Investments in Gold – Chapter 8: Gold Certificates

This is chapter number 8 out of 15. Read the rest:

Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 1: Introduction
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 2: Advantages of investing in Gold
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 3: Disadvantages of investing in Gold
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 4: Guidelines for Investing in Gold
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 5: Investments in Physical Gold
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 6: Bullion Bars and Coins
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 7: Numismatic and Semi-Numismatic Gold Coins

Gold certificates were originally used in the US from 1882 to 1933 as a type of paper money. The certificates entitled the holder to redeem a corresponding amount in gold coins and as such were meant to depict actual gold coinage. By 1933, this practice was abolished by the US government. Nowadays, a gold certificate is used to denote ownership of gold holdings rather than actual physical possession of the gold. Gold certificates also represent a means of investment in gold.

Today, the world’s only government sanctioned precious metal certificate programme is the Perth Mint Certificate Programme. It is rated as a triple A grade investment by the S&P credit rating agency and is one of the safest ways to invest in investment grade gold bullions. With gold certificates, investors are able to hold bullions in unallocated or allocated accounts. Because there are no initial or ongoing incidental fees like custodial or holding fess, shipping and insurance, gold certificates are one of the most cost effective ways of investing in gold bullions.

For unallocated accounts, there are no holding or insurance fees payable and because of this most prefer to own bullions in this way. Investors also have the option of transferring to an allocated account with a small fabrication fee if the need arises. Once an account has been converted from unallocated to an allocated account, bullions can be shipped internationally.

 E-Gold or Digital Gold Currency

Digital Gold Currency (DGC), E-Gold or goldgrammes are a form of representative money. They are electronic in nature and its value is based on the quantity of gold stipulated. The usual unit of denomination is the gold gram or troy ounces. Sometimes, the gold dinar is also used as a denomination unit. These Digital Gold Currencies are issued by several companies and are backed by gold in allocated or unallocated accounts.

The companies which provide these Digital Gold Currencies are not banks and thus are not bound by banking regulations. Because of these, there have being concerns about unscrupulous companies operating in this increasingly popular sector.

Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 9: Allocated Accounts
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 10: Paper Gold Investments
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 11: Gold Stocks
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 12: Gold Futures
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 13: Technical Analysis
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 14: The Motivations for investing in Gold
Read Investments in Gold – Chapter 15: Conclusion