My Favourite Area of the Antiques Market:Silver
By Bengt Saelensminde
Whenever I look at the markets, I’m always looking to get something for nothing. Like buying companies that are trading below the value of their assets for instance.
Right now, I think we’ve got that in one sector of the antiques market. And that is in silver. I’m not talking about the whole silver market, but just the bottom end. At the cheap end of the market, silver items trade at, or close to scrap value. And that’s an opportunity.
I’m sure you’ve noticed silver’s meteoric rise from well under $10 an ounce right to around $35. That’s what we call ‘spot’ silver; and it’s what drives the scrap value of silver.
During the days when silver was say £8 an ounce, you might expect to pay something like £18 for a one-ounce sterling silver spoon. That is £8 for the silver content and then another tenner for the craftsmanship (and dealers margin).
But now that the silver price has surged, many buyers in the antiques markets aren’t prepared to shell out for the extra value of the silver content. They won’t even pay the scrap price for such a spoon. In my example, the scrap price would be around twenty-five quid. Ooooh, says the buyer. That spoon was only £18 the other year… nope, I’m not paying up for that.
And here’s the thing. That spoon is now a heck of a lot cheaper! If you can pick it up at, or near scrap, then you’re getting all the craftsmanship for free.
And because many people won’t buy the stuff now, a lot of silver is getting scrapped. Former family heirlooms, as well as interesting one-off pieces are heading for the smelter.
As the ingots come out, they go to fuel investor demand on the financial markets. So I say, let’s get out there and save some of these pieces from premature cremation.
Let’s get going now!
If you’re worried about the steadfastness of financial markets; then this could be just the answer.
What’s more, the pleasure you’ll get from this ‘scrap’ can be immeasurable. And it’s a safe investment – no matter what happens in the markets, you’ve got your store of value right there in your hands.
And by the way; silver spoons, picture frames, bowls, candlesticks, rings, coins etc make for great presents. If you’re ever stuck for a gift, you can just give away something from your collection.
Remember, I’m not talking about the sexy end of this market. Sterling silver for instance, is always popular in the UK and you’ll generally have to pay up for that. I’m talking about the less desirable bits and pieces that have drifted in from other countries.
You can find some wonderful and ornate works of great craftsmanship going for little more than their scrap value at dealers fairs, auction houses, or even on ebay.
Of course you’ll want to read around the subject first and get your bearings. Buy an introductory book. Once you know the basics, you’ll see the great opportunities out there.
Get to know a couple of dealers that you trust – get them to give you a call when they come upon a batch of scrap. And buying on ebay is generally pretty safe as people don’t get away with misleading descriptions.
I wouldn’t want to pay up for a full set of fine silverware. But why not create yourself an eclectic set of pieces from all over the globe? That’s a lot more interesting to me.
Pick up some wonderful pieces for your home, for gifts, or just an investment and all for just the price of the raw material itself.
Tips In Buying Silver Bullion Coins
What are bullion coins? These coins may have high values because they are not only limited; but also they may have been found in shipwrecks, or they may come from the ancient times. Bullion coins are the type of collector’s items that many people look for.
The silver bullion could be the most well known type of bullion that is selling very well in the internet aside from those that are to be considered to be most expensive and valuable items in the world.
Some high priced coins that are displayed on the internet include the silver ingot. The silver ingot was said to have been found in the Spanish ship Atocha that sank in the ocean. This ship was found to contain treasures and artifacts including silver ingots. Others claim that the silver ingots were recovered from an old Colorado Mining area. Coins were found everywhere and were said to have been hidden by the miners.
The silver Maple Leaf Coins, which are officially sealed, are also popular among collectors. These coins came from the Royal Canadian Mint and include the Walking Liberty half-dollars and the dealer roll first-strike 1994 U.S. Eagles. These items were a collection of the Franklin Mint which had more than 100 masterpieces in his memorabilia.
Most bullion collectors prefer the gold billion. Some famous bullion gold coins include the gold Krugerrands, which are from South Africa. The European Gold Crowns were released from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Other items include the Canadian Maple Leaf Coins and the United States American Eagle Coins. British Sovereigns are also seen on the internet as are the Swiss Helveteas and the French Roosters.
The awesome 10-ounce Swiss gold bar, China gold panda set, and the American eagle proof set coins can also be found and are considered to be the most seen coins on the internet. There are gold bullions found in the American Eagle set, Mixed Lots, Rounds, Bars, and any other similar categories that are found on some sites n the internet.
A type of bullion that is not well known is the Platinum bullion. It is less researched on the internet because the demand for it is not as great as the silver and gold bullions. Platinum bullions can be purchased anywhere: some of them are the French Statue of Liberty coins, Eagle sets, and the Koala Proofs. The World Trade Center has also offered some Platinum bullions like the Englehard platinum bar, crucible dish made of platinum bullion, and the Johnson Matthew Year of the Dragon coins which were recovered from the safety vaults of the building when it collapsed.
These coins can be considered as thoughtful gifts aside from their being valuable since they can be kept as a souvenir from the person who gave it. A bullion bar that features a happy birthday greeting can be a thoughtful gift for a friend’s birthday especially if the bar has the date of the birthday on it. Some people also use them for their anniversaries as their gifts to one another – they search for those bullions that have the date of their engagement or the wedding year. Some brides also ask their groom to find her 24-karat gold flakes or silver flakes as her chosen token for their wedding.
Coin collecting of this type can be very expensive, especially when buying bullions, but here are some tips that can guide a person in his search for affordable bullions.
1. A person must be sure of the type of bullion he would like to purchase before ordering or buying.
2. He must ask himself, or the person he is buying the bullion for, what bullion he/she prefers and ask if they would like to come with him when purchasing the bullion.
3. A person must figure the delivery costs and add them to the agreed price.
4. A person should be sure that the seller would contact give him a delivery for the item if they have ordered it on the internet.
5. He should never make the payments using instant money transfer firms.
6. It is important to know the seller’s background and reputation in the business.
A person can purchase any bullion that he prefers. The idea of giving bullions to a special loved one or friend can be very thoughtful and it will serve as memorabilia that will be kept throughout the years.
No comments »