Pete

If you are paying income tax then definitely into a SIPP that you manage yourself on-line.
For every £500 you invest, your account will be credited by 25% to £625 through a tax refund ( could be even higher if a higher rate earner ).
Where can you get that instant return with cash these days ?
You can then decide on whether to remain in cash as low risk but no gain, buy trackers and follow the market or be slightly more adventurous with equity funds and there are lots of big institutions doing all the ground work so spreading the net. Mix & match and diversify as you choose - avoid the 'all eggs in one basket' !
Check the terms for being able to withdraw from a SIPP and how it may or may not affect your tax.
PS - this is not financial advice as I am not qualified, but this is what I would consider before anything else - or buy a flat to rent in a growing area or university town.

A non tax payer can, every tax year, put up to £2,880 in to a SIPP - drip feed or lump sums it doesn't matter - and the government tops it up to a maximum £3,600 so you automatically get 25% of your investment up to £720 as a free gift.
This is not guesswork as I have done this every year for many years for my wife.
You cannot access your SIPP until aged 50 ( maybe 55 needs checking ) so good to lock away your investment.
Making withdrawals you will get the first 25% returned tax free thereafter taxable - if you pay tax.
With a stocks & shares ISA all your withdrawals are of course tax free but you weren't given the 25% free boost to start with.
SIPPS and ISAs mostly use all the same funds if thinking about equities and trackers etc.

 

If you are paying income tax then definitely into a SIPP that you manage yourself on-line.
For every £500 you invest, your account will be credited by 25% to £625 through a tax refund ( could be even higher if a higher rate earner ).
Where can you get that instant return with cash these days ?
You can then decide on whether to remain in cash as low risk but no gain, buy trackers and follow the market or be slightly more adventurous with equity funds and there are lots of big institutions doing all the ground work so spreading the net. Mix & match and diversify as you choose - avoid the 'all eggs in one basket' !
Check the terms for being able to withdraw from a SIPP and how it may or may not affect your tax.
PS - this is not financial advice as I am not qualified, but this is what I would consider before anything else - or buy a flat to rent in a growing area or university town.

When I return to Switzerland, maybe next year, I can drop one of my spanking new 2022 Britannia's into this commonly found, on mountain paths, substance and see its effect.

I can assume in the Royal Mint quality control operating procedure manual that they refer to the terms B.U. and non B.U. to mean "buggered up" and "not buggered up".
I know that silver has important anti bacterial and disinfecting properties so I will keep one of my new 2022 Britannia's next to my toilet brush and use it from time to time to freshen up the brush. Should last for years !!

I can assume in the Royal Mint quality control operating procedure manual that they refer to the terms B.U. and non B.U. to mean "buggered up" and "not buggered up".
I know that silver has important anti bacterial and disinfecting properties so I will keep one of my new 2022 Britannia's next to my toilet brush and use it from time to time to freshen up the brush. Should last for years !!

I can assume in the Royal Mint quality control operating procedure manual that they refer to the terms B.U. and non B.U. to mean "buggered up" and "not buggered up".
I know that silver has important anti bacterial and disinfecting properties so I will keep one of my new 2022 Britannia's next to my toilet brush and use it from time to time to freshen up the brush. Should last for years !!

I can assume in the Royal Mint quality control operating procedure manual that they refer to the terms B.U. and non B.U. to mean "buggered up" and "not buggered up".
I know that silver has important anti bacterial and disinfecting properties so I will keep one of my new 2022 Britannia's next to my toilet brush and use it from time to time to freshen up the brush. Should last for years !!

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

Today I received a couple of "vintage" Perth Mint Koalas from @jultorsk - PERFECT condition - thanks
I also received the latest 2022 Chinese Panda from @Pandao - PERFECT condition - thanks
In my 3rd package today were 2 brand new 2022 Britannias purchased from Atkinsons - thanks for a fast service - BUT NO CREDIT to our Royal Mint - you decide !!!
Left - a scuff mark across the entire obverse nose to ear.
Right - multiple scattered small pits ( not dust ).
Reverses on both were unmarked.
These were purchased for my boxed sets so I was hoping for very good condition.
Makes me seriously think about discontinuing with the Brit sets having collected all the Britannia's so far.
Such a shame and no credit whatsoever to our Royal Mint compared to most other mints issuing bullion.
    

That's the colour of pure gold.
As soon as you add other metals that can tint the base colour but you knew that.
Just like mixing paint adding traces of pigment to white.
I would imagine platinum and silver, maybe nickel also, would lighten slightly fine gold and copper would darken it.
Watching Gold Rush on TV the raw gold found in the Klondike looks yellow and not coppery.

Forum membership would also give more credibility when selling also and give fellow members confidence.
And if you have any silver brits for about 50p an ounce please ensure you message me first !🐮
Welcome to the forum!

I have been mentioning shysters and small-time fraudsters on ebay for years now.
They almost always follow a pattern that they were given or acquired these coins, and don't know much about coins, and whether they are genuine or not, but then they go on to describe and list most of the attributes of genuine coins. In short, they are all playing dumb, but they are nowhere near as dumb as the people who buy them, thinking or hoping they have got a bargain.
I am convinced that ebay know very wel what is being sold on their site, are happy to take the listing fees and selling fees, and do not care one iota about the "punters" who are getting ripped off day after day. Sometimes ebay might have to reimburse buyers, but often will recover this from the sellers.
Ebay is just another of the vast multinational corporations making fat profits, while putting out propaganda saying they take customer safety very seriously, and similar with copyright and intellectual property rights. It seems that the media are happy to comply with this deceit because they get to run "news" stories about "rare" £2 and 50p coins "selling for hundreds or thousands of pounds.
In my opinion ebay is a four letter word. 😎
 

You can fit anything you like to explain a shift in spot prices, mostly BS but coming from the "experts" it must be right of course, but it could also be attributed to the early release of the John Lewis woke Christmas TV advert.

You can fit anything you like to explain a shift in spot prices, mostly BS but coming from the "experts" it must be right of course, but it could also be attributed to the early release of the John Lewis woke Christmas TV advert.

If the coins are not what is on the CoA then I would be asking questions as it's like telling the police you have a valid MOT but only to find out later it is for another car.
See what they say !!

That's the colour of pure gold.
As soon as you add other metals that can tint the base colour but you knew that.
Just like mixing paint adding traces of pigment to white.
I would imagine platinum and silver, maybe nickel also, would lighten slightly fine gold and copper would darken it.
Watching Gold Rush on TV the raw gold found in the Klondike looks yellow and not coppery.

You don't expect tarnish on 9999 silver that is only a few years old so this coin has been exposed to a pretty bad atmosphere generally involving lots of smoke.
You might see this if the owner kept it next to his pipe or it was found in a drawer in a house that caught fire once.
S.P. should be ashamed selling a coin in this condition unless it was specifically described as heavily tarnished as this is definitely not normal for a coin this age.

Yes they have lost their appeal but maybe there are people out there prepared to buy without doing any comparisons.
HGM were once my favourite supplier before they turned in to an on-line coin shop pricing everything by date and adding hefty premiums to some.
Maybe they hired someone who pointed them in this direction and if it works for them ... I haven't bought anything from HGM for years and even Mayfair shops sell sovereigns for less.

I don't believe this is a Border Force issue.
Any importer has to make a declaration and when you use a courier like Fedex they do this on your behalf i.e. clearing customs.
Border Force only ever inspect random shipments to ensure there isn't anything in the box that isn't declared and to catch smugglers etc.
When a courier company just makes bulk entries without checking specific details the default is full VAT and that probably applies to most shipments.
So if VAT is not applicable they know the end user can ask for a "re-entry" and the VAT invoice is recalculated.
Border Force are pretty good at refunding but they are not responsible for the couriers lazy attitude and the fact that they can just add charges for their errors is the issue.

In order to help with advice could you try and give an indication to what you are looking to sell and whether you are selling as bulk lots or individually.
A newbie could trust a buyer on the forum with good feedback so to get started perhaps post and get paid upon receipt.
This would work with low value items but if planning to sell a bulk lot then you might find it more difficult to catch a buyer prepared to pay up front unless it was the deal of the century.
The difference between eBay and here is the protection offered to buyers and sellers by eBay whereas here it is 100% reputation only.