Glossary

Actual Gold Content - The amount of gold that exists in the item with the weight of the alloying metals subtracted. 

Assay - An analysis of a metal in order to determine its purity.

Britannia Silver - An alloy of silver which contains 95.84% silver. 

Bullion – Gold or silver in the form of bars or coins, valued by weight and purity, used for trade and investment.

Bullion Coin – Coins minted efficiently at high speed, with a finish similar to circulating currency. These coins prioritise metal content over design or craftsmanship and are typically purchased as a store of value due to their precious metal content.

Brilliant Uncirculated - Coins produced to a higher standard then circulated or bullion coins. The dies used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand and given a consistent polished finish. BU coins often offer a good level of design detail, but have lower definition compared to proof coins.

Carat - A unit of measurement used to express the purity of gold. 

CGT Free - Capital Gains Tax free.

Commemoratives - Legal tender coins or medallions minted to commemorate themes, events, places, or people.

Face Value - The official monetary value assigned to a coin or currency, as stamped or printed on its surface, indicating its legal denomination.

Field - The open area or background of a coin's design.

Fine Gold - Gold with a purity of 99.9% (24 carats), often referred to as 999 fine gold, indicating it contains minimal impurities and is nearly pure.

Fine Silver – Silver with a purity of 99.9%, also known as 999 fine silver, containing minimal impurities and considered nearly pure.

Fine Weight – The amount of gold that exists in the item with the weight of the alloying metals subtracted. 

Fineness - The purity of a precious metal; commonly expressed in parts per thousand e.g. 999.0 

Grading Service - A company that grades numismatic coins.

Hallmark – Marks which are struck on items made of precious metals. A UK hallmark will indicate; the type of metal, its fineness, commonly the maker/sponsor, and the year it was hallmarked. 

Karat - A unit of measurement used to express the purity of gold. 

Legal Tender - A medium of payment recognised by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. 

Medallion - A round piece of metal resembling a coin but not considered government issued legal tender.

Milk Spots - Small white marks that can appear on coins, particularly bullion coins. Believed to be caused by polishing agents used during the minting process and have no impact on the coin's metal content or value.

Mint Mark - A letter or symbol stamped on a coin to identify the mint where it was struck.

NGC - Acronym for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America.

Numismatic coins - Coins where their value depends more on their rarity, condition, dates, and mint marks, rather than their gold or silver content.

Obverse - The front or "heads" side of a coin, usually featuring the portrait of a prominent figure, such as a monarch or national leader.

PCGS - Acronym for Professional Coin Grading Service.

Premium - The extra cost added to the spot price of bullion, reflecting factors such as production, distribution, and demand.

Pre-Owned Coin - A coin previously purchased by collectors and sold back to us. As these are pre-owned coins, they may exhibit minor scratches or imperfections beyond those found on newly minted coins, but they remain in satisfactory condition for bullion purposes.

Proof Coin - A coin characterised by exceptional detail, sharpness, and finish. The dies used to mint proof coins are typically hand-finished to achieve the highest quality standards. Usually presented in a box with a certificate of authenticity.

Proof Design Coin - A proof coin that has no box and may not include a certificate. These coins may have been handled.

Restrike – An officially issued reproduction of a former circulating coin, usually with no numismatic value.

Reverse - The back or "tails" side of a coin, which can feature a design such as Britannia or St George and the Dragon, showcasing artistic imagery.

Spot Gold Price – The current price at which gold is being traded. Usually taken from the live London spot price.

Troy Ounce - A unit of weight equal to 31.1034768 grams, distinct from the Avoirdupois ounce, which is 28.3495 grams. The troy ounce is commonly used in the precious metals market to measure the mass of gold, silver, and other bullion.

Uncirculated Coin - A coin that has not been in circulation for use.