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How to buy and store Gold and Silver Bullion in Ireland, Scotland and mainland UK with Nigel Doolin, Head of Trading at  Merrion

Nigel Doolin is Head of Trading for Merrion Gold in Ireland, Barcelona Gold and Newcastle Bullion in the UK. Having been a long-term personal investor in precious metals and coming from the business background of running a Vault facility, Nigel was involved in the starting-up of Merrion Gold in 2013. Since then the company has grown to include trading desks in Scotland and mainland UK. With a keen eye and interest in world economics and politics, Nigel and the team at Merrion Gold have rapidly built up a reputation for straight-talking, transparent dealings and educating investors in what is best for them when purchasing or investing in precious metals.

Where does gold / silver derive its value from?

The answer to this question stretches back thousands of years! There are Egyptian hieroglyphs from as early as 2600 BC describing gold as a valuable item. Some of the first minted gold coins to be used as currency were found to be from around 600 BC in Asia. The basic reason gold has come to be so valuable must surely derive from the fact that from days past it was an easy way to move around or travel with your wealth. Of course, it could be worn as jewellery, it is hugely resistant to corrosion and it is (relatively) light. Today the world usage and consumption of new gold produced is about 50% in jewellery, 40% in investments, and 10% in industry.

A lot of the above can be said of silver also, except the world usage and consumption figures are quite different with about 60% of silver being used in industry and teh remainder in jewellery and investment. A little known fact and probably a good way to put the price of gold and silver into perspective is that there is more Silver mined every DAY than there has EVER been gold mined in the history of records!

In general, what is the nature of the relationship between the British and Gold/Silver?

We find on the most part the British tend to move towards investing in gold in times of uncertainty – both political and economic. The Lions share of investors will look at gold as a medium to long-term investment (4-5 years+), with most happy to ride out the dips that usually come at some stage along the way and wait for their investment to top the price they bought at. We have more and more smaller investors getting interested in buying gold and these would tend to be 1-5oz buyers who will buy coins as opposed to bullion. No matter which of these brackets the buyers fall in to they tend to be more educated on the safe-haven value of gold these days.

Which is your favourite gold/silver coin and why?

My own personal favourite coin is the 1oz Gold American Buffalo. I think it is one of the most recognisable coins out there and it’s one of the few coins which I like the design on both the front and reverse. It has a great feeling of heritage and nostalgia about it, and I think it very much looks like the kind of coin one would find in a treasure chest of old!

Do you notice any difference in psychology between the silver and gold investor?

In my experience I find gold investors tend to be a little more relaxed in their attitude to their precious metals investments – most are happy to wait out a longer timescale for their investment to mature – silver investors tend to look for a quicker ‘turnaround’ on their investment. I also feel the silver investor would be more willing to take a higher risk.

What are the most common mistakes of physical Gold and physical Silver investors?

I think the most common mistake first-time investors will make is automatically opting to buy coins – we always ask the purpose of the investment so as to be able to give the best precious metals advice to the client. Clients should understand that with coins there are minting charges and you must also take into account that some coins are more in-demand than others, therefore it is possible that someone purchasing a 1oz gold coin could end up paying a lot more for that 1oz coin than they would a 1oz bullion bar. When they go to sell back to a bullion dealer it will almost always be just valued on the weight, therefore (unless you sell a coin to a coin collector) you will rarely make this difference in price back when you go to sell. There are other pitfalls involved when purchasing gold for the first time, which is why at Merrion Gold we strive to educate our clients as well as serving them in the most efficient manner possible.

Are there any tax advantages in Ireland when investing in Gold or Silver?

The most obvious is that gold is VAT Free, whereas there is VAT applied to all silver sales.

In your experience which silver/gold coin is the most difficult to fake?

The most difficult coins to fake are the newer coins – the likes of the 2017 Britannia and the Canadian Maple (from 2015 on) – these coins have laser-precission waves on the face of them which are practically impossible to fake. It must be noted however that no coin is completely impossible to fake – this is why here at Merrion Gold we have a 6-level testing set-up in-house. Buyers should always be wary of any dealer who does not have sufficient testing set-ups in their business.

Can you describe your 6-level testing set-up?

At Merrion Gold, we have a 6-level testing set-up at our disposal in-house. This enables us to test every precious metal that comes through our company, when either buying or selling. Even though we only trade in LBMA approved refineries, this testing ability means we can ensure all precious metals through our company are 100% as they should be. It is worth noting that some companies will use 1 or 2 methods of testing (some listed below), but we find when all of the testing variations below are used together, the result is as definite as you can get.

Our testing set-up includes:

1. Digital Weighing scales
2. Digital Caliper and dimension matching
3. Magnetic Balance Weighing – this measures the (apparent) weight change in the metal by use of a super-strong test magnet positioned on a digital balance.
4. Electronic Conductivity measuring apparatus
5. Fisch testing implements (for coins and used only in-conjunction with the above)
6. Use of Bullion code matching system.

Can you briefly describe the History of Merrion?

Nigel Doolin

When we started Merrion Gold in 2013, we wanted to create a world-class gold bullion and coin trading service. We offer our clients the complete privacy and security they deserve, this is why we are housed within an actual vault facility. This not only offers clients an environment with total security – but we also offer them the ability to purchase, collect and store their precious metals in the one place.
Our trading volumes have increased year on year, proving to us that if you offer the right service and value to clients they will return time and again. In 2016 we opened our second trading desk in Scotland called Barcelona Gold – and in January of 2017 we opened Newcastle Bullion in the UK.

Can you tell us more about the services you offer?

We buy and sell physical gold bullion and coins. We only deal with LBMA approved refinery’s so our clients can be sure that all gold we sell is ‘good-delivery’ gold. We also have a 6-level testing set-up at Merrion Gold, where all gold moving through us (in OR out) is fully tested and verified. We do not offer any financial advice as we are not QFA’s – however we will give you the very best precious metals advice that you can get.
We also offer safe deposit box rental within the vault (through our sister-company Merrion Vaults) where you can store your precious metals and/or any other valuables you may have.

Why do customers choose Merrion?

I think customers chose Merrion because we are completely transparent and honest in our dealings. The security of being housed within a vault is also a huge plus for us. Our traders have a wealth of knowledge and we try to educate new clients as to what is the best product/s to suit their requirements. Some clients who have given us reviews and feedback online always state that our professionalism and efficiency is second to none. We enjoy what we do here at Merrion Gold and this obviously comes through in our dealings with clients.

Do you sell gold outside the UK / EU?

We can transact with any client anywhere around the world – however when you purchase from us you must collect from one of our vaults. We have vaults currently in Ireland, Scotland and UK. We do not ship to anywhere except to our vaults. If the client cannot make it straightaway for their gold collection, we will securely hold their purchase for them in our company safe deposit box within our vault for up to 30 days at no extra cost.

What are the storing costs after the first 30 free days?

We can store clients purchases within our company vault box for up to 30 days at no cost to the client, to enable them sufficient time to collect their purchase. After 30 days the cost is capped at €45 per month.

Where can potential customers find more about your services?

Potential customers can call me directly at: +353 (0)1 254 7901 – Nigel Doolin – Head of Trading or you can view our website at: www.merriongold.ie

Originally published here

The owner of a safe deposit vault in Dublin said new clients from Northern Ireland had trebled in recent weeks amid uncertainty surround Brexit.

Séamus Fahy, founder of Merrion Vaults at Merrion Square in the city said fears over the UK’s exit from the European Union and the impact of negative interest rates across were driving factors behind the growth.

He said there was increased demand for safe deposit boxes to store cash and gold at the Merrion Vaults and another facility in Barcelona in recent weeks.

“However, following the referendum result favouring Britain to leave the EU, we are inundated with calls from new clients in Northern Ireland who are either storing cash in the vaults or investing in gold,” he added.

“The bank service charges cost more to keep the cash in bank accounts compared to putting the cash in safe deposit boxes.”

Among fears to arise from the shock outcome of the EU referendum was a possible lowering in interest rates – already at a historic low of 0.5 per cent in the UK.

Read the whole article here

Gold Coins V Gold Bars

People often ask what the difference is between buying gold coins and buying gold bars, or bullion, as it is known in the industry. There are a number of differences and reasons why investors buy one over the other. Whether you are starting out as a gold investor, or whether you are a seasoned investor, our main piece of advice is always: do your research first.

We must preface this editorial with the fact that we are not giving financial advice here, we are purely giving advice on which type of gold product to buy to suit your needs.

Gold Bars/Bullion

Gold bars or bullion come in a variety of sizes and weights from 1 gram all the way up to 1 Kilogram bars.  There are larger bars than 1 Kilogram, but these are generally only traded between banks and governments.  The most common size for starter investors would be 1 ounce bars – there are 31.1 grams in 1 Troy ounce of gold.  Bullion is always 24 carat gold 999.9 (Four-nines) purity. One should always only buy bars from LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) approved refinery’s.  If you are looking to buy gold purely for investment purposes we would always recommend buying bullion. Some reasons for this are as follows; not only is the gold bar attractive in terms of appearance but the premiums are lower on bars when compared to coins as the production costs are lower. This lower premium also applies to the different sizes of the bars, as a one kilo gold bar will include a lower manufacturing cost than 10 x 100 gram gold bars. In this example, purchasing a 1 kilo bar opposed to 10 x 100g would save about 1%-1.5% in monetary terms.

Although the size of the bar you decide on will have an influence on the price you will pay, you should also take into consideration how flexible you want to be in terms of realising your assets. Smaller bars such as 1 ounce, 50g or 100g can be beneficial when re-selling gold bars, such as releasing some of your investment or part-selling.  Additionally when buying/selling one big amount of gold, you will face larger exposure to market risk as you will typically be trading on one gold price. When purchasing smaller bars such as the 1ounce gold bar, you will again face the higher premiums as packaging, serial and matching certificates will need to be produced.

Gold Coins

There are many different types of coins to choose from.  This gives you greater choice in sizes, carats and designs.  Coins are also very flexible in terms of re-selling, as smaller units of gold are easy to release when in need of quick access to cash. Another benefit with certain coins such as Britannia’s and Sovereigns are  that they are CGT (Capital Gains Tax) Free.  Selling coins also give you more flexibility as you do not have to sell everything at once, which gives you lower market risk as you are not selling on one gold price. Certain coins such as the Gold Sovereign also hold collectible value and over time these coins may accrue numismatic value which can increase your original investment.  There are many other coins including the Krugerrand, which is one of the most widely traded coins in the world, that tend to attract a smaller premium when buying.

The downside to buying coins are that there is a ’minting charge’ on coins so they will generally cost more than bullion weight-to-weight. The difference is not a lot on small quantities but it will start to add up the more you buy.  For instance; if you buy 3 X 1oz Gold Maple coins they will cost you approx.. €20 per coin more than buying 3 X 1oz bullion bars – think about that: both purchases are 3oz’s of 24 carat gold yet the coins are costing you in total €60 more…purely because they are coins. If you go to sell/or scrap the coins/bars you will get a price on the weight so you will not realise this price difference when you go to sell. Coins also do not come with certificates and not all coins are 24 carat (as many are 22 carat or even less for some coins). This can cause larger difficulty when calculating the worth of the coins. From an investment perspective, coins entitle larger premium when compared to larger bars which means that you will get less gold for what you pay. Investing in 32 x 1 ounce gold coins opposed to 1 x 1kg gold bar creates an obstacle if one wants to store the entire investment in one location (eg. safe deposit box).

Our advice on which gold product can be summed up by asking yourself: are you buying purely for investment reasons?  Or are you buying to have a nice collection of gold to look at and keep or give as  gifts?….If your reason is the latter – buy coins. If the former – buy bars/bullion.

For any further questions regarding buying bullion bars and bullion coins, or to get an instant price on a gold purchase contact our trading desk on: Call: 0115 857 2640 or visit us at Barcelona Gold in Barcelona.

To view our website please click here: https://www.barcelonagold.es

Nigel Doolin

Head of Trading

Barcelona Gold

Krugerrands are one of the most well known gold bullion coins in the World. In Europe, they are more famous than US Gold Eagles.
Krugerrands are 8.33% copper and 91.67% gold. As with the US Gold Eagles, Krugerrands come in four sizes, yet the fractional ounce Krugerrands are not generally accessible. More gold Krugerrands have been minted than all other types of gold bullion coins together, with in most accounts 42 million having been stamped following 1967. A large bulk of Krugerrands were minted in the 1970s and mid-1980s to take care of the demand as gold bullion purchasers ran to gold coins as insurance against rapid world inflation.

As speculation vehicles, gold bullion bars are picking up in ubiquity principally on the grounds that gold bars convey much lower premiums than gold bullion coins convey. Case in point, premiums on kilo gold bars can be as much as €40 every ounce lower than the premium on gold coins.

Genuinely, gold bars are an energising approach to put resources into gold. Hauling extensive gold bars very nearly causes an adrenalin surge. Constantly, individuals holding vast gold bars interestingly asked, “By what means can something so little be so heavy?” A gigantic measure of riches can be put away and covered in gold bullion bars.

The spot cost of gold is the most well known standard used to gauge the going rate for a single troy ounce of gold. The cost is driven by theory in the business sectors, coin values, current occasions and numerous different components including the stability of world economic markets.

Gold spot cost is utilised as the premise for most bullion merchants to focus the precise cost to charge for a particular coin or bar. These costs are computed in troy ounces and change each couple of seconds during business hours.

 The gold market is one of the most popular safe-haven commodity markets in the world. Investors who are reluctant to put money into the volatile currency market, or the fragile equities market, often turn to gold because it is a commodity that will always be in demand. Since it is a physical item, it will be valuable even if there is a global economic collapse.

When you invest in gold, typically you are investing in either gold coins or gold bars. Krugerrands are one of the more popular types of gold coin – they are the second most popular coin in the US, and in Europe they enjoy greater popularity than the US Gold Eagle. In fact, a higher number of Krugerrands have been made throughout recent history than any of the other modern gold coins.

A Krugerrand is made of 91.67% gold, with the remainder being copper. In theory, there are four sizes of Krugerrand: 1oz, Half-ounce, Quarter-ounce and tenth-ounce, however the fractional-ounce ones are rarely available and not as sought after as the full 1 ounce coin.

There have been around 42 million Krugerrands minted since the coins were released to the market in 1967, with the majority of them having been minted in the 70s and 80s, when inflation fears were driving more and more investors towards gold.

When the US Congress lifted the import ban on the coins in 1994, there was a massive influx of Krugerrands to the USA, however the coins did not manage to take over the market, since US Gold Eagles were already established as being the default and most popular coin for US investors. This means that US Gold Eagle prices remain higher, and the coins remain slightly more sought-after in the US.

In Europe and the rest of the world however the Krugerrand is more popular.

Krugerrands are the second most popular way of trading gold in the USA, and they have the most active secondary market – there are usually thousands of the coins changing hands every day, making them even more popular than gold bars.

 Gold bullion bars come in many weights from 1gram all the way up to 1,000gram bars.  These bullion bars are more ideally suited to pure investors into the commodity who have no interest in the various coins for collectability, but are in the market more so for hedge and speculation purposes.

Gold coins are the most dynamic type of gold in that they serve as both a kind of bullion speculation and as a collectible. Despite the fact that a few coins are more lavish than others, essentially every one of them will be sold at a solid premium over the current cost of gold contained inside the coin. The motivation behind why gold coins cost more every ounce than gold bars is a direct result of the coins’ collectability, scarcity, and high demand.

Every single real coin command another variety consistently, and once a certain year’s creation is finished, that variety of the coin will never be delivered to market again. This pushes an irregularity and interest that goes past the estimation of the gold contained inside every coin. This is restricted to gold bars and rounds, which can be created by any gold mint on the planet, and subsequently are less significant and collectible.

There are actually hundreds of different types of gold coins that have been stamped all through the world and throughout the past hundreds of years. Adversly, between these coins, there are just a modest bunch that are routinely purchased and sold on an extensive scale: the Australian Kangaroo, the American Eagle, the Chinese Panda, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Gold Buffalo, the South African Krugerrand, and the Mexican Libertad. A greater part of the normal gold coins are additionally delivered as silver coins.

Albeit numerous gold coins, for example, the Australian Kangaroo and the Chinese Panda, contain 99.9 percent or 99.99 percent gold, a few coins, for example, the American Eagle, don’t. The American Eagle is a composed of 22-karat gold, which has about 91.67 percent gold, joined with about 5.33 percent copper and around 3 percent silver. This combination makes a more sturdy coin, as 100 percent pure gold can be somewhat delicate for a flowing coin.

For thousands of years gold has been sought after throughout the world for its rich history and value. Coins containing gold first appeared around 800 B.C., and the first pure gold coins were struck shortly thereafter. Over the centuries, people have continued to hold gold for many reasons.

Some good reasons why people continue to invest in gold today.

1.  A History of Holding Its Value

People use gold as a way to increase and pass on their wealth from one generation to another. It has maintained its value over the ages, unlike paper currency or other assets. Storing your own stock of gold bullion or coins is still one of the surest ways to maintain, or increase, your wealth.

2. Inflation

Historically gold is an excellent hedge against inflation, as the price of gold tends to rise when the cost of living increases. After World War II during the five years when U.S. inflation was at it’s highest, the average real return on the ‘Dow Jones Industrial Average’ was 12.33%, compared to a massive 130.4% average return for gold investors.

3. Deflation

During periods of Deflation when business activity slows down and the economy is burdened with excessive debt, although not seen globally since the ‘Great Depression’, the purchasing power of gold soars greatly while other prices drop hugely.

4. Weakness of the U.S. Dollar

When the value of the dollar falls against other currencies, like it did in 1998 to 2008, people and wise investors will often move to the security of gold, this in-turn raises the price of gold in the marketplace. Gold prices nearly tripled between 1998 and 2008, hitting a $1,000 per ounce price in early 2008. Even though the U.S. dollar is one of the most important reserve currencies in the world, the country’s large budget and trade deficits still put it into decline during this period.

5. Geopolitical Uncertainty

Often called the “crisis commodity” gold not only retains its value in times of financial uncertainty, but also in times of geopolitical uncertainly. When tensions arise throughout the world people invest in the relative safety of gold as it usually outperforms other investments.

6. Supply Constraints

Most of the gold on sale in the market since 1990’s comes from the sale of gold bullion from the vaults of the world’s central banks. This selling by central banks was reduced greatly in 2008. Simultaneously, production of new gold from mines had been declining since the year 2000. It takes between five and ten years to bring a new gold mine into production. Generally, a reduction in the supply of gold increases the price of gold.

7. Increasing Demand

Increased wealth in emerging market economies boosts the demand for gold. Today India is one of the largest gold consuming countries in the world, where gold is embedded in the culture. China also, where gold is a traditional form of saving, sees a constant demand for gold. More and more investors worldwide are now viewing gold and other commodities as an investment class into which funds should be allocated as a good hedge.

8. Portfolio Diversification

When spreading the risk on an investment portfolio, it is important to go into investments that are not correlated to one another. Historically gold has had a negative correlation to stocks and other financial forms of investment. A properly diversified portfolio combines gold with bonds and stocks in order to reduce the overall risk on the portfolio.

The Bottom Line

Gold should be viewed and used as an important part of diversifying any investment portfolio. It is the ideal hedge as it increases in value in response to events that cause other investments to decline. Although gold can be erratic in the short term, historically it has always maintained it’s value in the long term. Also, consider the fact that there is more silver mined on a daily basis worldwide than there has ever been gold mined (since records began) and you should agree that investing in gold is well worth considering.