tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post648732450718436568..comments2024-03-28T11:00:59.091-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: A sobering analysis of the US and world economiesPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-86024644628011857762015-09-10T19:47:10.290-05:002015-09-10T19:47:10.290-05:00@Anonymous at 11:46 AM: Yes, counterfeiting is get...@Anonymous at 11:46 AM: Yes, counterfeiting is getting more prevalent, particularly when dealing in larger items such as gold bars. See these reports, for example:<br /><br />http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-gold-bars-2012-9<br /><br />http://goldsilver.com/video/special-report-how-to-avoid-fake-silver-and-counterfeit-gold-products/<br /><br />http://www.silvercoins.com/fake-silver-coins-14-ways-to-spot-counterfeits/<br /><br />The primary way I try to avoid such problems is to buy silver or gold bullion in the form of legal tender coins (e.g. US gold and silver eagles and buffaloes, the Canadian Silver Maple, etc.). I buy them only from reputable dealers that have paper trails from mint, to wholesaler, to themselves - in other words, no place in the chain where counterfeits might creep in. I also avoid coins from countries such as Venezuela or Somalia - they may be OK, because they're produced by mints who license the national identity, but those nations hardly inspire confidence, do they?<br /><br />I may get hit with a counterfeit coin here or there, but by taking the precautions outlined above, I expect that to happen relatively seldom. By buying (say) 30 or 40 silver coins at a time, most of them are likely to be the real thing, limiting my potential losses.<br /><br />I hope this helps.<br />Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-80609341099424346632015-09-10T14:18:20.144-05:002015-09-10T14:18:20.144-05:00Counterfeiting is wildly prevalent in silver 1oz c...Counterfeiting is wildly prevalent in silver 1oz coins and rounds, especially things like Chinese Pandas. American Silver Eagles are not immune by any means, but aren't quite as common. (Perhaps because counterfeiting US money attracts the USSS?)<br />One of the most commonly counterfeited pieces of silver are one-ounce generic bars, often sold via AliBaba or ebay for a couple bucks per sheet of ten.<br /><br />I avoid counterfeits as best I can by buying via reputable dealers (APMEX and JMBullion are my go-to dealers) OR their ebay storefronts (APMEX via ebay is fine). I have so far been lucky and haven't been dinged on counterfeits, but I am VERY cautious about it with private sellers; I tend to only buy 90% "junk" silver from them and not bullion silver.<br /><br />Learn to do specific gravity testing as well; it's one of the best ways to detect a counterfeit piece of silver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYdSEAm-7uIZerCoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08347518441827166007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-19377186999988418712015-09-10T11:46:27.144-05:002015-09-10T11:46:27.144-05:00I've seen a few stories lately about counterfe...I've seen a few stories lately about counterfeiting of precious metals -- plating over some other metal.<br /><br />So where does the small investor go for those items - precious metals you actually keep in your possession - without the worry of getting something that's been adulterated? Whom can you trust?<br /><br />Goatroper<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-29360461404398919942015-09-10T08:33:39.268-05:002015-09-10T08:33:39.268-05:00I would buy US Treasuries, if they offered a decen...I would buy US Treasuries, if they offered a decent coupon (10% would be adequate)<br /><br />Failing that, 5 cents on the dollar will also generate an acceptable couponalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-31683824386842769082015-09-10T08:26:00.475-05:002015-09-10T08:26:00.475-05:00I am also a small investor. I have holdings in a ...I am also a small investor. I have holdings in a few hundred pounds of lead and steel. and another few hundred pounds in the commodities markets with things like Rice, canned food, first aid supplies, and toilet paper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com