dietcolaaddict

Thanks ID5 and aardvark for putting my mind at rest about this.

Does anyone know what happens to gold bullion coins involved in a housefire? I've always wondered w.r.t. my stash, but has anyone got any specific knowledge on this? Gold has a melting point of 1064 Celcius, so kruggers and britannias should be alloys that melt in that ballpark temperature range. Is that hotter than a typical housefire? Also, would smoke damage make bullion coins unidentifiable or unsellable? Could a fire-damaged coin still be sold for a decent % of spot? Thanks in advance

Hi nicejim , others may chip in with better answers here, but here's my understanding: Because over 450 years, a circa 4-fold change in labour value is insignificant compared to the multiple-fold loss in paper (pound/pence) value had we compared soldier's income in fiat currency. Things make even more sense when you factor in the 'productivity gain' of a modern soldier over a soldier from the 16th century. Now with armour, sophisticated weoponary, communications, tanks, aircover, healthcare, sanitation etc.......... the number of soldiers needed per war campaign is less so each can be paid a bit more in absolute value as they have 'added value' to the battlefield effort. I could suggest perhaps circa 4 times more.

Look away RealistBear of HPC, it's yet another example of gold holding it's value over time........... Gold half sovereign from the Mary Rose, dated 1544 Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/art...l#ixzz0TlEIFAJM

Thanks Pixel8r, that's useful interpretation

Gold rising vertically again - strange time of the day for this though....

I like my Kitco Kcast software which displays the live prices on my windows toolbar: Gold $ 1033.10 Silver $17.14 Platinum $1312

I'm a little busy at the moment with changing jobs etc. (and have little spare time) but let's just be careful of groupspeak people, as Dr B. once warned. A healthy debate is good for all. Don't pick on the outsider. Remember gold is the outsider as far as the MSM is concerned.

Wow, Friday smackdown did not work

And I thought physical silver was too bulky as a store of wealth !!!!!

I bet it recovers to over 1000 by the end of the day though..........

I'm surprised to be first to post this. It was on Radio Five news just now - is the summer party over for the UK housebuiders? Housebuilders and property group in cash call http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e15870be-a809-11...144feabdc0.html Article starts:

Overall, rents are down in Northampton and Milton Keynes also. My point is that renters are now chasing affordable flats and are willing to compromise their standard of living for lower rent payments. This may create a floor at current levels in many rental markets. It will, however, murder any BTLer with a penthouse / concierge service / city views etc as nobody will pay the premium for this. People are happy with 'Tesco Value' not 'Tesco Finest' in the current rental market.

I thought I would report back my explanation for this, having been 'at the coalface' the past week while flat hunting. It's to do with the fact I want a flat at the 'low-end' of the young professionals market. My observations: + No FTBers at all - everyone under 35 is looking to rent + These people are all looking at the same segment of the rental market - basic one beds. For example, couples are looking for a one bed not something more roomy. The affluent young professionals (accountants, lawyers etc.) are not renting penthouses or top-end flats and instead are also chasing low-end one beds. People who normally favour exclusive are happy with basic at the moment. + Rich students for the new uni term are 'living out' not 'in halls'. You spot them as they tour flats with their 4x4 driving parents in tow saying "Well, its near the library" etc. What nicejim said fits here - students from 'well off' backgrounds may feel more afluent than a generation ago now they have access to student loans as well as the bank of mum and dad.

Just sold a bit of silver. I might regret this - but I am a forced seller at the moment and have done well out of delaying my sale as long as possible this month

OK, much expected NY Smackdown has just happened.......bounced of 1007 though It's going to be interesting to see how much this recovers in the remaining NY time. Good recovery = bullish EDIT - kitco.com is down again. That's always a bullish sign!!!!!

In the UK, always buy and sell bullion in <£5000 quantities. No paperwork, no cgt.

Actually, It's your city jim - Liverpool. Any local factors involved here - large new employer starting up or something? What is also wierd is that I am competing with loads of students for these places (I realise that is a seasonal effect by moving now). In my day, students lived in their own part of town in 3-6 bedroom doggy digs, not one bedroom city centre flats.

A little bit of anecdotal...... I'm moving to a new job at the end of the month and looking for a city centre flat (flat, not luxury apartment ) to rent for the first six months. A typical low-end BTL-athon willl do just fine while I settle in at work and decide where to live longer term in the city. However, letting agents are very busy and hard to get hold of, and indeed most flats are gone by the time I get through to them. I've checked that I am not being played by the agents (I've asked friends to make seperate enquiries), so am a little suprised at the high demand-low supply situation here as new builds are everywhere in this city. A little bit puzzled as to why this is. A temporary consequence of the dead cat bounce, or something more ?

58.3 now on the gold-to-silver ratio. Things moving quickly.........

Thanks wren, good point. I feel an evening of Excel lies ahead sometime looking at the G-to-S ratio and optimal historical exit/entry points Sorry azazel, but Bubb and Steve in 'Dictionary Corner' have disallowed it for being two words. Thus, it remains a 6-letter day.

Just to say - silver > $17 gold now at 1009.5. Has something happened today - any rumours?

Hi GOM An old chart of mine - sorry it is not updated for the last 6 months or so - but I think this sums up my thinking I'm not so sure the price of the metals matters much, especially if you are just accumulating PMs for a future purchase (from memory, I think a house is your plan). Thinking about this with respect to my circumstances, a house will be c. $100 oz gold, a new career (medical school) about $30 oz. I'm simply using the gold-to-silver ratio as a way to get extra ounces on the way to these targets than if I converted my monthly savings to gold straight off. + Notice that the ratio spends a lot of time at 50-55 - it is the largest bin size so there is no need to panic a decision to swap silver for gold in this ratio range. However, the bins below 50 are very small in size, so if the ratio falls below 50, it is likely that a spike is occuring, and so a quick decision is needed to swap. + Also - and a seperate issue I am still thinking about - I'd rather hold gold than silver during the 'April - August' doldrums as it has more of a floor (especially now China appear to be hoovering up gold every time there is a significant dip) . Silver seems to have a really low floor (around $5, where I believe it becomes unworthwhile to produce for miners), so it is more risky to hold silver during the seasonal doldrums than gold. I need to think this through more, it remains just a theory at the moment, any thoughts welcome.

Thanks RH. This makes a lot of sense.

Gold-to-silver ratio now 59.3 My plan is to swap for gold at : - 51 or - mid February