Roy

I am a newbie and only a couple of months in but I have come to think of each 1 OZ of silver I collect as ensuring a portion of fish and chips for me and the Mrs each Friday when retired.
 

Bit late to this thread, here is my 2p..
 
- Firstly, £1000-£1500 is a very nice amount of investable  income to have, and I believe that anyone in such a position can do very well over the timeframe suggested if they make sensible decisions. But is it a sustainable amount? You may get a buzz from the first few coins that arrive through the post, but its not realistic to expect to have the same enthusiasm for it in a 12 or 24 months time. Putting in only what you can comfortably see yourself getting by without is a sensible way to go about it. 
- If you have high interest debts that still need to be clear, then you should do that first. If you can't clear your debts or at least have a firm plan in place to do so then stacking PMs on top of that is like trying to build a house on quicksand
- Have a long term strategy in place. have the mindset of "accumulating over a long period" rather than just "buying". 
- You should also consider other investments because Gold is insurance before it is an investment.  You MUST understand this if you are to not be shaken out and become disillusioned. If you can take advantage of a pension scheme then do so, for the tax advantages (and any employer contributions) are a massive advantage to have in your favour. You're already lost 45% in tax before you bought an oz of gold.  Most of the time people hope they don't need to draw on their insurance.  There is wise saying of "put 10% into gold and hope it does badly".  
- I'm not an expert of different gold coins, to me it is all just gold. I just buy what lowish-premium coins I like and would say that this is good advice for anyone starting out.
- Don't expect the world to change just because you are buying. It may do, but probably won't. Gold doesn't care that you own some. Don't take it personally if in 5 years time your investments are still under water. 

Just curious to know from anyone accumulating 3 ounces of gold per month for the next few years, or longer - where do you keep the metal and do you include on your home insurance ?
I am not sure you can obtain insurance for a sizeable PM amount without (a) using a specialist insurer and therefore paying a hefty annual premium and (b) having an appropriate rated safe specified by your insurer. More than likely you need a monitored alarm as well. Maybe you can get a safety deposit box at a bank but that's expensive. You can easily fit 100 ounces into a relatively small box so maybe you just keep it on the kitchen shelf inside an empty Weetabix packet or in the spare room with the kids toys ?

This one is coming home with me too. Finally get to see what I ordered in the flesh from the ever reliable @arshimo2012 a couple of months ago and at a wee discount from the RM price to go with the 3 coin premium set, sotd and piedfort.
Sorry for the rubbish photos as usual. 

 
 
 



 
 

Here is my first 1/2 Sovereign. Arrived today.

My current line up. Was thinking about adding the solid gold gmt but after joining this forum and realising it has about £5000 of gold in the watch im not so keen now lol 

Because I can't open a bitcoin wallet 

Because I can't open a bitcoin wallet 

Because I can't open a bitcoin wallet 

I feel it is really important to record when something goes really well - way beyond your expectations.   We can often get disappointments and sometimes become happy with "average" and tolerant to "poor" levels of service and quality of products.
@Numistacker posted a fantastic video of a great coin - The 2017 British Sovereign minted under license for the Royal Mint in India with an "I" mintmark.  I don't study coins like others on the Forum but I look for something a bit different. 
We are all to greater or lesser extents bargain hunters so when you see something that it not too much more than the price of the metal content, is unusual and has caught the eye of Forum members then excitement levels start to heighten. 
Then you spot the £10 discount code for a new customer and before you know it the email confirming your order is in your inbox!
Fast forward 24 hours and you have a Royal Mail Special Delivery package in your hand, exactly like you see on the video and you cannot fail to be impressed by the care and attention taken of the packaging.  For my personal experience, you come back down to earth quickly as you think; "This is too good to be true" and then; "Calm down dear, it's only a bullion coin, it must have nicks, dents and scratches" but no, the coins are in lovely condition, they have great definition and you cannot fail to be impressed by the effort that has been made in pre-sales marketing, production, inspection, shipping, sale, payment processing, email order confirmation and then packaging and insured delivery - a lot of elements to get right on a low premium coin.
So usually in the buying process the story would end here, although there are sometimes a lot of frogs kissed that don't make the Forum because, no one really likes to moan, we are all used to problem coins, sometimes we are embarrassed and sometimes you just can't be bothered with the anxiety of dealing with it any further.
But no, this happy story does not end here......................
Fast forward another 48 hours in the real world and there is a further positive development in the coin world!
A call from Brandon, representing UK Bullion.  An exceptionally polite young man asked me if I had received the package in good order.  He explained his top priority was to make sure that customers were happy with their coins.  We got into conversation and it quickly became very evident that he and UK Bullion really understood the needs of the customers.  He asked me if I would feedback on Trust Pilot, which I agreed to do.  There was a further surprise as part of the process - I will not spoil it for Forum members with orders from UK Bullion, but I felt like I was a valued customer - although this must be a small order for such a big company.
So from me UK Bullion achieves my very highest recommendation, from first impressions, through fulfilment, to lasting impressions I really cannot find any room for improvement.
Apologies for the long post, but when a firm goes to these lengths to make you happy then I think this sets a really good standard for Forum members' expectations for buying coins in the future.

This breaks my heart.
I didn't buy these but I'm so disappointed in the Mint.
It's simply not good enough. It is an £800 proof coin 

I'm in love, these are gorgeous!  
 
2002 + 2017 BU (Quintuple) Five-Sovereigns

Thanks for you for the explanations and refund offers.  
I just intend on keeping the SOFD sovereign.    Hassles to return, return costs at my own expense, may receive another damaged coin in return, the credit card bill has already been paid so any refund will put my account in credit. 
It is only the tiniest of marks, it looks much worse at x10 loupe magnification, than at x1 magnification human eye where is is hardly even visible to see 
Once the dust has settled 10-20 years down the line when none are available in the aftermarket, the mark hopefully wont be an issue and rarity/low mintage/value will prevail with a profit
It is what it is, the fault is Royal Mint not yours.  With the advancement of online forums like this and sharing of experiences, the Royal Mint is on a slippery slope to loosing its base core of  collectors with these all too common minting issues, quality issues, incorrect COAs, returns issues, poor packing.  Royal Mint can keep any new offerings and their super high price they ask for them. I am done with Royal Mint well and truly.  My gold cash will be spent anywhere but them. 
Thanks for your efforts @ChardLizzie and speedy attempts to resolve amicably in public 
  

Just went to the post office, guy asked me what I was posting, I said a collectible coin
Him: Oh what Type
Me:  a sovereign
Him: Oh I bought a proof sovereign earlier this year
Me: Oh was it the 2017 proof 1817 design with the garter belt?
Him: Hmm I think so yes, it was £700
Me: Ahh, so you didn't get it directly from the Royal Mint
Him: No I got it from  _______ (I think he said *something* collection), how much was it from the Royal Mint directly?
Me: £430
Him: *under his breath* bastard.... 
lol
I said it's selling on Ebay for £800 or so and I'm sure it will go up in the coming years 

Lizzie was kind enough to offer a replacement so just about to go post it back 
 

So 
We had a moment in the Roy household last night. The wife had been out with her colleagues and indulged in some 'extreme shopping'.
It's no problem, she works hard and is her own keeper.
But...I cannot stand waste. Frivolous spending. Keeping up with the Joneskis.
It got heated, fueled by a little too much red, and we were in each others faces.
I quizzed her: 'All that money on handbags...and what are they worth? (to be fair, some are vintage but that doesn't help this story!)
She replied venomously, 'Pah! You can talk...what about all your stupid coins? What are they worth huh?
The spread sheet is in my mind. 'Er...about 30 grand at today's prices.'
You could have heard a pin drop. She went to bed. 
 
This morning, over poached eggs and coffee, she whispered, 'You weren't joking were you?'
(I'm not a man known for idle comments) No, I replied.
She smiled, her big brown eyes begging for reparation,
And said, 'I knew you were right for me'
 
Moral of the story? Is there one or am I just bored? lol
Ying and yang?
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?
Someone has to take care of the finances. It's me, it's you dear forum pal. 
It doesn't hurt to be the 'grey man' once in a while 
 
(this sermon was sponsored by The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year Single malt. Cheers, Danny, Steve and Madstacks) 
 

It's the contents of my fridge that allow me to sleep soundly at night ?

Oi! you been I'm my shed again?  

KEEP CALM.
CARRY ON STACKING.
LEAVE ROOM IN THE FRIDGE FOR KIMCHI, IT IS NOT ONLY FOR BEER!!!
IF YOUR WIFE HAS ANY SWEET AND LOVELY SINGLE FEMALE RELATIVES PLEASE INTRODUCE ME! I AM YOUNG (ISH), LOVE ASIA, AM ELIGIBLE, AND CAN DEAL WITH GRUMPY BUT LOVEABLE SODS LIKE YOU!
PROFIT.
(AND THEN PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO TURN CAPS LOCK OFF - THANK YOU).

Gotta love the poor spelling !
 
Thank you for your email,
 
 
STRIKE ON THE DAY SOVERIGN
The strike on the day sovereign were struck straight out of packet which meant they did not go through a burnish process 
The operator wore a face mask, gloves and finger cots
They were given out to the press in batches of 100
We had three operators using three S&K presses
Tonnage , One strike at 750 and two strikes at 800
Amount of strikes Three in total
Inspection by operator at the press
They were then put on to trays and given to another operator who encapsulated them,
They were then given to two operators to pack in to presentation boxes,
All operators started work at 12am on the 1st July to ensure that the job would be complete and all 1817 coin were complete by 11.59pm on the 1st July 
13 pairs of die’s were prepared in readiness for this job so no cleaning was required.
 
Kind Regards
Customer Service

So 
We had a moment in the Roy household last night. The wife had been out with her colleagues and indulged in some 'extreme shopping'.
It's no problem, she works hard and is her own keeper.
But...I cannot stand waste. Frivolous spending. Keeping up with the Joneskis.
It got heated, fueled by a little too much red, and we were in each others faces.
I quizzed her: 'All that money on handbags...and what are they worth? (to be fair, some are vintage but that doesn't help this story!)
She replied venomously, 'Pah! You can talk...what about all your stupid coins? What are they worth huh?
The spread sheet is in my mind. 'Er...about 30 grand at today's prices.'
You could have heard a pin drop. She went to bed. 
 
This morning, over poached eggs and coffee, she whispered, 'You weren't joking were you?'
(I'm not a man known for idle comments) No, I replied.
She smiled, her big brown eyes begging for reparation,
And said, 'I knew you were right for me'
 
Moral of the story? Is there one or am I just bored? lol
Ying and yang?
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?
Someone has to take care of the finances. It's me, it's you dear forum pal. 
It doesn't hurt to be the 'grey man' once in a while 
 
(this sermon was sponsored by The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year Single malt. Cheers, Danny, Steve and Madstacks) 
 

It's the contents of my fridge that allow me to sleep soundly at night ?

Financially it's a loser. Maybe all the slitty eye Chinese bought them )) not one for me but he has done a great job and his retirement is well earned.

The sovereign is out of the proverbial handbag. It also sounds as though you might need a bigger fridge Roy that is some solid accumulation. 
Just kidding, nice story mate, you have shared your success with her now that is the moral of the story I think. Its all good having all those sovereigns keeping cool in the salad draw, but what good is it if they do nothing but add to the electricity bill. 

Have you tried the magnet test?