Department store Selfridges is encouraging shoppers to buy their extremely expensive £1,000 ($1,500) Easter eggs in the hope they will gain value.

How? Because each of these exorbitantly priced eggs will contain a gold coin which the store considers to be of good investment value.

A Selfridges spokesman said: “According to the financial institution Swiss bank UBS, demand for gold will double this year compared to 2007”

Gold has performed spectacularly well over the last three years, doubling in value to nearly $1,000 an ounce, though it has been very volatile over the last year.

Historically, gold has performed well during financial crises because investors believe it is one of the few commodities to hold its value during inflationary bubbles.

Ewan Venters, director of food and drink at Selfridges, said: “It really is worth its weight in gold – even after the fantastic chocolate has been eaten.”

For those unconvinced by the investment returns offered by the coin, can console themselves with the knowledge that the egg is made by one of London’s finest chocolate companies, Melt, which supplies many of the leading restaurants such as the River Cafe with their chocolates.

Anyone interested in the egg will have it made to order by Melt’s head chocolatier Chika Watanabe using a choice of single origin Venezuelan, Madagascan, Colombian or Caribbean chocolate.

The egg is decorated with 18 carat gold leaf and filled with Melt’s award winning sea salted caramels.

Source: Telegraph