>>> That is possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, and I've traded quite a bit of physical gold (I think you went to a shady place
).
I agree it's ridiculous to pay me less because of a scratch! I didn't even scratch the coins! They do it to cheat the customers. I guess I was young and they thought they can easily cheat me. Or then they thought I would scratch the coin because I was young. Whatever. But it was a very reputable bank, government owned and such! What a joke!
>>> gold alloy additive (some countries use copper, some aluminum, hence different colored gold).
Why don't they have 100% gold? And what is the percentage of the additive?
You didnt mention my advise: Open a gold account and trade gold there. Why would you buy the physical stuff? I don't see any advantage, unless you like it so much you want to look at it all the time...