I currently see spot $GOLD via the quote at Kitco at $426.30 from Friday, the December contracts which are currently in settlement closed at $527, and the leading and heavily-traded February futures $GOLD contract settled in at $530.20...
So with that said, current $GOLD can be assumed to have a fair value any where between $526.30-$530.20...
Well eBay bidders think otherwise... using strictly the most recently expired auctions of 1 ounce of $GOLD, which MOSTLY CONSISTED OF COINS>>>
(Listed first is the total price=sale price+shipping cost >>> end date)
***Not included, 2 1 ounce *rare* $GOLD coins originating in China with a Panda on them, both sold at an average cost of about $1,000 USD!!!***
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A point has definitely been made here, demand for $GOLD is REAL right now, as real as it gets, bar or coin, 1 ounce of $GOLD is one ounce of $GOLD... my advise is as long as it's pure 24 kt of 999.9 purity, get whatever's cheaper, bar or coin... that is of course if you're interested in buying...
Of course, many like to call $GOLD tops, they simply aren't loaded yet, the upside is inevitable over time...
Can't afford an ounce of $GOLD? Well you can always get a 1/10th of an ounce coin, or even smaller, a nice cute gram bar! And if not, why not try poor man's $GOLD? $ILVER???
Coins or bars, the demand on $ILVER has been real as well, while Kitco last quoted spot $ILVER at $8.99 from Friday, and the current settlement of December is at $9.00, and the heavily traded March futures contract was last at $9.095... $ILVER has routinely left eBay recently easily over $10/ounce, and by my estimations, I believe the average going-rate to accumulate physical $ILVER at this stage off of the "free-markets" is roughly $11.00/ounce!!!
***AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHY RECORD AMOUNTS OF $GOLD AND $ILVER ARE BEING SETTLED AND IN TURN, PHYSICAL $ILVER & $GOLD IS BEING TAKEN FROM THEIR WAREHOUSES***
Well... duh... IT'S CHEAP!!!
February $GOLD futures chart and March $ILVER futures chart below>>>