Gold-Buyer

The Most Valuable Coins in The World

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:45:00 GMT

The Gold-Buyer team have a look at some of the most valuable coins in the world, including the history, auction price, and value of the most wanted coins from collectors today.

What Makes Collectable Coins Valuable?

Initial face value may seem like the most important characteristic for a coin’s worth in modern auctions, but this is a common misconception. Collectable coins can sell far beyond their face value, with many economic and historical factors contributing to their modern day sale price. To demonstrate these principles; we are first going to examine 2 very different coins.

If we take a look at the oldest known coin in the world, a 5,000 year old Mesopotamian Shekel, which can be regularly purchased for anywhere between $100 – $2,000 on common auction sites. Here we are presented with the primary factor providing collectors coins with their value – rarity and circulation.

The Mesopotamian Shekel

There is no doubt that the Mesopotamian Shekel has significant historical value, being the first known example of currency in the world. Its creation signalled the beginning of modern day economics, and a change in attitudes from trading goods and services based on their perceived value, to the representative value of coins. The reason this coin lacks auctioneering value, at least compared to others on this list, is primarily because the Mesopotamian Shekel was produced in high volume, and circulated widely amongst the ancient west Asian world.

This high rate of production means that collectors throughout history have managed to maintain large quantities of these coins. There are also many examples of Shekels simply being recovered from excavation sites, river beds; land, and agricultural developments in modern western Asia, meaning that these historically significant coins have widely remained in circulation throughout their 5000 year history. It may seem callous to place such small worth on historically important objects like these; but in terms of collector psychology, desirability and value often comes from owning something that few others do.

1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny

Our second case to examine is the 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny.

There are plenty of Lincoln Head Pennies available in circulation today, many of which were also printed in 1943, and generally do not fetch a high price at auction. The value of the copper variation of this penny, however, comes from an error in the planchet metal; the blank metal disk a coin’s design is stamped on, which was used in the minting process.

Originally these Lincoln Head Pennies were printed using regular zinc plated steel planchets, but a small number of these coins left the production line as copper pennies. It is believed that, at some point during the minting process, a handful of copper planchets must have become dislodged from a previous stamping, and became mixed with the plated zinc planchets intended for this mint. The result was an extremely rare edition of an otherwise unremarkable penny – the 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny.

The resulting misprints have since sold for anywhere between $10,000 – $40,000. From this example, we can further see that rarity can create much higher demand than historic significance.

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

Selling for a record breaking $10 million at auction in 2013, this particularly rare coin was presented in such fine condition that it is believed to be one of, if not the first, example of a 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar ever produced.

The clear edging of the design suggests that the dies used to strike the coin had seen little to no use, and it is for that reason this extremely rare dollar commanded such a high price at auction.

First created for the purpose of distribution amongst American dignitaries as souvenirs, the Flowing Hair Dollar was intended as a symbol of independence following the country’s recent war with Britain. The flowing hair design took inspiration from Roman iconography, which used female and male figures with long, flowing hair, to represent ideas of liberty and freedom.

Around 1,200 of these coins were created initially, however, a reproduction for general circulation was never made, and the coin was replaced by the ‘Draped Bust’ design in 1795 as the first official mint distributed throughout the United States.

723 Ummayad Gold Dinar

This 1300 year old coin, dating back to the time of Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan in 723 AD. The coin is an important and unique object in Islamic history, as one of its inscriptions makes it the first gold coin to mention a location within the mediaeval Saudi kingdom, Hijaz. It also recognises the origin of the gold used to make the coin, and does not feature any scripture taken from the Qur’an, a unique trait for an islamic coin.

The inscription reads:

“Ma‘din Amir al-Mu‘minin bi’l-Hijaz” , which translates to “Mine of the Commander of the Faithful in the Hijaz”.

This inscription tells the owner that the origins of the coin’s materials came from a mine in Hijaz. The coin was sold at auction to a buyer in London in 2019 for £3.1 million.

These are just a selection of rare and valuable coins, if you have any valuable coins in your collection that you would like to sell, get in touch with us today.

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Identifying Antique Gold Hallmarks

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:44:00 GMT

When purchasing or selling antique or old gold such as jewellery, it can be more difficult to sell than more recently possessed jewellery. This can be due to its condition, design or lack of usual hallmarking. Hallmarks help us to identify where, when and by whom a piece of gold has been made by.

Nowadays, hallmarking is a highly standardised and regulated system making it easy to understand how old gold is and its purity. This wasn’t the case in previous centuries, and hallmarks have differed and evolved, meaning they vary hugely in antique and period jewellery.

Cash4Gold-Now has outlined how to understand antique gold hallmarks such as Victorian gold hallmarks. Whether you have your antique gold jewellery or items to have valued, or you are simply interested in how hallmarking has changed over time, this guide should help to shed some light on how to read hallmarks.

Does antique gold have hallmarks?

Hallmarking originated in the 1300s and although hallmarks can be found on many pieces of antique gold, there were some periods in history where hallmarking was much less standardised.

Throughout the Georgian and Victorian eras, in particular, gold was often manufactured and sold without hallmarks making it more difficult to identify and value antique gold from these eras.

What’s more, just because gold doesn’t have hallmarks present, this doesn’t mean it is any less valuable. Some extremely valuable and sought after antique gold can be non-hallmarked.

In these instances, it’s important to have your gold valued by professionals who can test its purity without needing to use hallmarks.

How can you read hallmarks on antique or old gold?

There are various key marks used in hallmarks over the centuries to look out for when having your gold valued, or when trying to identify its age or purity yourself.

These markings essentially depict key characteristics of the gold, including the purity of the gold itself, who manufactured it, where it was manufactured, and when.

There are various other, less common marks to look out for too that signify additional information like the designer or retailer.

Have your gold valued today

Gold-Buyer has been in the gold industry for decades, with a high level of expertise on how to accurately value gold items. We can help you to value your antique gold and offer a competitive, fair price so you can exchange unworn or unloved items for quick cash in the bank.

Our valuation process is highly detailed and trusted by our customers, proven by our thousands of glowing reviews. You can request a free, secure gold selling pack via our website or get in touch for more information on our service.

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A Guide To Gold Purity

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:22:00 GMT

Understanding gold purity is important for various reasons, whether you’re looking to purchase or sell gold jewellery or other gold items, looking to invest in gold, or plan to do so in the future. Why is it important? Because gold purity ultimately determines the price and value of your gold.

The purity of gold is measured in karats, a term you may have heard before but not realised exactly what this identifies. The ‘karat’ of gold measures the ratio of how much pure gold there is and how much is alloyed with other metals. For example, a piece of gold jewellery that has a karat of 12, will have a lower proportion of pure gold contained and a higher amount of other types of metals alloyed with the gold. Common alloyed metals include silver, copper and palladium.

How Many Karats is Pure Gold?

Pure gold that is alloyed with no other metals is 24 karats. 24 karats means that 24 of the 24 parts of the metal are gold. Despite 24 karat gold being the purest form of gold, jewellery generally cannot be produced at this karat as gold on its own is far too malleable and soft to be worn or used. Because of gold’s softness, you are more likely to find and be able to buy jewellery that is below 24 karats, ranging from 22 karats down to the UK minimum of 9 karat gold.

It is the metals alloyed with gold in 22 karat to 9 karat gold that make the metal suitable for use in items like jewellery as these other metals like copper, silver or palladium are far more durable and will not become damaged or misshapen easily.

How to Calculate Gold Purity

Gold purity is also measured in percentages, which can be calculated by dividing the karats of your gold by 24 (the maximum karat gold can be). For example, if you divide 9 karats by 24, this equals 0.375, which can be converted to 37.45% purity.

Another metric used to identify the purity of gold is ‘millesimal fineness’. For example, in the instance above, 9 karat gold would also be referred to as having a fineness of 375. See the chart below that summarises the most common gold karats, how many parts pure gold to other alloys there are, their purity and millesimal fineness.

Which Gold Purity is the Best?

There is no ‘best’ gold purity, simply because gold is alloyed with other types of metals for good reason, whether it’s for a different appearance, like rose gold or yellow gold, or for certain properties like durability.

In terms of it’s worth and how much gold can be valued at, generally, the higher the karat of gold, the more it will be worth. When buying or selling gold, a gold dealer will value your items based on the gold contents and weight. Despite this, if you’re looking to buy gold jewellery or another gold item that will be used regularly and need to withstand wear and tear, the best gold purity for you may be lower. This will also depend on how you want your gold to look aesthetically.

There are pros and cons to all karats of gold. For example, lower karats are stronger and less malleable, but are easier to tarnish over time. Whereas higher karats are a lot more malleable and prone to become misshapen, however have a more classic yellow or orange gold colour and are more resistant to tarnishing.

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The Ukraine War & The Effect on Gold

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:30:00 GMT

How has the Ukraine war changed gold prices?

Over the past 12-month period, a sharp increase is shown around the time Putin announced the invasion of Ukraine in February. The price of gold is seen to have peaked around March time at the height of the invasion and instability, with prices staying high throughout April.

As the shock of the initial conflicts calmed down and the second phase of the invasion continued, we see gold prices begin to return to the levels pre-invasion. We also see prices drop even further due to other economic factors like inflation, and the onset of the global recession.

Ultimately, the fluctuation in gold demand and therefore prices correlate with the geopolitical instability that began in February with Russia’s initial announcement of the invasion and continued for months after.

Why does the price of gold go up during times of political instability?

The price of gold increased by a huge 6% during the first quarter of 2022 from the time Russia’s initial invasion was announced. Why? There are various factors at play causing an increase in the demand for gold, which in turn, hikes up the price of gold too:

Safe haven investing

The rise in demand for physical gold and the attractiveness of gold as an investment is reflective of the general patterns seen at times of socioeconomic events or political instability, whereby investors look to buy into gold due to its traditional reputation as a ‘safe haven’ asset. As investors flock to invest in safety assets like gold at times of uncertainty, the price of gold increases.

Another factor to consider is that Russia is a major player and supplier of gold, so the increase in demand is also likely influenced by fears of a lack of gold supply following the invasion.

Inflationary pressures

The invasion saw drops in supplies of various commodities, which therefore caused the prices of important commodities like oil, gas, and wheat to rise considerably triggering an increase in inflationary pressures and expectations. These inflation expectations outpaced the increases in nominal yields resulting in lower real yields in the world’s major economies.

The historically inverse relationship between inflation and gold prices is returning to a positive relationship as of recently, whereby gold prices increase in line with inflation rather than the opposite.

Gold and precious metals are used by investors as a hedge against inflation and market volatility, thus increasing demand and the prices of gold. If investors fear war or severe periods of inflation, they will often turn to gold and specifically physical gold like coins and bars or look to invest in the futures market of gold.

Final insights

To summarise the discussion of what the Ukraine war means for gold prices, we can turn to this quote from market experts; ‘The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is building a war premium into the price of gold, and this premium will persist for as long as the conflict continues.

The premise always comes back to the fact that gold holds an inherent status as a safe haven investment and one that investors will turn to time and time again when they fear market volatility and are looking to invest in a physical asset. Sell your gold today with Cash4Gold , request a FREE selling kit for a no obligation quote.

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Why do gold prices change when the stock market does?

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:31:00 GMT

As a general rule, it is stated that there’s an inverse relationship between the stock market and gold prices, as stock market prices decrease or ‘crash’, gold prices will increase with demand.

But, why is this the case? Economic researchers state that ‘ gold acts as a safe haven in a stock market crash ’ , meaning that gold is seen as a safer route to go down for investors at times of economic instability or change due to its inherent and physical value.

In this article, Gold-Buyer explore the various factors that cause the stock market to influence the price of gold, along with historical data on stock market crashes and how these have affected the price of gold to back up this common theory.

Is there evidence to suggest an inverse relationship between the stock market prosperity and gold price?

There are periods in our history where the inverse relationship between the stock market and gold price is clear. The graphs below show the value of the S&P 500 Index over time and the price of gold over time.

The S+P 500 Index stands for the Standard and Poor’s 500. In the United States, this is a stock market index that tracks 500 publicly traded domestic companies. It is considered by many investors to be the best overall measurement of American stock market performance.

From the data, it is clear that around January 1980, the price of gold was at an all-time high of $2582 per ounce. At the same time, the S&P Index was experiencing a period of decline and was at one of its lowest points in history. The same negative correlation can be seen from 1987 to 2000 and then again in 2011 when the price of gold sees another peak and the S&P Index sees a trough.

Despite there being plenty of evidence to suggest a general inverse correlation between the stock market and the price of gold, it’s important to also consider external factors at these periods in time to avoid oversimplifying the relationship between the two.

Let’s take the 1970s, for example, as gold prices were rising rapidly and the opposite trend was occurring in the stock market, the US economy was generally changing and collapsing. This wider economic change was causing high levels of inflation and a decrease in the value of the US dollar. All of these factors combined will have contributed to the rise in demand for gold and therefore gold prices, as opposed to just the stock market being responsible for this change.

There is therefore evidence to suggest that rather than the stock market and gold being directly linked, the relationship is instead also influenced by other external and key general socioeconomic factors. Rather than a crash in the stock market directly causing gold prices to rise, it is likely a case of investors looking to invest in more stable, physical assets like gold at times of economic change and uncertainty.

What causes the inverse relationship between the stock market and gold prices?

Risk aversion

The reasoning all lies in how investors view a certain market and the risk they see to be involved, also known as risk aversion. If an investor predicts or sees a fall in stocks, they will look to invest their money elsewhere. Investing in gold acts as a form of stability and safeguarding due to gold generally and consistently being viewed as a safe investment.

Economic change

Another factor to consider in the relationship between the stock market and gold prices is economic change and the pace of economic growth. When the rate of economic growth in a country slows down or crashes, again investors will look to avert this risk by moving their funds to more stable investments like the gold market. Once the economy stabilises and becomes secure again in the future, the demand for gold decrease again along with the price of gold as investor look to reinvest in stocks or currencies.

The value of the US dollar is also heavily linked to the price of gold in a similar way to the stock market, whereby if the value of the USD drops, the demand for gold will increase and push prices up. As you can see, although there is a general inverse relationship between stock price and gold price, there are also several other economic factors at play that work alongside each other.

Final Thoughts

When there are periods of uncertainty or unexpected declines in stock markets or the wider economy, investors tend to reallocate their money to assets with less risk and more tangible value; precious metals and gold being one of these.

It all comes down to gold maintaining its value over the years and continually being seen as a less risky asset. The value of gold isn’t subject to the same amount of risk that the stock market or other types of trading can be. It’s the inherent value and the security that gold can provide investors that explains the answer to the question ‘why does the price of gold go up when the stock market goes down?’

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What is a Gold Proof Coin?

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:29:00 GMT

In this post Gold-Buyer will be discussing proof coins, specifically what a gold proof coin is, to help you understand your collection better – and how you can sell your gold proof coins online.

To begin, we should look at what makes a coin ‘proof’. Proof coins carry the same design as their non-proof counterparts, the difference comes from the clarity and finish of each coin.

A regular coin is stamped once, where they are then placed in ‘bins’ to be circulated into the economy. This method will provide a clear design on the coin, however, it lacks the attention to detail that is given to a proof coin.

What does it mean when a coin is ‘proof’?

First, a proof coin is stamped between two and six times – which allows for a much clearer representation of the coins’ imagery, by sharpening the design and the rim with additional force. This method also allows for a much smoother ‘field’, which is the blank area of a coin that does not feature a design.

Once a proof coin has been stamped it will then be polished, either by hand or chemically, to create a mirror-like surface on the field in order to make the central design stand out more clearly than on a circulated coin.

The ‘dies’, or mould, used to create proof coins are hand-finished to ensure impurities and blemishes do not occur on the newly stamped proof coin, with only about 50 being made in an hour, in comparison to the 3000 regular coins that can be stamped per hour.

Proof coins were created in small numbers, but quickly gained popularity amongst numismatists – coin collectors, and are now the highest standard of commemorative coin available today.

Traditionally coins were made ‘proof’ as a means of testing the dies and archiving the new design. The intention of proofing coins quickly changed from its original purpose of quality control, where proof coins would be used to ensure no errors or blemishes existed within the dies mould, to become collector’s items that represent the highest-quality example of each coin.

These days proof coins are stamped in an unused mould to ensure the impurities of regular coins do not blemish the proof coin.

Are gold proof coins worth more?

Generally any type of proof coin will be more valuable than regular, circulated coins, owing to a number of factors in the production process that differentiate proof from regular coins.

Most proof coins will never see regular circulation and, as such, will rarely be subject to the same wear-and-tear as regular coins. In fact, even before a regular coin is circulated into the economy they often show signs of damage or ‘bag marks’, due to the fact that less care and attention are taken as they are handled.

There is also the matter of issue number, which will generally give any mass-produced item an intrinsic value if it is one of the first in a series.

Proof coins will often feature commemorative designs which also increase their value, this is the first detail to check when trying to value your gold proof coins.

In 2021, The Royal Mint commissioned a gold proof coin to celebrate the legacy of the legendary British rock band, The Who . To date, this is the most expensive proof the historic coin makers have produced, retailing at £69,445 – a huge investment for any online gold buyer.

However, even this price tag is dwarfed by many older proof coins, with the 1933 Double Eagle selling for $18,900,000 (£15,444,702) after a 52-year investigation by the United States government led to its return from Egypt by its then-owner, King Farouk.

How do you tell if a coin is a proof coin?

Proof coins are easily distinguished from circulated coins by their brilliant finish. They will appear much cleaner, shinier, and feature a more prominent design than their circulated counterparts.

It is important to keep in mind that proof coins are frequently counterfeited, and will often appear genuine without proper inspection by an accredited valuer.

A valuer can look at a close-up of the proof coin to determine its authenticity, which is usually a case of seeing if the ridges of the design are sharp or smooth.

Typically a proof coin will have much sharper ridges, owing to the extra measures taken in the stamping process. There are some counterfeits which may also feature these sharp edges, however, most illicit proof coins are simply repolished circulatory coins, as it is much cheaper to repurpose an existing coin than it is to create a brand new one.

Can you spend a proof coin?

You can legally spend a proof coin the same way you would spend a regular coin of the same denomination, although it would be at a loss.

For example, if you were to spend £1.75 in your local shop, you would be within your rights to use a 1995 Dove of Peace £2 Coin, valued at £1,225, to pay for the item.

However, you would still only receive 25p change from your purchase.

The reason for this is that the denomination, the face value, of the proof coin is the same as the denomination of the regular coin.

This is why having your gold proof coins properly evaluated is essential to maximising their value. You may even have been handed a proof coin as change at some point, without ever realising its true worth!

Next time you are given change, try and look at the designs and finishes of each coin, do any of them stand out more? It is not uncommon for proof coins to find their way into circulation due to a lack of awareness.

Let Gold-Buyer value your coin collection today, we can transfer the money into your account within 24 hours.

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Why Is Gold So Valuable?

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 16:39:00 GMT

Almost every civilisation on Earth has recognised the value of gold throughout history. Evidence of gold used for currency goes as far back as 600 BCE, with the creation of the Lydian Stater, but can be traced back even further to India and China through the exchange of raw precious metals for goods and services.

Our team of valuers at Gold-Buyer have put together a guide to show why is gold so valuable and why it’s most suitable for the purpose of currency.

Where does the value of gold come from?

Gold gets its value from a number of key factors, such as:

When we look at the history of developing economies it is easy to understand where the need for a system of currency comes from, but why did we choose gold? And what about the value of gold in modern times?

To discover what makes gold valuable, we should analyse the key factors detailed above.

First, we will discuss rarity.

Is gold rare?

Rarity is the first factor in the value of gold. If the material used to create your currency is easily obtainable, then it would naturally be less valuable.

Precious metals can be measured using the Parts Per Billion (PPB) expression, defined by this quote in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics as:

“The abundance of the element, a measurement of its rarity, is given in mass fraction as Kg (Kilograms) in the earth’s crust.”

For example, if we said a particular material had a measurement of 1 PPB, it would mean 1 particle of that material exists within an object composed of 999,999,999 other particles.

Take a look at this list of precious metals by parts per billion:

These rarity levels help form the basis of how we value gold in modern times – although this measurement is only possible with the use of technology, ancient peoples were still aware of the scarcity of the substance, and so recognised an extrinsic value in gold that continues today.

What is the relationship between gold and currencies?

Generally, there is an inverse relationship between the trade value of a fiat currency and the price of gold. A fiat currency refers to currencies where the value is determined by the government and economic policy, and not by a physical commodity such as gold. As a fiat currency loses value, foreign investors will look to invest elsewhere and in other hard commodities like gold. This increased demand then causes increased gold prices.

Where does gold get its colour?

The aesthetic value of gold cannot be understated. Another point to consider about the previously mentioned metals is that they are all a silvery-white shade. Gold is, of course, golden.

The reason for this being that gold absorbs much more blue light than any other colour. When it reflects this light back to us most of the blue light is absent, meaning we see far more orange and yellow light as a result.

It is this unique property that is perhaps the most important aspect of gold being valuable.

Does gold rust?

In short, no.

This is the final point to be considered when discussing the value of gold. Unlike the other metals of the periodic table, gold is far more stable – and relatively uninteresting, chemically speaking – than the other candidates.

Gold will not rust or tarnish when exposed to water or oxygen, and can remain in near-perfect condition for thousands of years.

For example, some of the oldest known gold items in the world, taken from the Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis and dated between 4,600 BCE to 4,200 BCE, are still in near-perfect condition.

This incredible find gives credence to the idea of gold’s near eternal value. In summary, it is clear to see why gold has always been the king of currency.

As a pure material, it is rare, unique in its colouration, and durable enough to withstand the elements that would degrade other materials over time.

Does my gold have value?

Now you know exactly what makes gold valuable, you can work with our trusted team of professionals at Cash4Gold-Now to identify if your gold has value.

You can find out if your gold is valuable by ordering a free gold selling pack via our website. Our dedicated team of gold buyers have over 50 years of experience in turning your gold into cash. We use a thorough valuation process that ensures you get the best and most fair price for your gold items. We buy a wide range of gold items, whether you have a watch, coins, or other gold jewellery lying around gathering dust.

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Rising Gold Prices in the Pandemic – Why?

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:35:00 GMT

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a global shift in our attitudes toward health, work, family, and finances. With the escalating cost of living crisis, global supply issues, and the uncertainty of a new recession, the rising gold prices meant an increase of 28% in 2020 .

In our deep-dive article, Gold-Buyer examines the key causes of this tremendous increase in value worldwide; including global supply issues, investments, industry uses, and historic changes in gold prices.

Our first step is to review some examples of economic crises of the past, and their effect on gold prices before, during, and after each case.

The Threat of Recession

The value of gold is often the antithesis of stock market values. As the price of stocks begin to decline, the price of gold will generally enjoy an increase in market worth.

Traditionally, gold has risen in market value in the lead-up to a recession, a trend that can first be observed during the Great Depression of 1929-1939 in the US, when gold prices were fixed by the government instead of enjoying the free-market economy of today.

When comparing the history of financial market crashes and recessions in modern times, against the historic rise and fall of gold prices, there is clearly a tangible correlation between both events. For this reason it is important to understand the value that gold represents, and why those who make their money in stocks would turn to gold in preparation of an economic crisis.

Is Gold a Safe Investment in an Economic Crisis?

As can be observed in the charts above, gold consistently holds, and even gains, value more reliably than stocks, houses and technology.

The reason for this is because it is impossible for the value of gold to reduce to zero entirely. It is a precious substance that can transcend its monetary value, as well as be repurposed to suit a variety of needs.

Investment in stocks or the housing market may offer more lucrative gains, but they also present a much greater risk than gold, and for this reason, in uncertain economic times, investors will turn to gold to secure their finances. This is an ethos that is perfectly illustrated in the above examples of recession, where assets such as houses or shares can reduce in value to the point of creating huge losses for the buyer.

Gold is not something that is invested in with the intention of making huge financial gains, but rather as a safeguard against making a loss.

For example, if you were to buy a house for $200,000 today, it could end up only being worth $150,000 the following year due to a number of outside factors, in some cases this can be as simple as more houses being built in the same area, or a general lack of interest from buyers in the area your house is located.

Conversely, if you were to buy $107,520 worth of gold in 2016, then the following year it would be worth $116,200 – not a particularly huge gain, but one that is almost guaranteed year-on-year.

For this reason, it can be concluded that gold offers an extremely safe, reliable method of securing your finances in the long run, with minimal risk of loss.

Technology

The impact that the technology market has on the value of gold cannot be understated, yet for many people the use of gold in everyday items such as computers, phones and cars is not common knowledge.

Gold is used in most microchips as a semiconductor, owing to the fact that gold does not degrade or corrode like other metals such as tin or copper will. It is also highly electrically conductive, and for this reason gold is used for electroplating and wiring in semiconductors, as the strength of the electric signal will not degrade over its lifetime.

In essence, the demand, and therefore value, of gold will increase along with global demand for technological supplies.

Lockdown and the rise of working from home

Following global lockdowns in 2020, the consumer demand for home electronics increased by over 13.1% globally according to PCMag, an increase which had not been seen since 2010 – when smartphones became commonplace items.

Working from home meant the demand for ‘office-based’ technology such as computers, laptops and monitors, had now increased exponentially. For every communal piece of technology you might find in an office, such as a printer or scanner shared between multiple colleagues, it was now a requirement that each person had access to this equipment in their own home, in order to properly perform their job role.

This shift in work dynamic drove production within the technology industry to unexpected heights, and even stalled the release of new, non-priority technology such as the Playstation 5, released later that year – the demand for which is still not being met as of 2022, due to the global semiconductor shortage.

Summary

In this article we have discussed many of the historical factors that will increase the value of gold, including new, unprecedented circumstances which have further driven the price of gold to record-breaking highs.

The threat of recession has had a huge, if predictable, effect on the prices of gold today, and we can see that the trends of the past are being followed every year, with most experts predicting a new recession beginning in 2023.

What is truly interesting about the rise of gold prices during Covid-19, has been the industries that have unexpectedly driven the value up for the general public. Consumer habits and global crises have managed to cause a huge rise in gold prices, and it can be assumed that these increases will continue into 2023.

As a time-proven method of surviving inflation with your finances intact, there has never been a better time to invest in gold.

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