We get lots of questions from the public about precious metals.
Some people are curious about the basics. Others are skeptical about the case for owning gold and silver.
Still, others are longtime customers who have highly specialized inquiries.
Here we will answer a few of the most common, most broadly relevant questions we get...
QUESTION: Have you noticed any change in demand for coins that suddenly now bear the likeness of King Charles?
When given the choice, buyers prefer Queen Elizabeth rather than King Charles on a coin.
ANSWER: Yes! Based on over a year in sales data, there is zero doubt that King Charles is a turnoff to many – and demand for such coins has been negatively impacted.
When it comes to the Canadian Maple Leaf, Australian Kangaroo, Royal Mint’s Brittania, and other coins minted by nations within Great Britain’s Commonwealth, investors usually favor the legacy coins bearing Queen Elizabeth’s effigy over King Charles’.
Moreover, we’ve also seen a small shift in demand to the South African Krugerrand and the Austrian Philharmonic... coins which do not involve King Charles. Sorry, Charlie... we’re just reporting what we’re seeing!
QUESTION: Why have rounds and bars seemingly become more popular than coins?
ANSWER: The simple answer is cost efficiency. As bullion investors become more experienced, they seem to gravitate toward lower premium items that provide a better value. And that generally means privately minted bars and rounds – not government-minted coins.
Also, the U.S. Mint’s pervasive mismanagement in recent years – especially its production gaffes that led to extremely high premiums between 2021 and 2023 – has severely damaged investor confidence in these once-popular coins.
While other government mints seem to have performed better in times of high market demand, it’s become increasingly apparent that the privately minted options – such as bars and rounds – consistently provide stable, low pricing, thereby enabling investors to acquire more ounces for the same money.
That said, when actually priced near melt value, coins are always worthy of consideration.
