Last updated May 21, 2009

In the US:
 

Company	Stout Gold and Silver	Rocklin Coin Shop	The Tulving Company	R.J. O’Brien & Associates
Postal Address	2300 W. 7th Amarillo, TX 79106	4870 Granite Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677	P.O. Box 6200, Newport Beach, CA 92658	222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60606
Phone	806-374-8698	530-913 4359  (Breana)  530-913 0553 (Janelle)	714-545-3030 (Int’l)	312-373-5385 (Direct) 800-453-4494 (toll free)
Contact	Tom Stout	Jason Hommel (owner)	Mr. Hannes Tulving	Joe Nikruto
E-mail	N/A	silver_support1@vzw.blackberry.net	hannes@tulving.com	Jnikruto@rjofutures.com
Web site	N/A	http://rocklincoinshop.com/	http://www.tulving.com/	http://www.rjofutures.com/
Trust-worthiness	#1 b/c Jay’s dealt with them a long time	Jason is an active and vocal Christian, has Bible study information online, offers free newsletter	Jay has talked with Hannes Tulving on the phone and likes him	Jay has purchased futures from RJO and recommended them
Price (over spot)	Near market rate	Near market rate	Near market rate	Spot price
Storage	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A
Time to call from HK	9:30pm – 6am	1am – 7am	11pm – 8am	9pm – 6am
Shipping	N/A	One day after payment	1 day after payment	unknown

In Hong Kong: for gold, try Chow Sang Sang, Bank of China and Hang Seng Bank 

In other countries: Find Your Local Coin Shop (by Jason Hommel)

Products to ask for

• 90% junk silver coins (715oz of silver in 55 pound bag; usually the cheapest)
• 100oz silver Englehards
• 1 oz silver Eagles
• 1 kilogram gold bar (32 troy ounces)
• 1 oz. gold Kruggerands
• 1 oz. Canadian Maple Leafs (gold coins)
• 1 oz. Swiss gold bars

Stout Safety Depository

• Smallest box:    3” x 5” x 24” US$20/year
• Other:               3” x 10” x 24” US$40/year
                          5” x 10” x 24” US$50/year …
• Largest:            11” x 16” x 24” US$125/year (3 cubit feet)

Notes:

• Avoid storing more than 50% in one place

• Be aware of growing political turmoil in Texas and other US states due to unhappiness with the Federal government’s handling of financial and security matters.  In the event of violence, the safety depository may not be safe.

Measuring Weight

Gold and silver are normally measured in troy ounces not normal avoirdupois ounces (used for measuring normal things).  Also, note that there are different measures for taels.  Chow Sang Sang uses 1 tael = 37.429 grams.  It may be slightly different in Guangzhou, Shanghai or Taipei.

1 troy oz = 31.1034768 g = 0.831 tael
1.20337 troy oz. = 37.429 grams = 1 tael
1.6077 troy oz = 50 grams = 1.336 tael
3.2154 troy oz. = 100 grams = 2.672 tael

Buying gold at Chow Sang Sang

Rates on 2008.02.24

• 1 US$ = 7.76 HK$
• Chow Sang Sang's selling price = HK$9500/tael = HK$7894/oz = US$1017/oz
• Chow Sang Sang's buying price = HK$8950/tael = HK$7437/oz = US$958/oz
• London spot price US$985.6

This means you pay Chow Sang Sang 3.2% over spot price when you buy, and you receive 2.8% less when you sell.
In addition to that, you have to pay 2% service fee plus $300/bar labor fee when you buy.  I don't know about selling.
The net result is that you pay about 5.2% over spot to buy, which is less than what you pay to buy silver.

• Buy one 100 gram gold bar: HK$25,384 + 507.68 +300 = $25,684
• Buy one 50 gram gold bar: HK$12,692 + 253.84 + 300 = $12,992