Silver in the form of Silver Eagles (coins) and silver bars are more expensive and carry a much higher premiumⁱ.  You could not, for instance, use a 10 ounce bar of silver to purchase a loaf of bread because it is not divisible,

ASI does not take contingent orders on denomination, though we will try to accommodate a client’s request.  The most common junk silver bags contain both dimes and quarters.  One half dollar bags are also available, though they come with a higher premiumⁱ because of their lack of circulation.  Our favorite pre-1965 coins are quarters.

Junk Silver is well recognized in barter situations. It is divisible, meaning you can use it to make smaller purchases, like a loaf of bread.
It does not need to be assayed. It is immediately liquid. This is why bullionⁱ bars and bullion coins do not belong in your core holdings.

Bars are available in a variety of sizes: 1 oz., 5 oz. 10 oz., kilos, 100 oz. and 400 oz. bars.  There are weight increments that differ from this list in other countries, such as India-Tola , or Europe-Gramⁱ bars.  We generally suggest smaller size bars (1 oz.) because they provide the greatest flexibility for liquidation.

The Perth Mintⁱ offers one of the most secure locations for hard asset storage worldwide.  Furthermore, Western Australia is a major source of goldⁱ, producing 240 tons annually, about 10 percent of world’s mine output.  The Perth Mint, through its joint venture with Golden West, refines the majority of the mine's gold. Furthermore, the mint has been in continuous operation for more than 100 years.

Probably, the 1 oz. , .9999 barⁱ which we would recommend over a kilo barⁱ.

The accepted purity of goldⁱ bullionⁱ has changed over the years from .99 to .999 to .9999.  The accepted standard today is .9999 fine, or 24 karatⁱ.

Your privacy and confidentiality are guaranteed.

Because the mints are producing fewer platinum bullion coins, investors who want current year dates on their platinum coins can expect to pay huge premiums over back-dated platinum bullionⁱ coin prices.

You cannot determine the authenticity of a goldⁱ barⁱ by visual examination.  The bars will typically reference a weight and that can be determined by putting it on a scale.  The smaller sizes, 1 oz., 5 oz., 10 oz., are usually minted bars and are difficult to tamper with.  But, kilos, 100 oz. & 400 oz. bars would need to be melted down to determine the accuracy and weight and finenessⁱ. 

A hallmarkⁱ is the name of the refinery on the bar.  There are a number of recognized hallmarks, such as Credit Suisse, Pamp, Johnson Matthey, Engelhard, etc.

You could contact a coinⁱ dealer in your local Yellow Pages or subscribe to publications such as Coin World, Coin Dealer Newsletter, or visit sights on the internet, such as PCGS or NGC.  Remember, these should be used only as indications and it would be best to get a couple of opinions.

Your privacy and confidentiality are guaranteed.

ASI does not take contingent orders on denomination, though we will try to accommodate a client’s request.  The most common junk silver bags contain both dimes and quarters.  One half dollar bags are also available, though they come with a higher premiumⁱ because of their lack of circulation.  Our favorite pre-1965 coins are quarters.

Probably, the 1 oz. , .9999 barⁱ which we would recommend over a kilo barⁱ.

You cannot determine the authenticity of a goldⁱ barⁱ by visual examination.  The bars will typically reference a weight and that can be determined by putting it on a scale.  The smaller sizes, 1 oz., 5 oz., 10 oz., are usually minted bars and are difficult to tamper with.  But, kilos, 100 oz. & 400 oz. bars would need to be melted down to determine the accuracy and weight and finenessⁱ. 

A hallmarkⁱ is the name of the refinery on the bar.  There are a number of recognized hallmarks, such as Credit Suisse, Pamp, Johnson Matthey, Engelhard, etc.

Because the mints are producing fewer platinum bullion coins, investors who want current year dates on their platinum coins can expect to pay huge premiums over back-dated platinum bullionⁱ coin prices.

In 1999, the public was frightened by reports that “the system” would breakdown one second after midnight, December 31, 1999.  There was wide-swept fear that the financial markets would become unstable.  People were afraid they would not be able to withdraw their money from their banks and gravitated toward safety – physical metals – just as people are doing today.

Because junk silver is a finite commodity – meaning the mintⁱ no longer produces these 90% coins, and it is estimated that about 50% has already been melted down - and there was heavy demand, premiums sky rocketed as much as 50%.  When Y2K failed to bring the forecasted disaster, junk silver flooded back into the market and people who had paid huge premiums sold it back at a loss.

The accepted purity of goldⁱ bullionⁱ has changed over the years from .99 to .999 to .9999.  The accepted standard today is .9999 fine, or 24 karatⁱ.

Your privacy and confidentiality are guaranteed.

Allocated storage refers to storage of client precious metal on a segmented (segregated) basis.  The precious metals stored at the Perth Mintⁱ are recorded on the Perth Mint Certificate.  In this type of storage, the client's precious metal products are stored separately in a sealed, safe deposit box that is specifically assigned to the client via the Perth Mint Certificate.  There are annual storage fees charged for allocated storage as well as fabrication fees.

Unallocated storage refers to a specific quantity of precious metals on an unsegmented (unsegregated) basis, which are owned by the client, but is part of a larger pool of precious metals stored at the Perth Mint.  This quantity of precious metals is recorded on the Perth Mint Certificate.  Perth Mint has an obligation to deliver the recorded amount of precious metal upon request of the client with two weeks prior notice.  A fabrication fee is applicable at the time of deliveryⁱ.

You cannot determine the authenticity of a goldⁱ barⁱ by visual examination.  The bars will typically reference a weight and that can be determined by putting it on a scale.  The smaller sizes, 1 oz., 5 oz., 10 oz., are usually minted bars and are difficult to tamper with.  But, kilos, 100 oz. & 400 oz. bars would need to be melted down to determine the accuracy and weight and finenessⁱ. 

A hallmarkⁱ is the name of the refinery on the bar.  There are a number of recognized hallmarks, such as Credit Suisse, Pamp, Johnson Matthey, Engelhard, etc.

The accepted purity of goldⁱ bullionⁱ has changed over the years from .99 to .999 to .9999.  The accepted standard today is .9999 fine, or 24 karatⁱ.

The Perth Mintⁱ offers one of the most secure locations for hard asset storage worldwide.  Furthermore, Western Australia is a major source of goldⁱ, producing 240 tons annually, about 10 percent of world’s mine output.  The Perth Mint, through its joint venture with Golden West, refines the majority of the mine's gold. Furthermore, the mint has been in continuous operation for more than 100 years.

Bars are available in a variety of sizes: 1 oz., 5 oz. 10 oz., kilos, 100 oz. and 400 oz. bars.  There are weight increments that differ from this list in other countries, such as India-Tola , or Europe-Gramⁱ bars.  We generally suggest smaller size bars (1 oz.) because they provide the greatest flexibility for liquidation.

There are no standard dimensions.  They would be determined by the refiner and the size (weight).

Proofⁱ coins are made for collectors and generally not for use as money.  Therefore, they were never intended for circulation. 

Some coins intended for circulation are set aside by the general public or collectors, never being circulated, even though that was the intention by the mintⁱ.

Numismaticⁱ coinⁱ pricing is determined by the date, the mintⁱ mark, and the condition of the coins.  The standard today is based on grading by an independent grading service such as PCGS or NGC.  The third party grading services are determining two things, the authenticity of the coin and the grading of the coin.  PCGS and NGC were established in 1986 and now bring over 20 years of experience to the industry.  Their grading is now nationally and internationally accepted. 

Each grading service provides historical grading data referred to as “population reports” (POPS).  The grading services have kept meticulous records since 1986 regarding all of the coins they have seen and graded.  This is a very useful tool for the dealer, for the collector, and for the investor.

A numismaticⁱ coinⁱ can be generic or a true rarityⁱ.  The goldⁱ market would influence the value of a coin but, the coins are typically not tied to the spot priceⁱ of gold.  In most cases, the gold price influences the price of a numismatic coin.

In most cases, there is no difference between an old coinⁱ and a numismaticⁱ coin.  Condition of the coin is not a factor.  An old coin can be heavily worn, but still rare, therefore having appeal as a collectible (numismatic coin).

Obviously, collectors.  But, investors should have someone they trust to provide guidance for the selection of numismaticⁱ merchandise.

Platinum is about 30 times rarer than goldⁱ.  For every 10, gold mines around the world, there is only one mine that yields platinum.  Unlike gold and silver, where a multi-year supply has already been mined and refined, there is virtually no above-ground store of platinum.  The world uses virtually every ounce that is produced.

It is estimated that one-fifth of everything we use either contains platinum or requires platinum in its manufacture.  Among all the known modern uses of platinum, most of the annual production is consumed by two dominant categories - catalytic converters and fine jewelry.  Together, these two applications consume more than 70% of the world's supply of platinum.

Platinum is an absolutely, essential metal in industry.  You must have platinum to make a catalytic converter, a jet engine, a pacemaker, and 1001 other products.  For these reasons, it is officially classified as a “strategic metal” by the U.S. government.

Of the 239 tons of platinum sold in 2006, 130 tons were used for automobile emissions control devices, 49 tons were used for jewelry, 13.3 tons were used in electronics, and 11.2 tons were used by the chemical industry as a catalyst. The remaining 35.5 tons were used in other, various, minor applications, such as electrodes, anticancer drugs, oxygen sensors, spark plugs and turbine engines.

The most common use of platinum is as a catalyst in chemical reactions. It has been employed in this application since the early 1800s, when platinum powder was used to catalyze the ignition of hydrogen. The most important application of platinum is in automobiles as a catalytic converter, which allows the complete combustion of low concentrations of unburned hydrocarbon from the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water vapor.  Platinum is also used in the petroleum industry as a catalyst in a number of separate processes.

Platinum is 60% heavier than 24-karatⁱ goldⁱ.  It has an incredibly high melting point of 3,223 degrees Fahrenheit and It is highly resistant to corrosion.

More than 90% of all platinum supplies come from South Africa and Russia.  Virtually all of the platinum mined in South Africa is committed to industrial contracts. 

The demand for platinum is essentially satisfied by the mining activities in just two regions. The Bushveld Complex, which is just north of South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, produce more than two thirds of the annual platinum supply. The Noril’sk-Talnakh region in the extreme north of Siberia in Russia supplies most of the rest.  Russia is the only nation with significant stocks of platinum and many believe that these may be running out.

Despite platinum being a sister metal to goldⁱ and silver, platinum does not have a history of being used as money, as have gold and silver.

Yes.  In 1997, the U.S. Mintⁱ added Platinum Eagles to complement its Goldⁱ Eagles and Silver Eagles.  In 1998, the first full year of production, 133,000 1-oz Platinum Eagles were minted.

Bars are available in a variety of sizes: 1 oz., 5 oz. 10 oz., kilos, 100 oz. and 400 oz. bars.  There are weight increments that differ from this list in other countries, such as India-Tola , or Europe-Gramⁱ bars.  We generally suggest smaller size bars (1 oz.) because they provide the greatest flexibility for liquidation.

Yes.  It has always been and remains the policy of the Perth Mintⁱ to cover all metal sales to clients with immediate and like purchases from counterparties.  At no time has the Perth Mint’s metal liabilities to depository clients exceeded its metal assets.

No, the Perth Mintⁱ has never used futuresⁱ markets or derivative transactions to hedge or offset its metal liabilities to depositors.

The PMCP has an AAA Standard and Poor designation.

Yes.  The PMCP is accredited by the London Bullionⁱ Market Association, the New York Commodities Exchange, and the Tokyo Commodities Exchange.

Certificates are replaced by filing a Lost Certificate Declaration Form.  Please contact you’re ASI representative at 800-831-0007 (U.S. and Canada) or 301-881-8600 for assistance.

The Perth Mintⁱ is subject to an annual audit by the Auditor-General of Western Australia as well as rigorous audits by its internal auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Yes.  This flexible optionⁱ is one of the distinct advantages of the Perth Mintⁱ Certificate Program. Owners can surrender any portion of the Certificate as long as they continue to meet the established minimums. With payment of an additional Certificate fee, a new Certificate will be issued for the remainder of your precious metals in storage.

The Perth Mintⁱ Certificate is extremely easy to liquidate.  There are a couple of options available.

The mint can buy back the metal on your certificates based on the current market price of the metals, minus the commission or the owner can take physical deliveryⁱ of the metals represented on the Certificate after paying fabrication costs. 

A creditor can have no claims against your precious metals since clear title is assigned on the certificate.

The Perth Mintⁱ warrants the precise unit or interest in precious metals that is assigned by each certificate.  The Perth Mint warrants the quantity and authenticity of the bullion coins, and warrants the hallmarkⁱ, purity and weight of bullionⁱ bars.

Finally, the Perth Mint verifies the receipt of the specific unit or interest in a pool of precious metals (for unallocated storage) through the issuance of a certificate showing exactly what precious metals are stored on your behalf.

The precious metals represented by the Perth Mint Certificate are obtained directly from the refinery for bullion bars, and are produced right at the Perth Mint in the case of diverse Australian bullion coin products.

If you purchase unallocated coins and bars, you must pay the quoted fabrication charges at the time of purchase.  In the case of a purchase of unallocated bullionⁱ, you only have title to precious metal, as it is an unfabricated form.  If deliveryⁱ is required, you will need to pay fabrication charges for your requested product.  Accordingly, if you do not intend to take physical delivery of your precious metal, then buying unallocated bullion is the best optionⁱ because the initial cost per ounce is lower.  Unallocated bullion does not require a larger minimum investment (US $10,000).

Allocated storage refers to storage of client precious metal on a segmented (segregated) basis.  The precious metals stored at the Perth Mintⁱ are recorded on the Perth Mint Certificate.  In this type of storage, the client's precious metal products are stored separately in a sealed, safe deposit box that is specifically assigned to the client via the Perth Mint Certificate.  There are annual storage fees charged for allocated storage as well as fabrication fees.

Unallocated storage refers to a specific quantity of precious metals on an unsegmented (unsegregated) basis, which are owned by the client, but is part of a larger pool of precious metals stored at the Perth Mint.  This quantity of precious metals is recorded on the Perth Mint Certificate.  Perth Mint has an obligation to deliver the recorded amount of precious metal upon request of the client with two weeks prior notice.  A fabrication fee is applicable at the time of deliveryⁱ.

Absolutely not!  This entirely flexible program allows you to tailor your precious metals storage to whatever amount suits your individual needs.

In addition to the purchase of the precious metals, there is a U.S. $50.00 certificate fee regardless of the size of the certificate.  For allocated storage only, there is a prepaid storage fee of 1.5% for goldⁱ and platinum, 2½% for silver per annum.  The only other fee is the ASI’s commission.

The Perth Mintⁱ Certificate Program offers investors the optionⁱ of holding all the major precious metals: Goldⁱ, Silver and Platinum.  Precious metals storage in coins or bars MUST be on an allocated basis.

The Perth Mintⁱ Certificate is available to individual investors through an Approved Dealer Network maintained and certified by the Perth Mint, much like the purchase of physical precious metals for deliveryⁱ.  Just call your ASI representative at 800-831-0007 (U.S. and Canada) or 301-881-8600 to ask questions or to place an order over the telephone.

We believe, anytime you are investing in precious metals for the purpose of asset protection is a good time to purchase a Perth Mintⁱ Certificate.  Waiting for the market to dip is an exercise for a short-term investor, not an investor seeking to protect their wealth.

The Perth Mintⁱ is located in Perth, in Western Australia.  Western Australia is an attractive geographical location for storing precious metals.  It is one of Australia’s wealthiest states and is politically and economically stable.

A Perth Mintⁱ Certificate is a document assigning clear title to precious metals stored on either an allocated or an unallocated basis with the Perth Mint.  The document is registered to the owner, and it is referenced by client name and Certificate number. Perth Mint's records additionally reference a client number to ensure confidentiality and security.

A Perth Mint Certificate is non-negotiable; however, ownership is transferable. You may sell or transfer your right, title, or interest in your precious metals to anyone you choose.

The Perth Mintⁱ is a division of Goldⁱ Corporation, wholly owned by the Western Australian Government.  The Perth Mint was established in 1899 to refine the gold from the Western Australian gold rush and mint sovereigns for the British Empire.

Australia is the world's third largest gold producer and the Perth Mint refines approximately 6.7% of world’s mine production each year. Through its legal tenderⁱ Bullion Coins, The Perth Mint has established a formidable reputation as a leader in international precious metal investment.

With the instability of our financial markets, and growing fear of hyper inflation, we believe it is likely that premiums on bags of junk silver will continue to rise.  Although it is unlikely refineries are still melting down bags of junk silver, supply is still dwindling and premium will continue to go up.

In this hyper inflation scenario, where paper money has lost its value, junk silver would be used to barter.  The value of a junk silver coinⁱ would be determined by the silver market at the time of the purchase.

Bars are available in a variety of sizes: 1 oz., 5 oz. 10 oz., kilos, 100 oz. and 400 oz. bars.  There are weight increments that differ from this list in other countries, such as India-Tola , or Europe-Gramⁱ bars.  We generally suggest smaller size bars (1 oz.) because they provide the greatest flexibility for liquidation.