Blockhead

It is great to actually hold stuff, either silver or gold. In the short time I have been on here collecting/stacking I have more value in the gold and silver than if I had just been putting cash away into a bank etc. It’s great to receive the small packages. Seems a little strange now I have enough for a security deposit box to actually take stuff from home and leave it! It is also nice to be able to give the odd piece to close family as presents.🤔🫢🥳

I enjoy collecting things and turning to coins and bars is a way to preserve some wealth or even make a small profit instead of hobby money going on things which will never recover much value if they were ever sold (some other things I collect will probably end up in the bin when I pass away).
I am never going to be wealthy but at least with gold and other PMs I have a better chance of preserving what little I do have spare.
I have probably 25 years left of working and feel that not only will cash lose more and more of its value during that time but people can have their bank accounts frozen or closed at an institution's whim these days, and not everyone who has that done to them is a divisive political figure. Some small businesses suffer this too.
Although often not practical as a direct means of payment gold and silver can be converted to cash if things continue down this odd and disturbing path.

Along the same lines as the recent interesting thread " Regrets - buyers and sellers " @Ted1945 started 
It would be nice to here on the flip side your top reasons why you are happy/glad you started stacking precious metals. Serious & funny reasons to
 
I'll throw my hat in the ring first
 
As someone who has had problems holding onto cash in my younger years of general loose living, gold lets me store wealth easily and put a degree of separation between cash I can easily spend/gamble and holding onto what Ive worked for. From living wage packet to wage packet in my 20s to having a good six figures of gold in my 40s I'm very pleased with my efforts for someone who could never hold onto money I feel I have some solid insurance against the world of fiat money Ive learnt so much about, with gold I've a 5,000+ year proven history and track record over this 50 year failing fiat paper experiment we are living through I like it cos its nice and weighty & shiny, shiny - especially 2oz gold coins !   
Over to you . . . . . . .    

This was a rather enjoyable watch - Full stack vid of 200oz+ of gold accumulated over past 30 years 

You can have 2013 to 2022 or 2014 to 2023.
In a panda presentation box, 10 pandas, £350+£50 for box SD UK only.
In a china mint tube 10 coins in capsules, for £350, SD UK only.
10 coins on there own loose in caps £340, SD UK only.

Long story short, major issues in getting the files to the new cloud host. Mainly because they are extremely large. Zipping the original files also took over 24 hours, these then need to be split into several smaller zipped packets and sent, which also takes 12+ hours. This is after taking days and days to download the original files from the server in the first place 😅 there have been some issues trying to get this bit done even though we started work originally on Thursday. 

The forum is just really massive, and not easy to migrate as the cloud host is only able to take zipped files and not direct FTP access to download the files themselves. Thank you to Premium Members who choose to support TSF with Premium Membership as this does help greatly to our hosting and running costs. 

In order to minimise disruption and keep the forum online for as much as possible, we will only put the forum into offline mode and start migrating the database after we have managed to successful zipped/split/sent/extracted and migrated the majority of current files in the background. We want to make sure we can do this part first before putting the forum offline. 

The forum may therefore go offline sometime this week (possibly still very late tonight or more likely tomorrow) but we are unable to give an exact time frame as we are unsure and planning for a specific date/time is not so easy due to the variables. 

We do hope that we can complete the migration this week.  

Royal Mint confirm this meets their quality standards.

Here we have a fake 2013 gold Britannia weighing in at 28.43g. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295918362100
 

I could do pretty much any coin. It does take a bit of time to make the image reasonable for engraving. But, I can't see there being any real issues on any coins 🤷🏻‍♂️

I would buy these, and Britannia if you did them 

Just a bit of fun really, been playing around with my laser engraver, never tried coasters before, so didn't have a clue on design, so I thought I'd have a go at some special year sovereigns for a start.
Wanted to make them look they had been pressed into the coaster surface, rather then a perfect picture. Little bit of a clean up with the sander, and some sort of finish on top and I think they will look alright 😁

Royal Mint new releases:
 

 
Royal Mail Special Delivery:
 

£192

Here we have a rare opportunity in owning two vintage couples He’s & Her’s Pamp Suisse 18ct gold time pieces.
These were offered during the 1990’s under the Gold Dream selection, Through dealers in the Middle East. Produced by the world renowned Pamp Suisse of Switzerland, Whom are known for quality & striving excellence.
The gents watch seems unworn - The centre is depicting the Fortuna & alone has 1 oz of 9999 fine gold & the remainder is 18ct solid gold, even the clasp is 18ct & it’s hallmarked… the watch strap seems to be Alligator/crocodile leather. (No box)
 The ladies watch is 18ct solid gold, even the clasp is 18ct & it’s hallmarked… the watch strap seems to be Alligator/crocodile leather. 
It has the classic sun dial, has some creases on the strap which I think is due to how the watch sits in the box.(Comes with the beautiful case & outer box & a tag stating total fine gold content is 1.064 oz).
Both seem unworn in my opinion, As beautiful as they are they will need batteries.(Serial numbers have been covered for privacy).
I am looking to trade the pair for preferably a 999 gold 100g bar or take in part ex in all metals (OPEN TO SENSIBLE OFFERS).
PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE COLLECTIBLE WATCHES DESIRED WORLDWIDE DUE TO THEY’RE SCARCITY, SO THE VALUE ALONE ISN’T JUST BASED ON THE GOLD CONTENT.
I would like to complete the transaction in the jewellery quarter Birmingham, But can post if you cover postage…. Many references available.

 
TIA

I'm more a stacker than collector but I am proud of this. 
Its precious metal content is relatively low at just over 15g of Sterling silver, but its historical context is interesting and makes it my only truly numismatic coin. 

As always, apologies for the poor photos. Also apologies for not getting everything out (ooh err) as I was pushed for time. 

As always, apologies for the poor photos. Also apologies for not getting everything out (ooh err) as I was pushed for time. 

As always, apologies for the poor photos. Also apologies for not getting everything out (ooh err) as I was pushed for time. 

As always, apologies for the poor photos. Also apologies for not getting everything out (ooh err) as I was pushed for time. 

The easily accessible stack. 
Quite like how you can't make everything out as it's packed in so tightly, like a little treasure chest

Apologies for the photo quality but here is my collection so far (started two months ago). 
 

Fancied one of these for a while... so bought two. Sequential serial numbers, which is nice. 
I don't know if they'll carry much premium over the years (probably a little) but they really look the part IMHO. 
First time using silver trader website and very happy with the service. 


Appreciate anyone's thoughts on them. 

As always, apologies for the poor photos. Also apologies for not getting everything out (ooh err) as I was pushed for time. 

A boss from a previous job got me into silver a couple of years back, and I stacked that for a while. The most I had when stacking silver was a fraction over 5kg but most of that has been sold gradually. I haven't made a loss on any of it and don't regret selling it, although occasionally I think about those 10ozt Pamp bars wistfully! 
I am more into gold now, and not bothered about collecting or condition, I am just after building a modest supplement to my pension when that comes in about 25 years. (If I even make it to that age!) To that end I try to buy CGT exempt coins or at least low premium. I rarely buy outside the forum. In the past I even have been perverse enough to buy coins I don't particularly like, just so I have no compunction over selling them whenever the time comes! But I confess a few beauties have accidentally made it into the pot 🤐
I have a 'humble' background too. I don't work in emergency services or armed forces, and I don't have any friends or relatives into gold (and most have no idea about this aspect of me).
Life has been a bit unconventional for me. I've had two long term partners (at separate times I hasten to add) who have developed illnesses and the financial and emotional strains this has put on them and me has meant I never got on the property ladder and instead built up debts while trying to support them (which I am paying back without ever missing a payment). I guess I've been unlucky but not as unlucky as they have. 
This has also meant no kids of my own, but if I am brutally honest I have never really wanted kids, and I wouldn't be able to afford them anyway. I can afford to rent a modest place and pay its bills, and like the fact that if I do have another change of circumstances I can move with a month's notice and don't have to fork out for a new boiler etc. 
I do think, however, that I would not want to be enslaved by a huge mortgage even if I were earning more. Most people see it as security and that renting is money down the drain, but the only way I could afford even a dump of a place would be to get into a big mortgage which overstretched me and then be stuck to a particular location doing a job I hate just to pay for that dump. Then there's all the costs and hassle of maintenance and home improvements to consider... What I think suits me obviously doesn't suit everyone, or even most people, and many will have the means to make their property nicer and live more comfortably. I am going for what best suits my circumstances rather than trying to bend and stretch to conform to what I am not really comfortable with. It does seem to me that Britain is all about having the house, the car, the holidays whether or not you can really afford it. This digression is only really here because I have seen discussions on here where people seem to agree that it's generally best to avoid getting into debt if possible, especially if the primary motivation is keeping up with the Joneses or trying to live like people do in TV commercials for kitchens, holidays, car adverts.... 
 
I got made redundant earlier this year and now have a much more modest income. I wanted a change of direction and not to live with so much stress. I have the six months cash savings that people often suggest (based on my minimum realistic outgoings) and it has been hard not to buy loads of gold (very, very hard!) and hard not to make bigger payments to my debt, but I am trying to stick to that 6 month cash reserve rule. Having a few extra grand in the bank seems to me to negate the negligible £50, £100 a month saving, since my debts are on long term low interest offers. 
So far I've held on to my gold - almost three ounces - and not had to sell anything, but will need another job or a supplement to my income in the next few months, after I help my partner sort out a few personal and health issues. 
 
Good luck with your journey! 

A boss from a previous job got me into silver a couple of years back, and I stacked that for a while. The most I had when stacking silver was a fraction over 5kg but most of that has been sold gradually. I haven't made a loss on any of it and don't regret selling it, although occasionally I think about those 10ozt Pamp bars wistfully! 
I am more into gold now, and not bothered about collecting or condition, I am just after building a modest supplement to my pension when that comes in about 25 years. (If I even make it to that age!) To that end I try to buy CGT exempt coins or at least low premium. I rarely buy outside the forum. In the past I even have been perverse enough to buy coins I don't particularly like, just so I have no compunction over selling them whenever the time comes! But I confess a few beauties have accidentally made it into the pot 🤐
I have a 'humble' background too. I don't work in emergency services or armed forces, and I don't have any friends or relatives into gold (and most have no idea about this aspect of me).
Life has been a bit unconventional for me. I've had two long term partners (at separate times I hasten to add) who have developed illnesses and the financial and emotional strains this has put on them and me has meant I never got on the property ladder and instead built up debts while trying to support them (which I am paying back without ever missing a payment). I guess I've been unlucky but not as unlucky as they have. 
This has also meant no kids of my own, but if I am brutally honest I have never really wanted kids, and I wouldn't be able to afford them anyway. I can afford to rent a modest place and pay its bills, and like the fact that if I do have another change of circumstances I can move with a month's notice and don't have to fork out for a new boiler etc. 
I do think, however, that I would not want to be enslaved by a huge mortgage even if I were earning more. Most people see it as security and that renting is money down the drain, but the only way I could afford even a dump of a place would be to get into a big mortgage which overstretched me and then be stuck to a particular location doing a job I hate just to pay for that dump. Then there's all the costs and hassle of maintenance and home improvements to consider... What I think suits me obviously doesn't suit everyone, or even most people, and many will have the means to make their property nicer and live more comfortably. I am going for what best suits my circumstances rather than trying to bend and stretch to conform to what I am not really comfortable with. It does seem to me that Britain is all about having the house, the car, the holidays whether or not you can really afford it. This digression is only really here because I have seen discussions on here where people seem to agree that it's generally best to avoid getting into debt if possible, especially if the primary motivation is keeping up with the Joneses or trying to live like people do in TV commercials for kitchens, holidays, car adverts.... 
 
I got made redundant earlier this year and now have a much more modest income. I wanted a change of direction and not to live with so much stress. I have the six months cash savings that people often suggest (based on my minimum realistic outgoings) and it has been hard not to buy loads of gold (very, very hard!) and hard not to make bigger payments to my debt, but I am trying to stick to that 6 month cash reserve rule. Having a few extra grand in the bank seems to me to negate the negligible £50, £100 a month saving, since my debts are on long term low interest offers. 
So far I've held on to my gold - almost three ounces - and not had to sell anything, but will need another job or a supplement to my income in the next few months, after I help my partner sort out a few personal and health issues. 
 
Good luck with your journey!