freefall

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.

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.

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 used to watch the Keiser report too. He’s been banging the door on gold for years but now it’s more bitcoin. His anti establishment message sat well with me. My trust in government had totally gone after the war in Iraq and the financial crisis. Loved his zany style and straight talk. I didn’t take what he said as gospel but it was the only place I could find someone who had a platform to attack the mainstream narrative. I found my own truth somewhere in between. I always find it funny when RT gets branded as a Kremlin mouthpiece when that’s exactly what the BBC is too. 

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.

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.

$28.50....wow..anyone see $30 by the end of next week?...had to re-evaluate my treasure chest of goodies at $25.000

Feel for you here mate.
I've had a few high value orders from GS>BE in the past few years. They've all arrived safely but were either delivered by Yodel 😬 or Fed-ex. I think there's a good chance UPS have sub-contracted out your delivery which may be the source of the problem.
You've done the right thing alerting everyone to GS.BE customer care. Trust and reliability is pretty fundamental in the  precious metals business. I wouldn't use them again.
Hope it turns up or you get a refund. 

Feel for you here mate.
I've had a few high value orders from GS>BE in the past few years. They've all arrived safely but were either delivered by Yodel 😬 or Fed-ex. I think there's a good chance UPS have sub-contracted out your delivery which may be the source of the problem.
You've done the right thing alerting everyone to GS.BE customer care. Trust and reliability is pretty fundamental in the  precious metals business. I wouldn't use them again.
Hope it turns up or you get a refund. 

Feel for you here mate.
I've had a few high value orders from GS>BE in the past few years. They've all arrived safely but were either delivered by Yodel 😬 or Fed-ex. I think there's a good chance UPS have sub-contracted out your delivery which may be the source of the problem.
You've done the right thing alerting everyone to GS.BE customer care. Trust and reliability is pretty fundamental in the  precious metals business. I wouldn't use them again.
Hope it turns up or you get a refund. 

Called UPS again today, goldsilver.be have yet to file a claim on their system and without the sender filing the claim there is nothing they can do as I don't hold all the sender related details to log it myself.
Spoke to the police and they said its not really anything to do with them as it's a civil dispute, best to contact my bank.
 
Bank contacted and as it's a direct bank transfer they said it will be difficult if not impossible to refund the money, they said wait till the UPS attempts of a claim has run its course then contact them back of it's not resolved to see what they can do if anything.
 
At the mercy of goldsilver.be
 
 

I used to watch the Keiser report too. He’s been banging the door on gold for years but now it’s more bitcoin. His anti establishment message sat well with me. My trust in government had totally gone after the war in Iraq and the financial crisis. Loved his zany style and straight talk. I didn’t take what he said as gospel but it was the only place I could find someone who had a platform to attack the mainstream narrative. I found my own truth somewhere in between. I always find it funny when RT gets branded as a Kremlin mouthpiece when that’s exactly what the BBC is too. 

This is an interesting thread so I will add my little story.
I collected coins since I was a kid. I like the intricate design of coins and its history. My collection at the time were mostly British pre-decimal and world coins.
There was a local coin shop in my town back in the day. So when I had spending money, I would pay them a visit and buy silver and anythings else of interest that I can afford. I have all the coins from that time, including a nice 1820 George III silver crown, a 1889 Victoria silver crown and a pristine 1915 George V half crown.
My first gold coin was a 1982 half sovereign. This was when I had a part-time cleaning job after school. I remembered walking passed a coin shop in Central London and saw some shinny sovereigns behind the window. I think it cost a princely sum of £25.
After starting a family, I had little time nor funds to continue my hobby. Back then, I viewed coin collecting, whether in silver or gold simply as a hobby and not as a way to preserve wealth.
I started waking up to precious metals after the 2008 financial market crash.  I got burnt investing in the shares of the company I worked for !
I was still reading up on the financial markets in the evenings until ISIS came into the living room. The British Brainwashing Corporation (BBC) and ConJob4 (C4) would have you believe it was a civil war.  But nothing made sense on the news. How can a small faction of fighters and Jihadi John can defeat and outgun a national army of Syria with tanks and fighter jets !  After much reading and research on alt-media, namely Zerohedge, globalresearch.ca and many other platforms, I came to understand it was a conflict over money, power and control. If you control oil you control nations, control food you control the people, control money then you control the world !  The New World Odor as some would say !  
After many months of research, reading, watching and listening, I got to understand these two famous quotes :-
1.  "It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning" - Henry Ford
2.  "Money is Gold, and nothing else" - JP Morgan Testimony before the Bank and Currency Committee of the House of Representatives, at Washington, D. C. 18 & 19 December 1912.
After this waking moment, I withdrawn my savings and exchanged them for the shinny stuff. I basically continued with my hobby !!  LOL !!
That's it. My short story !  😎 

Got a feeling there maybe compulsory redundancies on the Asian desk in the near future😀

I'm setting up a gofundme page for poor old Wonger. The dude must be so in the red.

Pretty explosive move up and I can’t see any reason for it not to stick. Shame I sold all mine over the last few months. Happy for all the guys have been holding on for years waiting on it. Must feel good.

Received this truly stunning QB coin yesterday.  Thanks to @freefall.  Photograph below is not doing any justice (apologies).

Found a few more animals to keep my tiger company. Poor elephant has a broken trunk but I like him

A very European set of Mexican pesos received over the last few days. Got the 50 from @SVcollector in Greece, the veinte from CDMA (France) on ma-shops.com and the rest from Kurpersky (Germany) on ma-shops. So thanks to @AgD for the link.
 
 

A very European set of Mexican pesos received over the last few days. Got the 50 from @SVcollector in Greece, the veinte from CDMA (France) on ma-shops.com and the rest from Kurpersky (Germany) on ma-shops. So thanks to @AgD for the link.
 
 

A very European set of Mexican pesos received over the last few days. Got the 50 from @SVcollector in Greece, the veinte from CDMA (France) on ma-shops.com and the rest from Kurpersky (Germany) on ma-shops. So thanks to @AgD for the link.
 
 

A very European set of Mexican pesos received over the last few days. Got the 50 from @SVcollector in Greece, the veinte from CDMA (France) on ma-shops.com and the rest from Kurpersky (Germany) on ma-shops. So thanks to @AgD for the link.
 
 

https://www.hattongardenmetals.com/about/secondhanditemterms.aspx
4.4 We can deliver our products anywhere in mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, we do not deliver to the Channel Islands.
Pretty sure that means UK only.

A very European set of Mexican pesos received over the last few days. Got the 50 from @SVcollector in Greece, the veinte from CDMA (France) on ma-shops.com and the rest from Kurpersky (Germany) on ma-shops. So thanks to @AgD for the link.