Mental Mind Stuff

Gold Facts Your Didn’t Know

Gold has been around with us for at least 4,000 years and it has probably held a fascination for mankind for as long as he’s been around.  Gold is a beautiful metal and its appearance and rarity have made it highly desirable, but here are a few facts about gold you probably never knew!

1. The space shuttle relies on gold electronic circuitry to work in space – without gold electronic components the Shuttle would never get off the ground!

2. If you gathered all the gold in the world together, you would have a cube approximately 70 feet square, in fact you could fit all of the gold ever produced in the world into a medium sized house, but you’d need extremely strong foundations and floors!

3. One ounce of gold can be turned into a thread over 50 miles long!

4. Gold is drunk and eaten – ask for a Goldschlagger next time you hit the bar, but beware, gold is highly toxic if it gets into your bloodstream!

5. Gold is used as a painkiller – a gold salt can be dissolved in a solution and this was the standard pain relief for those suffering from arthritis until the early 20th Century, though it is still used today as a treatment of last resort forsufferers!

6. Since 2005, gold has beaten Google as an investment – back then gold and Google shares were the same value but in 2009, gold hit over $1,000 an ounce, and Google didn’t!

7. Native American Indians believed that by eating gold, they would be able to fly with the eagles, hence the name “Golden Eagle”.

8. Over 80% of the total gold on the earth is still in the ground!

9. Gold is believed to have been first mined 4,500 years ago in Ancient Egypt in a region known as Nubia;

10. In 1925, Lord Carter and his team discovered Tutankhamen’s Tomb – the coffin was made from pure gold!

11. Even the most efficient gold mining operation in the world needs to mine 400 tons of earth and rock to get just 30 tons of ore which will produce just one ounce of gold!

12. Gold was one of the three gifts given to baby Jesus, along with frankincense and myrhh, because there were three types of present, people assume there are only “Three Wise men” or kings – in fact the Bible doesn’t say how many Wise Men there actually were!

13. California may have had the famous Gold Rushes starting in 1848, but the Tar Heel State of North Carolina has the distinction of being home to the first gold rush way back in 1803!

14. “Fool’s Gold” or pyrites is frequently confused for real gold but it smells of rotten eggs when it is struck with a flint because of the iron sulfide which makes it up.

15. Gold is referred to more than any other element in the Bible!

16. Gold along with copper, are the oldest metals known to man;

17. Gold inflation is the underlying cause of the fall of the Ancient Roman Empire – not enough gold could be produced to pay the Roman army or to bribe the invaders from the German plain to keep them from attacking;

18. Gold icons produced by the Byzantines were destroyed by the newly established church in the 4th Century – this gave rise to the term, “iconoclast” or destruction of the icons;

19. Drinking molten gold was thought to cure the Black Death in Europe during the Middle Ages, it was also a means of putting to death a traitor who was related to the royal family;

20. Alchemists tried in vain to turn lead into gold, but in their efforts to do so, they laid the foundation for the modern science of chemistry upon which we all depend today.

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Good Reasons To Convert Your Gold To Cash

With the economy continuing to lag and the national unemployment rate edging to 10%, a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. Even those who still have a job are being forced to cut back on their monthly budget. Raises and other performance incentives have all but evaporated. Many people have a generous store of gold hiding in their attics, basements, and dresser drawers. Some have jewelry. Others have old fillings. Still others have collected gold trinkets that serve little to no useful purpose. Here are three good reasons why you may want to convert your scrap gold to cash:

#1 – Take Advantage Of The High Price

Think back to the last time the price of gold was as high as it has been this year. It has been decades. There has not been a better time in recent history to sell your gold items. A ring that was worth $100 several years ago may be worth $250 today. The same may be true of your earrings, watches, and other belongings that are collecting dust. It’s difficult to know what will happen to the price per troy ounce next year. Sell now and take advantage of it while it’s historically high.

Sell Gold
Sell Silverware
Sell Coins
Sell Platinum

#2 – Take Advantage Of Better Investment Opportunities

What is the most memorable investment adage that you remember? “Buy low, sell high.” A lot of people are looking at the crumbling real estate market and realizing it is a buyer’s market. The same is true for hundreds of stocks. Meanwhile, the run-up in the price of gold has made many investors nervous. They’re selling which will eventually bring the price downward. Now may be the time to sell your gold jewelry, fillings, and scrap, and put your money into investments that have more potential. A year from now, you may wish you had.

#3 – Quick Cash Infusion

Unexpected expenses can ruin your monthly budget. Millions of people are looking at their cars, refrigerators, and other items wondering how they’re going to repair or replace them. Others have experienced medical problems that have resulted in large hospital bills. Many of these people have little to no room on their credit cards. If you’re in a similar situation, selling your gold at today’s prices can provide a much needed cash infusion.

It may help you avoid borrowing money from your bank or friends. It can help you avoid missing your mortgage payment. You might have gold coins and other pieces that you can convert to cash almost immediately.

With the price of gold reaching levels that the world hasn’t seen in decades and the economy gasping for breath, now may be the perfect time to sell. By doing so, you’ll be following the timeless investment maxim “buy low, sell high.” In the process, you’ll receive valuable cash flow that you can use for other high-potential investments or to pay off lingering bills.

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Internet Gold Scams – Be On the Lookout!

No matter where you look, on the TV, radio, in the newspaper and especially on the internet you will hear – Sell Your Old Gold!

Unfortunately, all that glistens is not gold and there are plenty of Fool’s Gold proposition out there at the moment!

We are not trying to put you off realizing the value you have in your old gold and jewelry items – far from it – it makes a great deal of sense to sell your old gold and silver items because prices are so historically high right now. You do need to be careful when it comes to doing business with a recycling gold refiner because there are plenty of scams and examples of sharp market practice which will result in either a greatly reduced price being achieved or in some unfortunate instances – no money at all!

When you consider selling your old gold, look for the following indicators which will give you confidence that you are dealing with a reputable and credible company.

• Gold prices are indicated – a reputable gold recycler will publish their gold buying prices and allow you to compare the price with other companies looking for your business;

• Verify the company’s existence – look on the website and find their physical mailing address and location, they should also have a telephone number as well as an email address;

• Insured prepaid mailing kits – make sure there is a minimum of $1,000 of insurance which comes with the mailing kit; and

• Better Business Ratings – an established company

will have a history and a track record; having Better Business Ratings will also confirm the bona fides of the company you are doing business with.
There are also some hints and tips for making sure you get the full value from your items which you should bear in mind when selling old gold.

Always remove precious gems such as diamonds and emeralds. Usually, the refiner is only paying you for the weight of the gold you have and not for the “additional” items such as the precious stones which nevertheless, are valuable in their own right. You should also remember that it is not only the weight of the gold but the purity of it which defines the value, a small weight of pure gold is worth more than a heavier gold piece which has a lower carat value. Take your pieces to an independent assayer and obtain a valuation or estimation so you know you are getting a realistic price for your old jewelry.

You should also review the company payment options. Fast payouts are fine if you are looking for emergency cash now, but you should carefully review the fine print to make sure you are getting all the money you expect to be receiving and that there are no hidden fees or charges which will deflate the check when it comes. A reputable company will provide a fast turnaround in paying you and will entertain a variety of payment mechanisms to suit your requirements.

If you have old gold or old sliver for sale, use a reputable source like http://www.refinity.com

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