Jun 13 2012

How to Choose a Coin Dealer

One of the most popular ways to invest in precious metals is through bullion coins. As you would expect silver and gold are the most popular bullion coins to invest in. However, there are other bullion coins to consider too, such as palladium and platinum bullion coins. The best way to buy bullion coins is through a trusted Internet coin dealer.

The first thing to consider before checking out coin dealers is to gain some knowledge on precious metals and bullion coins. Then, you must decide what metals you can afford to invest in. Obviously gold is the most popular. Gold has been as a safe haven for thousands of years for one simple reason, gold works. When inflation is high and turbulent economic times exist gold tends to thrive and combats negative financial elements.

The American Gold Eagle is easily the most pursued gold investment coin on the market. These coins are minted and backed by the US government. However, you cannot buy these coins directly from the mint. Instead, you must purchase them through a coin dealer. There is fraud in the industry, so you must be careful before you buy from a dealer.

First, do not fall for pressure tactics. Nobody knows for certain how the precious market will react on any given day. We can predict and spot trends in the markets, but that is the best anybody can do. Second, know what the spot price is for the type of coins you are buying. You can expect the dealer to make a profit, but don’t buy if the price is too high. Shop around. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true odds are it is.

Reputation is how you choose an online coin dealer. There are many forums and websites where you can easily check what customers are saying about a particular coin dealer. Furthermore, longevity matters. It reasonable to assume that if a dealer has been in the coin business for decades it is likely that he is honest, however still check.

To close, bullion coins offer one of the best ways to invest in precious metals. These coins have their worth tied to the current spot price of the market. The best way to buy bullion coins is through an Internet dealer. Do not buy from the first dealer you find. You must investigate their reputation and determine how long they have been in business.


May 30 2012

Buying Silver Coins Under Spot

A lot of people would be very interested in buying silver coins at a discounted price. The good news is that there are some silver coins that you can actually do this with. These are 90% silver coin bags, which are commonly referred to as “junk silver bags.”

What Junk Silver Bags Are

Junk silver bags really aren’t junk. The term “junk” simply means that these silver coins have been circulated and thus they’re only in average condition. Therefore, these coins are only valued for the amount of silver they contain (usually around 90%), not for their collectible value. Usually these coins were made in or before 1964 when the amount of silver in coins was reduced to 40%. Some examples of these coins include Kennedy half-dollars, Roosevelt dimes and Washington quarters. Most dealers charge 1% under spot for these coins.

What To Expect From Junk Silver Coins

You should expect junk silver coins to look worn. They will usually have nicks and scratches on them too. However, you shouldn’t expect anything less from coins that are at least 40-years-old. This shouldn’t worry you though since it’s what’s inside of these coins that actually counts. Most of the time you will find that these coins are actually 99% silver, which is great news for any investor.

Where To Buy Junk Silver Coins

Junk silver coin bags can be easily purchased from a large, reputable online coin dealer. Of course, you should also be able to buy various sizes and denominations of these junk silver coin bags from your local coin shop too. As a final resort, you can try online auction web sites, which may save you even more money if you are careful.

Conclusion

Now that you know all about junk silver coins, the choice as to whether to purchase new coins (i.e. a newly minted, pristine condition American Silver Eagle coin) or to buy a bag of junk silver coins. Most of the time you’ll find that new coins actually cost 9% more than spot price while junk silver bags cost 1% under spot. Another consideration to make here is that whenever you do purchase junk silver bags you are actually getting 10% more silver than you’d get with the newly minted coins. This is great news for a lot of people who wish they had enough money to purchase and invest in silver coins.


May 1 2012

A Rare Coin May Pop Up in Many Places

Collecting coins is a popular hobby, and it can be quite lucrative. Stories abound of people who find rarities in their penny jars or their pockets and who then turn around and sell them for thousands of dollars. These fun stories don’t happy to everyone of course, but it is possible to find a valuable coin in some unexpected places. Where are all the great rare coins? You will find quite a few different places that you will be able to find coins to add to a collection. Of course, some of these places are more reliable than others are. Let’s consider some of the best places to locate these coins so you can start your own collection.

Around the House

Chances are that you aren’t going to find a rare coin around your house, but you never know until you look. Start looking through the coin jars that you have, and any other little nooks and crannies where hidden coins might lie. Look for older coins and things that seem out of place. Once you find a few coins, you will be able to start looking them up on the web to see if they might have value.

At the Pawnshop or Garage Sale

Once you know a bit more about coins, you will likely want to take your search to other locations. One of those locations could be the local pawnshops. In many cases, the owners of the shops might not realize just how valuable some of the coins they have are going to be. You should check them out to see if they might have anything worth your while. You will strike out most times, but you never know what you might find.

Local Rare Coin Dealers

This is where most people start looking for the first rare coins they want to add to their collection. It’s natural to want to look inside a coin shop, and you should. However, you shouldn’t feel too much disappointment that the shop might not have the types of coins you want to buy.

Go Online for Your Rare Coin

Most coin collectors today are finding the coins they want to own on the web. It’s a fast and easy way to check the inventory of the shops that might have coins you want. You can place your orders online and over the phone, and it’s far easier than other methods of finding and starting a coin collection.


Feb 17 2012

Health Benefits of Having a Hobby

We all want to lead healthy and productive lives. But sometimes, we can end up putting our wellbeing on the backburner as we attend to the daily responsibilities of work, family, our social life and everything in between. It is vital for you to take some time dedicated solely to yourself. One of the best ways to do this is to spend some time a couple times a week doing something that you love to do. This is why having a hobby can be so important. Hobbies allow you to spend some quality time with yourself.

Having a hobby is important because it allows you to spend some much needed quality time with yourself. You will be able to enjoy something that is solely for you and nobody else. This will help to relieve pressure and stress in your life and also allow you to relax. You will be focused on doing your hobby and forget about the day to day stresses of your career, your home life, and everything else that could be bothering you.

Decreasing the stress in your life through your hobby will benefit you greatly. You will be able to not suffer from chronic physical pain related to your stress including muscle aches and headaches. It is also proven that people who are more relaxed tend to live longer.

Another benefit of having a hobby is it allows you to meet new people who share a common interest. For example, if you’re interested in numismatics, then you may want to start a coin collection. If you attend coin auctions and go to coin dealerships to learn about the price of silver coins and gold coins, you will probably meet a lot of people. Making friends that have the same passion as you do helps you to concentrate on your hobby even more and also have an instant connection with these folks.

As you can see, having a hobby can add many positive aspects to your life. You can reduce your stress, make new friends, and even live longer. The most important part of having a hobby is taking some time out of your hectic schedule and enjoying a moment of peace with just yourself. A hobby can help you get that necessary alone time and you can relax for a bit before returning to the daily grind of your life.


Feb 5 2012

Rare Coin Collecting Gains Popularity

Analytic studies carried out by numismatic experts show that rare coin sales increased considerably in 2011 and continue to move in an upward trajectory. Many people around the world have been searching for alternative investments that do not run the risk that traditional investments have suffered in recent years because of instability in the global economy. While coin collecting has long been the “king of hobbies,” it is now taking over as the king of investments.

Jeffrey Bernberg, president of the Professional Numismatics Guild, said, “Some experts estimated the 2011 U.S. rare coin market at over $10 billion, not including the sales of modern bullion coins or items sold directly by the United States Mint.”

Rare coins offer investors financial stability since they are a safe way to diversify any investment portfolio. Many investors who collect rare coins for investment reasons become hooked and begin to enjoy collecting as an enjoyable pastime. Rare coin collecting allows participants to learn about the history of coin production and how specific coins relate to specific periods of history. There is an endless wealth of information about coin numismatics—the study of coins—that are fascinating to delve into and can provide a lifetime of enjoyment.

While coin collecting is a great hobby, it pays off to be careful about who you purchase coins from. Bernberg said, “Rare coins are an enjoyable hobby and part of some people’s long-term portfolios, but buyers and sellers should remember the important adage: If you don’t know rare coins, you better know your rare coin dealer.”

It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about the coins you are interested in including their minting year, their unique mintmarks, any minting errors that occurred, how many specimens are available, and so on. It is equally, if not more important, to only work with a coin dealer who you can trust. When it comes to choosing a coin dealer, don’t rely on instinct alone. The “art” of making fake coins has become more advanced. Only buy and sell coins to a coin dealer who has an excellent reputation and plenty of experience.

One way to find a reputable coin dealer is to opt for one who is a member of one or more professional numismatic coin organizations such as the Professional Coin Grading Service or the Professional Numismatists Guild. As Bernberg said, “Select a reputable dealer. PNG members must demonstrate knowledge, responsibility and integrity in their business dealings, and must agree to binding arbitration to settle any unresolved disagreements over numismatic property.”


Apr 24 2010

Choose the Best Coin Dealer for Your Collecting Needs

Newbie coin collectors and even those who’ve been collecting for a while, but are finally getting serious about their investments face a lot of challenges. They must decide what coins to collect and when to buy and sell. They also have to find the coins they want and ensure they’re purchasing authentic coins.

By investing the time it may take to evaluate and choose the right coin dealer, collectors can actually address many of these challenges at once. You may find the right coin dealer in your local neighborhood, in a nearby city or at any location in the world online. Continue reading


Apr 18 2010

How a Coin Dealer Works

Before you head off to the local coin dealer, or use one online, you should know a few things about their business. They generally sell other forms of bullion in addition to coins, to start with, and this means you have more options in their stores than just purchasing coins. They also tend to have some exotic offerings, especially in the case of online dealers, that may appeal to those looking for something truly unique. These offerings are oftentimes popular with those who have been in the collecting world for a while and who have gotten enough money to make larger investments than are required to get into coin collecting at the basic levels. There are several things to look for.

Continue reading


Apr 15 2010

What Makes a Rare Coin Worth Collecting?

What makes a rare coin valuable?  If not for profit, why would you want to collect coinage at all?  Some people actually do enjoy collecting coins and have no particular strategy in mind.  They simply enjoy the hobby and the history of it all.  Unique coinage is fun to show off to guests and enjoyable to read about.  That said, practically any coin collector will admit that the best coins to collect are the ones that are extremely rare.

While there might be some collectors that collect any and all mints (even modern coinage) to complete a theme, the majority of collectors want rarities.  Rare coin mints are the most valuable form of coinage.  In order for a coin to be perceived as a true collector’s item, make sure that it has rarity, historical value and good mint condition.  Rarity means the coin has a very limited release—often less than 75 coins in existence. Continue reading


Apr 12 2010

The Five People You Meet in Coinage

If you are trying to become a serious coin collector then, you should be looking for a coin dealer that knows what he/she is talking about!  In this article, we are going to discuss five different coin dealers and the qualities that make them valuable to a starting coin hobbyist.  Your goal is to find all five of these people in one perfect dealer!

1. An Honest Dealer

This doesn’t only mean that the dealer should be forthright when it comes to handling money; he or she should also resist pushing quick sales or exaggerating facts.  You want a dealer that is honest in every respect.  The coin dealer doesn’t just play by the rules—he or she looks out for your interests as well. Continue reading


Apr 6 2010

The Appeal of US Gold Coins

The US Treasury has, since 1986, offered the American Eagle gold coin as among its gold bullion coins. There are other designs available, as well, and all of them exhibit the characteristics that make US gold coins desirable. Among the current offerings are different grades in bullion and very diverse designs. Any gold bullion coin from any nation is backed by that nation’s treasury as being of the stated purity and weight. The Treasury of the largest economy in the world, obviously, enjoys a great deal where credibility and collectability are concerned. It also produces some of the most beautiful coinage in the world.

The Gold American Buffalo coins have two aspects that make them particularly attractive. First, the design is an American classic, from the same artist who designed the famous “buffalo” nickels in the early 20th Century. The obverse features a Native American man in profile and the reverse a buffalo. The nickels which bear similar designs are highly sought-after by collectors, and including this art on a gold coin was a natural choice. The coin is also .999 fine gold, the first gold coin of this purity produced by the US. Continue reading