Pete

Yes no problems at all, no queue, all straightforward and instant confirmation - gold ounce, 10oz silver and 1 oz silver bars all available and multiples of each ordered this afternoon at 5:00pm

Yes no problems at all, no queue, all straightforward and instant confirmation - gold ounce, 10oz silver and 1 oz silver bars all available and multiples of each ordered this afternoon at 5:00pm

Thankfully I remain on high ground when it comes to gold.
I sold a lot a while back only to see it rise steadily by 30% afterwards but I was happy at the time with the proceeds.
Dr Hindsight would have recommended waiting of course but it is impossible to pick the peaks and troughs in PMs.
Just wondering if now is a good time to replace some of the gold and hold for the the future or is it destined to fall in which case waiting is sensible.
No-one knows but interested to hear from others who have better tea-leaves or a crystal ball that works.
 

Thankfully I remain on high ground when it comes to gold.
I sold a lot a while back only to see it rise steadily by 30% afterwards but I was happy at the time with the proceeds.
Dr Hindsight would have recommended waiting of course but it is impossible to pick the peaks and troughs in PMs.
Just wondering if now is a good time to replace some of the gold and hold for the the future or is it destined to fall in which case waiting is sensible.
No-one knows but interested to hear from others who have better tea-leaves or a crystal ball that works.
 

The amount of forum members who have got at me and bloked me for suggesting they alter their buying habits at high prices.  Anyway the ones who have blocked me cannot read this message,
There is nothing wrong in finding the best price.  The more experienced members didn't get burn't.  I hope you didn't get burn't to much. 

Not bought then since May 2019? 

I haven't been following this topic at all and with 54 pages of entries I don't have the enthusiasm to start ploughing through the posts.
I watched Backyard's unboxing video.
My simple question is what is all the frenzy about ?
Why are people paying silly prices ?
This is a nice designed coin in silver struck to a proof finish.
The mintage is 3,500.
I have sold proof fine silver coins from other mints with a similar mintage and only obtained regular prices.
I also sold over a dozen Royal Mint 5 oz and 10 oz beautifully presented, nice box, certificate etc commemorative issues, mostly Channel Isles and only succeeded is getting spot price for the silver content. They were 0.925 but nevertheless of similar quality to the Graces and with low mintages.

What will the price be in 3 years from now - maybe closer to bullion perhaps ??
Please tell me I am missing something - the Britannia Horse mule was fetching £2,000 in the first couple of weeks but now lucky to get £60 so is there a disappointment heading to many buyers ?
Sorry - just don't know but prices seem crazy to me.

I haven't been following this topic at all and with 54 pages of entries I don't have the enthusiasm to start ploughing through the posts.
I watched Backyard's unboxing video.
My simple question is what is all the frenzy about ?
Why are people paying silly prices ?
This is a nice designed coin in silver struck to a proof finish.
The mintage is 3,500.
I have sold proof fine silver coins from other mints with a similar mintage and only obtained regular prices.
I also sold over a dozen Royal Mint 5 oz and 10 oz beautifully presented, nice box, certificate etc commemorative issues, mostly Channel Isles and only succeeded is getting spot price for the silver content. They were 0.925 but nevertheless of similar quality to the Graces and with low mintages.

What will the price be in 3 years from now - maybe closer to bullion perhaps ??
Please tell me I am missing something - the Britannia Horse mule was fetching £2,000 in the first couple of weeks but now lucky to get £60 so is there a disappointment heading to many buyers ?
Sorry - just don't know but prices seem crazy to me.

I haven't been following this topic at all and with 54 pages of entries I don't have the enthusiasm to start ploughing through the posts.
I watched Backyard's unboxing video.
My simple question is what is all the frenzy about ?
Why are people paying silly prices ?
This is a nice designed coin in silver struck to a proof finish.
The mintage is 3,500.
I have sold proof fine silver coins from other mints with a similar mintage and only obtained regular prices.
I also sold over a dozen Royal Mint 5 oz and 10 oz beautifully presented, nice box, certificate etc commemorative issues, mostly Channel Isles and only succeeded is getting spot price for the silver content. They were 0.925 but nevertheless of similar quality to the Graces and with low mintages.

What will the price be in 3 years from now - maybe closer to bullion perhaps ??
Please tell me I am missing something - the Britannia Horse mule was fetching £2,000 in the first couple of weeks but now lucky to get £60 so is there a disappointment heading to many buyers ?
Sorry - just don't know but prices seem crazy to me.

- No

- You will either be charged full VAT by the dealer ( see the new regulations ) and you definitely will have to pay 20% VAT otherwise landing in the UK, PLUS a handling fee that could be around £10 depending on the method of shipping.

- Absolutely - YES and you incur VAT on the shipping charge as well.

Detailed Trading Guide
 
The following guide is provided as an example of how a trade between members may be conducted on The Silver Forum. The guide contains an outline of a trade and an example of how it may generally be conducted and includes some suggestions regarding best buying and selling practices and other information related to trading.
This guide is primarily intended to help new members understand how to initiate and complete a purchase as a buyer from another member acting as seller in the Buy & Sell trade section of the forum. In addition it may also be referenced as a guide for a member conducting a sale.

As a member you are limited to creating one trade listing every thirty days. If a member wishes to increase the number of sales listings they are permitted to create, you may upgrade to a Premium Membership here
Upgrading to either a Silver, Gold, Platinum or Platinum PLUS Premium Membership provides a member with the ability to create unlimited trade listings and includes a whole host of other benefits such as access to premium trade listings three days earlier than all non-premium members. Premium listings are where the best deals are to be found. Purchasing a premium membership is a great way to support The Silver Forum. (Businesses need a Business Account available here)
Before reading the information contained in this guide please make sure you have read and understand the Quickstart Guide:
U.K Quickstart Guide
U.S.A & Canada Quickstart Guide
Please also ensure you have read and understand the forum rules, especially regarding trading and the risk of trading on The Silver Forum:
Forum Rules
Please pay attention to Section 7. Guidelines on Trading (Buying and Selling) and ensure you fully comprehend Section 7.4. Risk of Trading. It is essential that all new members read and understand this before trading on the forum.
Disclaimer: The following applies to all Members/Sellers on the forum. Members trade at their own risk. The Silver Forum does not vet any members/sellers on the forum and neither the founder @ChrisSilver nor the forum is liable for any loss(es) that may result from trades. The founder @ChrisSilver and The Silver Forum also can not mediate any trades, this is between the two parties to discuss and resolve any issues that they might have.
 
 
A quick summary of how a trade may be conducted on The Silver Forum

1. A member acting as seller lists an item in the Buy & Sell trade section with a price, postage options and photos. Interested members leave a comment on the listing and then a private message will be generally initiated by The Seller. Some listings will state, comments have priority over pm's, which means comment first for a place in the queue and The Seller will then send you a private message.

2. The terms of sale, total cost (item/s plus postage) and payment method will be discussed and agreed between The Buyer & The Seller via private message.

3. The Buyer makes payment and provides name and address.

4. The Seller confirms receipt of payment (best selling practice).

5. The Seller dispatches item and provides verification (best selling practice).

6. The Buyer receives item/s, fills bath with silver and/or gold and swims in their bullion like Scrooge McDuck.

7. The Buyer notifies The Seller that item/items have been received (best buying practice).

8. Members exchange trading feedback.

9. Trade is complete.

Please be aware that the steps provided are only a suggested example and it is entirely optional to follow them. The founder @ChrisSilver and The Silver Forum are not liable for the use or disuse of suggested guidance. Not all trades will be conducted in the exact manner as described in this guide but most will include similar steps in approximately the same order.
 
 
Detailed Trading Guide

1. Items listed by members on The Silver Forum can be found by clicking/hovering over the Buy & Sell tab and selecting the region or category relevant to you.

2. If a region is selected you will be presented with two sub-categories separately listing items (Ungraded) & (Graded Only). Ungraded contains listings for bars, medals, coins (Bullion, BU, Proof, Ungraded) & other non graded precious metals. Graded contains listings for precious metal items that have been graded and slabbed.

3. Now that you have selected Ungraded or Graded Only you will be presented with Page 1 of the trade listings for your selected sub-category. On the first page you will find pinned posts followed by all trade listings created by members of The Silver Forum.

4. There are 5 types of Trade Listings: For Sale, For Exchange, For Sale or Exchange, For Auction, Wanted.

If one of these tags is used on a listing by a top tier premium member, the tag will be followed with (by platinum member).

A tag is required for any item listed. We will discuss For Auction & Wanted listings later but for now we will only be concerned with conducting a trade for items tagged For Sale, For Exchange and For Sale or Exchange.
Listings tagged Completed, Withdrawn or Closed are no longer available. Please note that the Closed tag is only used when a topic is automatically closed or if it is manually closed by moderators and should not be used by members. Only use Completed and Withdrawn tags to end a listing you have created.

5. Trades for all listings tagged For Sale, For Exchange and For Sale or Exchange may be conducted in the same way.
Scroll through the listings until you find something you are interested in. Now that you have found a listing with an item/s that you would like to purchase you may wish to proceed as follows:
Leave a comment on the listing, stating your interest in the item/s listed and await a response from the member acting as Seller. A seller may have multiple items available on one listing, mention which one/s you have an interest in.
The seller will usually “like” your comment and/or send you a private message where the details and terms of the trade will be discussed. (The envelope icon at the top right of the page will display a notification if you have received a message)
Both members will agree upon the terms of the trade which will include the postage choice, payment method and total cost. You may also wish to verify expected dispatch time and clarify the intended measures a member will use to ensure the item/s are well packaged and protected. It is a good idea to establish that the seller can provide proof of postage. When agreeing terms, before payment is made, clarify who is responsible for any loss incurred in the unfortunate and unlikely event that a package is not received.
Once all terms have been agreed upon, the buyer will make payment to the member acting as seller. The seller will confirm the payment has been received. The buyer may wish to send a message to notify the seller that the payment has been sent. (A confirmation of payment is always to be expected from a seller)
Once payment has been received the seller will pack and ship your item/s. It is best selling practice for a member acting as seller to send a photograph of the postage receipt following dispatch and/or tracking information. Some sellers may also even include a photo of the package pre-dispatch. It is a good idea to confirm with the seller before-hand when agreeing upon the terms of the trade that they will send a photo of the postage receipt once your package has been dispatched.
Once you receive your item/s it is worth taking the time to notify the seller that the package has been received safely.
Now that payment has been made and item/s are received, both the buyer and the seller may exchange trading feedback. It is important to leave trading feedback for each trade completed, especially if the seller has provided a good service. The feedback system helps to facilitate a degree of safety and trust for members when seeking to purchase items from another member. If a member has received several positive feedback comments it is an indicator of how safe trading with them will be.
The trade is complete.
Please be aware that the steps provided are only a suggested example and it is entirely optional to follow them. The founder @ChrisSilver and The Silver Forum are not liable for the use or disuse of suggested guidance. Not all trades will be conducted in the exact manner as described in this guide but most will include similar steps in approximately the same order.
6. To leave Trading Feedback, click on a member’s user image to navigate to their profile page or click their name in a message thread.

Click the Trading Feedback tab and click the Add Feedback button

Select the role you adopted in the trade: The Buyer, The Seller or Trading.
Select whether your feedback is Positive or Negative and leave a Comment.
In the Topic field type the title of the trade listing that you interacted with to purchase, exchange or sell an item/s.

7. If you wish to conduct your own trade in the manner described above, assuming the role of The Seller, click the Start New Topic button to create your own listing. Please note that as a standard member you may only create one trade listing every thirty days. If a member wishes to increase the number of sales listings they are permitted to create, you may upgrade to a premium membership here.

8. Enter a name for your listing in the Title box, click the +Add Tag button in the Prefix box and choose For Sale, For Exchange, For Sale or Exchange.

9. Enter a full & detailed description including photographs, condition & price. You can use the Trade Listing Template provided as a pinned post at the top of the trade listing pages to fill the description box. Simply replace the example information with your own.


10. Wanted listings are created in the same manner as described above. When clicking the Start New Topic button you have the option to select the Wanted prefix. Choose a title for the item/s you are looking for, select the Wanted prefix and fill the description with information relevant to what you are seeking.

11. For Auction is the final type of trade listing you may engage with or create. The information provided in the description of a For Auction listing is the same as any For Sale, For Exchange, For Sale or Exchange listing with the addition of auction terms, a start/end date & time and includes a starting bid instead of a total item/s cost. Some auctions may have a reserve. If you wish to start your own auction it is recommended that you use the auction template provided as a pinned post at the top of the trade listing pages.

 
F.A.Q

1. Can I pay by paypal, what payment methods are accepted?
It depends on each individual seller and it is entirely the seller’s choice what methods of payment are accepted. Some members accept paypal friends & family payments. Paypal goods & services payments incur a fee for transactions, some may accept this method but will expect you to pay the fee. Some members may accept crypto payments. Most payments on The Silver Forum are made via bank transfer.
2. Do I pay for postage?
This is decided by the individual seller and the details will be described in the listing generally. If the listing says including postage then it’s included, the service for an included postage offer will be the seller’s choice. Most sellers do not include postage. Most listings will state the total cost of item/s plus postage of buyers choice and risk which is paid for by you the buyer. The service used is entirely your choice. If you use a postal service that is not insured you may be at risk of financial loss if the item is lost in transit.
3. Can I Contact a member about a trade listing directly in private?
Yes. If you are interested in an item/s listed in the Buy & Sell trade section you can contact a member directly via private message. Note that some listings will state that comments have priority over pm's, which means comment first for place in the queue and the seller will then send you a private message. On a listing with this term described it is best to follow the protocol if you want a chance to get the item/s.
4. What happens if I do not receive an item I purchased from another member?
In the unlikely and unfortunate event that an item purchased from another member is not received, the first steps to take will be to notify the member acting as seller and request a proof of postage if not already provided at the time of dispatch. If the member can demonstrate the item has been sent and it is clear that it has been lost in transit you could request that they communicate with the courier in order to identify if the package is lost or delayed. If it is lost then the seller will be able to claim a refund as long as the postage method chosen was insured and proof of postage retained. If the postage method chosen was not insured and the terms of the trade negotiated were that the buyer assumes all risk and liability if they choose a postal method that is not insured then your options will be limited. A seller may in this circumstance do all they can to aid you but they are under no obligation to do so, nor is the founder @ChrisSilver or The Silver Forum liable or responsible for item/s lost in transit. Ensure before any payment is made that it’s agreed that the seller can provide proof of postage to avoid issues if this situation were to arise.
5. What does it mean when a listing says the postage is of buyer’s choice and risk?
This means that if you the buyer choose the postal service and you choose a service that is not insured then the seller is not responsible for loss or damage. Ensure the terms agreed are clear before purchase is made. Although problems are unlikely, you may wish to choose an insured service if you wish to eliminate the possibility of an issue. Only you, the member acting as buyer are responsible for the choice made.
 
A final note on Trust
Making a bank transfer to someone who is essentially a stranger for an item/s unseen in person that one hopes will be shipped in good faith by an individual can be daunting in a world where we are used to ebay and paypal buyer protections and secure credit card transactions.
As individual members of The Silver Forum we find ourselves relying on community reputation, trading feedback and our own powers of discernment.
In my personal opinion @billysilver the manner in which trades are conducted on The Silver Forum is the best way to deal human to human, it is in accordance with our inherent nature. If trust can be developed and built between two humans trading, then that relationship can extend further.
Building relationships based on trust is a valuable and rare thing but certainly needed in the world we find ourselves living in today. Trust is especially needed between humans in general to be healthy and happy. We are social animals and we need to be able to trust one another, we are afforded an opportunity to do so here.
Reciprocal trust between humans is an incredibly powerful thing.
You can verify any member’s trading sales feedback by clicking a member name and viewing their profile. You can click the trading feedback tab on a member’s profile in order to view feedback for previous trades, this is an important part of instilling confidence when potentially engaging in a trade.
From a member’s profile you may also note the length of time a user has been active and you can view how many posts they have made and how many reputation points they have. Community Reputation points are built from members engaging a post made with a reaction(Like, Love etc).
Membership tier (silver, gold, platinum, platinum plus) can also be a factor to consider alongside reputation and trust but it's not a definitive reason to trust someone, just indicates how much someone has invested financially into the community.
Dependence on outside agents and financial protections are what we are used to generally as consumers, this dependence is not necessary.
How your interaction with an individual feels must certainly be one of the most important factors to pay attention to when trading. You are a capable human with your own mind. Trust your gut. Use your own powers of discernment and enjoy your stay at The Silver Forum.
Thank You
 
Disclaimer: The following applies to all Members/Sellers on the forum. Members trade at their own risk. The Silver Forum does not vet any members/sellers on the forum and neither the founder @ChrisSilver nor the forum is liable for any loss(es) that may result from trades. The founder @ChrisSilver and The Silver Forum also can not mediate any trades, this is between the two parties to discuss and resolve any issues that they might have.
All guidance contained within this document is suggested and is not mandatory instruction given by the founder @ChrisSilver or The Silver Forum.
 Neither the founder @ChrisSilver or The Silver Forum are responsible for suggested guidance followed or not followed based on information contained here in.
Opinions expressed are the personal opinions of @billysilver

1. It's all about margin over spot i.e. what you pay for your coin(s).
The margin over spot is quite variable to check carefully before buying and remember that 22 ct gold is not the same as 24 ct in your spot calculations.
2. When selling you can expect a price from any main dealer at spot less a couple of percent according to gold content
This is irrespective of the coin  - sovereign, Britannia, Krugerrand etc - it's pretty much all about the 999 gold.
3. The advantage of smaller value coins like sovereigns ( or even half sovereigns ) is you can always sell them privately if you need to raise some cash without unloading your full ounce coin.
4. There is something nice about a full ounce Britannia.
If your first experience of a gold coin is a sovereign or half sovereign you might be a little disappointed when seeing it's size.
You might even get the two confused and many people make the mistake when holding a full sovereign for the first time believing it to be a half sovereign so watch out.
5. If you have the option of buying a 24ct Britannia rather than the 22ct Britannia, choose the 24 ct as if selling back to a dealer, you will usually get a slightly higher price.
There is also the mental satisfaction in holding pure gold rather than 91.6% pure.
6. My first gold purchase was a 999.9% 50g bar which I was proud to show friends at the time.
7. Whether you choose sovereigns over 1 ounce gold coins the fluctuations in daily prices of gold will soon wash away any small differences in differential price so buy what you like and where you feel you are getting the best deal.

1. It's all about margin over spot i.e. what you pay for your coin(s).
The margin over spot is quite variable to check carefully before buying and remember that 22 ct gold is not the same as 24 ct in your spot calculations.
2. When selling you can expect a price from any main dealer at spot less a couple of percent according to gold content
This is irrespective of the coin  - sovereign, Britannia, Krugerrand etc - it's pretty much all about the 999 gold.
3. The advantage of smaller value coins like sovereigns ( or even half sovereigns ) is you can always sell them privately if you need to raise some cash without unloading your full ounce coin.
4. There is something nice about a full ounce Britannia.
If your first experience of a gold coin is a sovereign or half sovereign you might be a little disappointed when seeing it's size.
You might even get the two confused and many people make the mistake when holding a full sovereign for the first time believing it to be a half sovereign so watch out.
5. If you have the option of buying a 24ct Britannia rather than the 22ct Britannia, choose the 24 ct as if selling back to a dealer, you will usually get a slightly higher price.
There is also the mental satisfaction in holding pure gold rather than 91.6% pure.
6. My first gold purchase was a 999.9% 50g bar which I was proud to show friends at the time.
7. Whether you choose sovereigns over 1 ounce gold coins the fluctuations in daily prices of gold will soon wash away any small differences in differential price so buy what you like and where you feel you are getting the best deal.

1. It's all about margin over spot i.e. what you pay for your coin(s).
The margin over spot is quite variable to check carefully before buying and remember that 22 ct gold is not the same as 24 ct in your spot calculations.
2. When selling you can expect a price from any main dealer at spot less a couple of percent according to gold content
This is irrespective of the coin  - sovereign, Britannia, Krugerrand etc - it's pretty much all about the 999 gold.
3. The advantage of smaller value coins like sovereigns ( or even half sovereigns ) is you can always sell them privately if you need to raise some cash without unloading your full ounce coin.
4. There is something nice about a full ounce Britannia.
If your first experience of a gold coin is a sovereign or half sovereign you might be a little disappointed when seeing it's size.
You might even get the two confused and many people make the mistake when holding a full sovereign for the first time believing it to be a half sovereign so watch out.
5. If you have the option of buying a 24ct Britannia rather than the 22ct Britannia, choose the 24 ct as if selling back to a dealer, you will usually get a slightly higher price.
There is also the mental satisfaction in holding pure gold rather than 91.6% pure.
6. My first gold purchase was a 999.9% 50g bar which I was proud to show friends at the time.
7. Whether you choose sovereigns over 1 ounce gold coins the fluctuations in daily prices of gold will soon wash away any small differences in differential price so buy what you like and where you feel you are getting the best deal.

@Paul summed it up nicely.
Currently with an annual CGT allowance of £12,300 you would need to be making one heck of a profit.
Once Covid has been put into the background, many taxes will have to rise and maybe CGT is one that will be hit quite hard but then politicians tend to look after themselves so this is more of a tax on the well heeled folks so might not be so bad - more of a gesture I reckon.
As for stacking Maples and ASE's over Brits I am not so sure there is much to compare.
Some stackers perhaps for historic reasons prefer one bullion coin over another.
Many will simply look for the best prices.
I like ASEs because they tend to be a very high quality strike and don't show up all the scuffs and dings of .999 Brits.
The new Maples look nice with their radial background but what to buy is generally down to price and availability.
Surprising though selling Brits do seem to achieve higher prices perhaps for the reasons you state even if not really applicable to most.

Sorry to advise but these tests are a total waste of time and may be giving you false security.

Well that 'silver lining' was very short lived.
I didn't even have time to get my shovel out and dig up some of the stack to sell.

Platinum was once more expensive than gold and in jewellery, for example, the “rich man’s” gold as gold is to silver.
It is one of the few inert elements and the cost of mining likely to be higher than gold and it is rarer. It should be more expensive but at least the same as gold. It has more industrial uses than gold but that could be a reason to depress the value of platinum. If it became too expensive then these applications would disappear and the miners would not maintain sales. You could argue that maybe gold is over priced. Certainly compared to silver with the Au/Ag ratio of late, albeit not at its peak. The price of PMs are manipulated by the banks and governments that attach value to these metals. By comparison look at the historic price of oil and try to make sense of this. Impossible to predict the future prices of PMs and explain logically why Pt is so much less than Au. Personally this could be seen as an investment for the long term. I would buy Pt if it wasn’t for VAT and high dealer margins right now.  When more metal becomes available to the market the dealer margins should return to normal but for us in the UK the VAT is a challenge.

Well that 'silver lining' was very short lived.
I didn't even have time to get my shovel out and dig up some of the stack to sell.

Platinum was once more expensive than gold and in jewellery, for example, the “rich man’s” gold as gold is to silver.
It is one of the few inert elements and the cost of mining likely to be higher than gold and it is rarer. It should be more expensive but at least the same as gold. It has more industrial uses than gold but that could be a reason to depress the value of platinum. If it became too expensive then these applications would disappear and the miners would not maintain sales. You could argue that maybe gold is over priced. Certainly compared to silver with the Au/Ag ratio of late, albeit not at its peak. The price of PMs are manipulated by the banks and governments that attach value to these metals. By comparison look at the historic price of oil and try to make sense of this. Impossible to predict the future prices of PMs and explain logically why Pt is so much less than Au. Personally this could be seen as an investment for the long term. I would buy Pt if it wasn’t for VAT and high dealer margins right now.  When more metal becomes available to the market the dealer margins should return to normal but for us in the UK the VAT is a challenge.

Bullionbypost is out of the 2021 Britannias too and the advertised price for them is £33-£35 each.  Thats a tenner per coin more than what I bought mine for last year!

Might get a decent sleep tonight after seeing the rise in silver - sweet dreams !
... to infinity and beyond ... [ Bud Lightyear ]

Might get a decent sleep tonight after seeing the rise in silver - sweet dreams !
... to infinity and beyond ... [ Bud Lightyear ]

I found the section inside the Hereaus refinery the best but I was falling asleep listening to the speakers.
Maybe I missed the section in the Swiss underground vault as I didn't see any gold on display, only corridors and nuclear bunker doors which are quite common in many Swiss buildings. Thanks for sharing though !!
 

I found the section inside the Hereaus refinery the best but I was falling asleep listening to the speakers.
Maybe I missed the section in the Swiss underground vault as I didn't see any gold on display, only corridors and nuclear bunker doors which are quite common in many Swiss buildings. Thanks for sharing though !!