A Modern Silver Story

In 1965, the first blows of U.S. Mint coining dies onto copper-nickel dime and quarter blanks shattered a 170-year tradition of silver coins in everyday American commerce. Days earlier, 1964-dated dimes had been struck on silver blanks not much changed since 1796, but now silver was disappearing…

The Dollar, Pounded and Scrambled
(April 21, 2007) For the first time in 26 years, it now takes two US dollars to purchase one British pound as the dollar’s weakness continues against most currencies, precious metals, and even a carton of eggs, now up some 30% in dollars terms in a year's time.

Lunar Gold Series I to Close this Summer
(March 30, 2007) Now in its 12th and final year, the Lunar Series gold bullion coins issued by the Perth Mint will cease production as of this summer. This innovative and beautiful set of coins has been a favorite of many, and Series II will launch this autumn in a new format.

Exactly How Can Gold Be “Dirty?”
(February 27, 2007) A public relations campaign called “No Dirty Gold” is out to help consumers avoid gold that has been party to any of the evils of humankind. Anyone with a sense of history realizes that not much aboveground gold is going to pass such a test...

Spending All the Gold in the World
(February 5, 2007) President Bush presented to Congress today his proposed budget of $2.9 trillion. Democrats, of course, objected to some of the proposed entitlement cuts, while realists pointed out that some of the budget’s assumptions are, well, unrealistic. But we have another take altogether….

2007 Additions to the Gold Menagerie
(January 15th, 2007) In the worldwide zoo of gold bullion choices for 2007, the Panda is stronger than ever, the Kangaroo finally makes a striking impression, the Buffalo will return, the Pig completes Lunar Series I, and so far the Cat is missing. And the Krugerrand started it all.

If Gold Were a Hedge Fund, You Could Brag About It
(January 1, 2007) Gold closed 2006 at $635, up some 23.19% during 2006, rounding out a five-year performance during which prices have more than doubled since the beginning of 2002. The rich pay hedge fund managers huge fees for such performance, but why should you?

A Merry Christmas and Happy..
(December 20, 2006) As this old year draws to a close amidst a cloud of evergreens, seasonal baked goods, and the usual gang of old chestnuts, we announce our winter week off commencing at the end of business December 22nd. We shall return on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007!

Wrapping Up A Year in Gold
(November 20, 2006) Gold has recently held its ground at $600+, having convincingly broken a pattern over the past few months of tracking oil prices, which on Friday fell to a 17-month low of $56/barrel. Gold has actually been boring lately, although boring at a plateau we haven’t seen in decades…

Precious Metals, Commodities, Have a Powerful Week
(November 5, 2006) Gold, silver, and palladium all had good weeks pricewise, while platinum prices surged $100 in two trading days as word of a proposed platinum bullion Exchange Traded Fund hit the market. But what do ETFs mean to metals markets?

When Pigs Fly!
(October 13, 2006) Today the long-awaited final Lunar coin, the 2007 Year of the Pig issue from the Perth Mint, is scheduled to arrive on premises here in Arizona. On Monday 10/16/06 we will begin shipping orders for Pigs and 2007 Kangaroos. All Pigs will fly by Wednesday, 10/18.

Amaranth’s Anomaly -or- When Hedge Models Go Awry
(September 24, 2006) Chevron announced on September 6th a potential 15 billion barrel oil discovery deep in the Gulf of Mexico. That same day a total rout in prices of oil, metals, and natural gas began. Soon thereafter, a hedge fund died of natural gas causes.

A Weak Week for Gold
(September 9, 2006) In 48 hours time, gold lost 5% of its value this past Thursday and Friday. What causes such seismic valuation shifts in a metal whose market is perhaps the oldest in existence, a market that essentially defines the value of money itself?

A Saturday Morning Treasure Hunt
(August 20, 2006) Buried treasure is where you find it, as I found out recently on a buying expedition right in the heart of town. And sometimes, you really never can tell…anything.

The Dollar, Canadian and Otherwise…
(August 7, 2006) In the Gulf Islands around the Vancouver area, just a few miles north of Washington state, I enjoyed wonderful cool weather in a place where Christmas trees grow down to the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and for a week, gold slipped my mind entirely. Almost…

Soon We’ll Spend Our Summer Vacation…Somewhere Else
As August approaches, we are thoroughly wilted from the past few weeks of 110+ degree heat here in Arizona, and we all look forward to spending a week in cooler climes. We will be closed starting July 29, and will re-open on Monday, August 7th.

Gold From the Arizona Territories!
On Valentine's Day in 1912, Arizona became the last of the contiguous 48 states to be admitted to the Union. The Anglo history of this state starts with mining - first gold, then silver, and, even today, massive amounts of copper. And once in a while, we see artifacts from the old days…

The Buffalo Has Arrived!
(June 20, 2006) This week the US Mint officially releases its new .9999 pure gold bullion coin, featuring a Native American in profile on the obverse, and an American Bison in full on the reverse. If you are a numismatist, that combination of themes on US coinage should seem pretty familiar – it was first seen in general circulation 93 years ago.

Gold Looks for Traction
(June 4, 2006) Commenting on gold’s trip beyond $700 last month, analyst Peter Bernstein said, “All the necessary conditions for a mess were there.” Now, with the US intending to ‘talk’ with Iran, gold’s recent war premium may be lessened, but “necessary conditions” prevail that will pick up and carry gold prices for some time forward…

Well, There You Have it!
(May 19th, 2006) In six trading days, gold prices finally did something they haven’t done in over a year – they achieved that long-awaited 10% correction. It was so overdue, that some were starting to think that it would never happen, and what a shocking washout it turned out to be!

Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation
(May 7, 2006) Another week, another 25-year high for gold versus the dollar. Gold has now gained $425 in 5 years, $150 of that in the past eight weeks. $850 seems in sight, a level last reached in 1980, a time of surging oil prices and, yes, some sort of trouble between the US and Iran.

Okay, Gold is Up $100 So Far This Year – Now What?
(April 17, 2006) Gold prices began 2006 around the $513 level, and now threaten to spike into parabolic territory. A new crowd of potential buyers see that gold has a bright future, and are suspicious of their weakening dollars, but they're starting to fear there won't be a good correction.

Career Opportunity for the Right Person
(April 17th, 2006) This month we are launching a national search for an addition to our staff. How do we find the right bright bulb to help our operation? Someone suggested that it couldn’t hurt to post the opening right here on this website, so here goes…

Precious Metals Markets Closed for the Holiday Weekend
(April 14, 2006) Precious metals put in a strong showing this week, with gold's active June contract trading over $600 for most of the week, silver climbing towards the $13 level, and palladium and platinum holding their own. We take a much-needed trading break until Monday morning...

Precious Metals Slam Dunk!
(April 2, 2006) We hereby declare the Final Four winners this week to be Gold, Silver, Palladium, and Platinum, which posted, respectively, 25-year, 22-year, 4-year, and All-time price records versus the highly-favored, once-mighty US dollar.

Gold Is Where You Find It
(March 18, 2006) In tabulating our year-end inventory using the year 2005’s final gold trading price of $513, I am reminded that gold began the year 2005 with a spot price of $427. To coin a phrase, a lot of water has gone over the dam since then.

A Sane and Sober Look at the (Possibly) Coming Silver ETF
(February 25, 2006) In 1980 the Hunt brothers attempted corner on the silver market imploded, and for years afterward the phrase ‘silver investor’ could hardly be uttered without a snicker. Silver became 'semi-precious,’ and traded around $5 for nearly two decades. Today, however, at $9 and change, something is up...

The Old Gold Out of Africa Scam
(February 15, 2006) Have you ever been contacted, perhaps through an email or fax, about a veritable fortune in gold in the possession of someone in Africa, someone who desperately needs your help to bring it to America? This week, we bring you a story of gold fraud.

“A Man Walks in with a Bar…”
(January 29, 2006) Yesterday was the official start of the Year of the Dog, tomorrow is the last day of the reign of Alan Greenspan as head of the Fed, North Korea is turning out superb counterfeit US $100 bills, and I have a gold bar story for you…

Five Hundred, Fifty Six Dollars, and Ten Cents
(January 13, 2006) On this date, gold prices closed at $556.10, a 25-year record high price in dollar terms. Those who have owned gold for a while are not surprised at the higher levels, but new buyers hesitate to pay record prices. Who is right? B.B. King, of course.

A New Year For Gold
(January 2, 2006) In gold’s Dark Decades from 1981 to 2001, any public mention of the ageless yellow metal was more likely to be punitive than positive. But things change, witness a recent Barron’s article entitled, “Golden Opportunity?” - a question which is answered entirely in the affirmative.

We’re Gone for the Year, Back on January 2, 2006
(December 24, 2005) At this time we say goodbye to another year, this one having been one of gold’s most exciting in a couple of decades. Gold prices pushed $540 in December, which was the most fun that the hard yellow metal has had since 1982.

5 Days of Trading & Gold Drops 4.7%
(December 16, 2005) All good parabolic rises in prices must come to a peak, and gold prices reached that level last Friday. This week, a market that could only go up, reversed itself and could only go down. Technically, the bloom is, at least for now, off the rose.

Gold at a New Magic Number
(December 2, 2005) Gold prices reached the long-awaited $500 level this week, closing in New York trading at $502.50 on December 1st. The next day’s 2nd London fix was exactly the same, while Friday afternoon saw New York markets close at $503.30, with aftermarket trading at the $505.00 level.

Wow, Pow, Holy Cow! Gold on a Roll!
Gold prices in US dollars surged $30 in nine trading days, catapulting from $456 on Monday November 7th to close at $486 on Thursday November 17th. A ‘buzz’ is growing about gold, now trading within chump change of the once unimaginable $500 level.

Gold Has Some Scary Issues
(October 31, 2005) The old saying is that there are two things that you never want to see being made: sausage and legislation. A series of articles this past week in the New York Times may have you adding the mining of gold to that list, and just at a time when you may need gold the most.

A Hedgehog’s Notes From All Over
(October 20, 2005) “The fox knows many things, the hedgehog only one. But it's a big one.” Roughly translated, so said the Greek poet Achilochus. This week, we will amble amiably from hedge to hedge, touching gold everywhere.

Where Have All the Dragons Gone?
(October 1, 2005) In the midst of our current gold rally, and concurrent with the introduction of the 2006 Australian Lunar Series Dog coins, the year 2000 1-ounce gold Dragon has taken off on a trajectory all it own. What is the Lunar Series with the Dragon out of sight?

Our Busiest Week, Ever
(September 24, 2005) Record gold prices this week brought out record amounts of trading in physical gold holdings. Many long-time gold-holders sold at the highest prices seen in 17 years, thereby filling the demands of buyers who feel that we’re on the brink of the biggest gold bull market since the Carter years.

US Dollar Slumps to 17-year Low Against Gold
(September 16, 2005) Gold climbed over the past two months towards the US$450 level, this week finally breaking through in spectacular fashion to trade above US$460. It now takes more dollars to buy an ounce of gold than at any time since June of 1988. Where’s the confidence?

Why Would You Renovate a Coin Shop Anyway?
(September 4, 2005) We just finished ‘freshening up’ our showroom and offices, including paint, tile, carpet, and rejuvenated fixtures. History was uncovered, numismatic debris boxed and hauled out, and like a lot of painful experiences, it feels so good to stop.

United States Mint Recovers 10 Famed Double Eagles
(WASHINGTON, August 11, 2005) The United States Mint has recovered ten more of the fabled 1933 Double Eagle gold pieces. These numismatic artifacts were illegally removed from the United States Mint at Philadelphia more than 70 years ago.

While We Weren’t Watching, Gold Climbed
(August 8, 2005) August begins the 10th month of gold trading between $418 and $458, as gold climbs 2% in a week to $438. In a word, the gold market has been flat, not unlike the past 26 years during which gold has traded, in unadjusted dollar terms, at between $250 and $850. So when does gold inflate?

A-Mark Precious Metals Bought By GMAI
(July18, 2005) Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., announced today its purchase of A-Mark Precious Metals for $20 million in cash. A-Mark, the largest precious metals company in the US, had projected 2005 sales of some $2.5 billion. $20 million may seem like a bargain, but it's about 10 times A-Mark’s annual earnings.

Holy Moly, Is It July Already?
(July 5, 2005) What exactly was there to report in June: Inflation? The real estate "bubble" was on every magazine cover on the planet. The dollar? China would like to recycle some by buying Unocal, but Uncle Sam says that won’t fly. Gold? For the first time ever, it takes over 350 euro notes to buy an ounce of gold. Now that's news!

Fun With Gold Numbers!
(May 8, 2005) Do you like big numbers with lots of zeroes? Do you know how much gold there is in the world? Do you know what the current and, worse still, projected US federal deficit is? Which do you think is bigger, the Microsoft Corporation, or all the gold in Fort Knox?

Eagles Versus the Unknown
(May 28, 2005) Last month the US Mint announced that in 2006 it will launch a new gold bullion coin of .9999 purity. This has made some holders of the current US gold Eagle nervous. Although the success of the new program is far from certain, the question is: What should gold Eagle owners do now?

Of Frogs and People - Being a Trifle Concerned with a Broken-down Fiat
(Friday the 13th, May 2005) Most of us practice "business as usual" - accepting our financial fate in our home country’s currency. Our failure to protect ourselves against a shrinking dollar is simple human (or amphibian) nature. Call it inertia as US citizens take a bath, tepid at first…

US Mint to Introduce 24-Karat Gold Bullion Investment Coin in 2006
(April 19, 2005) The US Mint this morning announced the coming of a new gold sales program featuring 99.99% pure gold bullion coins. The Mint's current gold Eagle bullion coin, which in its 20-year history has come to dominate the domestic bullion market, is struck in 22-karat (91.67% pure) gold.

Taking Out the (Euro) Trash
(April 7, 2005) The value relationships amongst the dollar, euro, yen, and, most importantly these days, the Chinese renminbi effect the direction, size and trends of our global economy. Trading the sinking dollar for another currency merely shifts your risk across the ocean – and what would your possible winnings look like?

Fed Finds Inflation, Flips Inflection, Mystifies Masses
(March 23, 2005) On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Bank, as expected, raised the federal funds rate by a quarter-point, its seventh such move since mid-2004. But a subtle change in verbiage threw the stock, bond, foreign exchange and precious metals markets into a tizzy.

Gold, Dollars, Social Insecurity
(February 24, 2005) Gold is now in the 3rd week of the current rally, having come off a low of $411 last seen on Feb 9th. The surge in oil prices to back over $50 a barrel yesterday, coupled with the prospects for continuing deficits, have helped to propel gold prices versus the dollar.

Strong Talk, Weak Dollar
(January 20, 2005) Franklin D. Roosevelt, through various 'banking acts' in early 1933, instantly devalued the dollar some 69%, while at the same time denying American citizens the right to own gold. FDR was called by some "a traitor to his class." President Bush's first term only saw the dollar lose some 60.7% against gold.

Gold Breaks out into Uncharted Territory
(November 17, 2004) Today’s gold close of $445 is the highest since 1988. Yet despite gold's fairly steady climb for nearly four years, the bull market excitement just isn't there. This is not a classic bull market in gold, but quite decidedly a stampeding bear market in the US dollar.

Flash: Gold Gets Dissed in Major Financial Publication!
(January 15, 2005) Gold's performance against the dollar recently must have occurred in vain, or so we read last week: “Gold is not money. It is a metal. Today’s monetary world is one of paper currency and its electronic blip equivalent. The world does not have a metal standard. It is not about to get one.”

Gold Prices Softer as 2005 Opens
(January 3, 2005) In the thin gold markets that transpired between the holidays, gold prices fell back into the 430's range for the first time since early November. Those looking to "Be Prepared" now find a chance to buy into a gold market which is 5% more affordable than on December 6th.

See You Next Year!
(December 18, 2004) As gold settles in for a short Winter’s nap, so will we - shutting down our database on Christmas Eve. This year we are taking a week off to rest up, re-acquaint ourselves with our families, take a few deep breaths, and maybe head north and go play in the snow...

Gold or GLD?
(December 3, 2004) Gold has finally and decisively broken out of a 12-month trading range of $388 to $428, today closing at another (ho-hum) new 16-year high of $456. Coincidentally, November saw the introduction of a point-and-click gold product, an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) known as GLD.

Gold Breaks out into Uncharted Territory
(November 17, 2004) Today’s gold close of $445 is the highest since 1988. Yet despite gold's 4-year price climb, we're not yet seeing the raging excitement of a true bull market in gold. In fact, we're seeing the more sobering reality of a stampeding bear market in the US dollar.

Gold Trades at a 15-Year High
(November 5, 2004) On Thursday, November 4th, both the 2nd London fix and the New York Comex settlement came in at over $430 for the first time since 1989, while the dollar closed at new lows against the Euro. That’s not good news for our faith-based dollar…

Gold Trades at a 15-Year High
(November 5, 2004) On Thursday, November 4th, both the 2nd London fix and the New York Comex settlement came in at over $430 for the first time since 1989, while the dollar closed at new lows against the Euro. That’s not good news for our faith-based dollar…

A Report about Reporting
(October 15, 2004) When I buy gold do I get reported to the IRS? Is my gold purchase registered with the government? Isn’t every transaction over $10,000 reported? What does my gold dealer or broker report? Which gold is ‘reportable’ and which is ‘non-reportable?’

A Report about Reporting
(October 15, 2004) When I buy gold do I get reported to the IRS? Is my gold purchase registered with the government? Isn’t every transaction over $10,000 reported? What does my gold dealer or broker report? Which gold is ‘reportable’ and which is ‘non-reportable?’

On the Fallacy of “Certified MS69” American Eagles
(August 23, 2004) There's always a new angle in the art of separating numismatic investors from their money. The latest scam - "certified bullion coins" - seems to have started with the coin hucksters seen on TV shopping channels, but has spread to numismatic telemarketers that tout this stuff as an investment.

On the Fallacy of “Certified MS69” American Eagles
(August 23, 2004) There's always a new angle in the art of separating numismatic investors from their money. The latest scam - "certified bullion coins" - seems to have started with the coin hucksters seen on TV shopping channels, but has spread to numismatic telemarketers that tout this stuff as an investment.

Back Up and Running!
(July 26, 2004) We have returned from our yearly hiatus, tanned, rested, and ready to go. Gold seems to have slipped $18 or so in our absence, so Alan Greenspan must have said something significant while we were away. We'll try not to let it happen again.

Gold – Obsolete Relic or Prudent Insurance?
(June 3, 2004) Much as we’d like to market the cheery yellow metal just by repeating over and over that it’s fun and satisfying to have your own shiny stacks of gold, we feel that some gravitas is lacking in the Scrooge McDuck approach to hawking gold portfolios. So let’s talk insurance…

Gold – Obsolete Relic or Prudent Insurance?
(June 3, 2004) Much as we’d like to market the cheery yellow metal just by repeating over and over that it’s fun and satisfying to have your own shiny stacks of gold, we feel that some gravitas is lacking in the Scrooge McDuck approach to hawking gold portfolios. So let’s talk insurance…

Touting the Nags, or, Last Call on the Cheap Horses
(May 21, 2004) Now that the gold price is meandering around at the sub-$400 level, it’s becoming even more attractive to take a position in the world’s favorite precious metal. The question often is, what form of gold should I buy? We have one good answer for you, but time is running out….

Touting the Nags, or, Last Call on the Cheap Horses
(May 21, 2004) Now that the gold price is meandering around at the sub-$400 level, it’s becoming even more attractive to take a position in the world’s favorite precious metal. The question often is, what form of gold should I buy? We have one good answer for you, but time is running out….

Precious Metals Visit the Wasteland
(April 30, 2004) Looking back to April Fool’s day 2004, we see gold at near the top of its 15-year price range at $427.80, silver at the lofty heights of $8.14, platinum hanging at $919, and palladium over the $330 mark. But what a difference a month makes.

Precious Metals Visit the Wasteland
(April 30, 2004) Looking back to April Fool’s day 2004, we see gold at near the top of its 15-year price range at $427.80, silver at the lofty heights of $8.14, platinum hanging at $919, and palladium over the $330 mark. But what a difference a month makes.

Gold: Home on the Range
(April 20, 2004) The gold markets last week showed us some excitement – a drop of about $20 in 48 hours’ time. The sudden move was invigorating, and brought out lots of bargain hunters - once they got over the shock. With inflation picking up, gold-buyers are looking for some protection.

Gold: Home on the Range
(April 20, 2004) The gold markets last week showed us some excitement – a drop of about $20 in 48 hours’ time. The sudden move was invigorating, and brought out lots of bargain hunters - once they got over the shock. With inflation picking up, gold-buyers are looking for some protection.

The Increasingly Precious Metals
(March 27, 2004) Gold, silver, and palladium have been on a tear this month. After gold hit a 15-year high in January of $430, it sank to a low of $390 on March 3rd, and climbed to close at $422.10 on Friday the 26th. Our busiest shipping month ever reflects the fact that this rally is attracting a new wave of US bullion demand.

The Increasingly Precious Metals
(March 27, 2004) Gold, silver, and palladium have been on a tear this month. After gold hit a 15-year high in January of $430, it sank to a low of $390 on March 3rd, and climbed to close at $422.10 on Friday the 26th. Our busiest shipping month ever reflects the fact that this rally is attracting a new wave of US bullion demand.

Metals on the March
(March 1, 2004) Precious metals roared March in like a lion, with platinum soaring over $900 for the first time in decades, silver trading above a 21st century-high $7, gold back over the $400 mark, and I paid $2.07 for unleaded this morning. A year-long commodities run continues, and we hear from an old voice in the gold market..

A Pause in the Gold Action
(January 21, 2004) While the bull market in gold pauses to take a breather, let’s take a moment to consider whether gold is a commodity, a currency, or a canary caged in a mineshaft, ready to let us know ahead of time when inflation is on its way.

2004 Sends Gold to a 14-Year High
(January 5, 2004) Gold prices surged dramatically on the first full trading day of the new year, breaking through the $420 level for the first time since February 1990. Gold was the best performing asset class of 2003, and early indications point to another year in which it takes increasing numbers of dollars to buy the same amount of gold….

Greetings of the Season, and Our Year-End Schedule.
(December 21, 2003) May you and yours have a merry and satisfying seasonal break, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. Of course, frankincense and myrrh are not our specialties, but we hope you've enjoyed gold's stellar performance over the past 12 months. Our year-end hours follow…

The Non-Event of Gold at $400
(December 7, 2003) On Monday, December 1st, gold in New York closed at $402.70 - the first close over $400 in seven years, and just 3% away from a 12-year high. The dollar made new lows against the euro, and recent lows against the yen, the pound, and pretty much anything else of value you can think of.

Numeraire to Saucissons? by John Hathaway
(November 27, 2003) We give thanks today for John Hathaway’s always enlightening thoughts on gold and money. “There was a time when the prevailing opinion of policy makers and individuals alike was that gold and money were synonymous,” he writes, and today “Gold stands alone in the bargain dustbin of luxury goods.”

Wall Street Journal Gets Gold Wrong, Once Again
(November 7th, 2003) In a November 5th article entitled “Putting Pork Bellies in Your Portfolio,” WSJ staffer Peter A. McKay repeats a few misconceptions about gold investing. No deliberate conspiracy here, just a lazy writer doing his job of filling up the space between the ads.

If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably Already Money Ahead
(October 25, 2003) Gold, that irascible and enduring monetary metal, continues to defy both its doubters and gravity. This past Friday’s $388.90 closing price was an $18 gain over the previous Friday’s fix of $370.50, bringing gold prices to within a whisker of a seven-year high.

Gold in the Popular Press: $8,000 or Bust
(October 13, 2003) Today’s Barron’s features an interview with James Turk of the Freemarket Gold and Money Report in which he makes the case for $8,000 gold during the current cycle. Meanwhile, the financial press wakes up to commodities’ potential in the face of a dollar widely anticipated to grow weaker. A brief weekend survey…

Gold Gets Pounded on a Friday Afternoon
(October 3, 2003) The day started on an even keel, with Friday’s 2nd London fix of $384.25 being the 9th consecutive day of prices over $380.00. Trading in New York was steady until about noon, when the bottom seemed to fall out of gold, pushing it down to close at the $369.40 mark. What could this mean for the gold market?

The Commodities Boom: Converting Dollars to Real Stuff
(September 28, 2003) Another strong week in gold prices reinforces a trend that has been gathering steam over the past couple of years: the return of commodities as a respectable investment. After two decades of a booming US market in equities, bonds, and a host of other financial abstractions, there’s a growing worldwide interest in buying something real with our fading dollar.

Speculative Interest Drives Gold To 6-Year High
(September 9, 2003) Gold continues its winning streak, rocketing up about 10% in the last three weeks to close at $381.70 today in New York, which is up 50% over the past 30 months. We believe that macro-trends are in place to carry this metal much higher, but what does the short-term look like? Let’s get one trader’s opinion…

Gold Finds a Comfortable Balance Around $350
(August 22, 2003) The gold market has come a long way, in both stature and price, from its darkest days during the 1990s when equities and financial instruments roamed the earth like Goliaths and gold stayed buried underground, sinking in price, ignored, and forgotten by all except the faithful goldbugs. A look at what has changed…

It's August 4th and We're Back!
(August 4, 2003) Tanned, rested, and ready! And while we were gone, gold corrected in price while silver started to break out. Our prediction: the next fifty-one weeks until our next vacation should be interesting! But on to other subjects…

Burning the Constitution & Other Sixties Nostalgia
(July 4, 2003) The words “inflation” and “paper bubble” were first used to describe rising consumer prices and a shaky dollar back in the '60s. The US was fighting a war that was widely protested, seemingly unwinnable, and escalating in cost. Inflation was rampant, and before the decade was over, US paper money, with no gold backing it, was starting to wobble...

Save the Drama for Your Mama
(June 10, 2003) Just to keep everyone on their toes, gold trading in New York today saw its biggest decline in nearly three months. After rallying from early April lows in the $320-325 area, gold last week started to look ‘toppy’ and overbought in the $360-370 area. When the upward push leaves any market, especially during the summer doldrums, then Mean Mr. Gravity will do his stuff…

Snow to Dollar: "Drop Dead!"
(May 23, 2003) Gold closes the week at $368.80, jumping nearly $10 on Monday as the dollar plummeted following assertions by the Secretary of the Treasury Paul Snow that, yes, in fact the dollar IS worth the paper it’s printed on. He also mentioned that the new $20 bill with multicolor ink will be more difficult to counterfeit – but if trends continue, who would bother?

“Adaptive Behavior of Crotalus Admanteus” - and Gold
(May 6, 2003) On the fringes of Arizona cities such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, a growing number of people live in close contact with the Sonoran Desert wilderness. Here you can enjoy the beauty of the desert and encounter the many wonders of nature, including a poisonous reptile known as the diamondback rattlesnake.

Who Are the People Who Own Gold?
(4/8/3) Gold’s universal appeal goes back thousands of years, and people have enjoyed gold jewelry since the time of the Pharoahs. And those who actually owned more gold than they wore were called wealthy. Today, the popular perception of gold is more ambivalent, and the stereotype of a gold owner is not always favorable. So here's our of list the types of people who own gold today...

Iraq, Gold Get Pounded
(March 22, 2003) Gold prices for this year so far peaked a month ago, about the same time that US chances to build any sort of coalition for our adventure in Iraq also peaked. In retrospect, it’s easy to say that the run-up in gold ahead of Gulf War II was a natural reaction, but gold slipping $50 as war became more and more certain is bound to frustrate those who bought gold expecting otherwise.

This Move in Gold is Different – And That’s Not Good
(March 1, 2003) Today, in the third year of a bull market in gold, the commonly accepted wisdom is that this is just one of those unstable times in which that old barbarous relic, gold, pops up, this time aided by rumors of war in Iraq. It is expected that gold will eventually slink back into the swamp where it belongs, a boring, growth-less commodity that brings no benefits whatsoever. We disagree:

$360, $370, $380, Up To $390, Then Tumbling to $370.20. Wow!
(February 7, 2003) Gold finally takes a break in its most recent two-month rally, having run up some $73 since the first week in December, to a peak of $390 a few minutes before Colin Powell spoke to the UN on Wednesday, February 5th. Some call it an Iraq War rally, others a short squeeze, or just a flash in the gold pan, but more likely gold’s rally signal a long-term flight from the US dollar.

Gold Breaks Through $360 for the First Time Since 1997
(January 25, 2003) “You have to choose (as a voter) between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the Government. And with due respect for these gentlemen, I advise you, as long as the Capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold.” – Bernard Shaw, 1928

Gold Prices Solid, up $100 in Fewer Than Two Years
January, 17, 2003) Gold closed today at $356.60, within a dollar of its highest price since early 1997. After a 20-year period of dormancy in which gold was ignored by all but its most diehard fans, gold is now almost exactly $100 higher than its April 2001 low of $258.00. This rally started before Saddam Hussein became the focus of US attention, and will continue long after he has passed from the scene.

Gold Has Another Good Week - $354.50!
(January 10, 2003) Gold finished this week at its highest close since April of 1997, as spot prices fluctuated in the $347-356 area. Although gold's most recent rally from $317 (a price last seen on December 2, 2002) continues, the momentum has slowed somewhat and a correction is starting to seem overdue. But in a market this strong, who has the patience to wait?

Gold Starts the Year 2003 24% Higher Than 12 Months Ago
(January 2, 2003) Gold prices finished year 2002 at $342.75 in shortened trading on Tuesday, up from prices of $276.50 that prevailed at the end of 2001. Gold has come a long way since then, both in price and in its increasing visibility to investors. Now we’re taking orders for the new 2003 gold Eagles, Maples, Pandas, and we expect to be busier than ever this year.

Wow, What a Week for Gold!
(December 21, 2001) The winter solstice finds gold making a 5-year high this week, punching through $330, $340, even $350, in a panic buying surge that peaked at $355 in the early morning hours on Thursday, finally settling at $340.50 on Friday’s New York close. War prospects are a factor, but this gold rally has much deeper roots…

Gold at Its Tipping Point?
(December 13, 2002) Gold closed Friday at $333.20, up another 2% in a week's time. Bush names a new Treasury Secretary, Scuds are intercepted, the dollar swan-dives, stocks are lower, stores are empty, North Korea steps up its nuclear program, Kissinger steps down, Cardinal Law steps down, and Trent Lott steps into it big-time. We explore gold's ‘tipping point' with some large numbers.

Are We Running Out of Gold?
(November 18, 2002) Exactly how deep is the gold market? Should anyone be concerned with the disparity between the huge volume of gold traded in the “paper” market versus the short supply of actual gold available? Are shrewd buyers absorbing all the gold bullion available, knowing how hard it is to obtain physical gold in any significant quantity? Goldcorp tries to buy some gold…

Is This the Time to Buy Gold?
(October 26, 2002) We are often asked to share the ‘inside scoop’ about the future price directions for gold. We’ve even caught flak for publishing a newsletter that doesn’t predict future gold prices. In fact, we think gold is woefully undervalued today, but the gold market is a lot smarter than we are. Here are a few (unedited) ramblings about the nature of markets, and our obvious advice to…just do it.

Making the Sunny Case for Gold.
(October 1, 2002) A whole new generation of gold buyers is attracted to the fresh, bright promise of gold, despite gold’s 20th Century association with the gloomy and pessimistic crowd known as gold-bugs. Today, the world's most beautiful and brilliant metal is rapidly overcoming a negative public image in the U.S. that had been 70 years in the making.

Should We Be Allowed to Have Cash?
(September 14, 2002) Reading the popular business press this month, we witness an attack on the idea of the U.S. cash dollar. Forbes and Business Week both ran articles that demonize the simple idea of cash currency in your wallet. They describe a brave new world wherein VISA handles all of our transactions through their computers, takes their cut, and cash is further marginalized in our society. Can we ask why?

CONFISCATE THIS!
(August 24, 2002) Conspiracy buffs, paranoics, nervous nellies, political fringe-dwellers, and commission salesmen hawking numismatic coins tell us that some day Federal agents, probably armed, jackbooted, and flying black helicopters, are going to come to your house and confiscate all your gold bullion and coins, unless, of course, those coins were made before FDR was President. Can they be right?

A Few Positive Words about Gold from Royal Bank of Canada
(August 6, 2002) In March of this year, Royal Bank of Canada Investment Management Ltd. issued a bullish report on gold. Or perhaps it didn't. Or maybe it did, but only for the firm's biggest and best clients. Or possibly it was an internal report for top managers. Or a document dashed off by a rogue analyst. At any rate, they disavow it entirely. We bring it to you here:

Onlygold.com is Back From the 4th - Tan, Fit and Rested!
(July 8, 2002) Our staff is now back in the saddle and ready for a busy second half of 2002. The general investing populace is slowly coming to realize that the 18-year bull run in stocks (the Reagan-Clinton Bull Years, 1982-2000, R.I.P) is over, done, finished, and buried. Gold draws a larger crowd each day - it offers safety, solace, security, and, yes, a bull market still in its infancy...

Is Gold Simply a Retreat to Safety, or Potentially Much More Than That?
(June 22, 2002) Gold now seems solidly locked in bull market territory, and doesn’t show much sign of tiring. After gold prices were held virtually comatose for nearly five years, prices are now up by 25% in a little over a year’s time. With equities and the dollar under pressure, gold’s “safe haven” appeal seems stronger than it has since the 1970s. How safe is gold, and where is it going?

WSJ to Gold: Drop Dead!
(June 6, 2002) This morning’s Wall Street Journal trumpeted “Was That the End of the Gold-Price Rally?” after yesterday’s 2% correction in gold’s price. “Gold Investors Start to Worry” was the sub-headline. The opening sentence reads: “Gold bars don’t tarnish, but some investors worry that the recent gold rally might soon.” One question for the WSJ: Where did they find all these supposedly worried gold investors?

Gold Blows Through the $320 Barrier Like It Wasn't Even There
(May 23, 2002) Gold in New York today gained almost $5, closing at a 2-year high of $322.50. Gold prices have enjoyed a nearly uninterrupted upward run of eight weeks since the $300 level was first breeched. In the U.S., demand for physical bullion is increasing as gold's "perfect storm" continues to gather momentum, attention, and respect.

Gold Hits a Two-Year High and Starts to Make Some Friends
(May 10, 2002) Gold prices continue to hold higher ground, closing today at $311, capping gold’s sixth week of trading above the $300 level. New price levels and the fact that gold stocks having out-performed all other equities sectors since the start of the year has made the financial press take notice. Gold hasn’t made the cover of Time magazine yet, but the attitude towards it is definitely improving.

The End of Cash As We Know It? Or, Money Doesn’t Talk, It Swears.
(April 24, 2002) Microchip technology is advancing so quickly that it may soon be practicable to actually insert a tiny identifying chip with an antenna into the paper on which currency is printed. This would make “cash” totally scannable, trackable, and identifiable, rather than the anonymous medium of exchange that it is now. Is 'smart' money a stupid idea whose time has come?

Gold Closes March at $302.60, Up 18% in a Year
(April 2, 2002) Gold’s “perfect storm” continues, newly fueled by Japanese buying and the elevated state of war in the Middle East. Gold stocks roared as gold overcame a mini-correction and broke through the $300 barrier to the upside for the second time this year. Meanwhile last week, GATA’s lawsuit was dismissed in court, but what an interesting tale it’s uncovered…

OK, I Bought Some Gold - Now Where Do I Put It?
(March 15, 2002) A lot of people are drawn to the idea of converting some of their representational wealth into physical, tangible money - that is, gold. Gold is compact, portable, and pretty, and having gold in your hand is a powerful thing. Most people store gold in a bank safe deposit box, but what are the other choices?

The World’s Most Expensive Gold Coin
(February 26, 2002) Since WWII, it has been illegal to own a 1933 double eagle. But on July 30th, 2002 an example once owned by the King of Egypt will be sold to the highest bidder in a single-item public auction widely expected to fetch $3 million to $8 million. The Treasury Dept. struck 445,500 double eagles in 1933, and has been busy confiscating them since 1944. But this one, they promise, comes with a clear title.

Gold prices blew through $300 Gold’s Perfect Storm on the Horizon
(February 9, 2002) Gold prices blew through $300 on February 8th, capping a two-week, 10% upmove. Gold's gains in price this time stem from a wide variety of different factors which, taken together, seem to signal a long-term secular change in the gold market, unlike the spike-and-pullback we saw September 11th. Are we looking at the beginning of gold’s “Perfect Storm?”

What's Going to Follow the Enron Mess?
(January 26, 2002) This morning’s headlines of the suicide of an ex-Enron vice chairman add to the unceasing twists and turns of Enron’s unraveling. Meanwhile, ten Congressional committees hold hearings on the Enron situation, the Fifth Amendment is being invoked, and some people smell a political scandal. In fact, it's potentially much worse than that.

The British Diet: Hold a Gold Auction & Lose a Few Pounds

(January 16, 2002) This morning’s next-to-last auction of 20 tons of gold by the Bank of England yielded a meager $283.50 per troy ounce. After gold traded overnight in Asia near $290, and fixed in the morning at $287.95, the Brits took home $4.45 below the current spot price. A clinic on how not to flog your redundant material….

The 20 Year Life of the Golden Panda
(January 5, 2002) This week we unwrapped the first shipment of 2002-dated gold Pandas, and saw the familiar design of 2001 staring back up at us. So the ugly rumor is true, the annual Panda design change is no more, and an era that began in 1982 comes to an end. Of course, we’ll never hear from the secretive People’s Bank of China bureaucracy why they decided to halt the yearly fun that made the Panda so popular in the first place.

2002 To Be a Golden Year.
(January 2, 2002) Gold finishes the year 2001 at $279 spot price, and Onlygold.com begins its fifth year as the most user-friendly gold distribution channel in the United States. We appreciate and thank all of you that have bought and sold gold with us – we're looking forward to big things in 2002.

Confessions of a Monetary Primitivist
(December 15, 2001) The precious metals were once money itself, yet today many think of gold and silver as mere commodities. In their place, the unbacked “dollar” is considered a foundation sufficiently stable to support the world's economy, never mind that it is created out of thin air by the Fed, as free-floating and ephemeral as a ghost. A former twelve-year-old non-believer, now pushing 50, still doesn’t buy it.

Internet Sales Tax Moratorium Prevails, At Least For Now
Dec 1, 2001) President Bush on Wednesday signed into law a 2-year moratorium blocking any new taxes on e-commerce, but revenue-hungry states are working hard to come up with a scheme to impose a simplified national sales tax on interstate commerce. For the immediate future, we’re off the hook, but Internet taxation is a bad idea on principle, and would cost you dearly if ever passed.

Gold is STILL a Safe haven
(November 20, 2001) Knee-jerk analysis of gold declares the metal dead to the world. Tim Wood of The Miningweb.com begs to differ, and we present his graphic evidence. Here is all the proof you need that gold's safe-haven status is not only intact, but firmly entrenched.

SELLING GOLD ON THE INTERNET
(November 10, 2001) This week we celebrate the first full year of Onlygold.com’s presence on the Internet’s search engines. Here we explain how we first came to believe that people would send substantial sums of real money to some address on an Internet site. It didn't hurt that our debut coincided with a shaky stock market, sinking interest rates, and some of the cheapest inflation-adjusted gold prices that have been seen in decades.

Gold Producers to Push Baubles While the World Burns
(October 27, 2001) The Denver Mining Investment Forum, a high-level annual confab of gold mining companies, analysts, investors, and camp followers, was held with the usual fanfare within the rather insular gold community. The forum convened in early October, when gold prices spiked after the terror attacks, but the big news was an industry initiative to sell jewelry. What is gold for, anyway? Accountants and poets disagree.

What's The Right Amount of Gold for You?
(October 13, 2001) Gold provides stability and cuts risk in an investment portfolio. Gold is useful as an inflation hedge and store of value. Gold insures against various disasters. Gold is the world's simplest estate-planning tool. Yet gold’s role over the past two decades has faded during an unprecedented economic boom. How much gold should you own in today's world?

The World Comes to Gold
(September 29, 2001) Gold, the ultimate hedge against uncertainty, is gaining new respect today as a natural asset choice for the times we live in. For thousands of years, the commodity gold was money itself. Yet late in the 20th century, it was decided that "this time it's different," and gold was no longer needed. Today, with the world turned upside down, stocks swooning, and interest rates tumbling to 30-year lows, gold very much looks like a prudent bet.

What Can You Say About A Week Like This One?
(September 22, 2001) As bombers and warships head to the Middle East, President Bush talked war before Congress, America, and the world. This week, U. S. stocks lost 13% of their value as markets suffered through five of the heaviest trading days in history. And the question is no longer ‘are we in a recession?’ but rather ‘how long will this recession last?’ A sigh of relief as this week finally ends…

Comex Gold Trading Resumes in New York
(September 18, 2001) Some semblance of normality returned to the U.S. commodities markets as trading resumed in shortened sessions this week on the Comex exchange. Gold prices remain firm, and demand for physical gold strong, at slightly higher prices than before the mass murder in New York. Many things we can now assume have changed forever, the gold market included.

So Whose Gold is it at Fort Knox?
(September 1, 2001) The U.S. gold manipulation issue now has the look of a full-blown scandal. When the debate was simply how much did the Fed and Treasury influence gold prices over the past few years, the answer was always: "plenty – and so what?" Today, the real question is: Who owns the U.S. gold reserves? John Hathaway of Tocqueville Asset Management brings us his essay, "Gold As Theatre."

The Gold-gate Case - Curiouser and Curiouser
(August 25, 2001) More evidence emerges about federal manipulation in the gold markets over the past few years. The Treasury publishes a denial on their website that the ESF deals in gold, but fails to mention their dwindling stock of SDRs, each representing 1/35th of an ounce of Treasury gold. Although for 30 years it’s been the avowed policy goal of the U.S. to render gold obsolete, the durable yellow stuff refuses to go away…

The Greatest Financial and Political Scandal in U.S. History What’s Up With Our National Gold Reserve?
(August 8, 2001) U.S. citizens have always enjoyed the security of knowing that thousands of tons of gold, stored in Fort Knox and elsewhere, are ready and available to defend the dollar or our nation. Gold reserves have for centuries provided the internationally accepted currency when all else fails. But what if we found reason to doubt that U.S. gold reserves are safe and sound? We start a long story here…

Okay, we admit that we don't answer ALL the emails we receive - here's why:
Strictly for the entertainment value, we wanted to share with you some of the more imaginative proposals that we have received in the course of publishing a gold bullion site on the World Wide Web. Once you read them, you'll understand why we never got around to answering these particular e-mails.

Bank of England Sells 20 Tonnes of Gold at $267.25
(July 11, 2001) Today’s bi-monthly gold auction found bids for 4.1 times the 20 tonnes being offered, and at a price higher than the London AM gold fix. These controversial sales soon will have cut British gold reserves in half, and have done much to keep gold prices low. As this 2-year fire sale winds down, we wonder: Does a gold bear eat in the woods?

Barrick Bid to Buy Homestake Threat or Menace?
(June 29, 2001) The big news in gold this week was Barrick Gold Corp’s (NYSE symbol ABX) bid to acquire via stock swap the assets of Homestake (HM), the 125 year old U.S. gold mining firm. If the deal goes through, the Canadian firm Barrick will be second in size only to South African producer AngloGold. The reactions to this merger show us that gold is a funny business…

Exploring the World of Virtual Gold
(June 21, 2001) The latest incarnations of the world's oldest money are virtual payment systems denominated, not in dollars, yen, euros, etc., but in gold by weight. Quite a few websites now compete, allowing you to buy (and sell) stuff over the Internet, with payment in the form of electronic dollops of gold. Chewing through Bananas, Coconuts, and Estonian Popsicles, we find the germ of a real idea here.

Eye of the Blackbird A Story of Gold in the American West
Holly Skinner, survival instructor, wrangler, forest fire fighter, rough rider, and gold prospector, writes about gold and the lives of the prospectors whose lust for gold opened Anglo settlement of California and the Rockies. Skinner combines history, geology, biography, and personal experience to come up with a unique book - a poem to gold and those who seek it.

GOLD PRICES ON A ROLL
(May 25, 2001) Spot prices ran as high as $294 Monday May 21st, after Friday’s $14 rally. The rest of this week was spent in retrenchment, but overall the price action is convincingly positive. With demand for gold up again in first quarter 2001, and rising energy prices pushing up mining costs, how much longer can gold prices remain immune to inflation?

20 Tons of Gold Sold at $268
(May 15, 2001) Today’s Bank of England gold auction was 3.7 times oversubscribed, and priced within a few cents of the active trading markets. Gold has now closed at higher prices for six weeks running, as increasing numbers of investors are starting to see the wisdom of owning this traditional value holding. Our noted friend Leonard Kaplan checks in with his (mildly) bullish gold outlook.

Why Numismatic Investments are Always Horrible Mistakes, Part 2
(April 24, 2001) Remember coin collecting? We look at the 20-year and 10-year track records for U.S. rare coins, remind ourselves of the miracle of compound interest, and learn how your $410,000 investment in rare coins could prevent you from becoming a millionaire twenty years later.

Where Does Gold Come From? Neutron Stars, Treasures of the Andes, and Big Bug Creek
(April 13, 2001) Only recently have scientists gotten a handle on the actual cosmological origin of gold. And since its formation billions of years ago, gold has been gathered and extracted by humans for thousands of years. Gold is the original recyclable, and your jewelry may have quite a history...

Why Numismatic Investments Are Always Horrible Mistakes, Part 1
(April 5, 2001) People seeking the safety of gold are often waylaid by promoters who tout investing in rare coins as a 'prudent' alternative to gold bullion. This week we explore why numismatic coins are a favorite of commissioned salespeople, and some of the awful truths that they won’t tell you about the rare coin market. - Promoting a $20,000 coin as 'disaster insurance.'

GOLD IS DEAD! THIS SPACE FOR RENT
(April 1, 2001) The element gold, once-revered for its beauty and monetary function, has lately lost its lustre, its value, and its self-respect. If the current trend of falling prices continues, gold should trade for $0.00 by October, 2002. Gold is, after all, only gold. We sadly report its demise.

SUPREME COURT NIXES "FINDERS KEEPERS"
(March 15, 2001) The Supreme Court threw 300 year old maritime law to the wind when it upheld a lower court ruling that essentially scuttles the concept of "Finders Keepers" in the recovery of abandoned sunken ships. This and an upcoming UNESCO treaty threaten to end treasure hunting as we know it. Will Cuba become the last stronghold of free-market salvage?

"Big Fun Lies Ahead" - Gold Market Comes to Life
(March 10, 2001) Things were hopping in gold this week as gold lease rates went from 1% to over 6%, and gold spot prices turned up sharply. Backwardation came to the gold market, short-traders began to feel a squeeze, and all the gloom of last month blew away like a morning fog.

Gold Falls To $255, Bounces Back Sharply
(February 28, 2001) Gold has bounced back sharply in price since February 14th, when gold prices went below the $260 level for the first time in 16 months. Gold found out that "nobody loves you when you're down and out," as the old song goes - the financial press had a field day kicking gold when it was down. The question is: Is this latest move the long-awaited 'double bottom' on the gold price charts that finally signals that the worst is over?

February Gold Notes from All Over: Covering Keynes, California, and Clawar
(Feb 6, 2001) While gold markets flounder, fidget, and fizzle, we find: Keynes' true definition of a 'barbarous relic;' a document from the upcoming war of gold miners vs.environmentalists; and a reason to sell London and buy New York.

Baby Boomers Rest Uneasy - What's Retirement Like When Their Favorite Stocks Are Blown to Bits?
(Jan. 23, 2001) The year 2000 saw trillions of dollars of market value disappear in stocks such as Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Amazon, Dell, Home Depot, Qualcomm, IBM, AT&T, etc., and in most tech and growth mutual funds. Not to mention the dot-com stocks that simply fell off the edge of the earth. It seems that everyone's favorite 'great story' stocks have been cut to ribbons. Now what?

Gold Opens 2001 at Lowest Price in Twenty Years
(Jan 11, 2001) Gold began this Millennium at $271.10, the lowest opening price seen since 1979, a year in which it went from $226.80 January 2nd to $512 by December’s end. With equities markets uncertain, and the “R” word in the air, what’s the lowdown on gold?

We Wish a Happy Year 2001 To Each And Every One of You!
(12/29/00) Our stock was up this year - our stock of friends, readers, e-mailers, and customers, that is. Year 2000 was a wonder in many ways: the stock market, the election, and the economy itself - this year was truly "the curse of interesting times."

Alan Greenspan, et.al., Not Feeling Particularly Threatened By GATA Lawsuit
(12/21/00) Last week we reported the GATA/Reg Howe lawsuit aimed at a host of economic players of the Western World. Mr. Howe is suing because the price of gold is too low, and has named conspirators. Although this lawsuit has been the talk of the gold-bug chat-rooms, that's probably the last we’ll ever hear of it.

Lawsuit is Filed Against the "Gold Cabal" on Pearl Harbor Day, 2000
(12/11/00) GATA's Reg Howe, resident of Belmont, Massachusetts, and author of the Golden Sextant website, is the complainant in a lawsuit December 7, 2000, naming Alan Greenspan, Chase Manhattan, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, and a host of others alleged to be in conspiracy to keep gold prices down. There's no arguing that gold prices are suspiciously low, and whatever the complaint's legal merits may be, it certainly names some big names and tells quite a story....

Gold Prices Virtually Flatline in November, But U.S. Sales of the Popular Gold Eagle Take Off
(12/1/00) Despite all that's going on in the world, gold prices stayed in a trading range of complete boredom. November’s daily prices show a high of $269.95 and a low of $264.10. But U.S. gold Eagles are flying off the shelf. If gold is becoming obsolete, why are so many buying it?

U.S. Attempts to Elect New President – Across the Pond, Britain Sells 25 Tons of Gold
November 7, 2000 – The Bank of England holds its 9th gold auction since July 1999, and 806,300 ounces are sold at $264.30. The first of these sales in 1999 shocked the gold market, but now they’re taken in stride. This sale saw a lot of poor trampled euros converted into gold.

Man who traded Sammy Sosa to the Cubs soon to be elected President of the United States
(11/3/00) Gold markets are snoozing through a tight presidential race between front-runners Bush and Gore – gold traders just don’t seem to care. The race will hinge on this: are more voters disgusted, or complacent? No wonder our elections are the first Tuesday after Halloween.

Oh no, a book report! The Power Of Gold by Peter L. Bernstein
(10/17/00) Subtitled The History of an Obsession, this book covers our species' fascination with gold, from Biblical times right up to the present. Greed, warfare, domination, cruelty, and national pride are the major themes. It's a horror story all right, well told, and you'll never think about gold in the same way again.

"THE U.S. DOLLAR: OVER OWNED AND OVER VALUED," BUT IS A BEAR MARKET IN THE DOLLAR JUST AROUND THE CORNER?
(October 2, 2000) John Hathaway of Tocqueville Asset Management manages institutional client portfolios, and in July of 1998, John was named portfolio manager of the Tocqueville Gold Fund, the first new gold fund startup in the last four years. John feels that gold, like Rodney Dangerfield, "gets no respect." With his kind permission we bring you his gold vs. the dollar 'brainstorm.'

GOLD FETCHES "DIDDLY-SQUAT" AT BRITISH AUCTION - $270.60 U.S. PER TROY OUNCE, TO BE EXACT
(September 19, 2000) Beginning in the Summer of 1999, Britain has every two months auctioned off 25 tonnes (804,400 troy ounces) of its long-held gold reserve to the highest bidders. Its stated goal is to gradually replace 415 tonnes of gold with more fashionable monetary reserves, such as euros, yen, and dollars. Call it the Estate Sale of the British Empire.

GOLD IS CHEAP, BORING, AND SOMETHING YOU SHOULD OWN
(September 11, 2000) In a complicated universe of financial choices, simplicity stands out. Surprisingly, gold has lately become as simple and predictable as bonds were during the Eisenhower administration. Once thought of as volatility incarnate, gold prices have virtually flat-lined over the past few years. Does that make the most coveted element in the world a failed investment, or something else entirely?

U. S. GOLD BULLION SALES FALL FROM 1999 RECORD PACE
(August 30,2000) Last year, U.S. gold demand soared, spurred by a 20-year low price and Y2K fears. The world did not end January 1st, but gold sales did. Now, spot prices are sinking again, and gold bullion Eagles dated 2000 are going begging. An opportunity here?

GOLD RALLIES ON 5-YEAR PLEDGE BY CENTRAL BANKS TO END GOLD DUMPING
(September 27,1999) 15 European central banks issue a joint statement limiting their gold sales and leasing over the next 5 years. Gold prices leap by 21.5% in five trading days, and hit $328 during the day Tuesday. Waving goodbye to a 20-year bear market

COURT INJUNCTION HALTS SOTHEBY'S AUCTION OF GOLD RUSH TREASURE
(December 9,1999) Potential bidders in New York were shocked on the afternoon of December 7th when the injunction against the auction was announced. Gold treasures in the sale had toured the country, catalogs had been distributed, bidders were gathered

NEVER MIND Y2K, LET'S THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT Y1999
(March 24,1999) The upcoming event of January 1, 2000 reminds us of the Superbowl: the hype constantly tells us it's coming up, but once you get past all the commercials, are we really sure the Millennium will be all that exciting?

1999 U.S. GOLD SALES START AT RECORD PACE
(April 2,1999) Low gold prices, financial asset inflation, Y2K fears, spark demand for physical gold holdings in U.S. The Mint announces record sales for the 1st quarter, number of coins sold each month in 1999 exceeds 1994 totals for the whole year.

THE BAFFLING STORY OF 21 TONS OF LOST GOLD TREASURE
(September 8,1857) The amazing tale of the S. S. Central America, laden with California gold, Sunk in a hurricane, found and successfully salvaged, while today investors and numismatic scholars have only a coffee-table book to show for it.

SWISS VOTE TO END GOLD BACKING OF SWISS FRANC
(April 20,1999) Long-awaited vote may lead to gold sales in 2000. IMF may sell 1.2 million ounces to shore up debtor nations. Gold prices remain firm as 'value' demand rises in U.S. stock markets.

IS GOLD FINALLY GETTING UP OFF ITS BOTTOM?
(May 1,1999) This week's best performing mutual fund was, of all things, a gold fund, Rydex: Precious Metals, up 8.2% for the week. Gold has been neglected by the public since the Disco era, but can it become the next value sector in 1999?

GOLD PRICE GETS CLOBBERED ON NEWS OF U.K. GOLD SALES TO COME
(May 7,1999) Britain announces plans to sell 125 tonnes of gold in the next year, sending gold down over $7 just as the shorts were starting to weaken and new buyers were entering the market. Goldbugs see forces conspiring against them -- and they're right!

GOLD ANTI-TRUST ACTION COMMITTEE TAKES ON THE GOLD MARKET
(May 19,1999) Gold prices fall to a 20-year low, so let's sue somebody! GATA spots a conspiracy, raises war-chest, and hires lawyers. Could a jury side with gold-holders who feel victimized by today's low gold prices, or is GATA tilting at windmills?

REMEMBER 1979? THAT'S WHERE GOLD PRICES ARE NOW!
(May 28,1999) Gold touches $267.80 during the day on Wednesday, closes at $269.50 for the day. A twenty-year low price for gold raises the question: What else can you buy today for 1979 prices? Checking the Volkswagen Price Index.

HERE'S JUST ANOTHER STORY OF FOUND GOLD AND LOST GLORY, AND A SECRET NO ONE COULD KEEP
(November 4,1996)Two men are grading a driveway for "Rolling Stone" publisher Jann Wenner in Sun Valley, Idaho, and find a long-buried Mason jar full of old U.S. gold coins. It's their little secret and finders keepers, right? Wrong. Buried treasure is never that simple.

NEW YORK TIMES TO GOLD: 'DROP DEAD!' ISN'T GOLD 'AS GOOD AS GOLD' ANYMORE?
(June 15,1999) The NY Times this morning headlines "An Icon's Faded Glory; Now the Gold Rush is to the Exits" Reading the popular news sources today, you may wonder why this bright shiny metal is now considered financial toxic waste.

IMF GOLD SALES FIGHT HEATS UP, JESSE HELMS SIDES WITH POOR AFRICANS
(June 29,1999) Who's trying to sell gold now? The IMF wants to sell 300 tonnes of gold to bail out banks that lent money to the Third World. That's good for the banks, but it would only mean more poverty for these poorest countries.

FIRST BANK OF ENGLAND AUCTION SEES 25 TONNES OF GOLD SOLD AT $261.20 PER OUNCE
(July 6,1999) The long-awaited auction has finally come and gone, and not a moment too soon. No other event in the gold market in the last 25 years has been as anticipated as this gold sale. This series of announced British gold auctions will transform the once-mighty reserve of gold which was the Treasury of the British Empire, into the more modern concept of wealth, i.e., a balanced mixture of the world's fiat currencies.

GOLD TREASURES FROM 1857 SHIPWRECK FINALLY DISPLAYED, TO BE SOLD BY SOTHEBY'S DECEMBER 1999.
(August 10,1999) Gold coins, bars, and nuggets from the S S Central America make their first public appearance this week, and will be auctioned Dec. 8-9th. Could this be the end of the most controversial treasure story ever? No, and not by a long shot.

OUR SIMPLE IDEA: SHOULDN'T A PERSON WHO HAS VIRTUAL WEALTH, ALSO OWN A BOX OF SHINY GOLD COINS?
(August 19,1999) For thousands of years, money has been gold. Yet today, vast sums of money are credited electronically to large numbers of people whose only gold is a few grams of decorative jewelry. So what is money, anyway?