Talk:Gold reserves of the United Kingdom

Numismatics: British currency Mid‑importance

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1940 figure[edit]

The figure for 1940 seems to be an order of magnitude bigger than the numbers before and after, but the 1945 figure is shown as an increase over 1940. Does someone have the correct figure? — Preceding unsigned comment added by I Hate Banner adds (talk • contribs) 16:56, 24 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It does look odd. I've checked the references and it is the figure which is published in here on page 17. So if it is a typo, its not a transcription error from the reference to WP. Thinking logically, with a little speculation, it could simply be a case that the UK was buying lots of gold in order to finance the war. The government was issuing War Bonds in the form of the National Savings Movement which by 1946 was raising £105,000 per week from ordinary citizens. Therefore funds may have been put into gold as a tradable commodity, would be interesting to find out and if true tie the two articles together. But it would mean doing a little research to prove either way. ThinkingTwice ^{contribs | talk} 17:33, 24 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sale of Gold Reserves 1970-71[edit]

Between 1970-71 the Bank of England sold nearly half of our gold reserves. Just like the Brown sell-off it was sold at a historic low of about $42.5/oz in October 1971. Only a year later it was worth $65/oz.

As Catherine R. Schenk says in her book about the global gold market: “Picking the right time for portfolio changes is clearly challenging”

A gold-plated understatement if we've ever heard one. [Citation for above text needed from Daily Mirror 1 MAY 2015]