Coins are graded on the Sheldon 1–70 scale. For bullion collectors, the key grades are:
MS70
Perfect Uncirculated — no flaws under 5x magnification. Rare, commands 2–5× premium over raw coin.
MS69
Near Perfect — one or two tiny imperfections. Much more attainable, still a significant premium.
MS67
Superb Gem — a few small contact marks. Sweet spot for many collectors.
PR70
Perfect Proof — mirror-like fields, frosted devices. Proof coins are struck multiple times for collectors.
💡 When is grading worth it? Generally only if the coin is worth £500+ and you believe it will grade MS69 or above. Grading fees run £30–£80 per coin via PCGS or NGC. Raw bullion coins rarely need grading unless they're key dates or proofs.
🔎 Counterfeit Detection Basics
Weight & diameter — every genuine coin has published specs. A precision scale (0.01g accuracy) and calipers are essential. A fake will almost always be slightly off.
Ping test — genuine gold rings with a distinctive tone when tapped. The Bullion Test app uses your phone's microphone to analyse the sound signature.
Magnet test — gold is not magnetic. A strong neodymium magnet should have zero attraction. Silver is also non-magnetic.
Edge lettering — Sovereigns have a milled edge, Britannias have lettering. Check it matches the genuine article exactly.
Buy from trusted sources — Royal Mint, major dealers (Chards, Atkinsons, BullionByPost), or coins with PCGS/NGC slabs. Avoid eBay for high-value coins unless the seller has verified authenticity.
📦 Storage Guide
Capsules — best for individual coins. Airtight, protects from handling and humidity. Lighthouse and Quadrum are popular brands. Never use PVC flips — they cause green corrosion over time.
Tubes — for bulk stacking. Hold 20–25 coins of the same size. Less protection than capsules but efficient for large quantities.
Slabs — PCGS/NGC graded coins come sealed in tamper-evident plastic. Best protection possible, no need for additional storage.
Environment — store at 35–55% humidity. Silica gel packets help in safes. Keep away from rubber bands, newspaper, and anything containing sulphur — tarnishes silver rapidly.
Never clean coins — cleaning destroys numismatic value and leaves hairlines visible under magnification. Even a "cleaned" MS65 can drop to MS62.
📋 Sovereign Portrait Set Tracker
Track which Sovereign portrait eras you own. Stored locally in your browser.
🦅 Britannia Design Era Tracker
The Britannia has had several major reverse designs since 1987.
🍁 Maple Leaf Special Issues
Notable Maple Leaf variants and commemoratives.
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My Stack
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Allocation by Metal
Everything🥇 Gold🥈 Silver
Portfolio
DateValueGain %Name
Gold Price History
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Gold ETF & ETC Tracker
Paper Gold — Compared
Live prices, fees, AUM and tax treatment for the most popular gold ETFs and ETCs. Physically backed unless noted.
💰 Fee Projector
Pick an ETF, set your investment — see exactly what fees will cost you
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⚖️ ETF vs Physical Gold
📊 ETF / ETC
✓ ISA/SIPP eligible
✓ No storage cost
✓ Instant liquidity
✓ Fractional amounts
✗ Annual TER fee
✗ Counterparty risk
✗ Can't hold in hand
🥇 Physical Gold
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✓ CGT-free (UK coins)
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Prices delayed up to 15 minutes. Not financial advice. Always check product KIDs before investing.
Live Spot Prices
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Gold / oz
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Au/Ag Ratio
💸 Dollar Debasement Clock
Since Nixon closed the gold window on 15 Aug 1971, US M2 money supply expanded from $0.7T to ~$21T. This clock estimates how much new money has been created based on the Fed's long-run M2 growth rate (~$1.4T/yr).
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$1,000 in gold terms — 1971 vs today
In 1971 at $35/oz
28.57 oz
Today at live spot
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😰 Gold Fear & Greed Index
Composite score based on the Au/Ag ratio signal, gold price momentum vs its 5-year average, and dollar strength proxy. Above 70 = excessive optimism. Below 30 = fear.
0–20 Extreme Fear
21–40 Fear
41–60 Neutral
61–80 Greed
81–100 Extreme Greed
🏦 Central Bank Gold Holdings
Official gold reserves by country. Source: World Gold Council / IMF. ↑ buying · → holding · ↓ selling.
Total
33,112t
top 15 nations
Central banks bought 863 tonnes in 2025 — the fourth-largest annual total on record, despite higher prices moderating pace. Poland was the largest buyer (+102t), followed by Kazakhstan (+67t) and Turkey (+27t). Gold overtook US Treasuries late in 2025 to become the world's largest reserve asset by value. The WGC estimates ~57% of 2025 buying was unreported, meaning official figures understate true accumulation. Gold is the only reserve asset with no counterparty risk.
Prices: gold-api.com · CB data: World Gold Council/IMF · M2: Federal Reserve H.6 release
