HSBC has launched a gold token for retail investors in Hong Kong. The token is backed by physical gold held in the bank’s London vault and is powered by distributed ledger technology. This allows for efficient and cost-effective tracking of allocated and unallocated gold holdings. The token is equivalent to 0.001 troy ounce of gold, enabling fractionalization of gold bars and direct investment by retail investors. Coindesk has further details.
China’s Gen Z Prefers to Buy Gold Beans
In recent years, young Chinese investors, particularly those from Generation Z, have shown a growing interest in purchasing gold “beans” as a form of investment. These gold beans are small, pill-sized gold products weighing around one gram and priced between 450 to 600 yuan. Each gold bean is a little larger than the casting grain utilized by jewelers. The trend has been driven by economic instability and as a way to preserve wealth in a tangible form.
Gold beans have become popular among young Chinese investors due to their affordability and the belief that gold is a safe and low-risk investment option. This trend is reflected in the surge of gold sales in China, which reached a six-year high in December 2023. Buying one or two grams per gold per week is a good way to store tangible wealth.
SWIFT Plans CBDC Roll Out in the Next Two Years
SWIFT is collaborating with Capgemini to conduct new experiments to test how they can interlink domestic CBDCs and take the next step towards seamless cross-border payments involving digital currencies. This time they are testing how SWIFT can interlink the multiple domestic-based CBDC networks emerging worldwide to make cross-border payments with CBDCs more seamless and frictionless.
This important step forward builds on the core capabilities of the SWIFT banking network and means that as CBDCs and tokens develop, they can be rapidly deployed at scale to facilitate trade and investment between more than 200 countries and territories around the world. SWIFT is trying to catch up to the efforts by BRICS countries in facilitating local currency transactions along with a return to a gold standard. TechReport.com has more details.
Recent Additions to Gold Coin Price Tracking
FindBullionPrices.com already tracks the prices of dozens of 1 oz gold coins from many trusted and reputable precious metals dealers. Additional coins have been added in recent weeks, providing additional options for investors looking for the lowest premium gold coins.
From the Royal Mint, the 2024 1 oz Beowulf and Grendel Gold Coin is part of a new series which celebrates the great battles from the poem Beowulf. Beowulf, believed to have been originally written in the 8th century is considered the highest achievement of Old English literature.
The series starts Beowulf’s heroic first tale, the battle against the swamp monster Grendel. The reverse shows the Beowulf in a defensive position with his spear at the ready, while Grendel towers above. Inscriptions are included for the year, weight, .9999 fine gold purity. The obverse of each 1 oz gold coin from the Royal Mint contains an obverse portrait of King Charles and this one is no exception and includes the face value.
The 2024 Britannia and Liberty 1 oz Gold Coin is the first issue of a new collaboration between artists and sculptures from both the Royal Mint and the US Mint. The teams worked together on the reverse design, which combines the portraits of Britannia and Lady Liberty into a single design.
Right side up, the coin shows Britannia wearing her helmet and carrying a trident in her hand. The 180 degree flip shows a modernized interpretation of lady liberty holding the flaming torch.
The Royal Mint is a government-owned mint that produces coins for the United Kingdom. It is responsible for manufacturing and distributing coins for the UK, as well as producing and selling commemorative coins and medals.
The Royal Tudor Beasts collection is continued with the 2024 Seymour Unicorn 1 oz Gold Coin. The reverse features the Seymour Unicorn, which represents the strength and purity of the union between Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. A distinct surface animation background is incorporated into the chain mail surface texture providing adding an additional point of anti-counterfeiting security.
There are many 1 oz gold coins from the Royal Mint that are highly sought after by collectors and investors because they are known for producing a wide range that includes intricate and beautiful designs, while also employing advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting and ensure authenticity.