Sounds as if there is a significant numismatic element to them since only a few were made and they haven't made them since 1981.
This object isn't a coin or currency, so it's not a "numismatic element." It's a collectible, in precious metal. Any PM collectible may have an intrinsic value tied to its underlying alternative monetary asset. But that doesn't make it currency per se, IMO. What if it was made of Ir ?
I disagree. Gold is a monetary metal so it has two values. It's bullion value (what you get if you melt it down) and it's numismatic value. (what people are willing to pay beyond it's bullion value)
I'm curious about the Lego "employee award." Why was it only given at Hohenwestedt GERMANY and not at the Lego global hq in DENMARK? And since that factory opened in 1956 - it would be impossible to have "25 years of service" in 1979. DOUBTFUL AUTHENTICITY. This looks more like a something someone made for himself - and easy to customize a jewelry box at that "price."
I was disappointed to learn that some of the lego sets these days are packaged in China among a couple of other countries. I hope this gold block isn't a by-product of that
Well I wonder about this. There are certainly private mints, churning out coins/medals: I cannot disagree there (might be) numismatic value in those. But what if I (or you/anyone) pays to fabricate an object that's not a coin, just a one-&-only object? Or four: one for me, a couple for whoever I like? That's gimmicky, I think. I wouldn't conflate ALL 'collector value' with numismatics either. I'm not even sure this thing is legit. Promo claims that's the original display box - maybe, but it looks new-ish to me. Is 14k typical for German jewelry? Is it hallmarked? I'm curious. fwiw, Lego made a ton of gold-plated (or colored?) 'special gift bonus' bricks in 2004/5. I also hope this isn't a Chinese (tungsten) cousin LOL
Must be a knock-off... like getting no-name lego as a kid. Everyone knows that REAL lego pieces have the word 'LEGO' stamped on the tops of the little knobs on the brick.
Might Be? LOL The first minted gold coinage in the USA came not from the US Mint, but from the Private Bechtler Mint in North Carolina which started minting coins shortly after gold was discovered near Charlotte in 1792. If you can find one, one of these coins will set you back far far more than the bullion value of the gold in the coin. Here is an example. There is less than $1500 worth of gold in this coin yet it costs $17,000. Bechtler Coin on Ebay[/URL
fatima- You can read I'm sure: "There are certainly private mints, churning out coins/medals..." Present-tense, emphasized. This (fake?) Lego product wasn't "minted" in 1792, nor is its market-value known. You're wrong to declare there's ANY numismatic value if you don't have any price record (and you don't, right?) I'm not being difficult, I'm being sensible: where's the appraisal or certification/documentation otherwise? It looks ... fishy. You don't understand? I'm not convinced any private mint's product HAS true numismatic value... but sure: that's the wishful thinking of collectors. I suspect most PM coin is heading towards bullion-value, but I may be wrong. Even if I am, that doesn't make this ersatz Lego block worth $14k. Just saying. Photo's pretty - but nothing (I've seen) proves it's genuine.
I take it that you didn't bother to read the link that was provided. The gold LEGO was made by the LEGO company as a gift to employees who reached 25 years with the company. Given this failure, I'd say that your opinions, while rightfully yours, don't reflect reality.
In WHAT UNIVERSE, lol. 1) Hohenwestedt is GERMANY. Do you know where Lego HQ is? (Hint: NOT Germany.) 2) The Hohenwestedt factory opened in 1956. How could someone "reach 25 years with the company" in 1979? (If YOU read the article.) 3) Why is there no record of any such bricks ever "awarded" to a Lego employee? Links, plz. 4) Why doesn't the brick say 'Lego' on it? (All Lego schwag says 'Lego' on it.) 5) Why does the eBay seller of this item live in a trailer park? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970s-LEGO-14K-SOLID-GOLD-25-YEARS-EMPLOYEE-SERVICE-2X4-BRICK-ULTRA-RARE-/221148102615 There IS a hallmark, but look underneath. It's NOT an accurate Lego replica, by form. No need to spend $14k, get 6 for under 10 bucks LOL http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-8-Lego-GOLD-BRICKS-2-x-4-Specialty-Brick-Pieces-/230888279014
Take for example NWTM's divisible stagecoach rounds and bars. They command a premium over other generic rounds and bars, but it is a private mint that has numismatic value. This is true of other divisible rounds too, and then there are art bars too, so I don't agree with your first point specifically. However, just because brickenvy.com says it is a legitimate Lego item does not make it so. I would need to see more evidence before I'd feel comfortable purchasing the item, which admittedly I would love to have. It doesn't have the Lego logo on the dots as was pointed out in the yelllow lego graphic which makes me question its authenticity.
InfleXion- What was the NWTM's product premium 10 years ago? Five? Today? If current product premiums are stable (or improving) I'd agree: I'm not convinced yet. Many modern collectibles in Silver & Gold are racing towards the intrinsic value of metal - tomorrow's bullion, I suppose.
So basically you offer up opinion that has noting to do with the topic at hand. Not one relevant remark to the quote you were responding to. If you don't like the brick then don't buy it. It's not hard to understand. More to the point however, it does show the depths that you will sink to, to try and discredit gold ownership. insults and bad attempts to discredit don't do you any justice. Again I ask, if you are so against gold ownership, why are you participating on a gold bullion forum?
It's fake (it's not a Lego product.) Stamping your little feet otherwise changes nothing. It's really not hard to understand, given all the reasons already stated, but I do wonder what percentage of CT would be as easily fooled as you are, fatima. Honestly, first glance at this objet I thought: "The proportions aren't right." Veteran coin collectors will understand this gut instinct: if it looks fake, it probably is. A deranged nebbish or seller shrieking "IT ISN'T! IT ISN'T!" won't convince anyone reasonable to pay, oh, 15x what it's worth at scrap. LOL - there's the incentive to LIE, to take a sucker's money. And this "Lego" is a moron litmus test. Brick Envy claims it's a "1970s LEGO 14K SOLID GOLD 25 YEARS EMPLOYEE SERVICE 2X4 BRICK ULTRA RARE" but of course it's not "solid gold" and it's not "solid" either. It's nothing more than an objet - purportedly in 14k Au - EOS. NOTHING on the ersatz brick nor generic packaging (which looks cheap & tawdry, on closer inspection) indicates an 'employee medal' by inscription or certification. So a filthy piece of polyester, glued to the back of a plastic lid definitively makes something "authentic"? LOL Get real. The likelihood that Lego started giving out a couple of Gold bricks at one German plant - AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GOLD BUBBLE ("1979-81") but not before nor after - is nil. There seems to be no record of Lego or any of its division ever giving out such "awards" - and the burden of proof is on you, not I, to prove otherwise. So caveat emptor. What a Florida trailer park vendor says on eBay "might" be worth scrap, but nothing more. This object has about zero numismatic value in the real world. Any "premium" is for the crazed collector (a rooked dupe) alone, and "...a fool and his money are soon parted!" So aside from fatima, how many on CT are still convinced the simulacrum is real? LOL Santa Claus is comin' to town! [video=youtube;9jQy_ppY2bI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQy_ppY2bI[/video]
Ha! You nailed me, miedbe7. I should add the "Lego" logo is decidedly "off" too. In 1981 and now, in Germany & Denmark, their official emblem looks like this. NOT this (really?): I'm curious who made the 'brick' in question. Who could identify the hallmark (585 = 14k) is it Asian? Maybe Special Lego-Friends Police might know!