Gold to quote above Rs 15,000 per 10 gram till Sept

There seems to be no respite for consumers in the near-term as gold

prices are expected to rule above Rs 15,000 per 10 gram till
September as analysts
pare bets for further weakness in the rupee.

"Gold prices were ruling higher over the past few weeks due to a weak rupee that makes the dollar-quoted yellow metal expensive. However, the weakness in the rupee is expected to continue in the near-term, keeping gold prices at above Rs 15,000 per 10 gram till September," Religare Commodities Metals and Energy Incharge Somnath Dey told PTI.

Rupee value may depreciate further to Rs 55 against the US dollar in the next two months from the current level of Rs 51.72, keeping gold not below Rs 15,000 per 10 gram, he said.

Presently, gold is quoting at Rs 15,450 per 10 gram. It made an high of Rs 15,750 per 10 gram on February 19.

Noting that rupee is behaving more like Korean currency, another analyst said revaluation of global currencies like euro and Pound sterling against the US dollar is building pressure on the Indian rupee.

Citing reasons for rupee weakness, D K Joshi, Principal Economist at domestic ratings agency Crisil, said, "Rupee value is getting depreciated these days due to a stronger dollar, which is strengthening following a rise in demand for the US currency globally. Besides, lower Indian exports and sluggish capital inflow have extended pressure on the rupee".

Meanwhile, there is a short supply of foreign currency reserves in the country, which have fell drastically due to liquidation of Indian investments by foreign investors and stronger US dollar, he said.

As per official data, foreign currency reserves have so far declined by 60.44 billion dollar since the end of March, 2008.

Joshi noted that rupee will continue to remain volatile between Rs 52 and Rs 53 in the next six months which will again pressurise gold prices.

Market experts said that though costlier gold has hit demand for physical gold in India, the world's largest consumer of jewellery, but investment demand for safe-haven asset is in rise across the world due to concern about the deepening recession.

Source: Economictimes

Gold extends losses on weak global cues

Extending loses gold prices fell by another Rs 40 to close at Rs 15,375

per ten gram in the bullion market here on selling by
stockists influenced by
weakening global trend.

Silver followed suit and lost Rs 300 to settle the day at Rs 21,800 per kg as selling remained unabated as the metal prices continued to slide in overseas market.

Marketmen said stockists offloaded part of their holdings in line with weakening trend in overseas markets mainly pulled down the precious metal prices.

They said reduced offtake by retailers and stockists due to off-marriage season further fuelled the down-trend.

Standard gold and ornaments lost Rs 40 each to Rs 15,375 and Rs 15,225 per ten gram respectively. Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 12,400 per piece of eight gram.

In a similar fashion, silver ready dropped by Rs 300 to Rs 21,800 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and weekly-based delivery by Rs 140 to Rs 22,460 per kg.

On the other hand, silver coins continued to be asked around previous level of Rs 28,400 for buying and Rs 28,500 for selling of 100 pieces on reduced offtake.

Gold may hit $2,000 an ounce if dollar falls

Government infrastructure spending will drive a rebound in metals prices, while gold may reach $2,000 an ounce in the next year Investing in gold a safe bet.

if the dollar falls, an executive with UK fund house Schroders said.

"The potential for very sharp price rises in industrial metals this year is very good," emerging market debt and commodities product manager Christopher Wyke told reporters.

"We think in infrastructure the cutbacks will be very limited. When a recession happens, governments in the U.S. and elsewhere accelerate infrastructure spending."

He said that despite the global economic downturn, Asia retains its appetite for infrastructure spending, which will support prices of metals such as copper and zinc. Prices of the two metals have fallen around 58 percent and 54 percent respectively from a year earlier.

"The problems in Asia are not structural, they're essentially cyclical -- a very severe cyclical downturn," the London-based Wyke said in an interview at his firm's Hong Kong offices.

Wyke does not directly manage funds but oversees Schroders' commodities fund products which hold $4.5 billion in assets, including a recently launched gold and metals fund.

He said Chinese infrastructure spending will be a key driver of metals demand and prices.

"The level of credit in China has been shrinking in the last 10 years, the banking system has been reformed, and they have $2 trillion in reserves," Wyke said.

"So, is it likely there's going to be wholesale abandonment of infrastructure investment in China? No."

GOLD BULL

While Wyke has backed off from his stance last June that gold could reach $5,000 an ounce over the next few years as a refuge from inflation, he still expects the precious metal to show stronger gains in the second half of 2009 if the dollar falls and inflation fears mount.

"If you saw the dollar resume its fall and maybe toward the end of this year you started seeing people worried about the inflationary consequences of U.S. government policies, then gold prices could move up very sharply," Wyke said.

"In the next 12 months, if that were to happen and the dollar were to fall, a gold price of $2,000 an ounce is quite likely."

Spot gold, which was trading at $937.20 around 0835 GMT on Monday, has risen 6.6 percent in 2009 as investors seek a safe haven of value amid the global slump.

Schroders' gold and metals fund was up 6.15 percent this year at the end of February, Wyke said. At the end of January, the fund was worth nearly $61 million, and is down 34.3 percent since its launch in July 2008.

Source: Economictimes

YELLOW METAL SHINES BRIGHT

While most of the popular asset classes are going through bad times, the yellow metal shines on. In fact, in the last one year, gold has given a return of more than 25% and currently trades at Rs 14,695 per 10 gm. Even gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) have appreciated substantially. Gold Gold Benchmark Exchange Traded Scheme (BeES) and Kotak Gold ETF have given more than 25% returns each in the last three months.

Even as the equity markets have taken a hit with the Sensex losing around 46% in the last one year and real estate prices also witness a correction, investors’ preference has shifted to safe havens such as gold. On an average , most of the diversified equity mutual funds have fallen and real estate developers are offering discounts. Thus gold remains the safest bet.

The appreciation in the gold prices is mainly due to its safe haven status. Says, Jayant Manglik, head commodities at Religare Commodities, "The key reason for gold to go up is lack of other investment opportunity. There is also a risk in keeping the money in currency form as most of the currencies have depreciated against one another. Moreover, most of the countries are facing liquidity problems and the currency will further depreciate if they go in for printing money."

The historical trend proves that gold prices have a positive correlation with inflation and crude oil price. It is considered as the best hedge against inflation. But in the prevailing economic condition, gold prices have moved in the reverse direction from both crude oil price and inflation.

Where crude oil prices have corrected from $146 a barrel in the last year to $41 a barrel now, gold prices have appreciated to Rs 14,695 currently from the lowest of Rs 10,653 last year. Thus while in the last year, the rising inflation rate and crude oil prices were buttressing gold, now it’s the uncertainty, which is pushing the price up.

Says, Naveen Mathur, head, Angel Commodities, "There are several factors that impact gold prices. Crude oil price and inflation are a couple of factors. But the quantum of impact of each of these factors differs depending upon the economic condition. Currently, the impact of financial and economical uncertainty is driving gold prices up." The depreciating rupee has further helped the gold price to go up as major portion of the gold is imported.

Source : Economictimes

Silver too on a roll in tune with gold

After taking a cue from gold, silver is too glittering never before. On Tuesday,

the price of spot silver (.999) breached the
psychological mark of Rs 23,000 per kg to
touch Rs 23,700 in Chennai. While in Mumbai the metal surged by Rs 705 to Rs 22,315 per kg in Mumbai, it jumped by Rs 500 to Rs 22,000 per kg in Kolkata.

Thus the metal had gained more than Rs 4,000 per kg from January 16, when it settled at Rs 18,170 per kg in Mumbai market. A plunge in equity markets and firm global trend also boosted buying sentiment to some extent in domestic markets, dealers said.

Further, the steep rise in yellow metal has become unaffordable to retail buyers particularly in the midst of marriage season. And hence they opt for silver which is comparatively cheaper, a bullion merchant said in Mumbai. A retail jeweller in Vashi said many prospective gold buyers were postponing their buying decision as they are unable to grapple with never-before like prices.

In international markets, silver hit a six-month high of $14.09 an ounce. In London, spot silver was last seen at $13.97/14.05 an ounce from Monday’s New York close of $13.57

Source: Economictimes

Hindustan Zinc: Asia's 'silver king' by 2013?

Vedanta Resources group firm Hindustan Zinc is poised to become

Asia's largest and world's sixth biggest silver-producing company
by 2013 with a total
production of 500,000 kg per annum, sources said.

The company, which at present claims to produce 100,000 kg of the precious metal, has undertaken expansion of its Sindesar Khurd mines in Rajasthan to augment its capacity and join the league of leading silver-producing nations like Peru, Mexico, Chile and Australia.

"Hindustan Zinc has been consistently increasing its silver production in the past. By 2013, we would be producing 500,000 kg of silver. This is going to give a boost to the domestic ancillary industry," the company's Chief Operating Officer Akhilesh Joshi said.

At present, Hindustan Zinc's market share in the domestic market is 2.5 per cent. Post-augmentation of the capacity, it is likely to supersede Kazakhmys as Asia's largest primary silver producer. The Kazakhstan firm's annual production is close to 500,000 kg.

As per the World Silver Survey 2008, India's annual demand of silver is pegged at around 3,200,000 kg, 77.1 per cent of which is met through imports while 18.8 per cent is procured from the secondary market.

Source: Economictimes

Silver futures surges 2.45 pc on firm global cues

Silver prices shot up by 2.45 per cent in futures trading on Tuesday on

increased buying by traders in line with a firming trend
in overseas bullion markets.

Silver for the March-month contract spurted 2.45 per cent to Rs 21,954 per kg on the Multi Commodity Exchange in a trading volume of 5,195 lots.

The metal for May contract jumped 2.24 per cent to Rs 22,188 per kg in a trading of 359 lots and July contract by 2.22 per cent to Rs 22,402 per kg in trading of seven lots.

Buying activity picked up as the precious metals, gold and silver, rallied in overseas markets. Silver gained 0.21 cent to 13.94 dollar an ounce abroad.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, gold rallied over 960 dollar an ounce, the highest in seven months, as investors bought the metal as an alternative to slumping equities and to preserve their wealth as the global economy sags.

Source: Economictimes

Silver outshines gold in returns

Everyone’s talking about gold and its glitter but check the returns silver has Why invest in Gold now?

. Based on Saturday’s closing in the Mumbai bullion market, ready silver (.999) at Rs 23,230 per kg has given returns of 28% this year. In comparison, gold (99.5 purity) has returned 17%. Analysts say silver has the potential to outperform gold and investors should keep their eyes open while parking their money in the precious metals space.

While silver fluctuated in the wide range of Rs 16,400 to Rs 27,000 in 2008, and finally ended the year at levels which were around 10% lower than in 2007, gold has had an unprecedented bull run and finished 2008 with over 20% returns. This at a time when stock markets were down, enhanced the proposition of gold for investors , say market experts.

But commodity gurus like Jim Rogers have been betting on silver for sometime. He recently said if given a choice between the two precious metals, the Singapore-based investor would go for silver. When TOI contacted him on silver’s fortunes , he said, “I own it’’.

People like him, who own silver in India, have seen the metal rise from Rs 18,100 per kg (on December 31, 2008) to Rs 23,320 in close to 50 days in Mumbai bullion market. This is no different from what has happened in other bullion markets like those at Delhi, Chennai , Hyderabad, Indore and Kolkata. Gold, which started the year at which Rs 13,435/gm, closed at Rs 15,745/gm on Saturday , giving close to 17% returns in the same period.

Like gold made all-time high the past week, silver, too, climbed to a five-month high. “If one has Rs 100 to invest in precious metals, he/she could invest Rs 60 in silver and the rest (Rs 40) in gold. It’s a good investment option,’’ Mandar Pote, who tracks bullion at Angel Commodities, said.

At commodity exchanges such as NCDEX and MCX, silver has been the top gainer among commodities with 9-10 % gain this week while gold was the second best giving returns of 7-8 %, data shows. According to investment advisory firm SMC Global, silver contracts for March delivery at MCX are showing an uptrend while the weekly stock position shows rise of 3,649 kg for the week ended February 19.

Source : Economictimes

Diamond Color

The kept Back Riddle of Diamond Color

Fed up of wearing the same old white Diamond set every now and then? Want some change? Presenting before you a colorful luminous journey…Color diamond? How to determine whether it is real or faux?

Diamonds do exist in ample range of colors. Several of them are extraordinarily fascinating and more attractive than the conventional white. But they are very few and rare to find. Come out of the shackles of the conventional white diamond and get yourself a Color Diamond. Qualified gemologist is the only one who can verify and differentiate between a real and fake diamond. There are some simple assessing tests that can be used by a shopper that do not require specific tools. These tests rely upon the various ways a diamond responds when put under specific conditions like light, heat etc. If breathing on the stone leaves it misty then it is not an authentic gem. Place a diamond on top of any printing, if it is magnifying the writing and you can read through it clearly, it is obviously a fake diamond. After flashing light through the gem brings bright radiance on the other side, it is highly possible that it is a true diamond. If the surface of diamond is rough and if the rim is rounded then it is almost certainly bogus.

Where are Colored Diamonds sourced from?

Most of the Colored Diamonds are sourced from Argyle mine in Western Australia. Many makers have made these colorful master pieces their signature item. Most of these stones are rare and are these days considered to be the latest fashion buzz. These colored diamonds come in natural and enhanced categories. Natural Diamonds are simple yet elegant and are untouched as against enhanced diamonds which have been fiddled with and remain inexpensive.

How diamonds are evaluated?

One can assess diamond with help of four C’s:

color, cut, carat and clarity. Diamonds are graded on scale of D to Z by GIA. Color diamonds generally termed as ‘fancy color diamonds’ are available in rainbow colors. The diamond scaled from D to F, mostly colorless, fetch more prices. But when Diamonds are graded for fancy colors i.e. above M, they become expensive again when compared to the lighter shades. The colored diamonds are exceptionally striking. White, pink, yellow, brown, black and the list is incessant.

How to distinguish fake and real diamond?

Apart from the transparency test, there is another way of making out real diamond from fake one. Real diamond reproduces different tones of grey. If diamond gives the multicolored reflection, then it must be a fake diamond. The sparking sides of a gem are also an indication of Genuine Diamond as a fake one lacks luster. Taking a sand paper test also helps differentiate. The scratch on stone means it is a fake diamond.So come with open eyes into this colorful world and take home genuine Color Diamond.

Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into

unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles. The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself when the diamond

cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape also matters a great

deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle. However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesnt refer to its shape at all.

Instead, this is a reference to the stones

depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets. When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut the one that sparkles the most,

in all types of lighting.

History of gold prices (in rupees)

Good information to know :


1930: 180 per 10 gram
1940: 360 per 10 gram
1950: 1000 per 10 gram
1960: 1110 per 10 gram
1970: 1840 per 10 gram
1975: 5,400 per 10 gram
2000: 3,000 per 10 gram
2006: 5,400 per 10 gram
2009: 15,700 per 10 gram.
Gold surprisingly gave 300% returns from 1970 to 1975 when world suffered worst ever recession after great Depression. Will the history repeat? That is the reason behind current "Mad Gold rush". But if you invested in the Gold in 1975, your investment gave negative returns for the next 25 years.

Remember 2 things:

1. Gold generally trades in the lower range around March and July. Generally, it is the best time to buy gold and marriage season is the best time to sell God.

2. Below 11,000, Gold is a safe investment but above 15,000- it is only for traders but not for investors.

Future of Gold:

When stock markets are in down turn in 2002, Gold was at Rs 5,400 per 10 gram. Don't forget that Gold traded below 9,000 per 10 gram till 2007 means you might have got routine returns from Gold investment. But investors who made investments in gold in mid-2007 are now making 70% returns in just 20 months. But I don't know what will happen to gold investors who bought it at above 15,000 but they remain inlosses even after 3 years. Why? Gold will recede to 11,000 levels once equities make comeback. What happened to crude oil will repeat in case of gold also. Don't forget that Gold is not even an essential commodity. But Gold is a less volatile investment.

Examples:

1. Crude oil prices moved to $147 per barrel and Goldman Sachs people gave $200 per barrel target. It is now trading below the fundamental price at $35 per barrel.

2. Sensex moved to 21,000 and analysts and analysts gave 30,000 target. It is now trading at 9,000 levels.

3. Real Estate prices reached astronomical levels in 2007 but people bought land as if there will be no land available for purchase in future.

Coral and its Genuinity

Coral is a tree/rock-like deposit consisting of the calcareous skeletons secreted by various anthozoans. Coral deposits often accumulate to form reefs (coral reefs) on islands in warm sea. The red-orange, pinkish, or white deposits secreted by corals used to make jewelry and ornaments.

It is like a plant consisting of only trunks and stems, without leaves and flowers, which live and grow under the sea water. These is where small newly born fish hide against their hunter. The trunk is about one inch across (maximum) while the stem is about 2mm across(minimum). Diver picked the whole plant and sawed them to cylindrical pieces. Drill each piece of cylinder a hole in the center passing through the other end. Polished them and then use a plastic wire (fishing line) or dental floss or gold wire or any thread that is strong enough, to pass through each hole of cylinder to form a bracelet or necklace.

Every country have coral reefs under their seabed. So you don't know which country the corals came from. When we say they come from that country we usually meant they are cut, polished and drilled there. I think here in the Philippines no one know how to cut and drilled hole on them.

Source - WEB

Calculating Price of Jewelry

This calculation will hold true to all jewelry that is not mounted or attached with stones, pearl, ornament, etc.. First you must know how much the price of gold for today. We can go to www.kitco.com/gold.live.html, Kitco Inc.-Gold & Precious Metal Price Update or www.cnnfn.com/markets/commodities.html, CNNfn- Commodities Stock. From Kitco (October 20, 1996), gold is quoted at US$ 379.95 per ounce. One US$ = 26.265 Philippines Pesos (October 20, 1996). We first convert the price of gold to Philippines Pesos. 379.95 X 26.265= P 9979.38 per ounce. Next convert them to gram, from above information, one ounce equal 31.1 grams. P 9979.38/31.1= P320.88 per gram.

P 320.88 is the cost of gold per gram minus profit. So you ask how about 18K or 20K and so on. Well it is easy, first determine how must 24K gold is contain in 18K gold. 18/24 = .75. Next P 320.88 X .75 we get an answer of P 240.66/gram for 18K. For the price above you must add about 5 to 10% for losses occur during the making of gold into jewelry (some gold become dust or minute particles that jeweler can not able to recover them) and add some more for the cost of silver and copper too. Silver and copper cost so little that we often ignore their price in computation. So that's it, P 336.92 to P 352.96 per gram for 24K gold, of course this does not include the jewelry store's profit yet.

Let say one jewelry store sell for P 355 per gram for 24K and you choose a 24K bracelet that weigh 35.8 grams. How much will you pay for it? 35.8 grams X 355 = P 12,709. Some store add labor for the bracelet they sell, let say P 300, so P12,709 + 300, we get 13,009 for the price of the bracelet. The one who sell it without labor added will quote a higher price per gram compare to those without labor. Labor goes to the pocket of goldsmith who make them from gold bar to finished product. Which is cheaper? It's almost the same just don't exceed 50 or 100 grams and there is a big difference. Here the one with additional labor will be cheaper. For imported one that sold here in the Philippines, there is a lot of plus, plus. But if you go directly to the country you are interested, the above computation still applied but with slight variation.

Source - WEB

GRAMS, KILO, OUNCE, BAHT, AND TAEL

Gram is a metric unit of mass equal to 1/1000 kilogram. Kilo or kilogram is 1,000 grams. A troy ounce is equal to 31.1 grams. A baht is 15.2 grams, this is Thailand weight for their jewelry. A Tael is 37.037 grams in the Philippines. A Hong Kong Tael is 37.5 grams. There is a slight difference in weight for the two country. I think they do not consult each other first before they settle for the weight of Tael. A Tael in Chinese is . One Tael = 10 . A Tael in jewelry is different in weight from the Tael uses in Chinese drug store here in the Philippines. One gram equal 5 Carats. Carat is a unit of weight for precious stones like diamonds and rubies.

Source - web

karat vs 916

Karat is define as a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy. It means how pure a gold is. Alloy means the degree of mixture with base metal, gold being the base metal. A 24 Karat gold is equal to 100% pure gold. But we never say 100%, because no one has ever refine them to that point. The highest purity achieved is 99.99%, so a 24 Karat gold is 99.99% pure. Most of Hong Kong jewelry have a 9999 mark on them. And all branded gold bar too.

A 22 K gold from gold mine will have 91.6% pure gold while the remaining 8.4% will consist of any metal- silver, copper, iron, aluminum, etc. You just divide 22 K by 24 K to get an answer of 91.6%. Singapore jewelry always mark them with a 916. If I ask you how much pure gold content is in a 10 K gold. The answer is 10/24=41.6% pure. In jewelry the alloy added to make them to lower karat are always a mixture of silver and copper. No other metal can be mix with gold because it will later become blacked or rusted depending on what you put into it. 585 is 14 K.

We have 1 K, 2 K, 8 K, 23 K or 23.5 K of jewelry. Any karat is possible, it only depend on the jeweler who mix and melt them.

White gold here in the Philippines is not Platinum, it is only a mixture of gold and nickel (a malleable, silvery metal). We do have Platinum here in the Philippines but seldom seen them make into jewelry. The price for 24K Platinum is higher than the 24K yellow gold.

Source - WEB

Does Jewels Get Affected when subject to heat

Yes, and no. Yes, if it has pearls, jades and other stones mounted on them. Diamonds and almost all precious stones are not afraid of extreme heat, just don't subject them to sudden extreme changes of temperature. Example- when you heat a diamond, let it cool down by itself, don't pour water to speed up the cooling process or the diamond will break.

No, if there is no stone attached on them, but the gold when heated to a high temperature will become brown or black colored. Not so much on 22K but 20 to below 1K. The reason is that there are higher concentration of silver and copper on 20K to 1K. You will not see any changes in color for 24K when heated, only the welded portion or spot will appeared black. This is because we use 14K gold as welding rod for 24K jewelry. Some jewelers are able to make 24K jewelry without using welding rod.

Source - WEB

Basic Definition of GOLD

Webster dictionary defines gold as the most malleable and ductile metal, yellow metallic element that occurs chiefly free or in a few minerals and is used especially in coins, jewelry, and dentures.

Malleable means it can be hammered by beating or by pressure of rollers, extended or shaped down into a thin gold sheet or film. In fact it can be made thinner than the thinnest paper available. A weight of 31.1 grams can cover 68 square feet (0.0001 inch thin).

Ductile means it can be drawn out of a tungsten-carbide hole, just like making a copper wire. It can be make finer than our human hair, to a point that our eye almost can not see.

Gold is relatively soft, corrosion-resistant element. Do not corrode in air, but is tarnished by sulfur. A good thermal and electrical conductor. Melting point is 1,063 degree Centigrade and boiling point is 2,800 degree Centigrade.

The above descriptions refer only to 24 Karat gold.

You can say that copper is soft evidently it is easily bend, but will crack and break when reach to certain thinnest and finest. Lead too.

Source - Web

Gold touches record high of Rs 15,050

Press Trust of India / New Delhi February 17, 2009, 11:06 IST

Gold futures hit a new high of Rs 15,050 per 10 gram in early deals today, taking cues from the firm trend in other Asian markets, as investors bought the metal as an alternative to slumping equities.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for August-month contract shot up by 2.31 per cent to Rs 15,050 per 10 gram. The contract clocked business turnover of five lots.

The precious metal shot up by 1.55 per cent to $956.20 an ounce in Asia -- the highest in seven months -- on rising concerns of recession and deepening financial crisis.

Meanwhile, on the MCX counter, far-month June contract moved up by 2.10 per cent to Rs 15,039 per 10 gram, with a turnover of 370 lots, while its April contract gained 2.11 per cent at Rs 15,029 per 10 gram in a turnover of 6,221 lots.

4 World Famous Diamond

Darya-I-Nur

Darya-I-Nur diamond is believed to be the largest pink diamond in the world. The stone is estimated to weigh somewhere between 175 and 195 carats, and it is a light pink color. Its exact weight isn't known because its been mounted in its brooch setting for over 130 years. This stone is one of the most celebrated diamonds in the Iranian Crown Jewels and it is also one of the oldest stones known to man.

De Beers Diamond
The De Beers weights 234.65 carats and is the seventh largest faceted diamond in the world. It was found in the De Beers Consolidated Mine in March 1888. Prior to being cut the diamond weighed 428.50 carats. It was centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace known as the Patiala Necklace in 1928. In 1973 the necklace disappeared and then the remnants was discovered in a jewelry shop in London in 1998 with most of the large stone missing. The De Beers Diamond was sold in 1982 for $3,160,000.

De Young Red Diamond
The De Young Red is a 5.03 carat red diamond and is considered as the third largest in the world. This diamond is not really pure red. This stone has a slightly brown hue which makes it look like a fine garnet that ruby-like. Since this diamond has very unique color, this was once sold at an estate sale as a red garnet. Luckily, this fine piece of precious stone was later on recovered and identified to be a very rare red diamond. At present, the De Young Red is under the custody of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC and often figured in exhibits in that museum.

Unlike the Type I diamonds that derived their color from impurities imbedded in the diamond, Red diamonds are considered a Type II and get their color from a process known as Plastic Deformation. They get their coloration due to structural anomalies caused by Plastic Deformation during the crystal growth. The intense pressure changes the lattice structure of diamonds and has led to the formation of Pink, Red, and Brown colored diamonds.

Dresden Diamond
The largest natural green diamond in the world is The Dresden Green. It is classified as an "apple-green" color and weighs in at 40.70 carats. The Gemmological Institute of America examined the stone in 1988. The Dresden Green Diamond was proved to be not only of extraordinary quality, but also a rare type IIa diamond and is consider the largest and finest natural green diamond ever found. The Dresden Green gets its name from the capitol of Saxony where it has been on display for more than 200 years. The earliest known reference to its existence occurs in The Post Boy, a London new-sheet of the 1700's. The diamond was sold in Switzerland in 1997 for $715,320.

Diamond Rings

Whether as heirlooms or simply as gifts, diamond rings have always been among the most preferred classes of jewellery among people of most countries and cultures. Many reasons can be cited to explain why diamond rings have always been so popular as pieces of jewellery in the human society. However, one is always led back to the more obvious reason that diamond rings, like all pieces of diamond jewellery, have an essence of timeless beauty and a charm unparalleled in rings bearing other kinds of precious stones.

Diamond rings are appropriate for the masculine as well as the feminine gender. Combining the universal appeal of the diamond with the ring - a piece of jewellery that can be worn by individuals irrespective of the gender, diamond rings have become considered as possibly the most universally appreciated kind of jewellery worn by all of the human society, considering neither the age nor the gender. This universal popularity has resulted in diamond rings being used as symbol of different kinds of statuses ranging from marital to socio-economic ones.

A huge majority of people even in the twenty-first century still prefer the use of diamond rings as tokens of exchange symbolizing engagements or weddings. The fact that it always up to the groom to select such rings does not in any way indicate that it is only men who perpetuate the legacy of diamond rings. In fact, as the saying goes - diamonds are a girl's best friend!

Owing to the huge diversity in the kinds of materials used in designing diamond rings, the question naturally rises as to which metal would be the best option to use with diamonds. This overwhelming question can only be answered by the ones planning to buy diamond rings. While some of them prefer more conservative choices like yellow gold rings, others can certainly opt for alternatives including platinum or white gold. Diamond rings made using a fusion of yellow and white gold have become the favourites of designers as well as buyers of late.

While platinum and colourless diamonds can constitute a visual essence close to perfection, diamond rings made using yellow gold have hardly lost any popularity in the market. On the other hand, this contrast between white and yellow can result in a two-fold contrast with the dazzle of colourless diamonds in fusion gold diamond rings. No matter which kind of material is used, diamond rings are always marked by a combination of artistic aesthetics with an unexplainable charm having universal appeal.

Diamond rings using natural diamonds can turn out to be quite expensive in any market. Therefore, it is always advisable that one should try to have a look at as many designs as possible before and cross-check the selections for any possible manufacturing flaws before making the final purchase. One should always look out for diamond rings that have warranties covering the quality of the materials as well as the craftsmanship. After all, one should never settle for anything less than the best while buying anything, not just diamond rings!

Feel a Liking for DIAMOND - So what exactly are diamonds?

Diamonds, like hurricanes and earthquakes, are a pricey natural phenomenon. Find out more about how they're made in this article.



In mineralogy, diamond (from the ancient Greek ??????, adámas) is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in an isometric-hexoctahedral crystal lattice. After graphite, diamond is the second most stable form of carbon. Its hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry. It is the hardest known naturally occurring mineral. It is possible to treat regular diamonds under a combination of high pressure and high temperature to produce diamonds that are harder than the diamonds used in hardness gauges. Presently, only aggregated diamond nanorods, a material created using ultrahard fullerite (C60) is confirmed to be harder, although other substances such as cubic boron nitride, rhenium diboride and ultrahard fullerite itself are comparable.

Diamonds are specifically renowned as a material with superlative physical qualities; they make excellent abrasives because they can be scratched only by other diamonds, borazon, ultrahard fullerite, rhenium diboride, or aggregated diamond nanorods, which also means they hold a polish extremely well and retain their lustre. Approximately 130 million carats () are mined annually, with a total value of nearly USD $9 billion, and about are synthesized annually.

The name diamond is derived from the ancient Greek ?????? (adámas), "unbreakable, untamed", from Category: :wiktionary - :?-|?- (a-), "un-" + ????? (damá?), "to overpower, to tame"Adamas, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Perseus. They have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient India. Their usage in engraving tools also dates to early human history. Popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques, growth in the world economy, and innovative and successful advertising campaigns. They are commonly judged by the ?four Cs?: carat, clarity, color, and cut.

Roughly 49% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa, although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. They are mined from kimberlite and lamproite volcanic pipes, which can bring diamond crystals, originating from deep within the Earth where high pressures and temperatures enable them to form, to the surface. The mining and distribution of natural diamonds are subjects of frequent controversy such as with concerns over the sale of conflict diamonds (aka blood diamonds) by African paramilitary groups.

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A MUST Read Before You Buy Diamonds!

Diamonds for Less is a short but necessary education in purchasing diamonds for jewelry or for profit.

In my former life I was a diamond expert working for many years managing one of the biggest jewelry store chains in the country. I have included 5 topics which I hope will be quite helpful in determining what type of diamonds you will be investing in.



The Importance of Cut and Proportion

Cut does not mean shape. However cut affects brilliance. You want your diamond to be cut as close to ideal as possible. Not too deep or too shallow. It's all about light reflection folks!




Body Color

From colorless to warm yellow, a great thing to remember when buying diamonds is that the more rare the more expensive. For example: the whiter the stone the more expensive because colorless stones are harder to find in nature. The color scale goes from D being the most colorless to usually P, in most jewelry stores, being the most yellow. A good color to buy is in the top of the near colorless range, say G or H. To the naked eye most people can't see the difference between these color stones and colorless, but you will save a heck of a lot of money by getting your Diamonds for Less!



Clarity

Clarity refers to how clear the diamond is or how free it is of inclusions. Some people call these flaws however being natural technically all diamonds have some type of inclusion. This is what makes them unique! After all you have beauty marks on your body don't you? How would you feel if someone called these unique markings on you, flaws?! A good rule of thumb here is the less you can see with the naked eye the better. Remember though, the less inclusions the more rare or expensive the diamond. You want your Diamonds for Less don't you? This scale goes from Fl (flawless) to I3 (inclusion 3). Your safe within the SI (small inclusion) to VS2 (very small inclusion 2). Again a clean stone to the naked eye and saving you thousands more than buying cleaner stones that will only cost you for the reckoning.



Weight

1 carat = 1/5th of a gram. It may be easier to talk in points. 1 carat = 100 points, so 1/4 of a carat is 25 points and so on. Obviously the heavier the stone the more rare and more expensive it will be. Be careful with your ego on this one. You have to determine what is more important for you, size or quality! Always remember, Diamonds for Less is the goal.




Diamond Grading Reports

These are reports that give the specifics on your stone. Measurements, cut, color, carat weight etc. Think of it this way. You have a drivers license or passport that describes your specifics correct? This document however does not describe your sense of humor or your individual personality right? Are you catching my drift? These documents are only as important as you make them. Once you educate yourself a little about diamonds, you will see that the diamond itself will talk to you not the piece of paper that describes it. If you must have a certification, Go with GIA. They are the most widely used company in the world for diamond certification.




I hope this article has helped inform you in the basics of buying diamonds for jewelry or for profit.

Source : Popular Forum

American Eagle Proof and Uncirculated Coins for Collectors

Proof versions of American Eagle Bullion coins are made by the United States Mint for collectors. After undergoing inspection by white gloved inspectors, each American Eagle Proof Coin is encased in special plastic with its own presentation case and accompanied by an official Certificate of Authenticity. Each coin's metal content and weight are definitely guaranteed by the United States Government. American Eagle Gold, Silver, and Platinum Proof Coins have a limited mintage and are available directly from the United States Mint.

In 2006, the United States Mint came up with a new American Eagle coin, the American Eagle Uncirculated Coins in silver, gold and platinum.

The American Eagle Silver Uncirculated Coin is available in a one-ounce size, while the American Eagle Uncirculated Coins in both gold and platinum are available in one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half and one ounce sizes, as well as a complete four-coin set containing one coin of each size. The American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins bear the same reverse design as the American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins.

American Eagle Bullion Coins for Investors

Congressionally authorized American Eagle Bullion Coins are meant to give investors a convenient and cost-effective way to incorporate small amounts of physical platinum, gold, or silver to their investment holdings.

The American Eagle Bullion coins were offered to the public in 1986; at that time, only gold and silver coins were available. Platinum became part of the American Eagle Bullion family in 1997. For the past twenty years, gold, platinum and silver American Eagles have established a reputation as leading bullion coin investment products. Unlike commemorative or numismatic coins worth according to limitations of mintage, rarity, appearance and age, bullion coins were made with investment portfolios in mind. American Eagle Gold and Platinum Bullion Coins can be purchased in four denominations: one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce. The Silver Bullion Coin can be acquired in the one ounce size.

The First Spouse Gold Coins

The United States is honoring, too, its First Spouses by way of one-half ounce $10 gold coins bearing their portraits, in the order of their service as first spouse, beginning in 2007 with Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, (Thomas Jefferson's Liberty) and Dolley Madison. Specifically, the obverse of these coins carry portraits of the Nation's First Spouses, their names, the dates and order of their term as first spouse, with the year of minting or issuance, "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." The United States Mint released First Spouse Gold Coins on the same schedule as the Presidential $1 Coins.

In the event of a President serving without a First Spouse, such as Thomas Jefferson, a gold coin will bear instead an obverse image showing Liberty as depicted on a circulating coin for that era, and bearing a reverse image with symbols of themes associated with that President.

The Sacagawea Golden Dollar

The Golden Dollar's "heads" side features the Indian guide of the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea. She is portrayed in three-quarter profile. Glenna Goodacre, the obverse's artist, goes against numismatic tradition by having the portrait look straight at the holder. Goodacre's model is a present-day Shoshone college student, Randy'L He-dow Teton. The obverse also shows on Sacagawea carrying on her back Jean Baptiste, her infant son.

With the aim of complementing the obverse, the selected reverse design features a soaring eagle encircled by 17 stars. The 17 stars symbolize each Union state members during the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition.

The Four Main Vehicles for Investing in Gold

Paper Gold: Essentially paper representations of the gold price. These include futures contracts, exchange-traded funds, pool accounts and certificates. They provide exposure to the gold price, however there are counter-party risks involved. Basically you only own the promise to give you the metal if you ask for delivery.

Physical Gold: Physical gold is sold in the form of bars, bullion coins and rare coins (see below). Modern bullion coins retail for between 2% and 4.5% above the spot gold price whereas gold bars usually have a premium 1 or 2% less. Physical gold is only suitable for a long term buy and hold strategy and there are insurance and storage costs to consider.

Numinastics: Rare coins before 1933 are of a very different investment psychology, there is a blend of a collector sentiment (similar to the art market) and investor speculation. Strong collector demand makes rare coins a better hedge against inflation however you have to consult coin dealers to ascertain value and it can have the charcteristics of a runaway train at its extremes.

Gold Mining Stocks: More risky than owning bullion itself but they do provide leverage against the price of gold. Gold mining stocks are clearly a stock component of your portfolio and are affected not only by the gold price but also by the price of the stock market. The HUI and XAU are the main indices for the gold miners. Divergence is the signal that everbody is looking and waiting for, namely rising gold stocks in a declining stock market.

Investment in Gold Mining Shares.

Investing in the shares of gold mining companies is probably the best way to make a "paper" investment in gold.

The theory is that when gold bullion prices and demand increase, gold mining share prices will follow. However the theory does not always hold true - some mines "hedge" their future production. This means they contractually lock in a gold price to be paid in the future when their gold is produced, whether or not the gold price in the future is lower or higher than the contractual gold price. Consequently, if prices rise, companies wih hedged production can lose out as they have previously sold their gold below the prevailing market price. Many gold mining companies have switched to non-hedging in recent years to take advantage of the sustained bull market in gold.

Furthermore the share price of such companies is also dependent on the company's performance, world economy and overall state of the equity markets at the time. The World Gold Organisation has prevously warned that gold equities can be as much as "three to four times as volatile as the gold price."

Mining shares as a whole can be pretty risky - if in doubt take professional advice!

Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin



Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins are the official bullion gold coin of Canada and they are produced by the Canadian mint. Maple Leaf gold coins are .9999 pure gold and they are one of the purest gold coins issued in the world today. Unlike the other gold coins the Maple Leaf contains virtually no base metals

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf commands universal respect and attention, as it has been traded on the world market since 1979. The Maple leaf was the first gold bullion coin to be minted in the ultimate 99.99% purity. No gold coin in the world boasts a higher purity.



The Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins are one of the most practical ways to invest in gold. They are produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. Each Maple Leaf coin is guaranteed by the Government of Canada for its weight and its gold purity. As a result of these government guarantees the Maple Leafs are extremely saleable and are easily bought and sold anywhere in the world where precious metals are traded.
The most magical part of owning a Gold Maple Leaf coins are an investment to own and to admire and touch. When you hold a Gold Maple Leaf coin in your hand, you're holding 5,000 years of security and value.

The South African Krugerrand

Krugerrands were first struck in July 1967, since then more than 50 million Krugerrands have been minted, making them internationally recognizable and one of the most successful bullion coins available today. The coins, are minted in 22 carat gold, depict Paul Kruger, the President of the original South African Republic from 1883 to 1902 on the obverse. Originally only one size was issued, which contained one full troy ounce (31.1035 grams) of fine gold. In 1980, three more denominations were introduced, namely a half, quarter, and tenth ounce size. As the gold price is quoted internationally in terms of troy ounces, the value of Krugerrands (which contain exactly 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz or 1/10 oz of pure gold) can easily be determined at any time.
Krugerrands are sturdy and durable. They are 22 carat - a traditional cartage of gold bullion coins designed to be handled as currency. Krugerrands are hard enough to resist normal scratching and denting - an important, practical feature, as soft 24 carat coins and bars are more easily damaged and generally require protective packaging. Krugerrands are easy to transport and store.

The American Gold Eagle Coin

Is the official Gold Bullion of the United States of America, they are manufactured in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10 oz and these coins are guaranteed to contain the stated amount of actual gold weight in troy ounces. American Gold Eagle Coins must by law come from American gold mines only and be 22carat. These standards are authorised under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985. Gold Eagles minted between 1986 to 1991 are dated with Roman numerals. In 1992, the United States Mint switched to Arabic numerals for dating the gold Eagles.

For further information Click United States Mint

American Buffalo 24-Karat Gold Coins

The popular American Buffalo Gold Coin is known as the Indian Head, or Buffalo, nickel was introduced in 1913 and showcases the native beauty of the American West.
The American Buffalo Bullion Coins are the first .9999 fine 24-karat gold coins ever struck by the United States Mint and offered for sale through a network of Authorized Purchasers. These $50 gold coins are available to members of the public seeking a simple and tangible means to own and invest in 24-karat gold in the form of legal tender coins whose content and purity is guaranteed by the United States Government.
American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are available at many coin and precious metals dealers as well as many brokerage houses and participating banks. Pricing for precious metal investment coins typically depends on the market price of the metal.

Which Gold Bullion Coin should I buy and sell

The best buys for Gold Bullion Coin is the 99.99% per ounce gold coins.

The most popular Gold Bullion Coins of these are the American Gold Eagle, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and the South African Krugerrand. All three of these coins contain 1 ounce of gold and are over 90.00 % Feingold.

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and the South African Krugerrand are both 24 carat gold whereas the American Gold Eagle is only 22carat gold. The American Gold Eagle is alloyed with other metals, usually copper and or silver; this is done to increase its hardness and durability. Despite this the popularity of the American Gold Eagle has never waned in its demand.

Most new coin collectors and investors start collecting these three coins first. Gold coins are easily stored, transported and they can all be sold quickly in just about any country in the world.

Always ensure that when you buy gold coins from a dealer that you select a reputable dealer and that the coins come appropriately sealed and with a certificate.

Buy from a Bullion Dealer and Sell on eBay!

FOUND THIS ARTICLE AT A FORUM POSTED BY SOMEBODY....SOunds INTERESTING Try on ur own

Don't take my word for it - Test it out for your self - It works!
When you buy Gold through a Gold Bullion you pay the gold price according to the rate at that time and when you decide to sell it through the Gold Bullion they will offer you 7% to 9% less than the going gold rate.

You can now buy and sell gold coins on eBay; but, it is a case of Caveat emptor which is Latin for "Let the buyer beware" so please BEWARE!

You need to be careful and check the eBay seller out, look at their Feedback and check out the comments left by previous buyers. Do not buy from a seller with less than 30 feedbacks. Have a look at what other seller thought of dealing with them and if you are not happy with the seller then move on to the next seller, there are many more. Also check out their postage and packaging costs.

If you decide to buy from eBay be sure to check out the gold price that day and don't pay any more than you would have paid at a bullion dealer including their postage and packaging costs. Goto: Kitco.com for the daily gold price and to download a gold price widget for your computer.

I have one of their gold price widgets on my taskbar at the bottom of my screen and it updates all day; this gives me up to the minute gold prices. Then I have a look on eBay and see which gold coins are either on the money or below and don't forget to check out the post and packaging costs for the seller.

When ever I am selling gold I always sell on eBay as I generally always get the market price or a higher premium when two buyers go head to head on my auction and then I do better than the market price. Don't you just love eBay!

My best formula is to buy from the bullion Dealer when the gold price dips and then to sell on eBay. I hear you ask why buy from a Bullion dealer and sell on eBay, well I know that if I buy from the Bullion Dealer the gold coin is genuine and when I sell on eBay I get a better price then if I sold it to a Bullion Dealer, who would offer me 7% to 9% less than the market price.

Buying Gold Bullion Coins

Gold () is a chemical element with the symbol Au () and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile pure metal known. Pure gold has a bright yellow color traditionally considered attractive. It is one of the coinage metals and formed the basis for the gold standard used before the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971. The ISO currency code of gold bullion is XAU.

Modern industrial uses include dentistry and electronics, where gold has traditionally found use because of its good resistance to oxidative corrosion. Chemically, gold is a transition metal and can form trivalent and univalent cations upon solvation. At STP it is attacked by aqua regia, forming chloroauric acid and by alkaline solutions of cyanide but not by hydrochloric, nitric or sulphuric acids. Gold dissolves in mercury, forming amalgam alloys, but does not react with it. Gold is insoluble in nitric acid, which will dissolve silver and base metals, and is the basis of the gold refining technique known as "inquartation and parting". Nitric acid has long been used to confirm the presence of gold in items, and this is the origin of the colloquial term "acid test", referring to a gold standard test for genuine value.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Twelve Reasons to invest in Gold today

1. During the last run on gold in the 70's and 80's the price of gold increased by 20 times

2. There is a fall in gold production worldwide that is adding to its scarcity

3. India and China have a veracious appetite for gold and as their economy powers forward they will drive up the gold price through demand and the limited supply globally

4. There have been no new discoveries of gold deposits recently and it can take up to ten years to bring a new mine to full production.

5. When ever the world is on the verge of a recession people turn to gold as it is provides security.

6. It does not deteriorate and will last for ever

7. It is sought after for jewellery and electronic manufacture

8. Governments can print paper money quickly, but they cannot just produce gold

9. No other investment has the wealth preserving power of gold

10. The Gold price will continue to be pushed by the current American debt and trade crisis.

11. Gold is an inflation-proof investment

12. Gold is the only truly international currency

Yesterday's Gold is todays Currency!

One of the oldest forms of money was the gold coin, as far back as 560BC when the Lydian King Croesus. The Chinese then used them in the 5th or 6th Century BC. Gold coins were the main form of currency through to the early 20th Century. By 1933 most of the world had stopped making gold coins and using them as currency.

Today gold coins are primarily collected by investors to hedge against inflation. In 1967 South Africa introduced the Kruger rand to cater for small investors; hence the reason that they manufactured Krugerrands in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10 and 1/20 oz

The main gold coins in circulation today in order of their popularity are the Krugerrand, American Gold Eagle, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, British Britannia or Sovereign, Chinese Panda, Gold Dinar, Russian Chervonets and the Swiss Vreneli.

What Is A Hyip?, Defination of a HYIP

HYIP is a term which you will come across often if you are trying to make money over the Internet. It stands for High Yield Investment Program. It is a type of investment pyramid scheme normally offered via the Internet. HYIPs typically accept deposits as low as $1 while promising astoundingly high returns.

Online HYIP schemes rarely last for the long term. Overwhelming number of cases suggest that HYIPs are Ponzi schemes, in which new investors provide the cash to pay a profit to existing investors, which they typically then withdraw.[citation needed] This approach allows the scam to continue as long as new investors are found and/or old investors leave their money in the scheme, known as compounding (because even higher profits are promised).

The introduction of e-currencies has made it possible for HYIPs to operate on the internet and cross international boundaries, and to accept large numbers of small investments. HYIPs usually accept deposits by either e-currency, like e-gold, e-bullion and INTGold, or use specialist third party payment processors like AlertPay, SolidTrustPay, CEPTrust, TriStarMoneyChangers and StormPay. HYIPs typically offer a significant incentive commission (for example, 9% of invested funds) for members to attract and refer new investors.

Most HYIPs disclose little or no detail about the underlying management, location, or other aspects of how money is to be invested, and relatively little information (other than asserting that they do various types of trading on various stock and other exchanges) on how they actually generate the returns they purport. They are sometimes presented with some form of an emotional appeal, appeals for faith, and promises that they will help investors achieve financial freedom.

Source: DreamTeamMoney Online Money Making Forum

Buying Silver Coins For Investment!

Silver has for more than 4,000 years been regarded as a form of money .The oldest mass form of coinage was the silver coin. The Greeks were one of the first amongst the first people to use silver coins. Today silver coins have an international appeal and can be traded anywhere in the world. Apart from the collector's of silver coins, silver bullion coins are being collected by investors to hedge against inflation or to store value.

Silver is minted in coins and bars they usually have a set weight of 1 troy ounce of silver (31.103 grams of 99.9% silver) In the United States Silver lost its role as legal tender when they introduced the silver standard and they continued to use it as a coin until in 1964 the intrinsic value of silver overtook the coins' face value.

The main silver One Ounce coins in circulation today are Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, American Silver Eagle, UK Silver Britannia, Somalian, Chinese Silver Panda, Mexican Silver Libertad, Australian Silver Kangaroo and the Kookaburra, Silver Monkey, Zambian Silver Elephant

Silver Coins have been around for 4,000 years

Silver coins are possibly the oldest mass form of coinage. Silver has been used as a coinage metal since the times of the Greeks. Their silver drachmas were popular trade coins.

Many factors determine the value of a silver coin, such as its rarity, demand, condition and the number originally minted. Silver coins coveted by collectors include the Denarius and Miliarense.

Other than collector's silver coins, silver bullion coins are popular among people who desire a "hedge" against currency inflation or store of value. Silver has an international currency symbol of XAG under ISO 4217.

Before 1797, British pennies used to be made out of silver while the ancient Persians used silver coins between 612-33...

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The Morgan Silver Dollar

A Collectors Coins
The Morgan Silver Dollars are collected for fun and for investment, they have a monetarily valuable and are steeped in history


The Morgan Dollar is a silver United States dollar coin. The dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and again for one more year in 1921. The Morgan Dollar is named after its designer, George T. Morgan, who designed the obverse and reverse of the coin. Morgan's monogram appears near Lady Liberty's neck on the obverse. The dollar was authorized by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878. It has a fineness of .900, giving a total silver content of 0.77344 troy ounces (24.057 grams) per coin.

What is Junk Silver

Junk silver is an informal term used in the United States and Canada for any silver coin which is in only fair condition and has no collectible value above the bullion value of the silver it contains. Such coins are popular amongst those seeking to invest in silver, particularly in small amounts. The word "junk" refers only to the value of the coins as a numismatic collectible and not to the actual condition of the coins; junk silver is not necessarily scrap silver.

The most commonly collected U.S. junk silver pieces are Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, and Franklin and Kennedy half dollars, minted in or before 1964. These coins have a 90% silver composition ("coin silver"), and when minted contained 0.7234 troy ounces of silver per dollar of face value. In practice, the content is usually assumed to be 0.715 ounces because of wear. Less common as junk silver are Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970, which contained 40% silver. Peace Dollars may also be collected for their silver value, but are also less common.

Canadian dimes and quarters contained 80% silver (0.600 troy ounces per dollar of face value) until 1966. In 1967, they were minted in both 80% and 50% varieties. In 1968 they either contained 50% silver, or none at all (Cupro-Nickel). Dollars and half dollars were minted in 80% silver until 1967.

Junk silver coins may be a desirable method of investing in silver for several reasons:

;Low premiums: Junk silver can often be purchased for little or no premium over the spot price of silver, particularly during periods of economic stability.

;Legal tender: Junk U.S. and Canadian coins remain legal tender, and maintain their face value regardless of the price of silver.

;Recognition: Though not as common as they once were, junk silver coins are still somewhat well-known, and may be less likely to have their value disputed than silver bars or rounds.

;Divisibility: Junk silver coins can be easily spent or traded in small amounts; as of March 2008, the silver in a U.S. silver dime was worth less than US$1.50. In contrast, silver bullion coins and bars are rarely smaller than one ounce, while gold and other precious metals are highly valued in even minuscule amounts.

For some of these reasons, junk silver is popular among survivalists. In the event of a crisis or catastrophe during which traditional currency collapses, it is speculated that silver coins could provide a viable alternative, temporarily or indefinitely, while fiat currency, which is not backed by precious metals or other commodities, has no inherent value and can be subject to extreme inflation, even hyperinflation, similar to Weimar Germany and, more recently, Zimbabwe. Proponents of junk silver and other precious metals adhere to the principle that while fiat currencies have historically always been subject to hyperinflation, precious metals will always have inherent value and can act as a medium of financial exchange when fiat instruments of payment are obsolete.