Tips On Handling Coins Safely

Keeping coins safe and in good condition is just as important as finding and/or buying them in the first place. Most of the time, coins aren't just a straight piece of a metal. They are nearly always a combination of multiple metals (the amount of metals like gold and silver can affect the overall value of the coin) and are composed a way that might be hard to maintain. For example, pennies aren't straight pieces of copper, nor are they straight pieces of a combination. Pennies starting from 1982 are actually a zinc core with a covering of copper. Meaning, if mix an acid that only corrodes zinc, you will be left with a shell of copper. This change was made because of the varying prices of zinc and copper.One of the most important things to remember is to not wash coins too many times. Really the only time a wash is appropriate is when you give a light wash when first examining the coin, as circulated coins have passed through many hands and come in contact with a large variety of different objects and places. Not surprisingly, many diseases can be transferred by coins if care is not taken. Washing coins excessively will slowly wear away at the outside, subsequently rubbing away at the design as well. Most of the time, rusts, tarnishes, and other changes to the metal itself will not be able to be washed off, and any attempts to do so will be detrimental to the coin itself. If anything seems to be washable, it is probably removable without the use of water.To store your coins, you can either make your own display, which at best will allow contact with mere tape and cardboard, or you can purchase coin folders. Coin sleeves are also designed to keep coins safe and sound. These guys are made of vinyl and also make great coin displays. When handling coins, be careful, as excessive contact will damage the coin. It is suggested that you wear cotton gloves while handling coins and keep any contact to the coin limited to softer surfaces. Rougher surfaces will obviously scratch the coin (don't want this). In general, keep your coins exactly the way that they looked when you first received them. Chances are that any sort of change will not be a good one (it doesn't seem possible that you can improve the state of a coin). Make sure any surface that comes in contact with the coin is softer. If you're not sure, you can try to scratch a coin that has little or no extra value beyond face value; the metallic composition should have no drastic deviation from the coin at stake.

How To Start Coin Collecting

While it may seem difficult at first, coin collecting is actually a very simple hobby that can get quite interesting at times. Many beginners don't really know how to start coin collecting because there are so many different currencies and so many ways of categorizing them. On first glance, the only way to start coin collecting is to get every single coin on the planet. However, starting simpler can be done in a matter of minutes.A very popular way to start coin collecting is by collecting circulated Jefferson nickels. These guys come in 40-coin rolls and can be purchased at $2 apiece from nearly every place that can break a dollar. Start by buying 80 circulated Jefferson nickels. This will cost you a simple $4 to get started. Wash them out, but not too roughly. Sort them by decade, and then by year. Pick out the best one of each year. You're looking for the one that looks the newest. Whatever's left is still worth five cents, so you can go ahead and throw it in your wallet if you'd like. It's not uncommon that collectors go through so many rolls that they end up reinvesting doubles on more rolls. Make a grid for the nickels, and tape each one on. What's great about Jefferson nickels is that every single year (with the exception of 1943-1945) can be found in circulation.You can repeat this process for every single type of coin. Obviously, quarters will be more expensive to collect than nickels at face value, and older coins will be rarer than new ones. Whatever your choice, just pick something and go for it. Start with basic things like the date. Then, you can start categorizing by other things, like mint marks, which are marks identifying which mint the coin came from. Different mint marks can end up determining the name of the coin, like Barber Dimes, Bust Quarters, and Shield Nickels. As you can tell, there are many different types of coins that you can start collecting today.Coin collecting is a very fun hobby that will probably never end because currency is always available. There are people who have collected so many coins that the only ones left cost thousands of dollars. In fact, known as the most valuable coin in the world, a 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle was sold for $7.5 million US dollars in 2002. The largest coin collection in the world was found in a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean; it held over 500,000 gold and silver coins. Discovered in 2007, each coin is worth up to $4,000, and at least a few hundred apiece. No modern era coin collection can match up to that one. That's guaranteed.

Buy Gold Bullion coins – An Easy Method To Invest In Gold

In these gloomy economic times, more folk are looking at gold as a safer asset class than stocks and mutual funds. Investing a portion of a balanced portfolio in silver and gold could act as a hedge against inflation. Precious metals are normally not as susceptible to the same gyrations as the bond and stock markets. Typically, gold is not correlated to the stockmarket or the bondmarket. A portfolio of gold coins might add stability and value to your portfolio.One of the best ways for small investors to invest in gold is with gold coins. Gold coins are more often than not worth more compared to gold bullion bars. This is {because gold coins are more expensive to make than gold bullion bars. One benefit of gold bullion coins over gold bars is gold coins tend to build more coin collecting value over time. The reason for this is most gold coins are struck with the year on it. The older the gold coin more often than not the more coin collecting value it will build up, if it is maintained in a good condition.Here's a few of the most trendy gold bullion coinsAmerican Gold EaglesThe American Eagle gold bullion coin was first produced by the United States Mint in 1986 being authorized by 1985's Gold Bullion Coin Act. They are guaranteed by the United States government to contain the stated amount of gold in troy ounces. Legally the gold in these coins must come from sources in the U.S. It is backed by the U.S. Mint, and authorized by Congress for content and weight. It is available in 1/10 troy ounce, quarter troy ounce, 1/2 troy ounce and 1 troy ounce denominations.The reverse side features a female eagle and chicks in a nest, and above them the male holding an olive branch. The other design features Lady Liberty bearing a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, and in the left background, the Capitol building.The United States Mint also mints a proof version for numismatists. Most American Eagle gold bullion coins are manufactured at the West Point Mint in New York state and bear a W mark under the date of issue. As with all other gold coin, their actual market prices varies from day to day based on the latest spot price of gold.Buy KrugerrandsThe Krugerrand was the world's first gold bullion coin, being minted in 1967. The gold South African Krugerrand was named after the last president of the old South African Republic, Paul Kruger. The gold South African Krugerrand coin was also the first gold coin that contains precisely one ounce (33.93 grams) of 22 carat gold. South African Krugerrand coins don’t have any monetary value on them. Krugerrand prices are based upon the current value of one troy ounceof gold.The Krugerrand's name from a combination of the last President of the old South African republic, Paul Kruger's surname, and the Rand, which is South Africa's currency. The obverse of the Krugerrand has a portrait of Kruger. The other side has a springbok, a kind of gazelle. Springboks are South Africa's national animal.Buy Gold Maple LeafCanada's Gold Maple Leaf coin was first minted in 1979 by the R.C.M. (Royal Canadian Mint). It is one of the purest gold bullion coins in the world, with a gold content of 24k, Some singular releases contain gold mined entirely in Canada with virtually no base metals at all. From 1988 on, Maple Leaf coins have also been created in .9995 fine platinum, and .9999 fine silver. In 2005 a  .9995 fine palladium Maple Leaf 1 troy ounce coin was introduced.It is available in one twentieth troy ounce, a tenth troy oz, a quarter troy ounce, a half ounce, and 1 troy ounce denominations. It is guaranteed by the R.C.M. to contain the stated amount (in troy ounces) of 99.999% pure 24k gold. The coins have legal tender status in Canada, with face values of C$1, C$5, C$10, C$20 and C$50. These are much lower than their market value, and are symbolic. All denominations are the same in design, except for the markings on the obverse and reverse sides that specify the weight and face value of the coin.The R.C.M. manufactured a Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin with a face value of C$1,000,000 on 3 May 2007. At the time the actual gold content was worth over $2 million. It weighs 100 kilograms, is 50 cm in diameter, 3 cm thick, with a purity of 99.999%|With a purity of .99999. it is 3 cm thick, 50 cm in diameter}. It was a promotional showpiece to advertise the R.C.M.'s new line of .99999 pure 1 troy oz gold Maple Leaf bullion coins.Buy Australian Gold NuggetSometimes nicknamed Gold Kangaroos, the Australian Gold Nugget is a gold coin minted by the Perth Mint. These coins have been manufactured in a variety of denominations of 24 carat gold. They are legal tender in Australia and are among a a small number of legal tender gold coins to alter their design each year, along with Chinese Gold Pandas. This, and their limited yearly production may help to inflate their numismatic value with the passage of time.The Gold Nugget was introduced in 1986 by the Western Australian government owned corporation, the Gold Corpration. From 1986 to 1989, the reverse of these gold coins pictured a number of Australian gold nuggets. With the 1989 proof edition, the design was altered to show kangaroos, the globally recognized national animal of Australia.In 1991, 2 ounce, 10 ounce, and 1 kilo sizes were introduced. They were introduced with the intention of keeping premiums low using economies of scale, and are among the biggest gold bullion coins ever minted. The face values on these large coins were lowered to keep them proportionate to the 1 troy ounce coin. The reverse of the coins does not alter every 12 months like the lower denominations; the kangaroo design is utilized every year.Chinese Gold PandasThe Chinese Gold Panda bullion coin is produced by the official mint of China, and was first manufactured in 1982. It comes in a twentieth of an ounce, 1/10 of a troy ounce, 1/4 of an ounce, 1/2 of an ounce, 1 troy ounce, 5 troy ounce and twelve troy ounce denominations. Panda America is an official distributor in the United States of America, and in China, the official distributor for gold Panda bullion coins is the China Gold Coin Corporation (C.G.C.C.).The obverse side of the Chinese Gold Panda coin has Chinese letters on top saying Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo (People's Republic of China). Under that is a picture of the Temple of Heaven, and at the bottom, the year of issue. For commemorative releases, the topic will be evident here too. The reverse side features portraits of pandas, which have been altered every year with the exception of 2001 to 2002.Another advantage to investing in gold bullion coins is its ease to sell. Gold bullion coins are one of the easiest assets to liquidate. The reason why gold bullion coins are easy to sell is gold coins and gold bars usually have a standard weight and purity impressed on it. If an investor is not familiar with a coin, they can tell how much gold and what purity they are buying. Investing in gold bullion coins has its benefits; some of the advantages are difficult to find in other assets. This is what makes gold bullion coins among the best assets available.

The 1933 St. Gaudens Gold Double Eagle

One of the most important years for gold coins in the United States was 1933. It was the year of the last production of the St. Gaudens gold double eagle coin, and the year that the domestic gold standard was discontinued. There were exactly 445,500 1933 St. Gaudens gold double eagle coins minted, but none were ever legally circulated into the currency markets, and almost all of them were melted down shortly after production. Thus, this coin is very rare, and it is no wonder that one was purchased for $7.59 million in July 2002 at auction, which is the highest price ever paid for a single U.S. or any other coin at auction.

The 1930s experienced a bank crisis unmatched until more recent years. Trying to overcome this proved quite difficult, and it is what prompted the executive order that nullified gold as legal tender and actually outlawed the possession and circulation of gold that were not collectible coins. People were forced to turn in all non-collectible gold for an exchange of other forms of currency.

The 1933 St. Gaudens double eagle gold coin was minted after this executive order took place, and since they weren’t legal tender they were melted down and some were destroyed via testing. Two of these coins were presented to the U.S. National Numismatic Collection by the U.S. Mint, and they should be the only ones left.

However, 20 coins have been recovered so far, which were presumed to have been stolen by a cashier at the U.S. Mint known as George McCann. Nine of the coins ended up making it to collectors through a jeweler in Philadelphia by the name of Israel Switt. These coins made their way around the collectible gold coins markets for nearly a decade before the Secret Service even got wind of their being around. A reporter that was harmlessly checking into the history of the coins stumbled upon this information, and contacted the Mint for research. At this point, an official investigation began in 1944, and seven of the coins were turned over or seized within the first year. One coin remained in public possession until 1952, when it was also confiscated.

This was a big deal, as it was purchased by a king in Egypt who refused to return the coin under various circumstances. The coin was then sold at auction with his estate, to a Stephen Fenton who eventually got caught for owning the coin. The case went to court, and it was decided that the coin would be monetized and returned to the U.S. government, who would then sell it at auction. Half of the $7.59 million went to the Treasury, while the other half went to Fenton, who had the coin at the time it was confiscated. In August of 2005, another 10 coins were found in the estate of Israel Switt again and confiscated.

These only know 1933 St Gaudens $20 gold coins now reside at Fort Knox while legal challenges to their ownership are being decided by the courts.

Chinese Counterfeit Coins Circulating In Usa

Although the recession continues, the most popular hobby within the USA – coin collecting,  especially US coins - has a revenue of a staggering $5 billion, per year.

On the downside, not all that glitters is not what it seems. Buyer beware – counterfeits abound!

A warning to American coin buyers was issued recently by respected numismatic advisory groups, advising  Chinese-made counterfeit  US ‘rare' coins are being widely circulated throughout N America  to unsuspecting consumers. 

Millions of dollars are passing hands for fake U.S. old  coins, mostly through online auctions like eBay,  and even local via flea markets and  swap meets.

In an effort to halt these activities and protect the public,  top numismatic companies have been actively working  to restrict  the import of counterfeit coins, monitor and halt fraudulent sales via online auctions, and helping the government to set up legal actions against those who import and/or resell illegal coins.

US law requires replica coins made outside the country  to have the word "copy" incised on the coin surface - none of the Chinese  coins have this. 

Unfortunately, on places like eBay, it is all too  easy to trick potential buyers,  by substituting pictures of different, legal  coins.

It was reported that an individual counterfeiter in China boasted that he had already produced and sold more than one million coins in the US, though it is not known over how long a period of time...

Collectors  have been advised to  only buy genuine coins from reputable, professional dealers.  As it is illegal to re-sell counterfeit copies, anyone doing so and getting caught risks losing their money,  and possibly facing  charges.

To help educate the public, a one-day seminar, "Introduction to Counterfeit Detection of United States Coins," will be held on April 22, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency, in Dearborn, Mich.

The best course of action is to only buy coins that have been certified by reputable coin authentication (or grading) companies who provide a guarantee of authenticity with all the coins they inspect.  Commonly used are American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).

Quality, certified coins – silver & gold, (US & other currencies) can also be purchased through a very reputable  company, Numis Network.  For details visit: http://shopnumis.com/jotibryant

Gold for the Small Investor

The economy is seriously on the down turn and the US Dollar is losing value. These conditions

usually result in rising gold prices which has been the case over the last few months. Gold prices have moved up about 50% in the past six months. Gold is a good investment in bad economic times but many small investors find it difficult to buy gold in small amounts. This is where gold coins may be just the answer for small investors who don't have deep pockets.

Actually, gold coins may be a better investment than gold bars. Gold bars have the value of their weight in gold at the current spot price, whereas gold coins not only have the value of their weight in gold, but also added numismatic value. One ounce of gold is worth it's weight in gold, but a one ounce gold coin can be worth $1000s in numismatic value. Coins also have a very good appreciation rate simply because there will never be any more of a specific coin produced and the number of collectors continues to increase driving up the prices. Like they say in real estate, "they can't make any more of it"

Gold and silver coins are also very liquid assets. They are easy to buy and sell quickly in any number or dollar amounts. Many collectors buy and sell among themselves where the is no middle man, broker or dealer involved, resulting in lower prices without additional fees or inflated markups. You can buy one coin or a truck load at any time in a matter of minutes. You can get great deals on coins at auction. The coins are shipped directly to you without a paper trail as to how much you bought, what you paid for them or what you sold them for. No one but you knows your business or what your profits are. You can keep your coins at home, and if your house burns down, your coins will survive. They won't rust, rot, rip, tear, mold, mildew or deteriorate in any way.

If you have a little money to invest and not have to worry about it losing value, look into coin collecting. It's easy, it's a safe investment, its private and you don't need a bank account or credit rating. There is more complete information available at: http://www.gold.digital-homework.com

Where To Buy American Silver Eagle Coins And Get Paid In The Process

American Eagle Silver Coins are smart investments, highly collectible in nature and memorable keepsakes or gifts. Of all the silver coins ever minted throughout the history of the United States, the American Silver Eagle dollars are certainly one of the most beautiful.

It is the United State Mint's Dollar coin made of silver bullion for collectors. It has been minted since 1986. The coin paved the way for silver and gold bullion coins to be sold to the general public. Due to the fact that the purity, content, and actual weight of these coins are certified by the United States government, they have been deemed the official silver bullion of the U.S and are sought after by investors and bullion coin enthusiasts around the globe.

One side of the American Silver Eagle coin has been borrowed from the Walking Liberty half dollar, and was developed by Adolph Weinman. Most people think that this depiction is most attractive designs ever created for a silver coin, so it was an appropriate selection. Sculptor John Mercanti designed the other side of the coin, which reflects an eagle carrying a shield.

The Numismatic Industry And Authenticity Certification

The definition of numismatic is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects, thus the collection of coins. In short, a regular bullion coin issued by the US (or any other) government that has been certified for authenticity by an independent third party, to work out its value the specialist will need to consider its weight and purity. Once it has been approved and passed off as authentic it will then be packaged ultrasonically ready to enter the ever increasing coin market. The Sheldon Scale is the quality scale used to grade each and every coin. This is a grading system that goes from 1 to 70 where 70 is the highest grade and represents a near perfect coin. The value of the coin is significantly affected by the quality grade of the coin. For this reason it is very important that a coin be judged by a uniform standard. That is why the industry of numismatists has some standard grading system which are PCGS, NGS and ANACS. It is these three third party grading companies that certify the coins using the Sheldon Scale.

Silver & Gold prices have recently dramatically increased and people know that these coins are a real value. While the paper dollar is believed to be loosing its value, therefore the desire for people to secure much of their assets in gold and silver. As a opposed to buying directly from a traditional coin dealer or going to Ebay and similar websites, the Network Marketing Industry appears to be creating a new marketplace for purchasing these coins. Now you can buy rom someone you know similar in concept of Avon consumable products. You can select to purchase at a preferred customer rate which is less than retail or become a home based retailer for further financial incentives, but now you can enjoy cost savings on these collectibles.

New Consumer Trend Captures The Eye Of The Network Marketing Industry.

Not until recently has the Network Marketing Industry taken on the challenge of this level of certified graded coins. There have been been a few Network Marketing companies who have sold low grade bullion coins or collectibles in prepaid phone cards and Art Portraits but for the most part the industry Network Marketing companies primarily stayed with consumable health and nutritional products or other traditional products. Commodities because of unstable pricing were generally taboo. Modern issued certified graded coins allows greater affordable access to owning to the general public as compared to vintage silver and gold coins.

Why Not Get Paid As You Build Your Silver and Gold Collection

Simply put, network marketing is a means of distribution that allows you to earn income from the efforts of many. It's through this 'leveraging' of your time that allows you to earn unlimited income; income that can continue to flow even when you are not working. Some of the benefits of network marketing include: being able to set your own hours, the ability to earn unlimited income, low start up cost, and no stocking of inventory - just to name a few. Of course, you can have fun and make a lot of new friends, while you earn money too!

The Network Marketing Industry now affords an individual an opportunity to open up their own online coin shopping mall. Supplied by the right company that does a form of drop shipping product to a buyers doorstep yields loads of opportunity for a home based business entrepreneur. No need to stock product because you have an online catalog of products. Sell retail or set up a preferred customer base for special pricing to a loyal buying list. network marketing is a means of distribution that allows you to earn income from the efforts of many. It's through this 'leveraging' of your time that allows you to earn unlimited income; income that can continue to flow even when you are not working. Leverage your sales volume by adding a network of similar affiliate sellers and your group sales volume could be huge. Plus as a home based business owner you have income tax deduction options.

As long as you are in the mindset that Numismatic coins could have a fluctuating spread due the changes in pricing for silver and gold, but you should think in terms of collectible for long term holding of 2 to 10 years. As a Network Marketing home based business participant you would have and option to earn these coins. Learn how to Brand yourself and generate leads both online and offline. The collectible money niche could be a very lucrative venture.

Autoships in modern issued graded collectible silver and gold coins are less likely to be cancelled, if you are getting these high demand coins at the wholesale price versus retail So whether you got a commission or not chances are you will keep ordering and your business will have a high retention rate with both your customers and affiliates. You cannot say that with most products and services.

Buy it as a Home-based Business owner with business income tax incentives or buy it as a preferred customer from your network marketing distributor. You have additional options other than the traditional Retail Dealer or Auction Websites to acquire these beautiful collectible coins.

Coin Collection – The Art Of Numismatics

The first known coin collector was Petrarch, who lived way back in the 15th century. A century later, Hubert Goltz visited a number of coin collectors throughout Europe and estimated that were approximately 960 collections in total. Numismatics gradually became a favorite hobby of royalty. Francis I of Austria wrote about his collection of gold coins in 1756. The British Museum established one of the first coin catalogues. From this have emerged more than 100 publications devoted to coin collecting.
Today the word coin refers to standard issue, commemorative or presentation pieces duly authorized by the federal mint. This excludes coins privately minted coins. The most common substances used in making coins are gold, silver, copper and nickel. Alloys, such as copper and nickel, are also used to produce coins, such as the US 25 cent piece, that are less expensive to produce than single metal coins.
There are many different types of coins for collecting. One can collect a specific denomination by date of issue, country of issue, mink mark, proof sets, uncirculated condition, metal content, design or mint errors. It is ultimately up to the collector to decide what to collect.
Once the collector has decided on which area to collect, it's time to get started. One area that is common today is the US state quarter. They are found frequently in pocket change. Commercial booklets are available to store the quarters. If a collector just wants all 50 state quarters, they are relatively easy to find. Because so many have been issued, the value of circulated coins is low. Coins in circulation get nicked, scratched and otherwise worn. To have a collection that will increase in value over time, a collector should consider uncirculated mint coins. These are generally available when a coin is first released and are not worn in any way. Their value is higher than coins in circulation.
Coins issued in different metals than the regular issues are also collectible. Prior to World War Two, pennies were minted in copper. When copper was needed in America's war industries and could not be spared for coinage, the government authorized the use of steel to produce pennies. After the war, copper was again used to produce pennies, enhancing the value of the steel pennies. Today, it costs more than a penny of copper to make a penny.
Congress is exploring the use of other metals to make pennies. Should this occur, the last copper pennies would increase in value, as would the new pennies. Design changes can also affect the value of a penny. For many years, pennies with wheat designs on the reverse side were issued. The design was changed, thus increasing the value of the old design. A word of caution: all coin values are based upon the availability of the coins and their condition. Coins that are readily available or worn may increase in value over time, but not as much as mint, uncirculated varieties.
There are many places that a coin collector can go to find coins. There are coin clubs, dealers, online and on television auction sites, and even companies that specialize in mail order purchases. You don't have to be rich to be a coin collector. Choose your area of specialty and then jump in.

All About Coin Values

Coin values are the amount of money that a metallic currency is worth. The amount of money someone will pay for a coin is what drives the field of numismatics. It is this collection of currency and exchanging them at a price per a particular type, which is the value. Coinage from different countries and different historical eras have different prices associated with them.

These values are determined after it has gone through a rigorous process called grading. This is the separation and evaluation of money according to the age and the maintenance (condition) it has attained. A coin that has never circulated is worth more than one that has been circulated. This is due to the fact that the circulated one has been handled many times while one that has not been circulated has been well maintained for a long time.

The material of the coin is a factor that is considered when grading the coins and the gold coins are graded with a higher value followed by the silver and the bronze coins. The appraisal of these currencies though is not as high as the melt value of the material. The rare coins are worth more than the common coins. Ones made from other metals, too, could be more expensive than ones made from gold. It depends on other factors like scarcity and age.

Rare numismatic pieces are usually in use a long time ago and later, became outdated. Since they were made of precious metal, the value printed on them is not relevant. They are worth a much higher price. They also have a high value because they are an archeological sign of the change in trading trends of a certain nation. An example of an expensive piece is the 1913 Liberty head nickel. There are only five known to be in existence. As a result its appraisal can go as high as $1,000,000.

Demand also determines its appraisal. Demand is determined by the number of collectors that want that type of currency. Consequently, the availability of it can lower its appraisal, since it is so common. The quality is the greatest factor that determines its collectible and pricing appraisal. The only problem is that quality determination can be very hard to ascertain. Amateur collectors can have difficulty in discerning between grades, as the difference between one grade to another can be quite subtle. Quality is determined based on a combination of other characteristics and this includes other properties like the mint location and its obverse and reverse design. Polish and luster as well as its evenness are other critical aesthetic features.

Coin values are set to reward the holder of the currency. There are industry experts who scrutinize a grading submission and then give it a grade and associated price range. These are experienced collectors who have been involved in the numismatic industry for years or decades. They may be part of a formal grading services like PCGS or NGS, to name a few . They carefully review numerous key factors and, ultimately, determine its price. As a result, a penny that has the same face price (one cent) as the penny in ones pocket could vary significantly in its worth.

Buy Rare Coins ? Tips To Rare Coin Investing

The Heritage Auction Galleries' Central States Numismatic Society Convention Platinum Night Auction has turned out to be quite a show. Besides the "King of Coins" 1804 Silver Dollar going for a cool two point three million dollars, several other incredible rare coins have gone up and been sold for some nice fetches, as well. The legendary 1807-S Seated Dollar, the rarest regular silver dollar in existence, wound up selling for about a half a million dollars, The sixth finest known example of a 1794 dollar went for a half million as well, a twenty cent piece from 1876 went for four hundred sixty thousand, a 1794 silver dollar went for three hundred forty five thousand, and a 1795 Flowing Hair dollar sold for about a quarter million. The total sales of the auction, as of the most recent report, came out to a nice forty five million for combined rare coin prices. Two million for a coin may be out of the price range of many investors, but we know that there are at least a few people reading this who could easily place a competitive bid on one of the big-ticket items on show at this auction. So while the rest of us who buy rare coins, as an everyday investor may have to stick to the slightly more common coins, if you do have the money to invest in the real rarities, you'd be wise to seize upon the opportunity to do so. Again, when you buy rare coins, they do not somehow become less rare or less valuable, so to buy rare coins is almost invariably a smart idea. If you want to know the secret of how to buy rare coins, it is simply this: Know what you're buying, know the history, the artwork, and buy the rarest coins you can easily afford. Between auctions, the price of a particular rarity almost always tends to go up. At times, the growth is marginal, but other times, a coin may be reassessed at a later date and turn out to be twice as valuable as it was previously believed to have been. Of course, on the other hand, you may simply be comfortable enjoying a few good rarities in your collection while putting the majority of your coin money into the $20 Lady Liberty 22 karat gold reissues for investors. Whichever way works for you is fine. In any case, you are protecting your assets against any crisis such as a recession. It's certainly a good idea to get involved in rare coin collecting if you hope to build a strong foundation for your investments. And even if you can't make it to Cincinnati every time Heritage holds an auction in the area, it's still smart to keep up on the new developments at these auctions and bid online, as the final bids at the major auctions tend to have an impact on coin prices at large. In any event, just make sure that you have a way to keep yourself in good financial shape no matter what happens. Be it bars or coins, just know that you're covered through this recession and the next one.

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