Community Voice Responses (January 22, 2019)

From the Dec. 28 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Do you feel financially intimidated by gold coins?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

I have to say, “Yes, a bit.” What I mostly don’t like are the high premiums on smaller amounts, like tenth and quarter ounce. While I may not always have the money to buy a full ounce of gold, I always have the funds to buy a tenth or quarter ounce, but what stops me are those high premiums I would have to pay over what I’d pay for a full ounce.

Ken Freeze
Martinez, Calif.

For some of us, this can be intimidating. With a higher price, a one-ounce coin can be pricey. A tenth to fifth-ounce can take a bite for some of us. This can be still a problem for some affordability. For this reason, I prefer the silver market to the gold market. Being a 75-to-1 ratio, it can be a good mix. There had been a slight increase lately, but this is normal. It will even out in the wash.

Gary Kess
Sherman, Texas

No not at all. I treat them like any other collectible coin

Roy Herbst
Ridgefield, Conn.

Not at all!

Name withheld

Yes and no. I do feel somewhat intimidated buying gold. I’m mostly a collector not an investor so I’m more willing to pay higher prices for a design I love, gold or not.

But plunking down that much money, at one time, makes me feel that I should worry more about, the amount over spot that I end up paying.

Ernesto Aguilar
North Hollywood, Calif.

In the pursuit of any collection, we must make that evaluation of “must have” or “let it pass.” Price does not matter if the former but it is always a consideration for any other purchasing decision. There is lots of fantastic stuff out there but I must content myself to admiring the pictures or the piece itself if at a show. I found a beautiful gold medal in auction that hasn’t sold in a year or so, the mintage is in single digits, it fits perfectly into one collection but the starting price is EUR 45,000 which is a bit out of my price range even. So I must sigh, look at the picture every now and again and hope it finds a good home.

Bob Fritsch
Nashua, N.H.