The word Bullion originally comes from the French Minister of Finance under Louis XIII, Claude de Bullion. Bullion can come in the form of Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium.
For purposes of this blog post we are just going to elaborate on the most common forms of Bullion, which is Gold and Silver Bullion. Let's start this off with the Coin Variety, as it is the most popular form of Bullion in the United States. Silver Bullion is Silver in the form (shape) of bars, coins, ingots or rounds. Some of the best known Silver coins are American Silver Eagles (by far the most popular), Canadian Maple Leafs, Australian Kookaburras, Mexican Libertads, Austrian Philharmonics and Britannias. These are all Government Minted Bullion Coins and technically are currency, but the Metal Value seriously surpasses the monetary denomination given to each coin. But not all Silver Bullion coins are created equal, the most striking difference would be the purity. While Silver Bullion is "Fine Silver" or otherwise known as "Pure" you can see ranges of purity from .999 (99.9%) to .9999 (99.99%) typically. Gold Bullion is also Gold in the form (shape) of bars, coins, ingots or rounds. Some of the best known Gold coins are American Gold Buffalos, American Gold Eagles, South African Krugerrands, Gold Canadian Maple Leafs, Gold Australian Kookaburras, Gold Mexican Libertads, and Gold Austrian Philharmonics. These are all Government Minted Bullion Coins and technically are currency, but just like with Silver, the Metal Value seriously surpasses the monetary denomination given to each coin. Just like with Silver Bullion Coins, all Gold Bullion coins are not created equal, the most striking difference would also be the purity. While Gold Bullion is "Fine Gold" or otherwise known as "Pure" you can see ranges of purity from .999 (99.9%) to .9999 (99.99%) typically. The other most common forms of Bullion are Bars and Rounds, and the Bar shapes are sometimes referred to as "Ingots" as well. The most popular size (mass) of Bars and Rounds are the 1 oz. Variety. But these can also be acquired in fractional amounts too, such as 1 gram, 2.5 Gram, 5 Gram, 10 Gram, and 1/2 oz. Just as they can be acquired in fractional sizes (smaller than 1 oz.) Bullion Bars and Rounds can also be purchased in much larger sizes. The popular sizes (mass) that can be acquired larger than 1 Troy Ounce are as follows: 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz. Half Kilo, 1 Kilo, 50 oz. and 100 oz. Just like with the Bullion Coins, the Bars and Rounds can differ in purity .999 (99.9%) or up to .9999 (99.99%). The extra 9 does not make any noticeable difference in value, this just boils down to a personal preference. The value of bullion is typically determined by the value of its precious metals content (purity and mass) which directly correlates to the Market Price (Spot Price) of Gold and Silver. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we are ALWAYS buying Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Bullion. We are extremely competitive in the San Antonio and South Texas Market, and are TOP DOLLAR Buyers each and EVERY day. We highly encourage you to give us a call or come by and let us give you a FREE, No Pressure, Hassle-Free quote on your bullion before selling to a Pawn Shop, another Gold Buyer, or a Coin Store. We are low overhead (pass the savings on to our customers), with a devotion to Honesty and Customer Service. Our office is safe and clean, and we value your privacy and discretion when handling Bullion deals Large or Small. Texas Gold and Silver Buyers 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 210-441-2177 We purchase ALL Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium: Jewelry, Coins, Bullion, Scrap Gold, Scrap Silver, and Dental Gold.
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Pictured above are the MOST COMMON U.S. Minted Silver Dollars that are actually Silver. Of course more rare varieties such as the Trade Dollars, and Seated Liberty Dollars do exist and were minted by the U.S. Government. But for the purposes of this blog post we are just going to focus on the 3 most common varieties that the general public refer to as "Silver Dollars" We will also touch on another Coin commonly mistaken as being Silver, and is not. Example #1 - THE MORGAN DOLLAR -- 90% SILVER The Morgan Dollar was a United States Dollar coin minted from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921. It was the first standard silver dollar minted since production of the previous design, the Seated Liberty dollar, ceased due to the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873, which also ended the free coining of silver. Millions and millions of Morgan Dollars were minted. Most are very, very common, and in circulated condition are worth close in relation to their Silver value, and do not hold any kind of numismatic or collector value. But RARE ones DO exist! What makes the Rare Morgan Dollars Rare are low mintage production numbers. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we will always take the time to identify any key dates or rare dates you may have! While most of these lower mintage Morgan Dollars will be from the Carson City Mint, other low mintage Morgans do exist and can be referenced below:
Example #2 - THE PEACE DOLLAR -- 90% SILVER The Peace Dollar is a United States Dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. ... It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver. Just like the case with Morgan Dollars, millions and millions of Peace Dollars were minted. Most are very, very common, and in circulated condition are worth close in relation to their Silver value, and do not hold any kind of numismatic or collector value. But RARE ones DO exist just like the Morgan Dollars! (Particularly the 1928 Philadelphia Minted ones) Peace Dollars are 90% Silver just like Morgan Dollars, but generally are not as highly regarded as Morgan Dollars. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we will always take the time to identify any key dates or rare dates you may have!  Example #3 - THE SILVER EAGLE -- 1 Oz. 99.9% SILVER The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It was first released by the United States Mint on November 24, 1986. It is struck only in the one-troy ounce size, which has a nominal face value of one dollar and is guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. Silver Eagles are a bullion coin and directly valued according to the current market price of Silver (Spot Price). Proof versions are minted and do exist, and command a slightly higher premium than the 1 oz. of Silver they are composed of. These Proof Versions will be in a felt U.S. Mint Box with a Cardboard Outer Box and COA, while non Proof Silver Eagles are sold individually, in tubes of 20 or in "Monster Boxes" of 500.  At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we are ALWAYS buying All Gold, Silver and Platinum Coins and paying TOP DOLLAR. We will always take the time to look through your coins and ensure you are alerted to any key dates or key mints (Low Mintage Coins). Please see below some information regarding one of the most commonly mistaken coins that are NOT Silver. Eisenhower Dollars are Commonly Mistaken as "Silver Dollars"  99% of the time any of these Eisenhower Dollars that are in Circulation are going to be Clad Coins (Cupro-Nickel, copper & nickel blend containing no Silver). The 40% silver version of the Eisenhower dollar was issued as a collectible only, they are generally not found in circulation. The best way to distinguish the two versions is by weight. The copper-nickel version weighs 22.68 grams, the silver Ike dollar weighs 24.59 grams. These 40% Collector Versions are referred to as "Blue Ikes" or "Brown Ikes" and were packaged in U.S. Mint packaging. You will see why they are referred to as "Blue" and "Brown" by the Pictures Below:
Sometimes these have made their way into circulation, but it is very rare. The easiest way to know whether you have a Clad Eisenhower (Ike), or a Silver Eisenhower (Ike) is to look on the coin's edge and if you see a copper color band, you know this is not a Silver Eisenhower! Or weighing them as stated above is always a sure way to know.
We hope this Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio Blog Post has been informative and we hope to be your choice when looking to sell your Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium in San Antonio, Texas! We Buy Coins, Jewelry, Scrap Gold, Scrap Silver, Sterling Silver, Bullion, and Dental Gold. Bottom line if it is Precious Metal, WE BUY IT!  There are 3 Main Factors that determine the Secondary Market Prices on Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry...... #1 Diamond Certification It is very important that the difference between diamond grading laboratories is understood. There are numerous diamond grading labs, and the list continues to grow. Some of these labs provide detailed, accurate information, but unfortunately grading standards greatly vary across the different diamond grading labs and companies. In truth, we find that some diamond grading labs can be as much as 2-4 grades off from the highly regarded and trusted GIA standard (the “industry standard”), GIA is a Diamond Grading Company that we never question their diamond grading, nor does anyone else in the industry. If a diamond has been purchased Retail that has received a grading report from another diamond grading lab, odds are the Certification has been exaggerated, and in most cases, by ALOT! Some of the labs you will see certifications from include:
Why GIA Certifications are the "Gold Standard" At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we use the GIA standard as the basis of our evaluations, There are a number of reasons why GIA certifications will hold more value compared to the Retail Price originally paid:
#2 The Individual Characteristics of the Individual Diamond or Diamond Jewelry Piece Every single diamond is unique and there are a variety of factors that can and will affect the value of your item. The universal method for determining diamond prices is referred to as the "4 C’s" - (carat, color, cut and clarity) • CARAT refers to the weight of the diamond, which also translates to size • COLORLESS STONES bring the higher prices • CUT determines the brilliance of the diamond • CLARITY refers to the number of inclusions in your stone (Carbon Spots, Fractures, etc) Factors that may also have a negative impact on the price will include any imperfections, any damages the stone may have sustained after wear. Fluorescence is also another large factor that is rarely discussed or openly disclosed when a larger diamond is being sold to you in a retail setting. #3 The Strength of the Secondary Market For Your Particular Item Market prices fluctuate over time as the economy, supply and demand and fashions change. This is very similar to the Precious Metals Market in many ways, other than the fashion trend aspect to do with Diamonds (Different Shapes and Fancy Cuts). What is the largest difference about Diamonds is the industry at the very top is basically monopolized by one super conglomerate company, known as De Beers. They store vast amounts of Diamonds in Vaults and can create a surplus or shortage of Diamonds just by releasing large amounts or restricting large amounts. At the end of the day, Diamonds are not rare, they are hunks of Carbon, and not in any kind of short supply. So Diamond Value in the Secondary Market heavily correlates with supply/demand, and changing trends and what is in high demand by consumers. The good news is that at Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we CLOSELY work with some of the highest paying Diamond Buyers in the World, therefore we are able to pay our customers TOP DOLLAR on Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry. The value of your diamond jewelry will be based on the strength of the second hand market for that particular item at the time of sale. On larger Diamonds we will contact our Gemologist/Diamond Buyer on the spot and get an up to the minute Top Dollar Quote on your Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry. A very good example of demand, is diamond shape. Certain diamond shapes have proven more popular at certain points in the past. Oval shaped diamonds were particularly popular in the 1970s- early 1980s. Currently, round diamonds are in the highest demand. Price values will vary depending on the market conditions at the time you choose to sell. We will always go above and beyond to get you the very best price possible. THE VERY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RETAIL AND RESALE VALUES Very similar to when you purchase a car or another luxury item, diamonds and diamond jewelry lose some of their value when it comes to selling in the second hand market. You can generally expect to get around 25%-40% of the original retail price depending on the condition of the diamond or jewelry item. In general, Diamonds should be originally purchased because you love them or treasure them, NOT as investment purposes. But at Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we understand that situations arise (divorce, need for money, etc.) and we are here for you to get you the most for your diamond in the secondary market, despite the drastic and sometimes unfair retail prices that you were charged when buying new. HOW CAN THE SECOND HAND VALUE OF DIAMONDS ONLY BE 25%-40% OF THE RETAIL PRICE? There are numerous reasons why the retail price is higher than the resale price and we are happy to explain them. The retail price of the diamond or jewelry is made up of the wholesale price (the price the jeweler paid) plus a markup to cover the retail costs such as the rent of their retail location, employees, labor, profit and overhead, etc. Sales Tax is also added to all items that are sold in a retail setting and can approach as high as 10% in the US. If your Diamond or Diamond Jewelry has a grading report or an appraisal this would have also been factored into the original retail price and you won’t get all of this back when you sell your item. Bottom line, Diamonds in the Retail Setting are grossly marked up, and it can be argued in a Retail Setting, that Diamonds are among the worlds most marked up item. WHY DO SECONDARY MARKET PRICES (RESALE PRICES) DIFFER FROM JEWELER'S APPRAISALS? Jeweler’s appraisals are an excellent way to get more information (the 4 C’s) on your diamond, or diamond jewelry, which is then very useful when it comes to getting a more accurate price estimate from Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio. However, it is important to remember that the "4C's" information and any price quoted from a jeweler’s appraisal is based on the opinion of that individual appraiser which may and more times than not differ greatly from GIA grading standards. A jeweler’s appraisal will provide you with a replacement retail value for insurance purposes – to cover loss, theft or damage and this has zero relationship to the price of the item in the second hand market. Appraisals are based on Retail Pricing only. We Buy ALL Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium: Bullion, Coins, Jewelry, and Scrap. We Pledge a Hassle-Free, No Hassle FREE Quote. Our devotion to Customer Service is unmatched in the San Antonio Area! TOP DOLLAR PAID EVERYDAY. Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 texasgoldandsilverbuyers@gmail.com 210-441-2177 
Baht Gold is commonly mistaken as meaning 24 karat gold. But Baht is actually a measurement of weight, and not purity. Baht gold is indeed high karat (high purity), but is not 24k gold. One baht of Thai gold is equivalent to 15.244 grams before it is crafted into jewelry. After the gold is crafted into jewelry the weight should be equal to 15.16 grams, to still be termed as one baht gold. (To simplify it, one baht of gold normally is usually referred to as 15.2 grams)
Gold has been a way of life for Thai people for centuries. Presents of gold ornaments and jewelry are given to Thai people at numerous stages of their lives. Gold ornaments and jewelry are given to newborn babies for comfort and used as dowries or sin sot in marriages. The name “Siam”, Thailand's former name, means gold in Sanskrit. Chinese have referred to Thailand as Jin lin, meaning “peninsula of gold”. Indians also called Thailand Suvannabhumi, which means Land of Gold. Thai people value gold as not only a precious metal made for jewelry, but also as a means of financial security. Gold is also often used to create Buddha statues and other religious items. 100% (24 karat) gold is way too soft to make jewelry, so Baht gold jewelry usually has a 96.5% gold purity, which is a bit over 23 karat. The remaining 3.5% is normally silver and bronze. A Baht of Thai gold in bar form is sold in “Baht Weight” or 15.244 grams (15.16 grams for a Baht of Thai gold ornament or jewelry), a little lower than half of a troy ounce, (Troy Ounce = 31.1 Grams). Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio are your local High Karat Gold experts. We specialize in higher karat gold (18k and higher). But deal with ALL types of Gold on a daily basis. (10k, 14k, etc.) Most places use an outdated method of using Acids and Scratch Stones to test gold before purchasing. This method is outdated and nowhere near precise. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we utilize state-of-the-art XRF (X-Ray) Technology to test. This method is considered the gold standard of the industry and is highly accurate. It also allows us to non destructively test, leaving your items in the same condition as they walked in our door. But most importantly it allows us to pay TOP DOLLAR each and EVERY day, because we know exactly what karat of gold we are dealing with. With the acid method, 18k and higher are not determined very easily or accurately. Many places will default to paying out on 14k gold, unsure of what they are dealing with. This is not acceptable, and we pledge to pay our customers on exact assays (purity tests). Give us a call or come by TODAY to see why it PAYS to do business with Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio. We Buy ALL Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium: Bullion, Coins, Jewelry, and Scrap. We Pledge a Hassle-Free, No Hassle FREE Quote. Our devotion to Customer Service is unmatched in the San Antonio Area! TOP DOLLAR PAID EVERYDAY. Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 texasgoldandsilverbuyers@gmail.com 210-441-2177  Silver Coins from the United States are very easily identified by dates and type. Generally speaking, outside of U.S. Minted Modern Silver Commemorative Coins, Bullion Coins (Silver Eagles) and Silver Proof Sets; any Dollar Coins, Half Dollar Coins, Quarters, or Dimes dated 1964 or older are going to be 90% Silver. U.S. Nickels are ONLY Silver from 1942-1945. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we receive calls daily inquiring about Foreign Coins. I thought it might be very helpful to do a blog post where the different types of Silver Foreign Coins that went into circulation can be detailed for reference. Foreign Silver Coins range greatly in purity, and there is no real rhyme or reason to which dates were Silver. Please see below for reference of which Foreign Coins are Silver. This reference will detail the most common Foreign Silver Coins and will not include every single example. SILVER COINS FROM AUSTRALIA Silver Coins From Canada  Silver Coins From France Silver Coins From Germany Silver Coins from Great Britain  Silver Coins From Mexico   We Buy ALL Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium: Bullion, Coins, Jewelry, and Scrap. We Purchase ALL coins that are Gold or Silver! We Pledge a Hassle-Free, No Hassle FREE Quote. Our devotion to Customer Service is unmatched in the San Antonio Area! TOP DOLLAR PAID EVERYDAY.
Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 texasgoldandsilverbuyers@gmail.com 210-441-2177  At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we strive to invest in the newest, most precise Technology and Instrumentation to test ALL Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. The Scratch Test Method (Acid Test) is extremely outdated and nowhere near precise. The majority of all Gold and Silver Buyers still use this method. NOT US! The Scratch Test/Acid Test method is good to tell if something is actually Gold or Silver, but falls VERY short when determining purity. The scratch and acid test is also extremely time consuming and destructive to your Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. We believe investing in the newest PROVEN technology is extremely important, so we can pay our customers absolute TOP DOLLAR EVERYDAY! In addition to our State of the Art Olympus Gold Xpert XRF X-Ray we have now added a new member to our team..... The Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier. Why is this instrumentation so important? Here are just a few of the things it can do relating to Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Bullion Bars, Rounds, and Coins. When we know exactly what we are dealing with, we can confidently offer TOP DOLLAR to our customers each and every day! • Detect Counterfeit Precious Metal coins, bars and rounds. • Measure underneath the surface of coins and bars, and test the metal in the interior. • Read through Numismatic Cases and Slabs, or test coins loose or in bags. • Bullion Wand: 4X depth of measurement on thicker bars. YES WE BUY 100 Oz. Silver Bars. -- Most buyers will pass as they do not have a method to make sure they aren't buying a fake bar. In summary, we will NEVER tell you we have to remove your Gold and Silver Bullion from capsules, cases or slabs. We will also never tell you we can only purchase your Gold or Silver Bars, Rounds or Coins unless we cut them in half or drill into them. This is highly unprofessional, unethical, and unacceptable! Our core instrumentation is our Olympus Gold Xpert XRF X-Ray. This instrumentation harmlessly and quickly tests Jewelry, Coins, Bullion, or any Precious Metal Item. It is highly precise. This instrumentation is what sets Texas Gold and Silver Buyers apart most from the competition. In addition, our devotion to Friendly, Fast, Hassle-Free, Customer Service Orientated TOP DOLLAR PAID Transactions. Click the button below for an introduction to our XRF X-Ray! Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio are the premier destination to sell your Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. We Buy Gold Coins, Silver Coins, Gold Bullion, Silver Bullion, Gold Jewelry, Sterling Silver Jewelry, Dental Gold, Sterling Silver Flatware and Tableware, Platinum Coins and Bullion, Palladium Coins and Bullion, Platinum Jewelry, Gold and Silver Scrap. Bottom line if it is Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium, WE BUY IT AND PAY TOP DOLLAR ALWAYS Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio
3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 texasgoldandsilverbuyers@gmail.com 210-441-2177  If you have been thinking of selling your gold jewelry, coins, bullion or scrap for cash and are researching different prices between gold buyers, be very careful not to fall for a very common trick used by some Gold and Silver Buyers. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio our main priority is educating our customers and future customers on the specifics of the Gold and Silver World. If you are just now discovering our Informative Blog, please go back through our Archive and soak up all the information you can! So now on to that common trick used by some Gold and Silver Buyers.....
In the past decade or so, Gold and Silver buyers have been popping up all over with claims and guarantees that they pay the most for Gold and Silver. Many use BOLD claims to get you in their door, and then proceed to purchase your items for pennies on the dollar of the full worth. Some of these buyers don’t even display their prices up front, and refuse to give quotes over the phone, while others may be misleading consumers by advertising prices in pennyweight or "DWT." What is a pennyweight? A pennyweight is a unit of measure still used by some jewelry manufacturers and dental labs for weighing precious metals. The public on the other hand, will very rarely come across this unit of measure, as very few scales read pennyweights, and Gold and Silver is RARELY marketed and sold to the public weighed in pennyweights. Here is the trick: a pennyweight weighs 1.555 grams or roughly one and a half gram. Now for consumers who want to sell gold, gold prices displayed in pennyweights (DWT) may appear much higher than prices displayed in grams. Naturally the reason for this being is that a pennyweight weighs more! So in reality the price displayed when converted to grams may be far less than other businesses pay with per gram gold prices. We highly recommend when calling or visiting Gold and Silver Buyers to ask them for a gram price on what karat of gold you are looking to sell. Grams directly correlate to the "Spot Price" or "Market Price" of Gold and Silver. (But please keep in mind that the market prices of Gold and Silver are for FINE Gold and Silver: .999 or 24k) Market pricing is quoted and shown for a Troy Ounce of Gold or Silver. A Troy Ounce equals 31.1 grams. If you would like to read up on how to correlate karated gold (10k, 14k, 18k, etc.) to the spot or market price of gold, please visit this BLOG ENTRY (Click on Hyperlink) Obviously a gold and silver buyer that gives their prices in pennyweight is as unreliable as the gold buyer that doesn’t give prices at all. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers we are always happy to give a phone quote on Gold, as long as you know the karat of gold you are looking to sell! We are also happy to tell you what we are paying per gram when you visit our store, before we ever take a look at your items! If a buyer tells you a flat offer or that they are paying more, chances are they are not, especially if they are relunctant to give you a PER GRAM price. In conclusion, please check around, make some phone calls and look at websites online. No one likes to be taken advantage of so do your homework first using these tips and you can still make great money selling gold and silver for cash with a reputable, honest, LICENSED Precious Metal Dealer. The photo references below show every legal tender gold coin ever made in U.S. history along with it's metal content and composition, weight/mass, denomination and how much total gold content each coin has. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio we are buying Gold Coins, Gold Bullion, Gold Scrap, Gold Jewelry, Dental Gold and PAYING TOP DOLLAR, EVERYDAY! We want to educate and inform our Customers and Potential Future Customers on all aspects of the Gold and Silver Precious Metals Market. Education is key, and we want you to be armed with all the information possible before venturing out to turn your Gold items into cash. An informed, educated Consumer can then in turn, make informed decisions before selling their items.       In addition to the legal currency shown above, the US Mint has also minted $5 and $10 Gold Commemorative Coins. Beginning in 1984 for the $10 Gold Commemorative's, and begining in 1986 for the $5 Gold Commemorative's, the U.S. Mint has produced $5 and $10 denomination commemorative Gold coins that have honored important aspects of American history and culture. $5 and $10 Gold Commemorative coins were issued in a wide variety of subject matters giving a wide range of options to the design. There are U.S. Commemoratives honoring important people, places and events in our nation's young history. Examples $5.00 US Gold CommemsThese $5 Commemorative Gold Coins have a Metal Content of: 0.2419 troy oz and a Purity of: .900 (90% Gold)  Examples $10.00 US Gold CommemsThese $10 Commemorative Gold Coins have a Metal Content of: 0.4838 troy oz and a Purity of: .900 (90% Gold)  This Blog post by Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio highlights the majority of all U.S. Gold Coins produced and in existence. There are new Commemorative's being issued yearly by the United States Mint. Our intentions are to educate our customers and provide as much information as possible. We believe that honesty and transparency in this business is key. We also believe an informed and educated consumer can make the best choices when looking to sell their Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Items. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers we pledge a No Hassle, Friendly, Honest Transaction. We pay CASH for your unwanted Gold and Silver Coins, Bullion, Jewelry, Scrap, Dental Gold, Platinum and Palladium. Give us a call or Come by TODAY! 210-441-2177 Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247  Handling an Estate is never a easy task. Most times you are dealing with a difficult and emotional time due to an unexpected death or placing a loved one in an Assisted Living or Nursing Home. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers we often are dealing with Estates involving Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items such as Coins, Jewelry, Bullion and other Precious Metal Items. We understand the grief that our customers are going through, and strive to make the process of selling Precious Metal Items as stress free and upfront as possible. Too many times we have heard stories of Estate Liquidators attempting to take advantage of people during this difficult time. We highly encourage our customers and potential future customers to seek help from a reputable, Licensed Precious Metal Dealer to assess any items that you feel may be Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium. Too many times Estate Liquidation Companies (who have no requirement from the State of Texas to be licensed) are not honest with the people hiring them on the true value of Gold and Silver Coins, Jewelry, and Bullion. Whereas Precious Metal Dealers in Texas are highly regulated and REQUIRED to be licensed by the Office of Consumer Credit. Estate Liquidation Companies almost always require a contract to be signed, and a lot of the time, these contracts have fine print stipulations and clauses that are not in your benefit at all. There are honest people in the Estate Liquidation business, just like any other business, but there are many Consumer Complaints surfacing about being taken advantage of in a time of confusion and grief. The laws and regulations are not keeping up with the industry and this leads to some businesses looking to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. We do not want this happening to any of our customers or potential future customers and that is why we are going to share this information, to keep you informed and educated: Although no statistics indicate the scope or annual revenue of the estate-sale industry, it’s very clear that the number of estate sales each year is likely to increase dramatically in the years ahead as the senior-citizen population increases. The 40 million people who were age 65 and older in the United States in 2010 represented a 15 percent increase from 2000, according to the most recent statistics that are available from Department of Health and Human Services. By 2030, the number of U.S. residents who are in that age range is expected to increase to an estimated 72 million, the department estimates. A Pew Research Center study reports that 15 percent of people who are over 85 reside in assisted-living facilities, so it’s obvious that we’ll see a surge of senior citizens who relocate to a nursing home or to reside near their adult children in the years ahead. Finding people who manage estate sales isn’t difficult. Although nobody tracks the number of estate-sale agents, it is estimated that at least 2,000 individuals or companies in the United States purport to specialize in running estate sales. Experts interviewed, estimate that the number represents an increase of at least 900 agents since 2006. Hiring someone who does an honest and thorough job of managing your estate sale is another matter and can be complicated, because you largely are on your own when it comes to assessing the qualifications and trustworthiness of an agent or a company that runs estate sales. Although it’s difficult to quantify the incidence of estate-sale scams, anecdotal evidence indicates that the problem is substantial and growing. State attorney-general offices have published tip sheets that advise consumers on how to avoid estate-sale scams, and at least two states have prosecuted estate-sale agents for ripping off numerous clients. In general, state and federal agencies provide little protection for consumers when it comes to estate sales. The Federal Trade Commission says that it doesn’t get involved with estate-sale regulations, because state laws govern the industry and because not enough estate-sale agents and companies exist to warrant federal scrutiny. Independent experts interviewed say it’s unclear why states aren’t more aggressive about policing the estate-sale industry, although it is suspected that a lack of resources is likely to blame in many states. Even in the few states where the estate-sale industry faces at least some scrutiny, most lawmakers appear to have no interest in creating regulations. For example, in Minnesota, State Representative Linda Slocum introduced a bill that would require estate-sale companies to enter a bond of at least $20,000 with a county before a sale, but no committee will agree to consider her proposal. Slocum says that she isn’t sure why Minnesota and other states have little interest in creating at least minimal oversight of estate sales, such as requiring estate-sale agents to be licensed. Bottom line, some of the most coveted items for Estate Liquidators to stumble across are Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. There are many reports of these items intentionally being overlooked during the inspection process by the Liquidation Companies, so that the Consumer does not elect to pull these from the upcoming Sale and Contract Commitment. Don't take our word for it, just research it on the Better Business Bureau Databases and Google, it is a HUGE, growing problem in that Industry. Most contracts signed for a Estate Liquidation Service, state the Liquidation company gets a percentage and the consumer gets a percentage. Most reports are that the best case scenario one can expect is a 40% cut, while the Liquidation company receives 60% of the proceeds. There are reports of Contracts with even less percentages going to the Consumer. With a reputable and honest Licensed Precious Metal Dealer, such as Texas Gold and Silver Buyers, you will be looking at most scenarios of receiving a strong 80-95% of the Value. When dealing with a reputable and honest Precious Metal Dealer, they are going to make sure you are not allowing any of these valuable Precious Metal Items to go into a Estate Sale unknowingly, where you will receive less proceeds from the Estate Liquidation Company. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio we have much experience dealing with Estates that have Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. We offer Hassle-Free, No Pressure quotes and Cash Offers EVERYDAY! We pledge to treat you with dignity and respect. Please do not hesitate to Call, Email, or come by our Store today, if we can be of any assistance in liquidating any Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium items. Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio: 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78247 210-441-2177 TexasGoldandSilverBuyers@gmail.com   At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we feel that the Precious Metals Market, and all of the inner workings and harder to understand information associated with the Precious Metals Market, should be transparent to all of our Customers and Future Customers. We want our Customers and Potential Customers to be armed with all the information possible so they can make an informed decision when selling their Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. This is for informational purposes only and we cannot guarantee or give any set in stone financial advice, but we can give information and indicators for you to study up for yourself and make an informed decision. Gold is utilized as a gauge on value for currencies all over the globe. The price or value of gold is commonly stated as a currency (monetary) value, most often in U.S. dollars, and the price of gold can and will fluctuate with market conditions. At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, we often are asked what influences the price of gold in the current marketplace. Below we will highlight ten significant influences on gold price fluctuations that any investor, or person looking to sell their Gold and Silver should understand. Many times these factors can somewhat or in many cases precisely predict what the Price of Gold and Silver may do. We can't guarantee a clear map to understanding what the Prices may do, but we can certainly provide proven indicators for you to be able to make an informed decision. Global Crisis 1. Because gold prices tend to rise when people lack confidence in governments or financial markets, it often gets called a crisis commodity. World events often have an impact on the price of gold because gold is viewed as a source of safety amid economic or geopolitical turmoil. For example, the price of gold spiked right after the Russians moved into the Ukraine as people became uncertain about geopolitical stability in the region. In other cases, military action may actually increase reassurance with geopolitical situations. For example, the gold price softened at the beginning of Gulf War I. The bottom line is that political chaos equates to more interest in gold as a safe haven. Inflation 2. A common reason cited for holding gold is as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. Currency values fluctuate, but gold values, in terms of what an ounce of gold can buy, might stay more stable in the long term. Because gold holds value outside of politics—it is valued the world over—gold is attractive as a low-risk, solid investment in the midst of floundering currencies. Let's not forget Gold and Silver are the earliest forms of "money" and have always held intrinsic value almost since the beginning of time. Investors may feel encouraged to buy gold when they believe the value of their paper money will decline. Value of the U.S. Dollar 3. The U.S. dollar is still the world’s dominant reserve currency, making it one of the main currencies that different countries hold for international trades. The price of gold and the strength of the dollar have a pretty clear inverse relationship; when the dollar is strong, gold is weaker, and vice versa. For example, between September 1 and September 10 of 2014, the U.S. dollar index rose by almost 2 points, and this softened the market for those selling gold. On the other hand, people buying gold may see a strong dollar as a buying opportunity, and that could provide some price support. Central Bank Instability 4. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve is the central bank. Most countries have central banks, and other dominant ones include the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, and the Swiss National Bank. Bank failures and irregular economic policies make buying gold seem like a safe haven investment. Once again, people flock to gold when the current paper money system experiences uncertainty. Some investors prefer the physical and tangible security of holding gold when central banks are going through deficits as a protection of wealth. In turn, an increased demand drives up the value of gold even more. Interest Rates 5. Gold does not pay interest like treasury bonds or savings accounts, but current gold prices often reflect increases and declines in interest rates. As interest rates increase, gold prices may soften as people sell gold to free up funds for other investment opportunities. As interest rates decrease, the gold price may increase again because there is a lower opportunity cost to holding gold when compared to other investments. Low interest rates equate with greater attraction to gold. Quantitative Easing 6. Quantitative easing, or QE, refers to a central bank strategy of buying securities in order to increase the money supply. By flooding financial institutions with money, a central bank, like the Federal Reserve, hopes to encourage banks to loan more money and increase the supply of money. Other central banks that have employed this strategy include the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the European Central Bank. A larger money supply pushes interest rates down, which could encourage investors to buy gold because of the lower opportunity cost. When overdone, this tactic this can trigger inflation, another signal of a rising price of gold. The Fed actually announced that they had stopped QE on October 29th of 2014, and this may put some downward pressure on gold prices if interest rates rise and inflation slows, yet it could also be an opportune time to take advantage of lower gold prices when investing in gold. Government Reserves 7. Central banks, like the U.S. Federal Reserve, hold both gold and paper currency in reserve. In fact, the United States and several European countries hold the bulk of their reserves in gold, and they have been buying more gold for these reserves recently. Other countries that hold gold include France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. When these central banks start to buy gold in greater quantities than they sell, it drives gold prices up. This is because the supply of currency increases and available gold becomes more scarce. In recent years China has been very secretive about their Gold Holdings, and have aggressively been purchasing Foreign Gold, presumably to place in their vast reserves of gold. Jewelry and Industry 8. Gold is not just valuable as a hedge fund and a safe haven investment; gold is also used in jewelry and industry. Over half of gold demand is from jewelry, and China, India, and the United States are three countries with the biggest demands. In some parts of India, gold is still regarded as a type of currency, a display of wealth, an important gift, and a hedge against bad times. This demand drives the price of gold in India up. Gold, both the color and the precious metal, is a symbol of opulence in China, and a booming Chinese economy means that more people have money to spend on China gold. Besides jewelry, another twelve percent of gold demand is generated from industrial applications. Manufacturers use gold in all sorts of electronic devices, from computers to GPS systems, and medical devices like heart stints. Gold Production 9. Only about 2,500 metric tons of gold get produced each year, compared to an estimated 165,000 metric tons in the entire world’s gold supply. To visualize this, imagine all of the gold in the world filling up three-and-a-half Olympic-sized swimming pools, and this year’s production forming a cube that is only about 16 square feet. Even though new production might seem modest compared to the total supply, production costs can influence the cost of all gold in the world. When production costs rise, miners sell gold for more money to preserve their profits, and those higher costs also get reflected when it comes time to sell coins if they were minted from gold that was originally mined yesterday or thousands of years ago. Supply vs. Demand 10. Archeologists claim that people have been mining and coveting gold for at least 5,000 years, and this precious metal is likely to remain precious even if the price fluctuates often. If you plan to buy gold, you need to understand that the price is impacted by production costs, money supply, comfort or discomfort with financial or geopolitical stability, the demand generated by jewelry and industry, and actions taken by central banks. Same holds true for when you are looking to sell your gold. In other words, gold is a finite resource and when global economic conditions make gold more attractive, gold demand increases, making the price of gold rise. But the actual value of gold remains fairly stable in the long run, and the price could simply reflect temporary uncertainty or simple currency fluctuations.  You have many choices in San Antonio when looking to sell your Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium items. The bottom line for you, is where are you going to be treated fairly and get the most for your items? At Texas Gold and Silver Buyers of San Antonio, WE LOVE WHAT WE DO, WE LOVE OUR CUSTOMERS, and WE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THOSE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA!!
Give us a call at 210-441-2177 or come by our office today! We are located at: 3435 Thousand Oaks, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas 78247 |
AuthorThanks for stopping by our blog. My name is Evan and I am the owner of Texas Gold and Silver Buyers in San Antonio. From time to time I will post blog entries to help educate and inform our customers and potential future customers on all aspects of Precious Metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium!) Archives
August 2017
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