The economy everywhere has been greatly affected by global climate change, gasoline supply instability, political unrest and change of international policies amongst nations. Real estate firms fold up, import and export companies slowed down, insurances resold and banks merged. There is really no foolproof plan to shield businesses from recessions and economic hardship, a good investment today may be a thing of the past tomorrow, so investors are cautious now on how and where to invest their capital. One investment that does not rely solely on the economic growth is the gold business.

Gold is a kind of metal with the most malleable characteristics among metals because of its soft and dense features. It is often used for jewelry making, arts and coinage because of its luster and high value. No wonder people have been investing in Gold American Eagle coins for centuries.

The more gold component a coin has, the higher the value it can be traded at. Goldsmiths buy scraps of gold in the form of broken jewelries and melt them into bars to sell them to highest bidders or collectors. Another way to invest in gold is by collecting gold coins.


2011 1 oz Gold American Eagle – Click Here

Gold coins as money making venture

Gold coins that are rare, with high grade and in limited supply, tend to hold a high selling value for many years. An investor should start small by choosing the most profitable type of Gold buffalo coins. A coin that is dated older can fetch a good sum of money than the ones with later mint year. Since 1975, gold prices have steadily increased with a slight decrease in 1997 and 1998 but not enough to hurt investors on this kind. Take for example the American Buffalo coin also known as the gold buffalo with a face value of $50. It has a unique feature being the only coin minted with .9999% gold component. Even if it was just released for circulation in 2006, it has already reached a value of over $1000 in 2009. If you have acquired a hundred pieces of this coin and has sold them in 2009, you earned $100,000 in 3years time for a value of $5000 coins. That’s quite a lot of money for you there.


2010 1 oz Gold Buffalo – Click Here

Another coin with a high value is the Gold American Eagle coin or the official gold bullion of the United States of America .It is composed of 91.67% gold and 5.33% Cu. It was first minted in 1986 with proof and bullion editions. It has become an official bullion coin under the Gold Bullion Act of 1985. This coin has a $50 face value and sells at a total of $1650. So for comparison sake, if you have acquired a hundred pieces of the $50 eagle coins since 1986 and sold them this year, you will earn the sum of $165,000 for $5000 worth of coins. That’s $160,000 in profits you could have for 25 years collection. It seems quite small to compare it with the buffalo coins but still it yields profits.

Investing in coins differ from other investments in terms of:

1. Worth – gold coins are precious metals that increase in value as time goes by, the earlier you have acquired a rare coin, the higher value it will have later.

2. Ease of disposal and storage – coins are easy to store; it does not require a big warehouse and can be converted to cash easily without the trouble of packing, shipment and storage. It can be disposed of easily as it has collectible feature and has a high percentage to make a profit.

3. Usage – Coins have flexible usage, if it can be sold as is, it can be sold as ornaments or embellishment to other art collectors by way of melting them. Both ways of selling still yield good profits.

4. Diversity – gold investment can be in form of coins, jewelries, bars, biscuits and other gold embedded items. There are also gold exchange traded funds that can be sold in form of stocks, no risk in theft and misplacement.

5. Wear and tear – coins do not rot, rust or decay. Gold can be stored for decades or centuries.

6. Low investment – A small part of savings can be invested in gold. It does not require an office or employees to be able to start this business; the capital invested is solely for the amount of gold purchased.

Just like in any business, research and product knowledge is always a solid pre-requisite before risking your hard-earned money. Knowing the current market for gold coins will help an investor make better informed decisions. Study each coin that you acquire carefully and ask other coin collectors for the rare types that you should be looking out for. Then know how trends in the stock market affect the value of gold. Pinpoint the enterprises that may have a need of your collection. If you have good instincts on when to hold and when to dispose then the gold business may be the perfect money making venture for you. Perhaps you can finally say that there is really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Click Here to See Gold Sovereigns available 

They also have Kruggerands and Canadian Maple Leaf gold bullion coins as well as a fine range of Silver coins as well. New customers will find it very easy to buy their gold coins with the simply and quick checkout process. There is also a 14 day money back guarantee if you are not happy with your purchase. The London Mint Office has an excellent customer service base and offers specially discounted coins throughout the year giving you the opportunity of picking up a real bargain.

The British Gold Sovereign is known throughout the world as one of the most popular and sought after gold coins, it is also one of the longest gold coins in production and is made from 22ct gold and has been around since about 1489 when the first sovereigns were produced for Henry VI. These however are a rarity and most of us would be happy with a Victorian Gold Sovereign but if this is still out of your range what about a brand new 2011 Gold Sovereign? The London Mint Office is selling an Uncirculated 2011 Gold Sovereign for £15 less than the official issue price given by the British Mint at a reduced price of £249 you will grab yourself a bargain.

Not only do they sell Sovereigns but a fine range of limited edition coins such as the first ever Winston Churchill Gold Sovereign which has been approved by Buckingham Palace and a worldwide limited edition of just 499 coins. The limited edition Henry VII 500^th anniversary Golden Bejewelled Silver crown coin limited to 4,999 examples.

If you want a truly pure gold coin then look no further than the miniature Gold Angel made from 24ct pure 99.99% gold coin at a great online price of £195. The coin features Archangel Michael slaying a dragon on one side and the Queens head on the other side this coin historically dates back to the middle ages and the pure beauty of the coin is fantastic.

As mentioned not only do the The London Mint Office have gold coins but also a great range of silver coins as we know silver has actually gone up in price faster than gold in the past 5 years so investing in silver coins can be just as rewarding as investing in gold coins is. The London Mint Office has Silver Canadian Silver dollar, the world famous American Silver eagle one ounce of pure silver for £29.95 or you could go for the Austrian Silver Philharmoniker, again in a one ounce variety for £69.95 this was the first bullion coin to be produced in the new Euros denomination. The London Mint Office has a wide range of Gold and Silver coins as well as many other coins to increase your collection or investment with. Have a look at their website for special offers on lots of different coins throughout the year.

Pure Gold Coin for £29.95

Don’t miss the current special offer to own a pure gold coin at the sensational price of just £29.95!! – Click Here!

It is yours for the asking, for free, today.

This gram is part of a 400 ounce gold bar; which is the only kind of bullion that professional dealers and international banks will buy and sell. It is at least 99.5% pure gold.

And it’s never left the care of professional bullion vault operators…not since the day it was first cast, assayed, and delivered by armored truck through the streets of Switzerland.

This means your free gram of pure gold is guaranteed to be top-quality. So you can forget about wide “dealing spreads” between the buying and selling price. It will trade on the international gold market almost bang on the ‘spot’ price you see quoted on the internet and in your newspaper.

Find out more, and to claim your free gold click here.

No, you can’t fly out to Zurich tonight and collect your free gram of gold tomorrow. It has to remain within that 400 ounce bar to keep its integrity and value.

And that bar – worth more than $613,000 at today’s price – has to stay in the bullion vault.

You see, the quality of a gold bar must be guaranteed if it’s going to trade on the international gold market. Wall Street banks, London bullion traders and Tokyo investment funds only deal in top-quality warranted gold.

And now you can join them.

BullionVault enables you to trade the purest gold at the tiniest spreads…with no delivery charges, minimal insurance fees, and storage costs to make your local bank blush.

Your free gram of pure gold — just like the seven tonnes of gold BullionVault now stores on behalf of people from 62 different countries worldwide — is held in the form of 400-ounce “good delivery” bars. It will retain full resale value on the professional market.

And most importantly, your free gram will belong to you outright if you choose to fund your account and add to this gold, just as it would if you bought it and kept it at home.

This is the crucial difference between BullionVault and holding “unallocated” gold with a bank, or dealing in exchange-traded gold shares through a stockbroker.

When a bank sells you unallocated gold, you become the bank’s creditor. It owes you the gold in other words, and you do not own the asset you’ve bought. The gold is only available to you if the bank remains solvent.

And if it doesn’t…?

Your BullionVault gold, on the other hand, will never be used, lent or sold by the vault where it’s stored. Nor is it merely “backed” by gold like a trust-based certificate.

Legally and in all eventualities, even a run on the banks…the collapse of the Dollar, Sterling or Euro…a stock-market meltdown…or a crash in the $700 trillion global derivatives market…your gold will be yours.

You can find out more at BullionVault now.

BullionVault offers you an easy, cheap and safe way of buying, owning, storing, and selling gold. Because it marries two technological breakthroughs that had both passed the precious metals market by entirely.

The first innovation is the Depository Trust Company’s model for making financial trading simple, safe and efficient. Just like CREST — the UK’s central stock depository in London — it keeps shares and government bonds in safe-keeping, immobilising them in a physical location.

Only ownership needs to change hands between buyer and seller, making for much faster and cheaper settlement. And at BullionVault — whose founder and director, Paul Tustain, developed I.T. systems to handle CREST dealing for Europe’s very biggest investment banks — this means all trades are settled instantly with gold that’s already safe inside the vault.

That cuts your risk of counter-party default down to zero.

The second innovation is modelled on Betfair, the internet-based gambling system based in the UK which matches orders from private buyers and sellers directly across the internet. This cuts out the middleman entirely at BullionVault, reducing your costs once again and giving you direct access to the dealing spread.

To test-drive this ground-breaking service for yourself today, starting with a free gram of Swiss gold, go to BullionVault now.

No middlemen, no delivery costs, and no risk of losing your gold if crisis hits the banking world. You can buy or sell whatever quantity of gold you like, starting from just one gram today.

Your gold investment will be stored and insured by ViaMat, the privately-owned Swiss storage company in your choice of New York, London or Zurich.

So if you don’t trust the government to leave your investments entirely in your hands, the option of storing gold deep underground in Switzerland may be of interest!

If you’ve not heard of ViaMat, don’t be surprised. This professionally-recognized bullion transporter and vault operator likes to remain quiet and discreet, just like its wealthiest clients.

But be clear on this point — ViaMat is not a bank. Instead, and for the last 62 years, it has simply stored valuable goods without getting involved in unallocated arrangements and other financial wizardry.

Keeping your gold in ViaMat’s high-security vaults makes the actuarial risk of loss so small that it costs only 0.12% per year to store your gold with insurance included. That’s less than a third what you’ll pay to store gold in a bank through an exchange-traded gold fund.

And thanks to BullionVault‘s instant online trading and settlement system, you can take profits or add to your position the very moment gold makes the move you’ve been waiting for.

The live gold-market order board is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That gives you the chance to trade gold long after the London stock market closes, and even before Asia opens the next morning!

The crucial thing is that your gold will have stayed inside that specially approved bullion vault. So its resale value will be right up there with the “spot” price you see quoted in the newspapers and on the internet.

To find out more, and claim your complimentary gram of Zurich gold, just go to BullionVault now.

When you buy gold through BullionVault, you do NOT buy a financial security, like a share or a warrant. You’re buying the metal itself. It’s your property; it belongs to you.

But to keep your costs low, and to make sure you can sell your gold straight back onto the international bullion market…where the spread between ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ prices runs almost to zero…you simply take legal delivery via a custodian — ViaMat International, the leading secure vault operator in Switzerland — without taking possession at home.

You see, your gold is part of a Good Delivery bar. Weighing 12.4kg, these bars have a minimum assayed purity of 99.5%. BullionVault buys these guaranteed, market deliverable gold bars, and store them at ViaMat on your behalf.

“Of course, we accept the sensitivity of what we are doing,” says Paul Tustain. “Which is why we publish our daily audit. This means you can safely check your holding within the vault — from any internet computer anywhere in the world — and prove it to the actual physical bars evidenced by the ViaMat bar list that’s issued to us.”

This is so simple, but so important. When you open an account with BullionVault, you are given your own unique ‘nickname’. It’s only known to you, of course. No one else will know that you’re storing a portion of your wealth offshore.

Every day, BullionVault then publishes a full list of every single ‘nickname’ holding gold through its unique system. This list is published on a public internet page. And the sum value of the list (with your nickname on it, remember) adds up exactly to the value of the bar list issued by ViaMat.

In short, this means that you can see in a transparent yet discreet way what your holding in the system is, every day.

To open your account — and to start trading your complimentary gram of Zurich gold now — click through to BullionVault today.

“Love the service and the site,” says one British user of BullionVault. “Actually, your whole business model is a good one and like many excellent ideas is simple and just leaves me wondering why it hasn’t been done before.”

“If there is an easier route to purchasing bullion I have not found it.”
TH

“I have yet to find a more convenient way to own investment-grade gold bullion…Excellent customer service, total security and peace of mind.”
Garry Knott, sovereignlife.com

“I think you have the best online service bar none. It seems to me the customer is guaranteed to obtain the closest to the spot price of gold via your service”
JT

“Everything has been of excellent quality: service, information, explanatory steps (Help file) etc…Thanks a lot to you and your team.”
EFR

“Just a quick message to say I absolutely love BullionVault. Your website provides one smart, efficient service…I can’t see how it could be improved on!”
TJ

“I am new to gold ownership and had been looking to add some to my investment portfolio for some time…I came across your web-site and it was exactly what I was looking for – an easy method of buying, selling or just holding gold without any hassle, and at very reasonable commissions. The order board is very simple to use, even for a novice like myself.”
JS

“Your company is just what I was looking for, great site with excellent information and a very intuitive navigation system.”
JDC

“FIVE STARS…The website scores highly for being easy to read and well-designed. It is clearly laid out for even an inexperienced user and the home page has links to detailed but simple instructions and FAQs…”
thegoodwebguide.com

“It’s an absolutely incredibly good service/website, from everything to presentation, ease of use and security it’s very clear and a pleasure to use.”
BR

Just what is it that’s got all these people so excited? To find out more — and claim your complimentary gram of Zurich gold now — go to BullionVault now.

PLEASE NOTE: We will receive a small referral commission for any accounts opened through this email. But the tiny dealing fees and storage charge you will pay would be no smaller without it.

And this ground-breaking service really does give you unique access to live gold market prices, cutting out the middleman and slashing the costs of investing in gold “dramatically” as the Financial Times recently noted.

To find out for yourself, go to http://www.bullionvault.com/#GOLDUPON now.

The main reason to buy gold is that bar unimaginable catastrophes – gold will increase in value. Not only that but at this time of horrendously low interest rates on savings accounts with banks and building societies, gold is almost certainly better than money in the bank.

Yes, the price of gold has its ups and downs – on a daily basis! – but the overall trend during the past 10 years has been ever upward. To such an extent that gold prices per gram are almost 500% higher than they were 10 years ago. There was a period in the early 1980’s when there was an incredible, but short-lived, gold boom, but prices now are substantially higher than they were even then.

How to Buy Gold

I am only going to talk about actual physical gold here: gold bullion or bars, gold coins and gold jewellery. This is by far the easiest way for the small investor to stash some money away in gold.

My top 2 places to buy gold in the UK, may surprise you!

My number 1 choice of where to buy gold is eBay. You may have to hunt to find the bargains but it is still possible to find pieces of gold jewellery selling on eBay for less than their scrap gold value. It is also probably the cheapest place to buy gold coins such as Sovereigns, half Sovereigns and Krugerrands.

You may think you are taking a risk by buying on eBay but in reality there is very little risk involved. If you pay for an item via PayPal you will get your money back if you do not receive the goods or if they are not as described. To be extra secure use your credit card via PayPal then you have reduced the risk to zero.

For example at the moment (July 2011) a standard full gold sovereign from the 20th century (this does not include proof issues) will cost you £220-£240 whereas a brand new one from the Royal Mint costs £269 for a 2010 issue and £285 for 2011. The scrap value of the actual 22ct gold content of the sovereign coin (7.98g) is around £218. A gold coin bought on eBay is unlikely to be in mint condition but this makes little difference to the resale value of modern coins. It is only when you look at Victorian or older gold coins that condition is a vital element of value as they tend to be priced well above scrap.

Of course, there are a lot of people willing to buy scrap gold and gold jewellery on eBay right now but there are still ways for you to pick up pieces at bargain prices. It is pointless for the smaller buyer to look at job lots of scrap gold which are advertised as such – you will get outbid by the more experienced buyers. Instead look for single gold rings from inexperienced sellers that are badly described. Often rings that are worn, bent, have personal names, initials or engraving or are just plain ugly, sell for low prices – sometimes less than scrap value.

You can also frequently pick up bargains if you bid on rings containing stones – the gold buyers usually stay away from these and if you can find an unattractive engagement ring from the 1970s you are more than likely on to a winner. Just make sure you have a cheap but good hallmarks book and a Jewelers Loupe so that you can check the gold hallmarks when your purchases arrive.

My second choice of where to buy gold in the UK is even more likely to shock you – Argos!

Argos buys gold jewellery in huge quantities and frequently have special offers where they sell unpopular pieces at way below the normal retail price. It is possible to buy items of discounted gold jewellery from Argos at only slightly above the scrap value of the gold.

When to Sell Gold

The answer to this question is only when you absolutely have to or when you have planned to. As I have said before, gold is better than money in the bank and the longer you can hold onto it they more valuable it is likely to become.

Having said that buying gold is a fantastic way to save for something. It is easy to buy and even easier to sell. Just imagine what a great investment a gold sovereign coin bought for a baby every year on their birthdays and at Christmas would be? They wouldn’t have to worry about a student loan when it came time for them to go to University or it could even fund a car purchase or a deposit on a flat.

Maybe you want to save for your retirement or to take that dream cruise in a few years time. Just buy a 9ct gold chain from Argos or eBay then every month buy a gold ring and hang it on the chain. In a short time you will have a valuable nest egg.

Invest in Gold with Gold Bullion, Gold Bars or Gold Coins

You may find it a more attractive prospect to invest in gold by buying gold bullion or bars or gold coins. Ordinary gold jewellery in the UK is commonly 9 carat gold, but gold coins and bars will usually be a much higher quality – 22 carat or pure gold 24 carat. These are therefore far more valuable per gram.

Again, you can pay a premium price for premium quality or you can go for the cheaper option from eBay.

Buying gold as an investment or a savings plan is as safe as (or even safer than) houses.

In addition, check the shipment process for you to sell gold jewellery. The courier service for shipping the valuables should be secure with no chances of losing the valuables before they reach the jeweler. Ask whether they insure the valuables during the shipment process and whether you can get the stones back if the price does not meet your expectations. In addition, they should indicate if there are optional ways of evaluating your jewellery, such as sending their experts to your residence instead of transporting the valuable items to them. This is important because of the security of the pieces you want to trade. The best way to do this is to visit the company’s offices before planning to send the valuables, so that you know the people you are dealing with and their location.

Thirdly, sell gold jewellery to a company that gives you the best rates. There is no need to settle for less because you have not done your homework to find a company that offers good money for your pendants, chains, nuggets, earrings or rings. Remember, the amount you get depends with their evaluation of what they want. If they do not find the quality they are looking for, they will quote the price of the existing quality and you have the right to accept or recall your pieces.  In addition, you can try several companies if you feel the deal is not good enough in relation to the market value of the items. Inquire about the shipment charges or other expenses that you may incur in the sale before you sign the deal. This may take up a substantial amount of the profit because you need secure shipment facilities and they do not come cheap. Avoid additional charges at all costs and in this way, you will end up having a large sum when the final sale goes through.

1oz Gold Krugerrand for Sale on Amazon

Since last year about this time when the price of gold was about GBP 24.29 per gram this year this has increased to GBP 28.32 per gram in March to GBP 28.84 per gram on 13^th April. As you can see gold is still continuing to rise at a very good level and over GBP 4.50 per gram higher this year than last year.

The Scrap gold prices have also continued to rise in line with the actual gold price and for 9 carat scrap gold the current price is £10.49 per gram, 14 carat scrap gold is £16.36 per gram, 18 carat scrap gold is £20.98 and 22 carat scrap gold is £25.63 per gram. This is a good increase from this time last year and if you then compare this to the prices which gold is selling for on eBay this month so far:

The krugerrand is probably the most famous of all the gold bullion coins and will normally come in 1 ounce coins. Historically the Krugerrand has made good money on eBay. As an example last year a 1984 Krugerrand sold for £454 and a 2008 one sold for £560 and two Krugerrands in mint condition dated 1979 and 1988 sold for £799.99 and £755. This year here are the results from some Krugerrand sales on eBay:

A One ounce 1979 Krugerrand sold for £920.01 on 13 Apr 2011. A one ounce 1975 Krugerrand sold for £900 also on the 13 apr 2011. Looking at the results on eBay a One ounce Krugerrand will now sell between £900 and just under the £1,000 for a good example which is a significant increase in the price of Krugerrands from last year.

Another gold coin which is a firm favourite is the Gold Sovereign the full sovereign weighs about 8g and is 22 carat gold these coins are always popular on eBay and a George V was selling for about £180 to £200 last year Victorian sovereigns are more costly depending on condition. This year full Sovereigns are now selling for about £220 to £230 and Victorian ones going for  over £260. This is a big increase in a year with about £60 more being paid for Victorian sovereigns.

Last year the half Sovereign was selling for about £85 to £90 with exceptional uncirculated coins such as a 1910 half gold sovereign selling for £111. This year the half sovereigns are selling for about £110 with good examples and rarer years selling for about £140 and upwards, again this is well up on this time last year and the prices still seem to be not just holding but vastly increasing each year.

Scrap gold is also a very popular commodity on eBay and generally goes for a better price than most places where you can exchange gold for cash. There are lots of these cash for gold firms and shops appearing on the television, internet; even the high street is starting to be full of shops all wanting gold for cash. The increase in the scrap gold price has something to do with this but you will be hard pushed to get as much for your gold from these places as selling it on eBay. Looking at recent results 7 pairs 9ct gold earrings 8gms sold for £85.52 which is about £10.50 per gram and 31.9gms of scrap 9ct gold for £323.23 which again is over £10 per gram which is better than any other place I have seen offering to buy scrap gold.

The Isle of Man produces its own range of gold coins such as the Manx Angels or Manx Crowns these coins are available in various sizes and weights and were first produced in the 18^th century until the middle of the 19^th century. However during the 1970’s when the Krugerrand  became very popular the Isle of Man saw a market to start reproducing there own gold coins again. These coins range in purity from 9ct to 24 ct gold. They produce an Isle of Man gold sovereign which is very similar to the British sovereign and they also produce gold bullion coins such as the Manx coins. The I.O.M. gold sovereign is nearly exactly the same as the British one but instead of having George and the Dragon on the back it has a Norse warrior on horseback and is available in the same sizes as the British Sovereign and made from 22ct gold. They also produce a range of Gold coins in different denominations such as the Manx golden pound or two pound and five pound coins.

One of the most famous Isle of Man animals is the Manx cat and one of the most popular gold coins to collect is the Manx cat crowns which are made every year with a picture of a different cat on the reverse side these coins were first minted in 1988 and have become very collectible and the coins from the first 10 years can be quite hard to come across. There are some of these Coins available on eBay at the moment or you can search on the internet for coin dealers and sites which have various different Isle of Man Manx cat coin made from 24ct gold. They have also produced a wide variety of different commemorative coins of the Isle of Man with lots of different subjects such as the famous Isle of Mann TT races or subjects such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings sets.

The Isle of Man gold coins also produce a range called Isle of Man Angels these angel coins are made from 24ct gold and are released every year at Christmas time and depict one of the 12 days of Christmas theme. These coins are only released in limited numbers so have become highly collectible and sought after. The reverse side depicts St Michael killing the dragon but the privy mark is in relation to the 12 days of Christmas in 2009 this was the sixth day so had six geese are laying as a privy mark and limited to about 1,000 coins. Have a look on the internet for great bargains which can be picked up in Isle of Man gold coins they are nice to collect and will only increase in value making Isle of Man gold coins investments worthwhile. At the Moment the 1/10 oz Isle of Man Manx Cat coins are selling for approximately £110 on eBay.

Gold watches come in a variety of different designs you can have a nice gold wristwatch or if you want the true antique then a gold pocket watch collection should suit you.

You would think that most gold antique pocket watches are all the same but there is a vast array of different designs and makes of gold pocket watch. Some of the pocket watches have a plain cover and others can be highly decorated or engraved. Gold pocket watches also come in different sizes as well as designs, you can have highly ornate faces with enamel and jewels or just a simple metal faced pocket watch. If you decide that gold pocket watches are right for starting to collect then there are various places where you can find them.

There are lots of places where you can pick up your gold pocket watches cheaper than just going to a watch shop and paying top prices. You can buy gold pocket watches on the internet from sites such as eBay but you will have to take note of the description on the condition and details of the watch. You can ask the seller for extra pictures or questions on details of the watch and if you pay via PayPal then you can always get your money back if you are not satisfied.

Other good locations to get a cheap gold pocket watch is by going to your local auction or maybe a specialist watch auction where you should be able to pick one up for a fraction of the price that you could expect to pay in a watch shop.

Antique shops or fairs are normally a good place to find pocket watches and you maybe able to do a deal with the owner for a reduced price. Gold pocket watches will command much more money than a silver pocket watch however gold watches are normally made with much better quality parts than you will find on a silver watch.

There are lots of sites on the internet or books which you can obtain to give you details on the best watches to buy. As with most antiques there is better quality and makes of watches which will cost more money than the more standard gold pocket watch.

There will be certain designs which will be more collectible than others, it may depend on who owned the watch before, and if it was someone famous like the captain of the Titanic then it would be worth a fortune. It maybe a special design such as a limited or special edition which will make it rarer than similar watches. It might just be the design of the watch such as the engraving or maybe it could have precious stones. Enamel watches are very popular there are so many things which can raise the price.

In the end condition is king as damaged watches will not be worth as much as ones in good condition.

The average price of 9 carat scrap gold for the month is £9.95 per gram.  The 14 carat scrap average is £15.53 per gram, the 18 carat scrap average is £19.91 per gram and the 22 carat scrap average is £24.31 per gram.

Let’s take a look at the prices that gold bullion, gold coins and gold scrap was sold for on eBay this month:

Krugerrands

The South African Krugerrand is a 1 ounce gold bullion coin.

On the 27^th November, a 1974 Krugerrand sold for £890 after receiving 3 bids.

Also on 27^th November a set of three Krugerrands sold for £2,600 after receiving 6 bids, making the price just under £867 each.

In eBay shops a buy-it-now price of £925 was achieved for a Krugerrand in immaculate condition

.

Gold sovereign coins

Gold sovereign coins are always popular on eBay, and this month is no exception.  The full gold sovereign weighs a fraction under 8g of 22 carat gold.

The common George V full gold sovereign has been selling for around £210-220 this month, although a 1917 sovereign from the Melbourne Mint sold for £266 on 28^th November.

A high price was achieved for a rare 1817 George III sovereign in uncirculated condition, which went for £1,295 on 2^nd November.

The cheapest price paid for a full sovereign was £185 for a 1974 sovereign on 20^th November. The description and picture of this coin was so bad that the buyer had to take a risk with what they were getting.

Someone was lucky enough to pick up a real bargain with a 1906 half sovereign going for just £75. At that price you could buy one of the new quarter sovereigns.

Scrap Gold

Scrap gold is something else that continues to sell well on eBay with the prices achieved being close to what you would get by taking your scrap gold direct to a dealer.  On 28^th November 29.4g of 9 carat scrap gold sold for £310.85 which at just over £10.57 per gram is a little above market price.

Indeed, for those with the acumen and capital to buy gold throughout 2009 and the early months of 2010, their investments could reap solid rewards. For hoarders and traders, there is an expectation for the price to peak through December, therefore providing the optimum time to cash in, both in terms of the gold’s market value and the level of demand present within the marketplace. The rise in the price of gold is also reflected in the average unit costs of 14, 18 and 22 carat scrap items, with an increase of £3.00 per range between April and November 2010.

Specialist Items And Investing In Gold

In terms of buying gold for an incremental investment, gold coins and bar format gold bullion are two of the most popular choices. These items are very collectable, and there are many individuals who will purchase gold privately for a negotiated fee (in line with the specifications and overall value of gold). Such investments have historically proved popular, as fluctuations in the price of gold are not as drastic or changeable as other investment commodities, and this trend has continued through 2010. Coins and bullion are an ideal source of financial insurance, as they will also retain a value within the market.

Gold Bullion And Proof Coins

There are subtle differences between gold bullion coins and gold proof coins however, which are significant in terms of their cost and value when considering selling gold. Gold bullion coins are valued and costed strictly on the levels of gold and precious metal they contain, whereas gold proof coins are designed and produced as specific collector items, so can carry additional value depending on the individual theme of the coin and the collector in question. All gold coins, whether they be classic or contemporary items, are very popular amongst private collectors and investors alike. These are viewed a being similar to currency rather than a commodity, as whilst its value and cost will dip and soar, gold and gold coins can never be rendered worthless or without value.

One of the most popular and valuable gold bullion coins on the market is the South African Krugerrand. There are coins available between 1967 (the year of the Krugerrands inception) and the current day, at an ever steady average cost of £860.00 (with an estimated gold cost of £800 per ounce). They are not aesthetically pleasing and nor were they ever designed to be, but they remain popular due to their predictable and reliable value over a distinct period of time. Another reason for its demand amongst investors and collectors is that it is an example of legal tender in South Africa, the Krugerrand can be imported into many countries world wide without the charge of import tax, VAT or duty.

A more economical and historic bullion coin renowned throughout the gold industry is the sovereign. The demand for these coins has experienced a sharp increase through the summer and peaked in October 2010, as collectors clamour to purchase these at the vastly reduced cost as compared to the Krugerrands. The sovereign range of rings is the most competitively priced within the gold bullion market, with a vastly superior profit to be made on resale as opposed to other coins. In addition to this, sovereigns are exempt from the burden of Capital Gains Tax in the UK, and are also a far more attractive and stylish design of coin for collectors. Their historical merit is also a significant consideration to a discerning collector.

Gold Bullion Bars

The popularity of physical gold bullion as an investment items was maintained through 2010, due in part to the global financial uncertainty and the fact the physical bullion does not depend on a suppliers pledge to pay. This removes a huge element of risk present in other services and commodities, giving an investor insurances as to the security of his capital. In addition to the bullion coins, gold bullion can be purchased in single bar format, and there are a surprising range of designs and choices available to the consumer. Quite often, however, if a specific type of gold bullion bar is required then the supplier will need to be informed as many simply sell bullion as an investment rather than a specific, collectable item.

The most in demand and commonly requested are Swiss gold bullion bars. Switzerland is renowned for its gold and banking, but many of its physical bars are rarer items. An example is the Swiss Volksbank bars, which are a rare commodity especially in the 1000 gram mould, and require much research to source from suppliers. Bars from the famous UBS Union Bank in Switzerland are also popular items that are often requested, due to the renowned name and the distinctive shape and dimensions, and these bars are also available in sizes ranging from 100 to 500 grams.

Continued Growth

A review of the price of gold in 2010 would have to conclude that, despite fluctuating financial fortunes in various national economies, gold has managed to maintain a steady inflation in unit cost and value across all its designs and formats. Whether scrap gold, gold bullion or gold coins, the steady increase in value and price is an indication of the special properties that gold as a material holds as an investment opportunity, and the gold industry is predicted to see further growth throughout 2011. It is easily sourced, is not susceptible to the risk of failure to supply or to pay, and due to government borrowing sees its value increase through times of economical hardship. If 2010 has proved anything, it is that there is no more reliable physical investment of capital than one that is made in gold.