Latest news with #goldcoins
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Investing in gold bars and coins now? Here are 3 tips beginners should know now.
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Gold coins and bars could be a worthwhile investment, even for beginners, in today's economic climate. Getty Images While inflation may be much cooler than it was in recent years, the damage from the latest cycle is already complete, and savvy investors who didn't have their portfolios properly secured have likely learned their lesson. In inflationary periods and after such times, it's generally smart to have a reliable hedge and portfolio diversification tool available. For many, gold has provided exactly those functions. And with a variety of types to choose from, it's relatively easy to get invested in. Gold bars and coins, specifically, are seemingly ubiquitous right now, whether seen on a television commercial or highlighted by investors as a safe bet in an otherwise tumultuous financial landscape. If you're new to gold investing, however, it helps to know a few tips before you start buying gold bars and coins, specifically. Since gold doesn't operate in the same manner that other assets do, the difference between having this knowledge and not could be costly. To that end, below we'll break down three timely tips beginners should know now, before investing in gold bars and coins specifically. Explore your top gold investing options here. 3 tips beginners should know about investing in gold bars and coins now Ready to add gold bars and coins to your portfolio (or home safe)? Here are three tips beginners should familiarize themselves with now: There are new ways to invest now The days of calling a telephone number advertised at the bottom of a TV commercial are long over. Gold bars and coins are easier to buy than arguably ever before. Not only can you visit your local jewelry store or pawn shop to get started, but you can also do so from the comfort of your home by exploring multiple gold investment companies online. And, in recent years, even big box retailers have gotten involved in the gold investing landscape. Walmart and Costco both offer gold bars and coins to shoppers, which they can inspect in the store or add to their online shopping cart right now. Beginners should understand all of the ways to invest in gold bars and coins, then, before completing a transaction. By reviewing all of their options, they can improve their chances of investing in gold in the right amount at an affordable price. Start reviewing your gold bars and coins options now. You don't have to pay today's top price Not accounting for some recent declines, gold's price is high right now. Recently having surpassed the $3,400 price record, gold prices have been on the rise for much of the last 18 months, specifically, seemingly putting the precious metal out of reach for many. But you don't necessarily have to pay today's top price to get invested in gold bars and coins. Fractional gold, for example, offers beginners all of the same safeguards a regular gold investment provides for a fraction of the cost. By investing in gold in amounts less than an ounce, for instance, beginners can get started at a lower price point and then build up their investment total over time. Just understand that a rising price will cause fractional gold prices to increase, too, so if you know you need the protection gold bars and coins provide, it can be beneficial to get started sooner rather than later. The price is likely to rise again Sure, gold's price is currently "lower" than what it was. But $3,302.23 per ounce isn't exactly cheap, either. As mentioned above, gold prices only increase over time, accounting for minor declines and fluctuations. So, waiting for the perfect gold bar or coin to appear isn't the right approach. Any number of factors – from inflation to interest rates to geopolitical tensions abroad and domestic policies at home – could cause gold's price to spike again, potentially permanently making it unavailable for your portfolio. So, don't let your research and exploration overwhelm the realities of the market. If you want to buy gold bars and coins now, then consider being aggressive as the price is likely to rise again, perhaps earlier than expected. The bottom line Investing in gold bars and coins can be a prudent decision for investors of all ages and experiences. For beginners, in particular, with broader investment horizons, it can be particularly advantageous to get started now. With this type of gold being broadly available, even at a reduced price, many may want to get started soon. Considering that the factors that caused gold's price to spike are still largely prevalent, the price could rise again, underlining the urgency of evaluating – and committing to – gold bars and coins promptly. Just be sure to keep them as a small but healthy portion of a diversified portfolio (experts recommend capping gold to 10% or less of your portfolio) to better ensure long-term investing success.
CNN
20-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Hikers find mysterious stash of gold hidden on a mountain trail
(CNN) — Ten gold bracelets, 17 cigar cases, a powder compact, a comb, and a whopping 598 gold coins: The items are all part of a valuable and somewhat mysterious stash, found by chance by two hikers in the northeastern Czech Republic. The hikers, who wish to remain anonymous, were taking a shortcut through the forest in the Krkonoše Mountains — a popular hiking spot — when they saw an aluminum box sticking out of a stony wall. After they opened it and discovered the loot, they immediately took it to the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, in the nearby town of Hradec Králové, according to Miroslav Novak, the head of the archaeological department at the museum. 'The finders came to our museum's numismatist (coin expert) without a prior appointment. Only after that did archaeologists begin to deal with the find and set out to explore the site,' Novak told CNN in an email. Who may have hidden the treasure and why is still up for debate, but one thing is certain: The stash can't be more than about a century old, because one of the coins is dated 1921. As for the rest, there are only hypotheses, for now. 'It is most likely related to the turbulent period before the start of World War II, when the Czech and Jewish population was leaving the border area, or to 1945, when the Germans were leaving,' Novak said. A complete historical appraisal of the stash is still ongoing, and two of the cigar cases are tightly shut and remain unopened, but the metal value of the gold coins alone — which weigh 3.7 kilograms, or 8.16 pounds — is 8 million Czech koruna, or about $360,000, according to the museum's coin expert, Vojtěch Brádle. The finding has sparked interest in the surrounding community, and Novak says the museum is getting calls with 'various local rumors,' which he hopes could help solve the riddle of the gold's origin. Speculation is fueled by the fact that, oddly, there are no local coins in the mix. 'Half are of Balkan origin and the other half of French origin,' Novak said. 'Central European coins, such as German ones, are completely missing. But the find is located on the former ethnic border between the Czech and German populations.' Among the theories submitted by the public, Novak said, is one that traces the ownership of the coins back to wealthy families from the surrounding area, such as the the Swéerts-Špork family, the owners of the Kuks estate, a large baroque complex overlooking the Elbe River that includes a summer residence, a spa and a monastery. Another suggests the cache could be war spoils of Czechoslovak legionnaires. Findings like this are not especially common for the area, Novak noted. 'About nine kilometers southeast, a hoard of 2,700 silver denarii (a type of European trade coin) from the 12th century was found ten years ago,' he said by email. 'Many residents left this area during the 20th century, which is why there are many abandoned farms here.' Vojtěch Brádle agreed that the makeup of the stash is unusual. 'Usually, Czech finds from the 20th century mainly contain German and Czechoslovak coins. There is not a single one here,' he said. 'Most of the pieces from this treasure did not travel directly to Bohemia. They must have been somewhere in the Balkan Peninsula after the First World War. Some of the coins have countermarks from the former Yugoslavia. These were only minted on coins sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. At the moment, I do not know of any other Czech find that would contain coins with these countermarks.' More research is required, he added, to understand the metal composition of the remaining items, and obtain a more accurate overall value. It's significant that the most recent coin in the stash is from 1921, according to Mary Heimann, a professor of modern history and an expert of Czechoslovak history at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom. That was the year the Soviet-Polish War ended when the Treaty of Riga was signed, she said, but it was also a year of financial crisis in Czechoslovakia, the former state that separated peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. 'It was an unstable period, there was a downturn in the economy and widespread unemployment. For that reason, it's not that surprising somebody would think of burying a stash of gold at that time,' she added. Despite Novak's suggestions the stash was likely left around 1945, Heimann thinks that if that were the case, more recent coins would probably be in the mix. The absence of local currency, however, makes things murkier. '(The person who hid the coins) could have been a collector, or someone who worked in museums. Or someone who stole a collection from somewhere. This is borderland territory, it separates what's today the Czech Republic — what was in the past Czechoslovakia — from Poland,' Heimann said. 'The first World War didn't end overnight, the ramifications were still being felt everywhere. There was still instability of borders, there was still economic crisis, there was quite a lot of crime. I suppose you might expect that in those border regions and in places of mixed ethnicity, there would be particularly high tension. So it might be that someone could be more frightened of the future if they lived in those areas than someone who lived elsewhere.' Once the items have undergone further material analysis, they will be preserved and stored in the museum's coin collection. A short exhibition is planned for the fall. And then, who will get to keep the loot? According to Czech law, Novak said, archaeological finds are the property of the local regional administration from the moment of discovery. 'In this case, the treasure was correctly handed over to the museum,' he said. 'The finder is entitled to a financial reward, which depends on the value of the metal or historical appraisal.'
CNN
20-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Hikers find mysterious stash of gold hidden on a mountain trail
(CNN) — Ten gold bracelets, 17 cigar cases, a powder compact, a comb, and a whopping 598 gold coins: The items are all part of a valuable and somewhat mysterious stash, found by chance by two hikers in the northeastern Czech Republic. The hikers, who wish to remain anonymous, were taking a shortcut through the forest in the Krkonoše Mountains — a popular hiking spot — when they saw an aluminum box sticking out of a stony wall. After they opened it and discovered the loot, they immediately took it to the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, in the nearby town of Hradec Králové, according to Miroslav Novak, the head of the archaeological department at the museum. 'The finders came to our museum's numismatist (coin expert) without a prior appointment. Only after that did archaeologists begin to deal with the find and set out to explore the site,' Novak told CNN in an email. Who may have hidden the treasure and why is still up for debate, but one thing is certain: The stash can't be more than about a century old, because one of the coins is dated 1921. As for the rest, there are only hypotheses, for now. 'It is most likely related to the turbulent period before the start of World War II, when the Czech and Jewish population was leaving the border area, or to 1945, when the Germans were leaving,' Novak said. A complete historical appraisal of the stash is still ongoing, and two of the cigar cases are tightly shut and remain unopened, but the metal value of the gold coins alone — which weigh 3.7 kilograms, or 8.16 pounds — is 8 million Czech koruna, or about $360,000, according to the museum's coin expert, Vojtěch Brádle. The finding has sparked interest in the surrounding community, and Novak says the museum is getting calls with 'various local rumors,' which he hopes could help solve the riddle of the gold's origin. Speculation is fueled by the fact that, oddly, there are no local coins in the mix. 'Half are of Balkan origin and the other half of French origin,' Novak said. 'Central European coins, such as German ones, are completely missing. But the find is located on the former ethnic border between the Czech and German populations.' Among the theories submitted by the public, Novak said, is one that traces the ownership of the coins back to wealthy families from the surrounding area, such as the the Swéerts-Špork family, the owners of the Kuks estate, a large baroque complex overlooking the Elbe River that includes a summer residence, a spa and a monastery. Another suggests the cache could be war spoils of Czechoslovak legionnaires. Findings like this are not especially common for the area, Novak noted. 'About nine kilometers southeast, a hoard of 2,700 silver denarii (a type of European trade coin) from the 12th century was found ten years ago,' he said by email. 'Many residents left this area during the 20th century, which is why there are many abandoned farms here.' Vojtěch Brádle agreed that the makeup of the stash is unusual. 'Usually, Czech finds from the 20th century mainly contain German and Czechoslovak coins. There is not a single one here,' he said. 'Most of the pieces from this treasure did not travel directly to Bohemia. They must have been somewhere in the Balkan Peninsula after the First World War. Some of the coins have countermarks from the former Yugoslavia. These were only minted on coins sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. At the moment, I do not know of any other Czech find that would contain coins with these countermarks.' More research is required, he added, to understand the metal composition of the remaining items, and obtain a more accurate overall value. It's significant that the most recent coin in the stash is from 1921, according to Mary Heimann, a professor of modern history and an expert of Czechoslovak history at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom. That was the year the Soviet-Polish War ended when the Treaty of Riga was signed, she said, but it was also a year of financial crisis in Czechoslovakia, the former state that separated peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. 'It was an unstable period, there was a downturn in the economy and widespread unemployment. For that reason, it's not that surprising somebody would think of burying a stash of gold at that time,' she added. Despite Novak's suggestions the stash was likely left around 1945, Heimann thinks that if that were the case, more recent coins would probably be in the mix. The absence of local currency, however, makes things murkier. '(The person who hid the coins) could have been a collector, or someone who worked in museums. Or someone who stole a collection from somewhere. This is borderland territory, it separates what's today the Czech Republic — what was in the past Czechoslovakia — from Poland,' Heimann said. 'The first World War didn't end overnight, the ramifications were still being felt everywhere. There was still instability of borders, there was still economic crisis, there was quite a lot of crime. I suppose you might expect that in those border regions and in places of mixed ethnicity, there would be particularly high tension. So it might be that someone could be more frightened of the future if they lived in those areas than someone who lived elsewhere.' Once the items have undergone further material analysis, they will be preserved and stored in the museum's coin collection. A short exhibition is planned for the fall. And then, who will get to keep the loot? According to Czech law, Novak said, archaeological finds are the property of the local regional administration from the moment of discovery. 'In this case, the treasure was correctly handed over to the museum,' he said. 'The finder is entitled to a financial reward, which depends on the value of the metal or historical appraisal.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Largest Iron Age gold coin hoard acquired by Chelmsford museum
A "one-of-a-kind" cache of 933 Iron Age gold coins whose finder was convicted of attempted theft is to go on permanent display close to where it was discovered. The Great Baddow Hoard, which was found in 2020, is a "nationally significant" find because it is Britain's largest recorded Iron Age coin hoard, according to was declared treasure by a coroner and has been acquired by the Museum of Chelmsford, Essex, after receiving a £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. Curator Claire Willetts said it "could have been intended as a tribute payment to Roman general Julius Caesar". The hoard come from a time when Iron Age tribes first began minting their own coins using regional dies (metal stamps) and it was found with fragments of a possible container or is the first archaeological evidence of aggression between two neighbouring Iron Age tribes, Trinovantes and Catuvellauni, said the museum's curator, Claire Willetts. "The hoard's discovery in what is traditionally considered Trinovantian territory at Great Baddow may indicate movement or influence from western tribal groups into the east, potentially aligning with accounts of upheaval during Caesar's second invasion of Britain in 54 BC," she said. Previously, the only evidence of this was in Roman finds liaison officer Lori Rogerson described it as "a nationally significant discovery"."In the coming years, visitors seeing the hoard at the Museum of Chelmsford will be in awe at its size and gold content and they'll be led to ask questions such as, 'Who owned such a large stash of precious coins?' and, 'Why was it put in the ground, never to be returned to?'", she said. Having remained in the earth for more than 2,000 years, a metal detectorist found the collection on private land, but he had not sought permission to detect there. Shane Wood admitted the theft of 22 Staters and one quarter Stater, and failing to notify the coroner of the find under the Treasure Act 1996 at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in April 2021. As well as fines, he had his metal detector destroyed. Having initially failed to declare the find under the Treasure Act, his actions meant the potential to understand its archaeological context was limited. The British Museum's independent Treasure Valuation Committee recommended Wood should not receive a reward, so only the landowner was rewarded for the find. The law and metal detecting No search can begin until permission has been given by the landownerAll finds belong to the landownerAny find in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that is more than 300 years old, made of gold or silver, or found with gold or silver artefacts, could be treasure under the 1996 Treasure ActThese must be reported to the appropriate county finds liaison officerSource: Portable Antiquities Scheme Jennie Lardge, Chelmsford City Council's cabinet deputy for cultural services, said: "I hope many of our residents, especially those in Great Baddow, will feel as I do, an immense pride in this outstanding piece of Britain's history uncovered here in Chelmsford."The city council, Friends of Chelmsford Museums, Essex Society for Archaeology and History, Essex Heritage Trust, Council for British Archaeology East, and Essex Numismatics Society were among those who also contributed funds so the museum could acquire the find. Liz Bates, director of England, Midlands & East at the The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which provided the bulk of the funds, said it was pleased to support the acquisition of "this one-of-a-kind Iron Age hoard". It will go on display at the museum in summer 2026. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Physical gold versus digital gold: How to choose?
Investing in gold is a crucial decision for many investors. Gold has been a highly sought-after asset class due to its rarity, liquidity, and protection against inflation. It is also considered a safe haven asset. Investing in gold is a crucial decision for many investors. The question is how to invest, when to invest, and how much to invest. There are two ways to invest in gold, viz, physical gold and digital gold. Let us examine the pros and cons of both types of investments. PHYSICAL GOLD: GOLD COINS VS GOLD BARS Physical gold refers to jewelry, gold coins, and gold bars. Buying gold in the form of ornaments has inherent risks, viz, loss on making charges, taxes, safekeeping, and purity. The next option is gold coins and bullion. Both are advisable. Gold bars are 24 carat with 999.9 purity, while gold coins are 22 carat with 916 purity. A key advantage of gold bars is their lower premiums compared to gold coins, making them cost-effective for bulk purchases. Another advantage of gold bars is that there is no value-added tax. (VAT). For example, if you buy gold coins for RO 5000, you have to pay a VAT of RO 250. (@ 5 per cent). Suppose you sell it at a later date, the VAT paid, ie, RO 250, is a loss for you. But gold bars are VAT-free, which makes them attractive to buy. The lower premium and high purity make gold bars an attractive investment in the long term. Between the gold coins and gold bars, gold bars need a higher amount, while gold coins need a relatively smaller amount. Also, gold coins are more liquid than gold bars in view of their size and weight. However, gold bars are suggested as a diversified investment with a long-term horizon, subject to storage and insurance costs. Investing in gold is a crucial decision for many investors. DIGITAL GOLD The current trend is E-Gold or digital gold. Digital gold, in simple terms, is the electronic form of gold investments. This method is very convenient, cost-effective, and no worry about its purity and safekeeping. Digital gold is becoming popular globally. For example, digital investment in India has grown by over 70 per cent post-pandemic, and a large number of investors are looking for online gold investment. Gold savings Mutual Funds, Gold ETFs, online gold investment apps, etc are popular digital gold investment options. Through the online applications, one can buy, sell, and hold gold in digital form. Under this scheme, gold with a purity of 999.9 is purchased and kept digitally. This gold is backed by physical gold and kept with trusted custodians. This is best suited for long-term investment in gold as part of your diversified portfolio. The redemption may be made in the form of physical gold coins, gold bars, cash, ornaments, or a combination of these. For ornaments, making, and other charges are to be borne by the investor. In India, MMTC-PAMP is one of the leaders offering digital gold of 999.9 purity. G-Pay, Phonepe, Paytm, Amazon Pay etc are popular digital gold investment apps. The gold so bought is maintained in the Gold Accumulation Plan (GAP), which can be verified by the investors. In Oman, several gold merchants and jewellery shops offer this digital form of buying gold. HOW TO INVEST IN GOLD Gold prices have skyrocketed to new heights in the last few years. There are several reasons for the rally, including the recent trade and tariff policies of the Trump administration. During turbulent times, the global investing community shifts its assets to gold, as gold is considered a safe haven. The price of 1 troy ounce of gold (31.1035 grammes) was $2,290 in April 2024, and now it stands at $3,126. One gramme of 22 carat gold was RO 31 in December 2024, while it is above RO 37 per gramme now. Investors waited to cool down the price, but it rallied due to global reasons. So the question is how and when to buy gold. The thumb rule is that one will not be able to catch the best price. The gold market is highly volatile. The practical option is to stay invested for the long term and buy the gold consistently at regular intervals, irrespective of the price. This helps to average out the price. Buying gold coins and bars may not be practical under this method, as this requires a large amount. Here comes the advantage of investing smaller amounts at regular intervals in digital gold. Among other investments, select a trusted online app and buy gold regularly, according to your capacity to buy, with long-term objectives. Both holding physical and digital gold have their advantages and disadvantages. One can touch and feel the physical form of gold, while the virtual forms are intangible. Undoubtedly, digital gold is an excellent investment alternative to fight inflation and diversify your investment portfolio. Having said that, the investment in gold is also subject to market risks. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
