Ansel

Personally I don’t know anyone else who collects gold so I’m interested to learn how other people got started, their motivations and what it means to them. What’s your story?

I'll start with my own.


 
My initial fascination with gold started when I was a kid. Like many households we always had an Argos or Index catalogue lying around that I would flick through when I was bored. As you would expect I spent a lot of time looking at all the toys but it was the jewellery section that really caught my eye. I liked all the birthstones and gems but my favourite pages were near the end of the jewellery section, it was all the gold chains. I used to sit and stare at the weights, purity and price of them for a reason I can’t fathom even to this day. The first piece of gold ever bought for me was by my mother when I got my ear pierced. I got a 9ct gold stud and hoop. A few years later after a fair amount of begging at shop windows she bought me a half sovereign ring and my brother a full sovereign. They were either lost or sold I guess and my gold story goes cold for a decade.

The financial crisis and great recession was my induction into the world of economics. I remember watching the TV as the queues formed outside Northern Rock and then like dominos the banks started to collapse. The government started QE and the bailouts commenced. What caused it? Where did this money come from? Who was going to pay it back? Pandora’s Box was open and my studies began. All the cash for gold shops appeared on the high street as the price took off - gold was more than just jewellery - gold shone bright once again. I seriously considered buying my first gold during this period but never followed through although my faith in the financial system was gone never to return. In the following years new terms and trends emerged. Help to buy, 0% finance, balance transfer credit cards, PCP car loans, early pension drawdowns and negative interest rates. I reasoned this was totally unsustainable, can only end in pain and it was time to prepare. I cleared all my debts then began living well within my means and saving in earnest. I knew what I had to do.

I bought my first gold from the Royal Mint. Three and a half ounces of pure gold were delivered by post the next day. When I opened the parcel and held the coins in my hands I was taken aback by the density, the purity, the colour. It was outside the financial system, untaxable, free from manipulation. It was perfect. It was that day I became a goldbug.

I’ve accumulated more incrementally and now it amounts to around half of my total assets. I’ve learned more about golds history as money and its universal appeal across ages and continents. I still don’t fully understand our love of gold which seems irrational but so is much of what we do. Gold is many things to many people but I view gold as the perfect way to store time. Immutable from government policy and excess in perfect parallel to its physical properties. I don’t care too much about price fluctuations because in the long run I’m as certain as I can be that gold will serve that purpose. During times like these it brings me comfort to know that I own gold and I’m sure I always will.

I can’t believe it was under £1000 only a year ago. The cruel mistress that is lady fortuna, when the price rises she fills you with happiness at a gain and sadness of the loss of cheaper opportunities. What a B*tch.

delivery from @Numistacker this morning, will post each coin individually, was delighted with this one  My 1st slabbed and majorly surprised with this 1980 sovereign and the half sovereign especially when this graded coin sold on sundays coin auction for 480  edit seems I have uploaded the max I can today

If you have ever opened a box and a load of shredded paper has landed on your carpet, then you too have probably bought from the "shredder"  @Troy77 Sells some lovely stuff tho.















Sorry a tad pic heavy

Couple of cool old bars from Chards. 

Oh, yeah, how could I have forgotten?!?! I did also receive this golden oldie numismatic, a fantastic piece of milled coinage, thanks to excellent service from Benjamin at Wessex Coins! A beautiful Gold 1766 George III Guinea in superb condition!

Keep on stacking! Received these mixed PMs over the past couple of days...
Really enjoying the Austrian Mint’s Philharmonic design with my first 1996 Austria 1/4 oz Gold Philharmonic BU.


A couple of 2010 1/10 oz American Gold Eagle (BU)...




And we have some bits of Silver starting off with the Peter Rabbit™ 2020 UK 50p Silver Proof Coin. This only took five weeks to arrive from The Royal Mint...



My very first Kookaburra with this lovely 2016 1 Oz Silver Australian Kookaburra Perth Mint (BU)...


We also have added five 2018 1 oz Russian Silver Saint George Coin (BU). These look truly bullion quality, but with an enjoyable St. George and the Dragon design .


 


 
Also, picked up a sister series of the Chinese restrikes, with five 2020 China 1 oz Silver Shih Kai "Flying Dragon" Restrike (PU). This could probably have easily been incorporated into the original series hence the reason I added these...




 
Lastly, a tiny bit of Platinum with these two 1988 1/10 oz Platinum The Australian Koala (BU) in original adjoining capsules...


 

Some very fancy coins today, 4 of the 5 Eternal Sculptures from PowerCoin - just waiting for the final one to be released in a month or so to complete the set.

Today I received this beautiful 1894 $20 from Chards.

Home from work today to two deliverys of Mexican beauty's the 1947 un peso had been in transit for a month and and star of the show is the 1921 dos peso and was only minted for one year.

Few bits I picked up recently. Thanks to @arshimo2012, @StackSellRepeat, @Tn21, @PapaLazarou and @Imehufc. TSF is full of brilliant and helpful people! 

And today I received these little bars and buttons.
They look good in the packaging haven't taken them out yet
Many thanks to @StackerQueen

About 25 years ago I received this watch.
Can't make out the date, does anyone have a good link to UK London pre 1900 markings


 

From thegoldsovereign
 

2nd delivery of the day - almost unheard of in these times.
With grateful thanks to @Sparrowlegs4 and indirectly to @ST1986
This SP70 is my first graded coin. It's not unattractive imo.
 

I got this very nice leather and brass full and half sovereign coin holder that holds 40 sovereigns (20 full and 40 half so 40 full sovereigns in all) Ive never seen one like this before so a great pickup 

😁 Thought I'd have to import one then one just turned up 

A mob of the 2020 RAM Frosted Red Roos bounded into my porch this morning. They are much more attractive than the online photos had led me to believe. The 28th "Frostie" and this series is still going strong.




 
Beautiful box courtesy of @morezone :
 

You asked:
 
Your wish is my command, oh master!
Custom made stacks made to order. Please specify whether you prefer 100, 200, 300, or 400 bar stacks.

I very kind gift from a fantastic forum member
Really appreciated and a lovely coin 

Today's mail
 

Recieved a very pricey bit of silver! This medal was supplied with Patek Philippe watches on thier 150th anniversery in 1989 - I have not been able to find out if all watches had one or just some models.... Its 35 grams of sterling.. But the silver value is irrelevant in its value as an item in this case... Its two of my obsessions in one package so i had to have it! Plus i know i will never get a Patek watch so this will have to do 

Was after one of these bad boys for a while. 2020 double sov BU first year of issue 
thank you @1stsovereign

Thanks @ilovesilverireallydo
 for this unusual 9ct charm

It's been an absolute age since I've posted in this thread.  I'm no longer adding weight to my collection and have recently sold off bits which I'm no longer continuing with in order to swap out for the remaining QB 1 and 1/4 oz Golds.  2 more 1oz and 3 1/4 oz to go to complete the collection which I should  finish at the end of the year when they release The White Greyhound of Richmond. 
Ordered the Yale and White Lion from Chards on the 17th March.  I completely forgot about the Yale so I was scrambling to find one quick since the White Horse was being released which meant minting for the Yale would be stopping and premiums going up.  Atkinsons had already increased the Yale premium and some places were already out of stock.  Managed to get in at just over £1200 spot just as demand and spot was rising and just before the lockdown.  Ended up with a bit of a wait and were delivered today.  Unfortunately the Queen on the Yale has been attacked by her Corgis.