Gold. Bullion or coins?

[PurpleGorilla]

If you must go with gold I'd suggest Brits anyway purely because they're exempt from CGT and are relatively small.
If you need to liquidate gold it's much easier to shift a 1oz coin or two than to find someone who'll give you change for a kilo brick.

Silver's still better.

One of main reasons I am interested in gold is I want to invest something that can help against a devaluing currency. Maybe gold isn't the ticket, but holding £5-£10k in gold seems a worthwhile punt...

[LucidDementia]

One of main reasons I am interested in gold is I want to invest something that can help against a devaluing currency. Maybe gold isn't the ticket, but holding £5-£10k in gold seems a worthwhile punt...

Given the gold to silver value ratio historically has been far lower than it is today I choose silver, but yes, purely as a store of value.
As long as it's physical there's no "wrong" choice.

[fullyautomatix]

Historically gold has been a very stable risk averse investment. But lately the crash of commodity prices has affected gold prices too. So who knows what the bottom is ?

[PurpleGorilla]

Platinum might flip above gold again. It is far rarer than gold...

[Zero Liability]

Historically gold has been a very stable risk averse investment. But lately the crash of commodity prices has affected gold prices too. So who knows what the bottom is ?

That's only for as long as the dollar is perceived as 'strong'. Right now even worse mismanagement of other currencies and its global reserve status are buoying it.

Given the gold to silver value ratio historically has been far lower than it is today I choose silver, but yes, purely as a store of value.
As long as it's physical there's no "wrong" choice.

Or opt for a mixture of both.

[LucidDementia]

That's only for as long as the dollar is perceived as 'strong'. Right now even worse mismanagement of other currencies and its global reserve status are buoying it.

This. It's important to remember that historically, barring anomalies, the actual value of gold hasn't really changed. It's the value of the currency that has.

2 generations ago this was blindingly obvious.

[Andy2]

All the central banks are hell bent on devaluing and debasing their currencies by printing and other measures but still inflation is not going up.
The situation may change in the coming years where they would not be able to control the inflation.

[LucidDementia]

All the central banks are hell bent on devaluing and debasing their currencies by printing and other measures but still inflation is not going up.
The situation may change in the coming years where they would not be able to control the inflation.

All currencies are tied to the US dollar. The US dollar is being kept afloat by printing and by oil. If the oil producers ever manage to fully ditch the dollar the whole house of cards is coming down.

Blame Nixon. I like to.

[alphadog]

You pay 20% VAT on buying Silver but not on Gold

... or you could buy your silver from Estonia or another low VAT European country and legally bring it into the UK without any extra charges

[PurpleGorilla]

... or you could buy your silver from Estonia or another low VAT European country and legally bring it into the UK without any extra charges

Would need to buy a tulip load, to cover the shipping costs?