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Jon Clarke

Bullion & Economics Editor

After 13 years in the travel industry and a further 13 in hospitality, Jon joined our marketing team in July 2020 after completing a BA(Hons) degree in Economics. With a keen interest in the Austrian School of Economics and their understanding of business cycles, Jon is fully aware of gold’s importance in a market economy, and tries to emphasise this in the articles he writes.

Is it Time to End VAT on Investment Silver?

10 Feb 2022

Now that Estonia’s VAT-free silver law is due to end on the 1st July 2022, is it time for the UK to become more competitive and reduce or even scrap VAT on silver?

What Has More Value? Gold or Bitcoin?

6 Dec 2021

Value is subjective. But even the most hardened crypto "HODLers" and goldbugs can see the value in holding minimal amounts of £s and $s to pay bills and taxes.

2022 Proof Sovereign Release

9 Nov 2021

Today marks the release of the 2022 gold proof sovereign which, for the first time features a design of the Royal Coat of Arms.

Stagflation

20 Oct 2021

Until the 1960s and 1970s, economic thinking maintained that inflation and unemployment were inversely related. That was until many countries began experiencing "stagflation".

The Tudor Beasts Series

12 Oct 2021

The Royal Mint’s Tudor Beast Series began on the 7th October 2021 with the release of the 2022 Seymour Panther coin.

2022 Gold and Silver Britannia Coins

6 Oct 2021

The coming weeks will see the release of the new gold and silver Britannia coin. Here is what we can expect.

Reverse Repos Spiked in 2021 – What Does it Mean?

4 Oct 2021

Reverse Repos spiked to their highest ever levels in June 2021 and have been on a continual upward trajectory ever since. But what does this mean?

Will Evergrande Collapse?

22 Sep 2021

Will an Evergrande collapse bring another credit crunch, or will it be another example of a company "too big to fail"?

World Gold Council: China and Gold

20 Sep 2021

A report by the WGC gives an optimistic outlook on China’s jewellery market driven by pricing transparency and an increasing demand among its younger generation.

Free Delivery

5 Aug 2021

Some customers ask us why we don’t offer “free delivery” on bullion. We recently asked our customers what they would prefer and the results were surprising.

Chards' Community

13 Jul 2021

Here you can see how the Chards Team are giving back to their community through local events and fundraising.

What Does Basel III Mean for Gold and Silver?

30 Jun 2021

The new Basel III Accords are expected to have major ramifications for precious metals markets, particularly in exchanges like the LBMA and COMEX.

Top 10 Queen Elizabeth II Coins

3 Jun 2021

As we come closer to HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 95th birthday, we decided to have a look at some of our favourite coins that have been released during her reign.

The Bank of Canada Hoard

28 May 2021

When the Canadian government unloaded their gold reserves, the only coins spared were a batch of coins, which had been forgotten about for nearly a century.

New Gold Sixpence Announced

24 May 2021

A recent proclamation in The Gazette gives the specifications for two new sixpence coins. Here, we look at what we can expect from the Mint’s future release.

Music Legends Series

21 May 2021

The music legends range of coins was started in 2020 by The Royal Mint to celebrate the greatest rock bands past and present from the United Kingdom!

UK Budget 2021

9 Mar 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his latest budget, nearly 12 months after the pandemic-induced lockdowns brought the national economy to a standstill.

The Economics of Gold: Market Failure

19 Feb 2021

Market failures are used to justify increased regulation of trade. In reality, they can be attributed more to government failure or even entrepreneurial errors.

The Economics of Gold: Fiat Money

8 Feb 2021

Many “hard money” economists argue that gold and silver are both money, others argue that money is defined by the state or that it is merely a token that facilitates trade.

Biden's Inaugural Address

26 Jan 2021

Biden's first speech as president called for unity in a country divided by politics and devastated by a pandemic. His administration has a lot to address.

Is it Platinum's Time to Shine?

20 Jan 2021

2020 saw new highs for stock markets, gold and cryptocurrency. There is an argument that suggests another asset may be due a rally in 2021.

Silver and Platinum Set to Outperform Gold in 2021

19 Jan 2021

The outlook for silver and platinum looks promising over the next 12 months as a number of precious metal analysts say they both look set to outshine gold.

The Treasure Act 1996

12 Jan 2021

The Act deals with discoveries of treasure in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and legally obliges finders of treasure to declare their findings to the local coroner.

How Much is My Gold Coin Worth?

24 Nov 2020

It’s a common question and the answer depends on how you want to look at it. Intrinsic value or face value?

Gold Hits 5-Month Low After New Vaccine Announcement

23 Nov 2020

Gold dipped under £1,400 for the first time since June, after a new vaccine reports up to 90% efficacy.

Bitcoin: A Speculative Bubble?

20 Nov 2020

As Bitcoin continues on its ascent towards its 2017 record, supporters have dismissed claims of another speculative bubble, while others and as optimistic.

Gold ETFs: A Gateway into the Gold Market

19 Nov 2020

Since the introduction of the gold-backed exchange-traded fund (ETF) in 2003, they have flourished to become a popular gateway in to the global gold market.

Swiss Referendum on "Dirty Gold" Sourcing

18 Nov 2020

An upcoming vote on the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative (RBI) hopes to place responsibility of supply chains on to its multinationals.

Gold Price Forecast - How is it Measured?

17 Nov 2020

Is there a method for predicting the movement of gold and stock prices? Besides fortune telling, there is little that analysts can do to predict the future.

The Great Reset - World Economic Forum

16 Nov 2020

According to some, the COVID pandemic has provided an opportunity to rebuild the economy in a more equitable way. Is a more centralised economy the way forward?

WGC: Gold Insights into USA and Canada

13 Nov 2020

The World Gold Council (WGC) took an in-depth look in to the investment behaviour in the US and Canada and found opportunities for growth in both markets.

CGT Overhaul Could Mean Bad News for Investors

12 Nov 2020

As a way of creating revenue to cover expenditures throughout the COVID lockdown, a government report has suggested that a CGT reform could make up the shortfall.