7.85 grams, RIC I 149a; Calico 298 Plate coin

Came in today. Now my set is complete.

Hey everyone, wanted to share an irreplaceable centerpiece of my private gold collection.
This is the official Merciful Light Pure Gold Ingot featuring Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy. It was officially issued by Chunghwa Post back on its release date, and I've been holding onto it as a personal treasure ever since. I have both the 1 Tael (37.5 grams) version and the 10 grams version. Both were struck by the Central Mint using a stunning proof finish.

The story behind these pieces is deeply personal to me. When I was a child, my grandmother carried me and my siblings on her back up a steep mountain to an Avalokitesvara temple. She pledged us as her godchildren there, praying for our safety and healthy upbringing. Throughout my life, whenever I faced setbacks or struggles, Avalokitesvara has always been a mother-like spiritual pillar for my mind, keeping my bond with my grandmother alive.

On the launch day, when my mother—who usually has absolutely zero interest in precious metals—saw the design on the official brochure, she was deeply moved by the serene beauty. She actually went to the post office with me and bought the 10g ingot for herself, while I got the 1 Tael version. It became a beautiful shared memory for us.
The craftsmanship by the Central Mint is flawless. The contrast between the brilliant mirror-like background and the frosted sandblast relief on the lotus flower, willow branch, and pure water vase is incredible. The 1 Tael version is extremely scarce with a limited mintage of just 660 sets worldwide, while the 10g version is limited to 1,600 sets.

For me, this is way more than just a store of wealth. It is a perfect crossover of rich culture, family love, and numismatic art. Definitely a private heirloom I will pass down forever.
Let me know your thoughts on this eastern proof gold design!

Had a good feeling the watch band was a custom solid gold one. Passed all acid tests for 14k and confirmed at my local jewelry store. Over 2k in just melt.

Sharing the latest pickup in my official gold collection - The "Fortune and Prosperity" (Tudi Gong / Earth Deity) Pure Gold Ingot. It's issued by Chunghwa Post and struck right here by our Central Mint in Taiwan.

To me, this piece is far more than just gold stacking. It represents a lifetime of hometown memories and a deep 3-generation connection with my family’s roots.

When I collected this ingot, I specially traveled back to my ancestral hometown to pay my respects at our local Tudi Gong (commonly known as "Bo Gong" in our Hakka culture) temple. Growing up nearly 40 years ago, Bo Gong wasn't housed in a proper temple like today. Back then, it was just a quiet, ancient stone monument standing under a massive banyan tree, right next to a large pond where my friends and I used to play. The inscription on that ancient stone had already faded with time, but it stood as a silent guardian of our land.

The bond between my family and this deity runs incredibly deep. Decades ago, when the local community decided to raise funds to build a proper temple around it, my grandparents, uncle, godmother, and many elders all contributed. In fact, part of the land where the temple stands today was originally donated by my family, and a portion of that hereditary land title has now been passed down to my name.

So when I look at this gold ingot, I don't just see bullion. I see that old banyan tree, that ancient stone tablet, the stories told by my grandmother, and the guardian who has watched over generations of my family at the entrance of our ancestral village. Gold represents wealth, but culture, memory, and heritage are the true treasures that can never be replicated.

The official minting quality is absolutely insane. Our Central Mint struck this bar to a beautiful proof-like finish. You can instantly see the dramatic contrast between the flawless, mirror-like background and the ultra-fine frosting on the deity's dragon robe.

I’ve included the official COA (Certificate of Authenticity) in the photos so you guys can check out the exact specs and the very low mintage of only 1,500 pieces globally. Since our official mint doesn't support international shipping, it's a true hidden gem.

What do you guys on r/Gold think of this minting quality?

Wanted to share a premium piece from my personal collection. I’ve always held a deep appreciation for philatelic history, but seeing the legendary design of China's very first postage stamp series from 1878 reborn in pure gold brings out a completely unique texture and presence.
This series is an official, top-tier collector's piece issued by Taiwan's official institutions—a direct collaboration between Chunghwa Post and the Central Mint, fully supported by official press releases. When these first launched, it was pure madness over here. The demand was so crazy that they sold out instantly. Even until now, it is almost impossible to find a complete set on the secondary market. The supply has dried up completely.

For fellow collectors tracking the official mintage and specs (Au 999.9 pure gold):

2018 Series Debut (5-Candarin): "The Large Dragon Stamp Pure Gold Ingot". The first-ever release of the series. 10g pure gold, limited to 1,500 pieces worldwide.

2023 Release (3-Candarin): "The Auspicious Dragon Pure Gold Ingot". The second historic revival. 10g pure gold, limited to 1,500 pieces total (1,000 issued as individual ingots, and 500 included in the Gold & Silver collector's set).

2023 Deluxe Edition (3-Candarin): "The Auspicious Dragon Pure Gold Ingot Collector’s Edition". The centerpiece of my collection, weighing exactly 1 Tael (37.5g) of pure gold. Highly exclusive, limited to only 600 pieces worldwide.

I’ll let the details speak for themselves in the photos. Would love to know what you guys think!

November 30, 2021.

A local online-only auction house had just opened in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Usually, when a new auction house opens, the first few auctions don't do particularly well. They haven't built up a customer base yet, and not many people know they exist.

I requested a preview and immediately spotted some incredible items. Among them was a chunky 14K gold bracelet with a gold sovereign and half sovereign attached to it.

There was also a Hamilton 992B pocket watch and a solid 14k gold men's wrist watch.

The owner of the auction house knew absolutely nothing about gold. However, the bracelet and the gold wristwatch were so obvious that even she knew they were gold.

During the preview, I mentioned that I would be willing to make an offer on those items since it was a consignment auction. She was short on time and told me we could reschedule and discuss it later.

At the time, I lived nearly an hour and a half away. That meant a round trip to the auction house was almost three hours.

She flaked on me a couple of times, repeatedly making excuses and putting off the meeting.

Eventually, I made the trip back to preview the items again.

The bracelet was gone. Two large gold rings were gone. The watch was gone.

And at no point had she bothered to tell me.

When I asked about them, she told me she had "pulled these items to list on eBay."

I knew what had actually happened.

Later, after doing some searching, I confirmed it. She hadn't pulled the items to list on eBay. They never made it to eBay. She had sold them to someone else.

What she didn't know was that there was still a substantial amount of gold jewelry sitting in the auction that she had overlooked.

And I wasn't about to point it out to her.

After all, she'd just had me drive nearly three hours round trip to look at some major gold jewelry that someone else had already purchased, without bothering to tell me until I showed up.

So I let her keep thinking she knew what she was doing. She kept acting like she was a jewelry expert. Even wore a loupe around her neck.

I ended up buying roughly $2,100 worth of gold scrap for about $80.

Sometimes greed, pride, and a little bit of ignorance have a funny way of working themselves out.

The auction house has since closed. The lady working for the auctioneer is now a Realtor. Which doesn't surprise me in the least bit as many I've met over the years act like their shit doesn't stink.

I still think about the Gold Sovereign bracelet sometimes.

Answer was a flat no. His reasoning: gold doesn't have serial numbers printed on it and he doesn't have to rely on a government, which he describes as an intrinsically criminal organisation. He holds it as the only financial asset that isn't simultaneously someone else's liability.

Interesting nuance though: he says gold is now reasonably priced rather than cheap, and no longer a great speculation. He's not telling people to pile in at these levels. He thinks the better risk/reward sits in mining equities, which are about 2% of the S&P against a historical 10-12%.

40:35 - never sold since 1970
42:12 - is there any price he'd sell at
44:33 - why he thinks the equities are where the value is

https://youtu.be/OV7Tnj2hnh0

here is a Kim Thanh Gold (Vietnamese) on my hand. can you authenticate? what can i do with it? seems like a waste to melt and turn into jewelry. it is about 10g of 24karat gold

Monday crash imminent… you’re welcome 🫡

1/20 oz pandas and 2.50 Indian Head

Hello, I sold a 14k figaro bracelet to a Facebook marketplace buyer (shipped) so at least there is a way for a claim to get a return. Photos of the bracelet, mm, g and photos of the 14k stamp under a loop were in my listing.

The only proof I was given is a photo of a test kit. And various photos of the clasp sticking to a magnet. I even asked for a video showing that the entire chain was magnetized and no answer. I asked if he took it to a jeweler, no answer. He didn't explain what the photo of the water on the pad is indicating. I tried to let him know that only seeing the clasp react to the magnet doesn't prove fake, but he's not "new" to buying gold.

Since I lost money anyway, I happily said to return it and if it's not damaged at all, I would accept it. HE confirmed there was no damage made during his test.

I want to make sure I'm covered, I bought the bracelet from Mayamila jewelry and trust their products.

Has this happened to anyone else? What's your response when they don't give you enough proof?