Nice to see you branching out into gold. The Latin Monetary Union is a very deep rabbit hole.

It really depends on whether those marks on the fields are scratches from an attempt to clean it, or scratches on the capsule (I can't really tell from the photos). If it's in good nick it might be worth getting graded, otherwise there's probably nothing much you can do. Proof ASE's aren't worth all that much on the secondary market - I bought a 2006 proof ASE in pretty good nick (and the packaging was still pretty decent) for £40. A damaged one without a COA isn't worth much more than bullion. On the plus side, 1986 is a key date, being the first year ASE's were minted, so if it's in an even remotely gradeable state (say: PF67 or better) then you might get the cost of grading back in the sale price. If it's been cleaned (i.e. the surface is damaged) then it will come back with a details grade, and probably won't be worth much more than bullion, plus you're out the cost of grading.

@Chrisplym - The transaction was arranged privately but you need a listing to enter feedback.

Sola's in Turkey now.

Placeholder for private sale between @Belmont and @Silverlocks. Pics will make an appearance in TIR at some point.

As the saying goes, money is made in bull markets and fortunes are made in bear markets. I've got my 2g of platinum. To da moon, I say.

Not in relation to the sovereign. The PAMP bars will make a couple of Eid gifts.

PM'd.

I don't think you can argue the provenance - most of Le Grand Mint's products are high quality limited-edition proofs. These Durgas are positively slumming it by their usual standards.

The gilded Durgas are nice - I'm still pondering whether I should get them.

Yes. They tend to be on the pricey side as the mintages aren't terribly high. I saw Atkinsons or somebody had them, but wanted something like £500.

Out of ammo for the month, I'm afraid.

I suppose I should go back to buying sovs at some point.

Already tenthed out this month - 2021 & 2022 kangas and a 2024 dragon should make an appearance in the next couple of days.

Now I know what to get for prizes on the NBS awards, or maybe next year's secret santa.

Welcome aboard here - nice to see folks from other parts of the world. Without VAT, the U.S. is definitely a better place to buy silver than here.

There are loads of options for silver - Germania, Perth Mint, the Durga coins etc. Take a look around the listings here and the various online vendors. If you're after gold there are some folks here you can get in touch with as a starter as well.

PM'd re dragons.

@Charliemouse - have you got one of these?