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Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (2911)	12/28/2005 1:50:57 PM
From: energyplay	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217769

Maple Leafs are almost pure gold, at least 99.9% (three nines) Many Indians prefer Maple Leaf becuase jewlers are happy to take them to use as raw material. Bridal jewelry being a big thing in India. Maple Leafs, the Aussie coins, and American Eagles are among the highest volume NEW bullion gold coins in the world, and so are familiar to many people. Krugerrands still have some stigma fro aparthied, and are alloyed with copper. Pandas have a rarity that commands an slight premium. American Eagles have some possible use in IRAs, and possibly some very minor legal advantages for US holders. I would suggest getting at least a few differnt types. I recently bought soem Mexican coins, since I'm in California and about 600 miles from Mexico. You want ot have something your future buyer is familiar and comfortable with. I also have Eagles, but most are Maple Leafs, becaues of the Indian factor. Lots of Indians all over the world. This is bullion only, collectibles are another matter.

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (2911)	12/28/2005 7:23:29 PM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217769

hello cactusjack, tobagojack here. on What accounts for the price disparity between Maple Leafs, Krugerrands, Eagles, Roosters, Pandas, etc.? Krugerrands are cheaper than the rest; is that due to a different metal composition in the coins? i believe Krugerrands and Eagles hold 1 oz of gold, plus lesser metals. There is talk of a purer Eagle to be offered. Maples, Koalas and Pandas are 999, but Pandas are minted in relatively smaller quantities (30k in earlier years, and 100-150+k more recently) and its design is different for the vast majority of issues (I think all years between 1982 - 2005, except for 2 years). Besides all of the above supply /demand / customer preference issues, I think some pricing disparity must be explained by the different cost incurred in minting the coin, and so clued in by the mint when releasing the coin. i.e. I trust that the Eagle costs more to make than the Panda, because real estate, teransport, logistics, and labour costs are higher in USA than China. I am not familiar with Roosters unless you are talking about the Chinese zodiac coins offered in the year of the rooster. If so, they ought to be 999. The Pnadas sell at a premium to other bullion coins on E-bay, but can be purchased at spot price + a timy markup when issued. The advantage of any one nations' bullion is that at least that nation ought to recognize it as legal tender, and if so, ought to allow it to cross customs unhindered. I suppose. I tend to be a Panda collector, because of what I noted above. But when out of Pandas, I get Eagles, because it helps to balance the trade deficit account :0) and because they come in these really cute plastic barrels that my daughter and I like so much :0) I am also partial to Maples and Koalas, Philharmonics and Krugerrands, and when pushed, I had taken in wafers and nuggets, and ann odd bar every so often. In HK we buy physical bullion directly from the national distributor in the case of the Panda or from the banks for all other bullion as well as the Panda. The bank also buys them back. Many banks here deal in paper gold certificates, physical and on-line, as a part of a multi-currency savings account that can also hold about a dozen currencies, including the RMB. The paper gold in the savings account can be leveraged upto 70%, to buy more paper gold, or stocks and bonds held in the same master account, or withdrawn to spend or invest elsewhere. We in HK are not of the school that says gold is not money. We know better then those who think otherwise. I mean, if gold is not money, how are we then able to spend our gold in the way we do? Chugs, J

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (2911)	12/29/2005 3:16:53 AM
From: 8bits	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 217769

If you want an interesting run down on the gold market (in the US) I would suggest talking to this fellow: lewrockwell.com He tends to only come in during the afternoons (West coast time) these days. Check out this article: lewrockwell.com he's both knowledgeable and humorous. My understanding is the Krugerrand was the first gold bullion coin hence the high number and availability in the secondary market. (Dealer to dealer where markup is less as opposed to coming directly from a government mint..) IE Supply and Demand tend to well matched. Actual gold content of the Krugerrand is 1 ounce but it's fineness is .916. (US Bullion coins are the same..) The Austrian Philharmonic coin, The Australia Kangaroo, and the Canadian Maple are all .999. Other common bullion coins with low mark up are the Austrian 100 Corona and Mexican 50 Peso piece. Both of these are restrikes of older coins. (However the weight on both of them is not 1 oz.. the Austrain Corona is .98 ounces and the Mexican Pesos are 1.2 ounces..) Fineness on these two is .900. I think the issue with the Corona and Peso coins is the high availabity in the secondary market. Two advantages that the American Bullion coins have over the other bullion coins (and which explains their higher markup): 1) Private and non-reportable — Unlike most gold bullion, American Gold Eagles are non-reportable the IRS by brokers. Other modern issue world bullion coins like Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, South African Gold Kruggerrands, Austrian Gold Philharmonics, and Chinese Gold Pandas are reportable to the IRS when you sell them to gold dealers in increments of 25 ounces or more. American Eagles are exempt from this reporting requirement. 2) Eligible for Individual Retirement Accounts — Unlike other gold bullion coins, American Eagles are eligible to fund IRAs.