Precious Metals

Throughout the world there are a multitude of precious metals, such as rhodium, osmium and rhenium. However, there are four in particular that have become renowned within the market today, gold, silver, platinum and palladium. They each have their own unique qualities that make them globally desirable.

Gold

Possibly the most desired precious metal in the world, gold is typically viewed with the highest monetary value. Used for jewellery, collection, manufacturing and more, it’s no surprise that gold has become the most popular metal to invest in, with a particular selling advantage of no VAT.

Since its entrance into circulation, gold has become a symbol of wealth throughout the world that still resonates today. Investors looking to diversify their financial portfolios look to purchasing gold bullion for two reasons: global recognition and consistent value.

Silver

With the most common form of silver being Sterling Silver, used for jewellery, made up of 92.5% pure silver, investment in all varieties of this precious metal have become very common. While silver is subject to VAT, unlike gold it has much more opportunity to produce a profit due to its volatile pricing. While gold is able to withstand economic uncertainty and therefore used as a safe haven for your money, the value of silver fluctuates often throughout the years. But the silver lining with this is that you can make large profits from this precious metal in a shorter period of time.

Platinum

This stunning precious metal has become extremely popular in recent years for its use within jewellery due to its non-corrosive properties, resistance to high temperatures and due to it being hypoallergenic.

Palladium

Palladium is perhaps the rarest precious metal of the four! It is typically used within manufacturing as it is able to withstand extremely high temperatures and absorb considerable amounts of hydrogen.

Sovereigns

Sovereign gold coins of the United Kingdom were once utilised as currency, with a face value of £1. Used typically until 1817, these coins were accepted throughout Britain, and many other places in the world.

The very first sovereign originated from Henry VII’s era, with the king ordering the royal mint to produce “A new money of gold” in 1489. The coin was decorated with the royal arms on one side and a portrait of the king on the other. It was then that the tradition of monarchy upon sovereigns began.

Since circulation of these coins as currency ended, they have become known as bullion coins and their value has increased dramatically, with some known single sovereigns worth more than £500,000.

The value of a sovereign coin is now calculated by multiplying the weight of the coin, by the gold spot price. As gold increases in value, naturally so does the sovereign. But due to the sovereigns’ numismatic value, sovereign coins have become worth far more than their value in gold.

When collecting sovereigns, there are typically a number of factors to consider:

• Year of production
• Mint branch
• Monarchy and design

It is worth remembering that while collectors can value a coin to be worth hundreds of thousands, a bullion dealer will still simply only value the product at its gold weight and therefore, metal content.

There are a number of notable mints worth collecting throughout the world, such as the Canadian Mint or Australian Mint but The Royal Mint is globally recognised as the most valuable mint.

Looking to begin your collection? View our available sovereigns now!