silvernewbie

Didn’t fancy sharing with the class and putting that one in the deals thread then?

Really, did you expected a coin (off any metal)  to float 🧐

A specific gravity test, combined with a magnet test will determine if it's gold with practically 100% certainty, at least for a small (thin) piece of gold. Even for a big, fat bar it will give you a very good indication but in theory a fat bar could still be forged, despite these two tests. What kind of piece of gold is it and how big?
The reason for the difference in certainty is the different ratio between volume and surface between small and big pieces or rather simply the thickness. If there is a layer of real gold on the outside, the magnet will act as it should but it could still be a mixture of metals inside that have the same average density as gold. Whereas for a thin bar, the real layer of gold would be too thin for the magnet to act as it should, if it had a core of a different composition. All in all, the likelihood that it's real is very high even for big bars, with both tests combined, though.
However, carrying out a magnet test is quite tiring because the effect is not big. It's much easier done for silver. If you slide a small neodymium magnet down the gold coin, you will hardly be able to determine if there was an effect. Ideally, you'd want to hang it on a thread, make sure it's 100% still and get a neodymium magnet that ideally (but not necessarily) is at least roughly the same size as the piece of gold, close to the gold coin and see what it does.

Its hard to find coins for sale iv been looking for a while

Theres no way bpb and atkinson have sold out, they simply dont want to sell at these lower prices in anticipation of large spikes next week, even silvertrader took his site down.  When ordering from EU its not just vat but delivery and courier fees, better to buy from the fb groups or even ebay is cheaper than EU.  

I don't think that there are that many buyers of full vat silver.  It will not be being bought in large amounts as actual silver in the UK.  Other vehicles are available which don't suffer that problem to UK investors.  It is demand in the rest of the (as yet untaxed) world that will drive price.  I honestly don't think the taxman is winning by fencing off the UK from standard priced physical.  He'd do far better out of allowing the retail market to buy without VAT and gaining the tax from the bullion dealers profit who would be able to expand business as a result.

Baby panda 🐼
1/20th oz


A tube of silver 🥈🥈

I'm a huge fan of the Perth Mint and I really want to collect the Wedge Tail Eagle series but like you the price just stops me.

These are definitely priced to sell!!
 
https://britanniacoincompany.com/buy-coins/proof-sets/2017-uk-quarter-ounce-platinum-proof-britannia/
 
 

Australia’s largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle, has been portrayed for The Perth Mint by renowned US engraver John M. Mercanti in a series of outstanding designs since 2014. Observed across the entire continent, wedge-tailed eagles can be distinguished by their distinctive wedge-shaped tails and fully feathered legs. The large birds favour lightly wooded country where they can hunt for prey such as rabbits, hares, lizards and snakes.

Struck from 1oz of 99.99% pure silver, this superb investment coin portrays John M. Mercanti’s sixth artistic impression of a wedge-tailed eagle. The design depicts the bird in full flight while gripping a snake in its talons. As well as the coin’s weight, fineness and 2021 year-date, the reverse also incorporates The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
Mintage 50'000.
http://www.perthmintbullion.com/au/Buy-Silver-Coins/1oz.aspx?size=18
 

They might or might not xray it and open it.  If they do xray it they will know it's silver and open it if it's more than a small amount.  Once it's been discovered to be illegally marked for customs then who knows where that's going.  You are allowed to send a genuine gift up to £39 in value I think.  But if you're planning a larger amount then it's just smuggling and not worth the agro.  At the very least you'll pay the correct tax on it and then there will probably be a load of penalty charges to pay for their time examining it.  Might end up expensive.

My advance apologies as this is now moving off topic but a response is merited -
Unfortunately in many instances your choice of MP is either the monkey or the organ grinder, neither of which is suitable.
Your choice is red or blue and other colours have little prospect of making any noticeable changes.
I don't recall if it was Singapore or Hong Kong a couple of generations ago, abolished all tax so whatever your earned you kept.
The other side of the coin however was that nothing was free - you paid for kids education, health, no welfare etc.
No freebies and no cash for sitting on your arse all day watching TV expecting someone else to feed you, raise your kids and pay your bills.
In some countries in the EU if you get ill and are in hospital you pay a daily rate for your bed and you need to order in food or have a partner or friend bring food for you.
I know of someone undergoing daily chemo that lives in his car, parked in the hospital carpark rather than pay for a bed.
Too many things in the UK are free and consequently abused but have to be paid for by taxing everyone to the hilt either through PAYE or VAT.

I don't believe that I'm making a claim about the Royal Mint selling a lot of silver through Europe without evidence.  It may be circumstantial but I simply don't believe that it's possible that there are any large buyers of physical silver in the whole of Europe (including the UK) who didn't know that the German dealers are the cheapest.  None.
If we start with the rich, they aren't foolish or naïve enough not to compare costs across the channel.  They didn't get rich by being lazy and not bothering to do a simple price comparison, and they don't tend to invest large sums of money without doing a bit of research first.  Most medium and small investors receive some form of investment advice either from a professional or in the form of a magazine such as moneyweek.  Not a month goes by without moneyweek making some reference to precious metals with a reminder to look abroad to secure silver at the correct price.
Perhaps there are a few people who start out spontaneously and make a few small purchases, but they very quickly find this forum or a facebook page or even reddit and are alerted to the price difference.  This is why it is highly likely that the bulk of Royal Mint silver bought all over Europe (including the UK) has been bought under German differential VAT schemes or through Estonia VAT free.
The simple truth is that Germany runs the European physical Silver market and that is NOT an accident!   It was captured by design and was UK short sightedness that allowed the situation to develop.  Germany deliberately allows the so-called loophole differential scheme, whilst enforcing an EU wide blanket requirement for everyone else to charge VAT at standard rates.  Estonia's politicians already capitulated to this requirement ages ago and it's just about timing their implementation.  It may now already have taken place but there is no move to close down German dealers and their 'loophole'.  Until we left the EU there was no way ever that we would be granted the right to copy Germany.  The whole purpose of that 'loophole' was to drive bullion business to German shores.  Different nations were granted different economies by the EU.  France and Italy have been granted agriculture which is why every workaround and incentive is geared towards serving them.  It's no coincidence that Germany has the high tech, automotive, bullion and finance markets.  This is the high end stuff and it reflects their status as the senior partner within the EU.
Now that we're out of this silly central planning scheme it would be wise of our government to abandon this disincentive mechanism because it no longer drives our business towards the German dealers as intended.  Instead it now applies a tax which no one ever paid which will damage our Royal Mint.  Applying a 20% tax to the market overnight will definitely reduce demand inside the UK.  I don't care what anyone says, applying a 20% upfront tax to a market overnight has a definite chilling effect.
British residents are the big buyers of (higher than standard bullion premium) Royal Mint products because of the CGT benefit which they confer.  But, it's a lure because you have to be a big buyer for this to be of much benefit and paying 20% tax upfront kind of takes the shine off that.  I foresee the Royal Mint scaling back their product lines in Silver as many British residents look to invest elsewhere.  It costs a lot of money to go through the set up for new products and why would they bother if half of their market finds something else to invest in such as bitcoin.
Now it's certainly true that some Americans, Europeans and Asians (also Ozzies) like to buy a few interesting Royal Mint products (which come at higher premiums lets not forget), but I do not believe that the bulk of their stacks are made up of Royal Mint products.  Why would they be?  There is no CGT relief for foreign residents and so no incentive to pay the higher premiums.  Ounce for ounce, it's usually better to buy the cheapest ounce you can.
The argument that many will switch to Royal Mint gold certainly does hold water.  However, even the smallest piece of bog standard gold is rather expensive these days for many people.  Clearly some people will continue to buy Silver and pay their tax upfront, some will make the switch to gold but many will simply find other things to invest in which aren't taxed upfront.  Tax upfront makes an investment very unappealing.  It will definitely result in a loss of sales for the Royal Mint which is why the smart thing for our government to do now would be to match the German margin scheme.  We no longer have to comply with driving business over to Germany and so the messed up disincentive to our market should be abolished.
For anyone that doubts that Germany is the major player in the physical bullion market I suggest a look at this German bullion dealer comparison site "gold.de".  Select any silver coin that you want and the sheer number of silver dealers listing it in Germany makes it quite apparent.  No one in Europe pays full VAT and most British residents won't either.  They will simply stop buying Royal Mint silver and the mint will be forced to mothball some of it's product lines.

Thanks to @trp

Decent price for a retailer

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

The 2020 Dunkirk anniversary proof quarter sovereign is also available for £99 at Harrington&Byrne
 

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp

Thanks to @trp