Vials of gold flake typically hold no gold or low grade gold that disappears in an acid test or disintegrates to near nothing if melted.
Look at the opening bid here, $250, with the caption: “100 large 4″ vials gold flakes. Much taller and wider than ebay vials. Gold quality varies. Not for melting.”
EBay has been notorious in selling these near worthless vials of gold. It’s not fool’s gold (pyrite) but fools do buy it thinking they are going to make a fortune.
Gold flake like this is used in food decoration.
(NOTE: Of course, we do not encourage anyone to eat gold flakes sold on Proxibid or to use them as food coloring. There is a reason: We cannot know if the contents are really gold or mixed with an alloy or some other base metal. Pure gold is inert and will pass through the body. Alloys aren’t. Click here for more information.)
See this eBay guide for additional information.
Auctioneers shouldn’t offer it; bidders shouldn’t buy it. That’s our recommendation.
Proxiblog is an independent entity with no connection to the auction portal Proxibid. Our intent is to uphold basic numismatic standards as established by the American Numismatic Association and the National Auctioneer Association and to ensure a pleasurable bidding experience not only on Proxibid but also on similar portals such as iCollector and AuctionZip.
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There is a company contacting auction houses to sell their coins. When you get their “coins” it is these vials, and fake gold bars. There are lower tier graded coins and other trash coins that they inflated the value of by over 1,000% Oh, they also included some arrow heads with stickers of over $200.00 and you could tell they where the modern ones you find in stores catering to tourists. We declined to sell their fakes and false hype! Did not know that the gold was food decoration. Good to know! Thank you for this post
Thank you as always for sharing your information. It is very important, and you have helped others. Here is an article about gold flake as food decoration: http://candy.about.com/od/candyglossary/g/What-Is-Edible-Gold-Leaf.htm
This eBay seller offers vials for decorating: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-mL-Glass-Vial-of-Beautifal-Gold-Leaf-Flake-/121321807070?_trksid=p2054897.l5663
Of course, we do not encourage anyone to eat gold flakes sold on Proxibid or to use them as food coloring. There is a reason: We cannot know if the contents are really gold or mixed with an alloy or some other base metal. Pure gold is inert and will pass through the body. Alloys aren’t. See: http://goldleaf.onlinenichestores.com/edible_gold_info
Thanks again for viewing Proxiblog!