Your Preferred Method of owning Gold (Two Choices)

braddick

Double Eagle Libs and Saints or the modern one once uncirculated $50. eagles?

There is logic with both choices, but I find myself leaning toward the pre-1933 gold. -Gives me just a bit more bang for the buck.
As I purchase gold out of necessity (you know what I mean), that little numismatic bug in me needs to be quenched too.

The modern mint products are beautiful, don't get me wrong, and their premium is generally less per ounce, but the joy and pride of ownership is a bit more satisfying with the older, mint state gold.

Anyone else?

agentjim007

depends how easy you want to be able to sell. Modern bullion eagles are "usually" sold with no hagle buy/sell. $20's are easy to sell but can be difficult to get your expected price, more hagle and headaches but cooler to own.

Justacommeman

I've done both. I've done better with modern bulllion as far as a P&L goes. MJ

jmski52

I consider the American Gold Eagles to be as numismatic as anything else, and I do pay attention to the issues that command premiums. They don't have the same problems that classic gold has in terms of grading, altered surfaces, and they have a ready market that has matured. IMO, they present a significant challenge to anyone who takes them on as a collector.

braddick

I agree, on the face of it the modern coins are much more manageable.
I'm probably attaching too much emotional value to the classic eagles.

jmski52

I'm probably attaching too much emotional value to the classic eagles.

Many people do, but that's not a deal-killer. Roadrunner likes classic gold and follows the trends in premiums for graded coins, which you must have a feel for if you make a splash in that area.

Either classic or Moderns will work, but you have to develop some market knowledge in either one.

TomB

At an identical price per ounce I'd rather own classic US gold, but to buy and hold gold I would rather pay the smaller premiums for modern gold eagles and similar items.

roadrunner

I'm inexorably drawn to the classic gold coins, mainly slabbed. There's something about the look and feel of a pre-1933 gold coin. If the coins don't have spots/streaks/stains they are easily sold over the phone for with a tiny spread. If you have PQ pieces or coins with obvious problems in holders then that's a little tougher. But they are still all very liquid. When the numismatic market comes back these could do a lot better than gold bullion. In the slim event of "gold confiscation" being considered these may have a more secure standing. If one considers the tenets of PA2, coins such as MS63/64 $20 Libs and MS65/66 $20 Saints that are worth more than 2X melt value may have additional benefits over pure bullion coins. The classic coins also tend to carry more leverage (both up and down). Buying them when they are out of favor gives opportunities to buy them at much lower premiums that bullion gold tend not to see. Classic gold coins are like the gold stocks of the gold coin trade as they can provide leverage.

Anyone who has classic gold should also be diversified into some percentage of bullion coins. Can't keep all your eggs in one basket. No person's risk and collector profiles are exactly the same. So what we actually have is a wide range of preferences to suit individual styles.

roadrunner

Justacommeman

Hence the problem Brian....you are way smarter then I (bigtime)............Bullion is easier for spreadsheet guys like me

MJ

braddick

Roadrunner stated exactly what I was thinking, only much, much better.

We might just as well have some fun with gold while we're owning it, no?

jmski52

We might just as well have some fun with gold while we're owning it, no?

Absolutely!!!

Justacommeman

Konahead

<< <i>depends how easy you want to be able to sell. Modern bullion eagles are "usually" sold with no hagle buy/sell. $20's are easy to sell but can be difficult to get your expected price, more hagle and headaches but cooler to own. >>



I tend to get more attached to my older gold and that will make it harder to part with when needed. Bullion BYE BYE!

OnlyGoldIsMoney

I collect rare date gold in just one series - Liberty $2.50's. Many dates and mintmarks have small PCGS pops - metal value is usually overshadowed by numismatic value. I don't consider these coins to be a part of my precious metals inventory.




When I convert my fiat to investment gold I avoid Eagles, Buffalos and Saints because of their premiums. Instead I purchase post-1982 $5 and $10 commemoratives and the widely ignored 1980-1984 half ounce and ounce US Arts Medals. The pre-1933 $5 and $10 gold coins I can find close to melt are usually damaged, cleaned and/or ex-jewelry - I avoid them.

coynclecter

I'd prefer the 400oz bars. About a dozen would make me happy.

KUCH

<< <i>I collect rare date gold in just one series - Liberty $2.50's. Many dates and mintmarks have small PCGS pops - metal value is usually overshadowed by numismatic value. I don't consider these coins to be a part of my precious metals inventory.




When I convert my fiat to investment gold I avoid Eagles, Buffalos and Saints because of their premiums. Instead I purchase post-1982 $5 and $10 commemoratives and the widely ignored 1980-1984 half ounce and ounce US Arts Medals. The pre-1933 $5 and $10 gold coins I can find close to melt are usually damaged, cleaned and/or ex-jewelry - I avoid them. >>




Does that include pre-1933 $20 St. Gaudens? Just curious, would you pass on a 1908 $20 St Gaudens at melt?

OnlyGoldIsMoney

<< <i>

<< <i>I collect rare date gold in just one series - Liberty $2.50's. Many dates and mintmarks have small PCGS pops - metal value is usually overshadowed by numismatic value. I don't consider these coins to be a part of my precious metals inventory.




When I convert my fiat to investment gold I avoid Eagles, Buffalos and Saints because of their premiums. Instead I purchase post-1982 $5 and $10 commemoratives and the widely ignored 1980-1984 half ounce and ounce US Arts Medals. The pre-1933 $5 and $10 gold coins I can find close to melt are usually damaged, cleaned and/or ex-jewelry - I avoid them. >>




Does that include pre-1933 $20 St. Gaudens? Just curious, would you pass on a 1908 $20 St Gaudens at melt? >>




Why confused? I would buy that 1908 Saint if I could get it at melt. Saints are not available anywhere near melt and I don't see that fact changing anytime soon. What I do purchase can be commonly purchased right around melt.

edit for grammar

ttown

Hands down classics since in the down turn they will hold a 50% over the price of gold at a min. As far as modern gold I'd say the $5 or $10 dollar 84 up around bullion price. Nice coins that can actually be collected and some great designs right at or below bullion. It depends on if your an investor or collector or a little of both. If I were going into it today it'd be the modern due to price of the classics but really if gold went back down to 500 I think the classic are starting to be valued and would still bring 300 to 500 over bullion in the 61/62 grades which is what I buy mostly. JMO my view and not really what many others may think.

braddick

renman95

<< <i>We might just as well have some fun with gold while we're owning it, no?

Absolutely!!!



>>




The modern gold Three Horsemen.

renman95

Nuff said.



But I still like the classics. Part of my type set.



I also have heart for the small guys.

No pics on hand, but I have grown to like the Spouse Liberty series.

R95

Overdate

<< <i>No pics on hand, but I have grown to like the Spouse Liberty series. >>





Classic designs, and low mintages on the Jackson and Van Buren give downside protection if gold price retreats.

jmski52

<< No pics on hand, but I have grown to like the Spouse Liberty series. >>



Classic designs, and low mintages on the Jackson and Van Buren give downside protection if gold price retreats.

That's what I thought as well. Goodbye IRA, Hello Spouse Libertys.

doh

<< <i>At an identical price per ounce I'd rather own classic US gold, but to buy and hold gold I would rather pay the smaller premiums for modern gold eagles and similar items >>


Yep