A world of difference. Gold cannot be destroyed and won't change even after a million years. Go buried a 1 kg gold ingot and a million years later someone dig it up.... U still get the same shining ingot of gold; I can't say the same for your baseball cards and postage stamps.
With diminishing availability, price of baseball cards and postage stamps will only appreciate. Over 85% of gold mined remain in circulation, availability or supply is increasing every year.
guys, as gold investors i would encourage read up both Mike Maloney's and Jim Rickards resource.
Mike Maloney's has a simple presentation at 'hidden secrets of money'. Google that.
Jim Rickards, the author of the 'Death of Money', is a good source of reference also.
Both no need buy, just look up internet resources about them.
Due to that US could not raise interest rate, there is no means the Fed (US) is able to conduct contractionary monetary policy.
The US debt is a staggering $18,000,000,000,000 now... the point is, the debt is not decreasing, nor does US has any foreseeable plan to repay their debt.
The loss of confidence of major market players, i.e., EU, Russia, China, Japan, India are now looking for an alternative instead of letting US printing their way to prosperity. Google AAIB, CIPS....both are new banking systems trying to rival World Bank and IMF.
Correct me if my facts are wrong =)
On a side note, i am buying silver too. Historically it shows 16:1 gold silver price ratio, as of writing it is an awesome 73:1....
On another side note, pay close attention to possible collapse of petrodollar system =)
Unlike gold, silver has industrial usage. Gold is more likely over priced than silver under priced.