The situation in Europe continues to worsen, which at the same time makes gold investing look a more and more appealing proposition. The chief economist and strategist at the Toronto based Gluskin Shelf & Associates, David Rosenberg, bluntly states that Europe is a mess economically, fiscally and politically. The leaders in Europe have for some time now been pushing for austerity measures, measures which it has become painfully obvious have not only not worked, but may even have actually made the problem worse than it was before.

JP Morgan’s chief market strategist, David Kelly, says that immediate austerity measures in recessionary economies just don’t work. In the past, stimulus payments have resulted in growth – the revival of the automobile industry in the United States in recent times is proof enough of that – although there are multiple causalities in the Euro-Zone. Austerity measures are hardly likely to successfully grow Greece out of its debt situation, especially when as many as seven other economies in the Euro-Zone are likewise in recession.

The really telling thing however is the back seat that Greece has taken of late, with others stealing the limelight in an indication of just how much the economic disruption is expanding. Spain has started to become the new Greece, with unemployment now among the highest in the developed world at twenty four point four percent, with the great majority of the affected being those in their early twenties, the future generation. The banking sector in Spain is also deteriorating rapidly, with the county facing widespread political unrest and Standard & Poor downgrading their sovereign credit rating to BBB+.

Also in recession are Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands and Greece, with the Czech Republic, Denmark and now the United Kingdom joining the list outside the Euro-Zone.

While the US dollar, US treasuries and German bonds continue to be seen as safe havens that could change as the Euro-Zone crisis grows. Gold could be set for another bull cycle.

The post Deepening Euro Zone Crisis May Be Good For Gold appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

The original Gold Eagle was a $10 coin first minted in $1795 and was used as currency. In 1933 at the height of the Great Depression the government ordered all gold coins be turned in and exchanged for dollars. There was a fear there would be a run on banks, and in anticipation of this gold coins were collected and melted down.

Today, gold coins are back but not in the form of currency. Now, gold bullion coins are used for investing in gold. While these coins do offer a legal trading worth, their real value is determined by the gold within the coin and the current spot price of gold. Coin collectors can purchase proof versions of these coins for their collections.

Investing in gold is a time honored way of protecting one’s assets. This goes all the way back to the ancient Roman and Greek civilizations and is alive and well today. Gold may even be a better hedge today because of the flat currency era we now live in. Flat currencies are backed by nothing except the paper it is printed on. Currencies are now allowed to float against each other to determine their value. Exchange rates have become more important than the actual worth of money.

However, gold is real, and tangible. When you buy gold bullion you are buying a real commodity, not a paper document. The main banks of the world are currently very busy gobbling up as much gold as possible. These same banks see severe problems in Europe and the in the world’s flat currency system, and they do not want a repeat of 2008. If banks are buying gold, it just makes sense you should do the same thing.

To recap, the American Gold Eagle is the most pursued after gold bullion coin in the world. When you invest in gold you are investing in a tangible item that has a time honored of history of protecting one’s assets. If you have not yet invested in Gold Eagles, you should consider doing so.

The post Investing In American Gold Eagles appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

In their attempts to respond, analysts like Russ Koesterich, Global Chief Investment Strategist for BlackRock’s iShares ETF business, initially begin with clarifying the reasons that do not explain high price of gold. As inflation rises, investors will pay a higher price for gold. However, as Koesterich points out, many developed countries have had lower inflation over the past decade. It was during this same decade that gold prices have reached their ultimate highs. High inflation cannot be the sole cause of the increased value of gold.

You do not have to be an economist or an investor to realize that we are in a time of high deficit and debt. This concern causes investors to rely more on gold and other non-fiat commodities. As the dollar continues to lose value, investors tend to move their finances into more stable and profitable sectors. This is an easily understood and logical explanation for the high price of gold. Yet again, it is not the final answer accepted by analysts.

Koesterich delves a bit deeper into his explanation by discussing the level of real interest rates and the effect they may have on gold prices. When real rates are lower, the opportunity cost of owning fiat-based assets is also low. Investors are more likely to move their finances away from low opportunity cost assets where the chance of profit is much lower and the chance of loss is much higher.

In an interview with The Gold Report, Bob Moriarty explains how gold will continue to hold value, as the fiat currencies of the world disappear. According to Moriarty, gold cannot be priced based on the value of the dollar. This would imply that there is a possibility for the dollar to rise and fall. Analysts like Moriarty would not defend this position. They believe fiat systems in general are on their way out, in general, and predict a return to a gold Standard.

It seems that most analysts, regardless of their reasoning for the high price of gold, expect this precious metal to remain valuable. Countries all over the world are reserving their gold to protect their assets in the event of fiat collapse. If these analysts are correct in their predictions, we just may be paying for goods and services with gold instead of paper money in the very near future.

The post The Possible Decline of Fiat Currencies and the New Gold Standard appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Many feel the gold price should have reached the stratosphere by now. Certainly, gold has not been setting any records of late, but at 1600 per ounce it is still at a solid high. Paper dollars as an investment is risky at best, when you stop to think dollars are backed by nothing. Stocks too are nothing more than paper investments. Gold has always been used as a hedge. Gold is tangible, and if the bottom were too completely drop out of the economy gold would indeed hit that stratosphere level mentioned earlier.

The dollar is only appearing to be stronger because the Euro is still weakened by the debt mess in Europe. Yet, it is this fiasco which helps to keep gold stable and at a high price. The recent jobs report for the United States was weaker than expected, and gold went up in value. Oil has caused prices on virtually all products to rise meaning inflation is on the rise. This means the dollar is coming back down to reality. Gold is the hedge to be in, not dollars. Since gold is highly liquid if dollars are needed, gold can be sold virtually anywhere in the world.

Typically when the dollar loses value gold, rises in value. Prudent investors are buying gold because oil prices will keep gold high; Europe will keep gold high, and China’s looming real estate bubble will serve to keep gold’s spot price high. It is not a stretch to think that the dollar will sink and gold will soar up during the second half of 2012. Yet, even if it doesn’t, at 1600 per ounce gold is still the best safe haven going.

In conclusion, many are grumbling about gold. Some people seem to think gold is undervalued, yet is it really? It is currently trading at over 1600 per ounce, a stable and high level. The dollar is starting to lose some of its clout again because oil prices have inflation creeping into the picture again. The paper dollar should not be used as a safe haven. Gold has always been the best hedge, and it still is.

The post Gold versus the Dollar appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Besides being one of the most instantly recognizable symbols on the planet, gold is also an extremely useful metal.  It is used in dentistry, medicine, high end culinary arts, and electronics, to name a few of the many industries it is a part of.  Many people are not aware how important gold really is in our lives and often are surprised when they learn that gold is so much more than a simply an investment vehicle.

If you are interested in buying gold bars or coins, you are making a prudent choice for your future.  We have already seen the disastrous effects our faltering economy has on the world. If it continues on this path there could be dire consequences.  Preparing for the worst is the best possible thing we can do for ourselves and for our loved ones.  In such a chaotic socioeconomic climate the best thing we can do is to invest in tangible assets that are highly liquid.

The wealthiest and most informed investors usually have an incredibly diverse financial portfolio so that they are protected in case one investment does not pan out. In other words, you should not place all of your eggs in one basket. Gold has long been one of the most reliable investment outlets and these days it is showing more promise than ever before.

Buying gold could be the financial answer to many of your problems and it may be beneficial for you to begin looking into owning gold as a way to secure your savings.  Savvy investors are able to turn precious metals into legitimate profit and with a little bit of research, you can learn how to work the market and enjoy the financial possibilities.  Now is the time to take hold of your future and make a positive choice, by investing in gold.

The post Owning Gold to Secure your Savings appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Morgan dollars were first minted all the way back in 1878, and were authorized by the Bland-Allison Act. While these coins were not particularly loved at the outset, today, they are some of the most collected silver coins on the market. The circulation and date can make collecting these coins exciting, as well as possible to fit into every budget.

Some coins in circulated condition will only be worth silver value (or slightly above), while certain dates in near perfect condition can net you $200,000 or more. This is why it is important to research Morgan dollars, so that you always get a fair price, and have a good experience.

In learning to choose authentic Morgans, remember to examine the year (1878 to 1904 and then in 1921) and then look up the circulation and value online. You could also ask a coin dealer for additional information. The Morgan features Lady Liberty on the front and an eagle on the back with an arrow and olive branch. The best way to protect yourself from a scam (provided you don’t know how to detect silver fakes) is to get the coin certified or to buy a coin already certified from a trusted coin dealer. Additionally, you can also check the weight of a coin in question. Real Morgan silver dollar specimens weigh 26.73 grams and are made from 24 grams of silver.

Morgan dollars are indeed fascinating coins for their look, their value, and their many “legends” in coin collecting. For example, there are rumors of missing Morgans from 1895 that have never been found, as well as double-headed and double-tailed Morgans, which are said to be rare and expensive. (Though in actuality they are worth close to nothing, as they are altered coins, physically impossible to accidentally mint)

If you’re looking for some Morgans talk to a qualified coin dealer and get some personal advice for the journey ahead.

The post Tips for Finding Real Morgan Silver Dollar Coinage appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

If you currently work a 9 to 5 job and relish the freedom that goes along with being your own employer, it may be a hard decision to quit your day job and take the plunge. It can also be one of the best decisions of your life. The first step to becoming your own boss is committing to it fully. You need to understand that you will not have a safety net because you will be your own employer.

Another thing that you need to know is that a lot of hard work will be involved in starting your own company. Since you are the owner and the boss of the company, everything will fall onto your shoulders. For the first few weeks or even months it will be slow goings, but if you stick with it, you will love it.

In order to start a company that will flourish, you should do something that you’re passionate about. For example, if you love coins, then you should look into opening up a coin dealership business and learning about the price of gold. Doing something that you love for a living will make your work feel like not working at all.

As you can see, it is perfectly possible to become your own boss. You just need to understand that a lot of hard work and effort goes into starting your own company, but the rewards are totally worth it. Make sure that you know to set aside a certain percentage of your income for taxes (usually 25 to 30% is ideal) and be committed to working your butt off. Before you know, going to work every day will be enjoyable because you’ll be able to do what you love for a living. Doesn’t that sound great?

The post How to be Your Own Boss appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Those who support the gold standard see it as an important measure in order to prevent politicians from destroying the value of currency. Economists refer to this position as “Keynesian”. Keynesians tend to blame a great deal of the world’s recent economic difficult on our failure to pay more strict attention to gold prices.

Those who oppose the gold standard do not see anything special about gold, or its value. Economists refer to those who oppose such a standard as “monetarist.” Monetarists conceive of gold as just one commodity among many, suggesting that we should look to the study of economics when devising economic policies. The monetarist opposition sees the gold standard as arbitrary and dogmatic. Quoted in the New York Times, University of Chicago academic economist Richard Thaler asked why gold as opposed to “1982 Bordeaux?”

In 1980, Ronald Reagan made a platform promise to undo former president Nixon’s legislation that lead to the abolishment of the gold standard. As Reagan’s presidency progressed, he failed to keep this promise. While he did appoint a commission to re-establish the gold standard, the commission itself contained a sizable number of individuals that took a firm stance against the re-establishment of the gold standard.

New York Times columnist Floyd Norris calls attention to the parallel between the promises made by Reagan and a few recent campaign trail comments made by Newt Gingrich. Forbes Magazine calls Gingrich’s comments on the gold standard the “biggest under-reported story of the South Carolina primary.”

Gingrich calls for a “return to hard money” and often accompanying the suggestion with images of strict discipline. Ron Paul, himself a gold coin collector and aficionado, supports the idea of the gold standard even more vocally than Gingrich.

Like Reagan, Gingrich promises to “appoint a commission,” but as we now know from experience, creating a commission to do something, and a commission actually doing something do not necessarily mean the same thing.

Forbes goes even further to say if Gingrich got elected, first of all, and second of all, kept his promise to take more concrete action toward returning our economy to a gold standard, it would make his a presidency one of the “most remarkable” in the history of our country.

The post Gingrich Calls For a Return to the Gold Standard appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Stocks, bonds, and printed money are all investments. However, they are backed by nothing real. Stocks and bonds have their place for investors, and we certainly need paper dollars to live our daily lives, but we should not depend on them. When you buy gold you are tapping into the ultimate safe haven.

Currently gold is trading at the very high spot price of $1700 per ounce. While this is down from its 2011 all time high of over $1900 per ounce it is indeed high. Even if gold suffers a price correction it will remain at a high market price. The same cannot be said about paper investments like stocks.

The Federal Reserve recently announced it will protect the American economy from the Europe’s debt problems. Some took this to mean that if Greece fails and Europe dips back into recession the FED could pump more printed money to stimulate the American economy. While this does indeed stimulate the economy it also raises prices. In other words, it devalues the dollar and causes inflation to rise. There is no better protector from inflation than gold.

Another European trouble spot that could affect the US economy is Portugal. This nation has already been bailed out by the European Union. However, Portugal has just seen their credit rating dropped to junk status. Even France has seen their credit rating dropped. These are troublesome signs for already nervous stock investors. The best way to be protected from this is to buy gold, before the spot price inevitably goes up even more.

In closing, the best way to protect one’s assets in a bad economy is to invest in gold. This precious metal offers a time honored way to protect assets. Gold has been used as a hedge for thousands of years and it still works. While stocks and dollars can lose virtually all of their value overnight gold always has value.

The post Gold Is The Time Honored Hedge appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.

Mystery of the 1895 Morgan Dollars

Why did so many of the 1895 Morgan silver dollar specimens disappear? Numismatic experts cannot come up with an absolute answer for that question. However, many believe that the 12,000 business strike 1895 Morgans were never minted in the first place. These skeptics believe that errors in Mint accounting ledgers led to the miscount. Others believe that the coins were indeed struck but that most were eventually melted down for various reasons. Of course, as with any great mystery, there are multiple theories including those proposing that the coins were lost at sea. Whatever the cause, the fact remains that there are only a small number of these coins left, and each one is worth a considerable amount of money as a result.

Buzzard Dollars

With the popularity of the Morgan silver dollar today, it is hard to believe that these coins were actually scorned at one time. Many U.S. citizens at the time felt that the coins were bulky and unattractive. They were therefore popularly called “buzzard dollars.” This is one reason that many believe so many of the 1895 versions were melted down since many editions of the coin sat in government vaults unused due to their unpopularity.

Interest in Morgan Dollars Dramatically Rises

By 1980, public interest in Morgans skyrocketed and they are now one of the most collected coins in the world. Collectors now prize these coins for their beauty, unique characteristics, and for their profit potential. Those few collectors who are lucky enough to get their hands on an 1895 Morgan own one of the rarest coins available. For now, there are no business strikes 1895s known to exist, but some collectors believe they are out there and hope that one will be discovered someday.

If you would like to add an 1895 Morgan silver dollar to your collection, you may just spend a lifetime working at your endeavor. However, it is possible to own other more common, yet still relatively rare silver dollars that offer the unique artwork, beauty, and value of Morgan dollars.

The post The Rarest and Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar appeared first on Precious Metals Brokers.