Does brand name matter for bullion?

Discussion in 'Bullion Investing' started by Gam3rBlake, Mar 29, 2021.

  1. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I noticed a lot of times websites like JM Bullion will have “on sale” items and usually they have some sort of gold bar each week for sale.

    A few weeks ago it was a 1 oz Perth Mint gold bar and this week it’s a 1 oz Istanbul Gold Refinery gold bar.

    When compared to something like a Gold Buffalo it’s a lot cheaper even though both are 1 oz of .9999 fine gold.

    Does brand name really matter?

    Or should I buy whichever bullion is cheapest since gold is gold?

    I mean if you melted a Gold Buffalo and a 1 oz IGR .9999 fine gold bar wouldn’t you end up with exactly the same thing?
     
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  3. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    Buy the coin not the metal e.t.c although the bigger brands can sometimes be an easier sell for those.....
     
    David Betts likes this.
  4. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    When you say buy the coin not the metal do you mean I should pick coins over bars?

    Or do you mean I should buy what I like not based on brand? (Like how people say buy the coin not the slab).
     
    potty dollar 1878 likes this.
  5. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    The second option.
     
    fretboard likes this.
  6. Beardigger

    Beardigger Well-Known Member

    Interesting question. Looking forward to the responses. IMO Gold is gold unless it is a coin that may have Numismatic value.
     
  7. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Oh ok gotchya thanks!

    In that case I’ll get a 1 oz Gold Britannia since they have cool new security features and are .9999 fine yet they’re much cheaper than a Gold Buffalo.
     
    potty dollar 1878 likes this.
  8. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    I don't buy a lot of bullion anymore, but when I do it's old libertads, silver eagles, OR silver pour bars from small businesses. I just find Corporate Generic bars too boring.

    Also it's a lot easier to sell 50oz in custom pours and gov't issued bullion than 50oz in Apmex or Suisse bars; plus they are usually easier to fake. @ me when you find a fake PBP or Pavia metals bar.

    Edit: Forgot to mention that if you get in early on someone's pours and their business takes off, the premiums can grow if it is a rarer pour.
     
    potty dollar 1878 likes this.
  9. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    I like the old prospector rounds and Enghlard bars, have a good amount of them.
     
  10. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    The Brittanica is an excellent choice if you're going for modern bullion.
     
  11. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I went to a dealer yesterday and he offered me less than melt for an NGC MS63 1932 $10 Indian Head Gold Eagle.

    So I just walked out the door because that’s a ripoff.

    There is no way that a coin that’s almost 100 years old and in MS condition should be treated as if it’s just bullion.

    Even if it’s just a common date like mine it’s still a coin that’s in mint condition after 90 years.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
  12. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Yeah definitely. I want a Britannia because with the new security features I think it will be easy for a dealer to know it’s the real thing.

    There is no way that Chinese counterfeiters will be able to copy all the security features like the micro engraving, padlock to trident hologram, rippling wave design etc.,
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
  13. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Some of those OLD Engelhard silver bars sell for a hefty premium.

    I saw a bullion dealer selling an Engelhard 5 oz silver poured bar from the 1970s and he was charging like $500 for it because only 100 were made.
     
  14. William F

    William F Well-Known Member

    I love the Britannias, nice choice, I'm still working on my Silver Britannia collection, it'll be a while before I work up to gold :p
     
  15. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Nice! I just picked up a 2021 silver Britannia last week. ^_^

    8172EC96-015C-4EA8-99AB-FB81CE5C8F96.jpeg
     
  16. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Like it or not - Eagles, Maples, Kruggerands, Kooalas, Pandas will always trade at a premium over Englehard or other private mints. Even among the government issues, some will trade at premiums over others. Usually (unless there are some major world events) those premiums don't fluctuate too much (relative to spot price). So, if you pick a type and stick with it, you should get fairly consistent and predictable results. Pick the one you like the best, and go with that.
     
  17. rte

    rte Well-Known Member

    Buy what you like and then one of everything...it helps when the attention span slips :D
     
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  18. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Well that's the thing I like alot of different kinds.

    What's weird though is it seems to be based on location.

    For example: Bullion Now based in Melbourne, Australia pays a premium for bars/coins from the Perth Mint in Australia but they only pay spot for American Gold Eagles, Gold Buffalos, Silver Eagles etc.,

    Yet here in the US dealers will put a premium on US Mint bullion.
     
  19. rte

    rte Well-Known Member

    Hmmm, I'd have to disagree a bit.
    You cant buy a new engelhard bar today, only secondary market.
     
  20. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Wow. I'm shocked. So Australian buyers want Australian gold, and US buyers want US gold? Incredible!

    (sarcasm, of course)

    This really doesn't surprise me at all. I'll bet if you were to go to South Africa, they would prefer Krugerrands, and in China I'll bet they don't even know there's anything else besides Pandas.

    This trend extends beyond bullion - I'd bet Australian coins with actual numismatic value besides bullion would do better in an Australian auction than in other countries as well.
     
  21. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I really like the Valcambi Combi-Bars where you can break pieces off.

    I'd like to get a 50gram one that you can break 1g increments off as needed.

    The 100 gram one is even cooler but it's like $6000 :/
     
    Eric the Red likes this.
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