Precious Metal Dilemmas - 10/09/2025

I am in the accumulation / fortress phase and it's happening quite fast.

I think, because I get paid weekly on a Wednesday, then at the weekend I allocate funds for the playbook strategy, then on Monday I've committed to a midday GILT Buy, then a couple days later it's Wednesday again and I've been paid - the cycle is quite quick. Before I know it, it's the weekend and I am allocating again, waiting for Monday to roll around for the next GILT buy order to be placed.

It is becoming an almost frictionless well oiled machined and executing these moves is painless.

As my previous blog update reveals, I am not spending even though my primary account is seeing a fairly large chunk of my weekly earnings vanish. Reallocation and seeing pots grow elsewhere is offering me peace of mind that I still have that money and it's actually doing a better job where I am sending it to work.

The interests on the cash ISA isn't fantastic but it's better than a bank. Not only is it better I see the growth in a shorter timeframe. The GILT investment is less about seeing growth, but what I do see is that there is a slight increase in value, but over the long term the plan is that is just helps me beat inflation.

My SIPP is a little slower since it only receives monthly payments, but even with the small amount I've already allocated, I see growth there too.

I know these positive numerical values I am seeing may bot be sustained forever and there will be a time when I will see that what I've paid in in more than what is showing on screen, but that's okay. I've already got my head in the game and I am mentally prepared for the ebb and flow. All that matters at this time is that I remain committed; the rest will fall into place over time. 

Precious Metals Checklist & Discipline Model

I need to begin asking questions about my precious metal investments. Just with shopping for stocks and shares, picking the right broker, picking the right allocations and so on, I need to know what I am doing when it comes to picking the right vendor and denomination of precious metals.

1. Pre-Purchase Checklist (Decision Flow)

✅ Choose Government-Backed Coins

  • Prioritise UK Sovereigns (Full/Half) or Britannia (CGT-free).

  • Stick to pre-owned for better premiums (reputable vendors only).

  • Date does not matter for bullion value (unless collecting).

✅ Verify Fineness & Authenticity

  • Full & half sovereigns = 22ct (91.67% gold) – this is normal and accepted.

  • Britannia post - 2013 = 24ct (99.99% gold) – slightly more gold, but premiums are often similar.

  • Buy from vetted dealers (Gold Bank London, Atkinsons, Chards, BBP).

✅ Price Shop

  • Compare spot + premium across 2–3 dealers on the same day.

  • Look for free delivery or special offers on pre-owned bullion.

✅ Decide Quantity & Denomination

  • ✅ Smaller denominations (half sovereigns) = better liquidity, easier to sell portions.

  • ✅ Larger denominations (1oz coin) = lower premium per gram, but harder to sell piecemeal.

  • Pick what fits your long-term plan for liquidity.

2. Buying Cadence

  • Quarterly buys often hit the sweet spot:

    • Allows you to build a decent £500–£1,000 order.

    • Reduces shipping costs per gram.

    • Gives you more choice (dealers have wider stock when you buy a few at once).

  • If you enjoy monthly buying for motivation — just keep to one consistent rule and don’t chase dips obsessively.

3. Post-Purchase Checklist

✅ Log the Buy (spreadsheet or tracker)

  • Date, quantity, coin type, price per gram, vendor.
    ✅ Store Securely

  • Home safe OR insured vault (Royal Mint or dealer storage).
    ✅ Update Portfolio View

  • Add to your “tangible wealth” line so it’s included in your net worth.

4. Quarterly/Annual Review

  • Review metal allocation % in your overall plan.

  • If you’ve accumulated a lot of small coins, you may later consolidate into larger coins or bars to reduce premiums (optional).

  • Decide how excess cash (e.g. pay rises) will be split across:

    • 🏦 Cash ISA

    • 📈 S&S ISA

    • 🪙 Metals

    • 👴 Pension

    • 🎉 Lifestyle/Experiences

Having this quarterly “cash council” meeting keeps you in control and aligned with your goals — just like your rebalancing rules for other assets.

5. Keep It Simple (Golden Rule)

  • Don’t get lost in rarity dates, collectible series, or numismatic traps.

  • Your aim is wealth preservation, not rare coin speculation.

  • Stick to the format you choose — same coin type, same dealers, same cadence.

The instinct to make this a concrete, repeatable model is absolutely correct. Discipline beats cleverness over time — and by standardising how you buy, you remove decision fatigue and keep this part of the plan frictionless.


So this will form the core of my precious metal buying strategy and it will be around Christmas or the new year when I make my first purchase.

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