Metal Porn: is it bullion or better? edition

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Weiss
Weiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Precious Metals

Recent reimage of a somewhat scarce late 20th century gold coin from Jamaica, struck by the Royal Mint in London. Some people feel pieces like this are just expensive bullion. But try to find one at any price, let alone near its bullion value.
Do you have a piece others might think of as bullion but you think of as a neat collectible?

1995 Jamaica 100 dollars
KM#172
Mintage: 2,000
Composition: Gold
Fineness: 0.9167
Weight: 15.9800g

We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
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  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,760 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I would think that your coin would bring a premium over melt in the right venue such as eBay but I'm not sure how much the premium would be. At the local coin shop you'd probably be only offered melt. Very neat coin.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • jmski52
    jmski52 Posts: 24,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2, 2018 6:43AM
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    I have a few coins that I like because I took a fancy to them, and the longer I own them I tend to like them even more. That doesn't mean I'd find a vibrant market for them if I went to sell some of them.

    It's a low mintage 1/2 oz. gold proof - what's not to like? There are so many ways to collect that if a coin or group of coins brings you pleasure or satisfaction - it's more than just expensive bullion.

    The mints around the world are playing the low mintage game for all it's worth, and it's fragmenting the market into smaller and smaller pieces. This could make a coin harder to sell and realize a profit, down the road.

    I've bought "collector bullion" that I know isn't going anywhere any time soon, but if a piece is aesthetically-pleasing and made of precious metal, and I don't get raped too bad on the buy-in, I'll still dabble in some of them. Like the Queen's Beasts, for instance. :)

    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2, 2018 7:49AM
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    Often gold or silver coins with specific art, hold a special place in someone's memories. These with low mintage become collector items in a small segment of the population - and not all who buy them are coin collectors. Some want them for the memories they evoke. Those will be tightly held until disposed of by heirs or needs. Most will not garner long term numismatic value, but short term values are often disproportionately high. Cheers, RickO

  • Weiss
    Weiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I listened to the Bob Marley greatest hits CD when I was working on my second, overwhelming real estate project years ago. Stressed out, broke, exhausted. It was a form of meditation and helped pull me through. So it definitely has that personal connection. But I'm just one of 100,000,000 Bob Marley fans, which is partly why these pieces are so scarce.

    I like the low serial number on this piece, too.

    We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
    --Severian the Lame
  • GRANDAM
    GRANDAM Posts: 8,785 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Why would they pour a bar with a weight of 1.608 oz?

    GrandAm :)
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,760 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @GRANDAM said:
    Why would they pour a bar with a weight of 1.608 oz?

    It's equal to 50 grams.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • GRANDAM
    GRANDAM Posts: 8,785 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall said:

    @GRANDAM said:
    Why would they pour a bar with a weight of 1.608 oz?

    It's equal to 50 grams.

    OK, that makes more sense.

    GrandAm :)
  • Downtown1974
    Downtown1974 Posts: 7,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Loving it all! Well, I know all of my metal is nothing but bullion so I will spare you from any pics. :)

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    If it is bullion, it is certainly "bullion with a premium" and to me that is collectible. My bullion dealer had a bunch of 20 franc gold pieces all for $255. Most were roosters, angels and Napoleon 3. Two were Napoleon 1. One an13a and 1 1807a. They are in vf-ef condition. I grabbed them. Bullion or collectible? I don't know, but if you can get something less common for bullion $ you may want to grab it.

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @cmanbb .... I know those are gold, however, in your text you say Ag... Just to let you know...Cheers, RickO

  • cmanbb
    cmanbb Posts: 1,059 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    @cmanbb .... I know those are gold, however, in your text you say Ag... Just to let you know...Cheers, RickO

    AKA.....adding gold engelhard bars to my stack of Ag engelhard bars.

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @cmanbb ...Gotcha... read too fast... sorry about that... ;) Cheers, RickO

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    @cmanbb ...Gotcha... read too fast... sorry about that... ;) Cheers, RickO

    I made the same mistake. You are not the only one.

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    @cmanbb Nice pair you have there, congrats!

    @GRANDAM Cool gold pieces. I happen to have this hobo nickel in my collection with the same theme as yours

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NVU ....That is a great, modern hobo nickel.... very nicely done. Who was the artist on that one?? Cheers, RickO

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    Andy Gonzalez. All his works are similar to one another. Once you see it, you would know it's from him

  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Love those gold Engelhards!

    My YouTube Channel

  • LukeMarshall
    LukeMarshall Posts: 2,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice JM Blob!

    It's all about what the people want...

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NVU ... Thanks, I will google him and look at some of his other work. Cheers, RickO

  • GRANDAM
    GRANDAM Posts: 8,785 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NVU said:
    @cmanbb Nice pair you have there, congrats!

    @GRANDAM Cool gold pieces. I happen to have this hobo nickel in my collection with the same theme as yours

    I like it,,,,,,is it for sale?

    You know where I can get one like it?

    GrandAm :)
  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    I like it,,,,,,is it for sale?

    You know where I can get one like it?

    Got it on ebay a few years ago.....
    I normally don't sell my collection. If you insist, you could have it at my cost. I need to find out how much I paid for it and will PM you for further discussion.

  • cmanbb
    cmanbb Posts: 1,059 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NVU nice junky JM

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,760 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Those bars are very neat. Is there a problem with them being counterfeited?

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    There’s always possibility in that regard. But if you’re in the game long enough, you would have a very good idea to spot the fake ones.

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    @cmanbb said:
    @NVU nice junky JM

    Thanks, this style is extremely tough to come by. In fact, it’s the only one I’ve seen.

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    @LukeMarshall said:
    Nice JM Blob!

    Thanks. You have some of the neatest 1 kg type set and they’re sure belong in this thread

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Meltdown ....That is a nice silver set... Is the reverse plain? Or just the commercial information? Cheers, RickO

  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Meltdown said:
    I've got two of these sets stashed away. Intended as bullion originally but sure have become collectible over the years.
    photo IMG_2541.jpg

    I would love to own an Eagles Nest :smile:

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    i love them gold bars :)

  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    @Meltdown ....That is a nice silver set... Is the reverse plain? Or just the commercial information? Cheers, RickO

    They're not plain. I can't exactly remember what's on the reverse. I looked, I don't have photos as I haven't taken them out of the box. I know the larger pieces have big numbers on them for their ounce weight. 10, 5, 2&1/2, etc.
    They are pretty impressive for sure!
    photo IMG_2551.jpg

  • MorganMan94
    MorganMan94 Posts: 1,331 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Meltdown said:
    I've got two of these sets stashed away. Intended as bullion originally but sure have become collectible over the years.
    photo IMG_2541.jpg

    That is awesome, I didn't even know these existed!

  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome stuff!

    My YouTube Channel

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    EPIC

  • Downtown1974
    Downtown1974 Posts: 7,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Incredible bars, Luke!

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice silver bars @LukeMarshall ...definitely not one's commonly seen. Cheers, RickO

  • rte592
    rte592 Posts: 2,235 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow, Very cool.
    What do the barnacles add to the value?

  • silversiren
    silversiren Posts: 70 ✭✭✭
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    What size/weight (approximate if you don't want to be specific) are these Valcambi bars? I'd not seen anything like these before, I'm assuming the assay stamp is the identifier.

    @LukeMarshall said:

    Vintage Valcambi lil' & Big

    -luke

  • LukeMarshall
    LukeMarshall Posts: 2,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Glad y'all like the bars...

    They are all Kilo bars as those are my favorite and seem to be my speciality.

    The Barnacles, lol, contribute to the uniqueness of each bar (though I refered to them as scabs when first in hand).

    As for value, you know things are worth what someone is willing to pay at any given moment...

    I did have the thought that this could be slag that didn't homoginize with the bar and could contain all sorts of different metals. Some of these older bars are three 9s fine, so for a bar weighing 1000 grams, this may mean a single gram of non-silver may be a part of the whole... quite interesting if you ask me.

    Cheers

    It's all about what the people want...

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The 'scab' or 'barnacles' do look like the slag we would get when changing the solder in flow solder machines... impurities picked up through the process.... Cheers, RickO

  • coinsarefun
    coinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have noticed over the last several years there are some super neat bullion pieces being minted. I have several
    different pieces as well as not often seen silver and gold bars.
    The newest pickup is this very well done silver round.
    .
    .

    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album FOR SALE SOME will mark final ones before auction
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
  • GRANDAM
    GRANDAM Posts: 8,785 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 10, 2018 3:32PM
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    This is #2 in The Prospectors Series,,,,,, do you have #1?

    @coinsarefun said:
    I have noticed over the last several years there are some super neat bullion pieces being minted. I have several
    different pieces as well as not often seen silver and gold bars.
    The newest pickup is this very well done silver round.
    .
    .

    GrandAm :)
  • coinsarefun
    coinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @GRANDAM said:
    This is #2 in The Prospectors Series,,,,,, do you have #1?

    No I don't, haven't seen that one.
    However on a different note there is a 2 ounce Whaler round I ran across and been following to see if the price drops.
    That one is so beyond cool

    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album FOR SALE SOME will mark final ones before auction
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
  • GRANDAM
    GRANDAM Posts: 8,785 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 10, 2018 3:43PM
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    The White Whale is #6 of 7 in The Privateer Series and 7 is the total. The series is complete.

    Here is The White Whale for $52.60,,,,,, $23.40 cheaper that the link you posted. Also another in the series for even less than that price.

    https://www.providentmetals.com/silver/silver-rounds-weight/2-oz-silver-rounds.html

    GrandAm :)
  • coinsarefun
    coinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @GRANDAM said:
    This is #2 in The Prospectors Series,,,,,, do you have #1?
    !

    Oh, yes, I did see that one, thanks for pointing it out. The problem is there are so many really well designed bullion rounds out there now I would lose money if I bought every one that I liked ;)

    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album FOR SALE SOME will mark final ones before auction
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE

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