Minted

I'd never pay SD costs for a basic single 1oz silver myself. I do buy quite a few individually but look for lowest postage available...and often the 'free' postage offered by dealers does work out best for individual coins. I've got the time to look around though, appreciate many people don't! I'll either pay £1.05 for 2nd class (non-tracked). Or £2.70 for second class tracked. Just have to make sure the package is slimmer than 25mm so it goes as a large letter. For any youngsters, 1oz is around 30g, so a single coin, even with capsule, wrapping and jiffy envelope should still be well under the 100g limit for that price. I received a 1oz bar wrapped up in a chunk of toilet paper that took it over the 25mm last year. Seller agree'd to refund the excess postage fee after I'd paid it. Irony is, the bar slipped out in transit and the capsule got crushed anyway. 🙄 Win some, lose some, all part of the hobby. 🙂

I've had quite a few problems receiving 'Special Delivery' items myself. Now actively avoid SD and always choose a standard tracked option where I can. Never have any problem with those. Appreciate it might be different in different areas of the country.

Not collecting the full set myself but was considering the Henry VIII as a standalone item...until I saw the image!! 😬

Thanks Pete. Were the rules different for this before Brexit? I've only been collecting PM's within the last couple of years. Will check more carefully whether VAT is included from international sellers in future.

I bought a 1/10 gold Kook from the USA myself. Assumed it would be VAT free...but then got an email from Royal Mail saying 'there might be charges to pay'. Thought I'd messed up that one and just waited to see what happened. Took ages to clear customs, but then arrived without any problem or any extra fees being requested. Fortunately it was clearly stated on the packaging what was inside. I've no idea why it took so long to get through customs though. Must admit I'll be more cautious of EMK in future after this. As you say, the service is great, quick dispatch, very well packaged, online delivery tracking all the way through. But the extra hassle and delay in delivery is a pain.

Thanks for that. I'm still confused by the amount though, £8 isn't anywhere near 20% of £180?

Morning all, Think I may have made a rookie error with EU to UK import fees but am doubting my understanding of them now. Early Jan I bought a collectable silver coin from EMK in Germany. Value around £60 inc postage. Came through customs no problem. Last week, I ordered a few similar collectable silver coins from the same place to make the delivery cost more effective, overall total around £180. Being held at customs. I've been asked to pay import VAT around £8 (plus a £12 admin fee) before they'll deliver them. Now, I can't work out what's going on here. £8 isn't the 20% VAT that I'd expect if VAT was totally missed by the sender. I thought perhaps it was due to the total amount being over £135, triggering duty at ~3.4% iirc (which I had forgotten about when ordering) however it's listed on the letter as import VAT, not duty. Is there something obvious I'm missing here? Would I have been better off splitting into 2 deliveries as a second postage would be cheaper than the charges I'm having to pay? Any insight welcome so that I don't make the same mistake again. Thanks

I've bought a few Perth Mint coins from various UK sellers and like the capsules they come in. Chunky, rimless and perfectly clear. Not sure if they're supplied by PM or whether they're an aftermarket addition from the resellers. Wonder if anyone knows which type they would be? Also, without individually measuring every coin, is there a standard maximum diameter for 1oz silver coins or do they vary?

Thanks both. The coins are all in some sort of individual capsule or bag already, though the quality on several of the capsules is questionable, not convinced they'll be totally airtight so that's where the concern is currently. Good to know I'm unlikely to cause milk spots though!

Hi, Not sure if I'm getting carried away with this, but I'm wondering how much effect home storage has on tarnishing & milk spots and how I can reduce the risk as much as possible? Just finished a box of laundry pods and realised the plastic box they come in would be useful until I can get something more permanent. But is there any chance the residual detergent in the box could affect the silver? Thought about washing it out, but again, I'm concerned about any residue left from other soap etc. I've also got a spare metal tin that I was gifted some posh biscuits in last year. Is there any chance of silver reaction from that? All coins & bars are in some sort of individual protection - capsules of varying quality, sticky sheaths or self-seal bags. Hope to get them all in decent protection in future but won't be for a while so any advice on keeping them nice in the meantime is welcome. Thanks

Thanks. I've now had an update from them after a 3rd email. No more stock of this item until at least Feb. Not really good enough when I ordered mid-Dec and it was showing as 'in stock' at the time. Still shows as 'in stock' now. It's not a pre-order item. I've heard from other sources that TCM services have gone downhill lately, taking money for items that they never send. I'm still contemplating whether to have a refund or wait and see if I get an ETA at the the beginning of Feb.

While the intrinsic silver value on both will always be the same, there is an interest to these particular Britannia's which others don't have. You can either have the very last Brit with the queens head on it. Or the very first Brit with the Kings head on it. If selling privately, rather than at 'scrap', that could make a difference to value and demand. (I'm tempted to buy both to hedge my bets lol!) Also, you may or may not know, brand new silver & platinum coins have VAT added in the UK. However brand new gold coins are VAT-free. This often makes gold better value for money when buying new.

I prefer to own full sovereigns myself. And buy quarter sov's for the affordable price and ease of selling on if needed in future. (Most people looking on ebay have a budget of, say £100, rather than looking at the premium above spot price.) To me, the half isn't as 'authentic' as the full, and not as affordable as a quarter, so I don't really have any interest in buying them. Each to their own though, of course! I do also have a 1/8th sov which is laughably small... Was a decent offer price new, but don't think I'll buy any more!

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has ordered from The Crown Mint recently? I ordered a silver coin in mid December but it still isn't showing as dispatched. I've emailed a couple of times with no response so far. Have since seen them being re-sold on ebay UK so assume there must have been at least one dispatch as I believe this coin was exclusive to TCM. Not sure if it's just a waiting game or if I should be pushing them for an ETA? At the other end of the scale, I ordered another coin from EMK in Germany early January, was dispatched next day and arrived within a week with very detailed tracking info the whole time. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again. 😀

Thank you all for the warm welcome! 😀

Hello everyone, I've been collecting precious metals over the past year or so. Nothing specific really, just whatever catches my eye and budget at the time. I came across this forum while searching for a 10oz silver 'No Time To Die' bar. I'll post a wanted ad when I have enough posts. I'm not intending to sell or swap any of my own collection, and will be limited in terms of offering advice, but will try to post where I can. Thanks Tom