It is not "pure gold" I was working on it last night I found out that they are gold and silver alloy. I have to be very careful in buying gold coins which claims gold - like the Mixican or Latin American gold. I have to know how much silver and other metal "percent" mixture.

Case in point are the Chinese zodiacs sold in Chinatown Toronto, New York City and Philadelphia - the only city gold jeweler I trust are the one in Chinatown New York City - they charge you the current gold market price, they give you a certificate of the mix and with the guarantee for life. In New York City - there are 3 or more free "appraisers" to check what the item is actually made of and compare it with the store certificate and then they stamp your certificate with their approval after a good physical inspection. This is one reason that NYC jewelers are very popular and reliable.

In these cities that I mentioned you can buy "pure gold" rings, necklaces and others in "24k" - but I think the US regulates the use of 24k, that's why you have lower k down to the most popular 18k in department stores.

In most Asian countries like Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and few others family heirloms are all in 24k - they hoard them in gold which to them the only thing that appreciate in value for dowries and other purposes. Thousands of lives were saved and lost during the height of the exodus of the "Asian boat people" fleeing during the Vietnam war. The boat owners demanded payment only in gold bar not in paper currency which were useless "joker money" or "monkey money" as they were called locally.

The refugees who are here in the US can tell you the horrible stories and incidents once you gain their confidence - the "killing fields" are nothing compared to the undocumented individual familie sufferings. Families were asked to choose which one to die because there is not enough space on the boat -left behind. Most of the time I heard the father, the elder sister or brother would give the space to the younger siblings.

The few stories of gold.