Archive for February, 2009
The History of Challenge Coins
Why are Challenge Coins so popular among scout troops, police departments, fire departments, colleges, schools, and even church groups? Because even in today’s youth, Challenge Coins remain the representation of the steady bond and unity among military units.
While fast rising in popularity, many people do not know what Challenge Coins are, where they came from, or even what their history is, in general. If you’d like to know a little bit more about these marvelous coins, here’s a brief summary of the History of History of Challenge CoinsChallenge Coins.
The History of Challenge Coins dates back to the World War I, where the volunteers of America filled up the freshly formed flying squadrons. Some of these volunteers came from wealthy families, mostly students from prestigious schools such as Harvard and Yale, who stopped during the middle term to join the World War. endure
In one of the squadrons, a rich lieutenant ordered emblems in solid bronze and conferred them to his own unit. One of the pilots placed the medallion emblem in a tiny leather pouch and wore it around his neck.
Just a couple of hours after the medallions were conferred; ground fire seriously damaged the aircraft of the pilot. He was compelled to set down just behind the enemy lines; thus, he was captured by one of the German patrols. The German threatened him and discouraged him to escape by taking all his personal belongings and identification, all except for one – the small pouch that was hanging around his neck.
Meanwhile, he was taken down to a French town a few kilometers away from the front line. Taking advantage of the situation, he managed to escape, without his personal effects and identification.
He succeeded to escape the Germans by disguising in civilian clothing at the front line. Although it was easy for him to run away from the patrols, he had a hard time crossing the no-man’s island, but eventually succeeded. He then stumbled upon the French outpost.
Unfortunately during that time, wreckers had been sabotaging the French sector and they were known to be dressed like civilians. The French people didn’t recognize the pilot’s American tongue and had mistaken him for a wrecker, so they were prepared to execute him. He didn’t have any personal identification to show and to prove that he wasn’t a wrecker. The only thing that he had was the pouch that contained the medallion.
He showed the medallion to them and one of the French captors recognized the insignia. After long deliberation, they released him. Now, the pilot was back to his squadron and the medallion became a tradition. It was then that the members of the squadron carried the medallion with them anywhere they went, thus giving birth to the Challenge Coins.
As the History of Challenge Coins continue, wearing of the medallion has become a challenge. This was accomplished in such a way that a challenger would ask a scion to show a medallion. If the scion being challenged could not show one, he would buy a drink for the challenger. This tradition continued throughout the world war and the succeeding years, up until today.
Rare Gold Coins – The Secrets To Protecting Your Investments
Have you ever thought about starting a coin collection? Or maybe you have heard about this recent interest developed in gold? Collecting gold coins can serve a dual purpose of putting money into a tangible form and investing in a commodity that will only grow more valuable in later years, whether for pleasure or profit. Which can provide hours of enjoyment and spark conversation with friends and acquaintances, in the mean time, gold coins make beautiful display pieces in the home and provide a fascinating hobby.
While you are waiting for them to appreciate in value, you can display them in your home and every visitor will remark on their beauty. Collecting gold coins can be particularly rewarding during hard economic times. In the past, the present, and more than likely in the future, gold will be a good safe investment to ward off inflation and instability. A lot of big investors are resorting to investing in gold to secure their assets. Buying rare gold coins will ensure a solid investment for your future.
Apart from the intrinsic value of gold will keep your coins are worthless core is a collector found that living in a rare and valuable coins how many have been ignored. Most of the time the value of the coin is more than the melt down value of the metal. It is not unheard of for a collector to find a coin worth thousands of dollars. Coin collectors, also know as numismatists, get excited when they discover a hard to find coin.
Locating a one of a kind collector’s gem is exciting for both fans of coin collecting and those collecting as a financial investment. Do not miss a chance to purchase rare gold coins and get into coin collecting in a safe and risk-free way. Anybody know about the real fact? Your profits could grow tremendously if you are able to come across an extremely rare coin.
How Valuable Is Your Coin Collection?
Coin collecting is a hobby that a lot of people are into. The good thing about collecting coins is each of these pieces has its own value. Of course, the law of supply and demand also plays a big role in the prices of each collectible coin. When there is a lot of supply in the market, the value of the coin decreases. On the other hand, when there is scarcity of supply and the demand cant be met, the value increases. So how do you know if your coins are valuable?
Determining the value of a coin can be a difficult task. The best way would be to bring you coin to various coin dealers to be appraised. This is usually free especially if you tell them you want to sell the coin.
There are also agencies that offer professional grading services for coins. Having your coins graded and appraised by these people usually accompanies a small charge but this could worth the value since you could know how much your coins market value really are.
There are also several publications coin collectors use to find the market price of coins. The publication, the US Coins Red Book is the publication dealers and collectors use most often.
In most guides coins are grouped into two price categories: retail and wholesale prices. Naturally, dealers tend to use wholesale prices when dealing in bulk or with one another. Retail, as you probably know is a higher price dealers charge collectors.
Like many other hobbies, coin collecting can be very profitable if you know the prices of the coin you have. As a coin collector, it is very important for you to know the prices of coins. This would not help you when purchasing a new one but also at times when you decide to market your collection.
Engelhard Silver Bars – A Esteemed Name in Silver Bullion Bars
If you collect silver bullion bars, Engelhard Silver Bars are more than likely a part of your collection. These gorgeous bars have not been mass produced since the 1980’s. Acquiring one can be very tricky. The easiest way is to buy is from an investor on internet auction sites like Ebay.
Engelhard has a spotless reputation for the quality and purity of their bullion bars, and the bars are always stamped with the exact purity of silver contained. Collectors love this brand, because they know that they have the ability to sell or buy with confidence no matter where the investor is located, nearly anywhere in the world.
The ten and one hundred ounce bars have been the most popular of the silver bars with investors. Investing in one hundred ounce bars is popular, because you can invest in pure silver and at the same time avoid the premiums usually found on legal bullion coins.
Most investors buy Engelhard Silver Bars in one hundred ounce bars, because they usually sell when the price of silver goes up. Those who buy to invest in their own financial future usually buy a smaller bar. Investing in silver coins is more commonly done, but purchasing silver bars is becoming increasingly popular. This may be due to the fact that recently one hundred ounce bars sometimes carry a premium of 40% or more.
Experienced collectors know that investing in gold and silver is one of the best ways to achieve financial security. While most markets go up and down, these usually remain constant. Think of the stock market recently – investors were losing millions of dollars. This isn’t likely to happen when you invest in gold and silver coins, bullion, and bars.
Investing in silver is also a popular way to plan for retirement. When you start collecting early on, the value of your collection accrues over the years and usually has a high value when you do decide to liquidate. Collecting silver and gold is a very smart way to secure your future. There aren’t many markets that you can rely on like this.
Whether you collect silver, gold or both, make sure you invest in the best quality in order to achieve an excellent return when you sell. If you haven’t added Engelhard Silver Bars to your collection, there is no time like the present!
Turn The Joys Of Coin Collecting Into Profit
Collecting information from reliable sources is a key element to succeeding in the coin business. Paul Hollis, known dealer of rare coins, is a source. The initial essential element, naturally, is to search for real rarity in a coin. Keep in mind that simply since you have never observed the coin previously doesn’t mean it’s one-of-a-kind. Have a strategy, a plan of action, and stay with it for coin shows. Should you exhibit erratic behavior in your bartering methods, for instance, dealers might grow doubtful of your honesty.
If you show inconsistency in your haggling process for example dealers may become skeptical of your integrity. Always act like you are the one in control. If you show that you really desire a certain coin, some dealers will raise the price on you. Hide your excitement for these events.
The Sarasota Rare Coin Gallery and the Baltimore Coin & Currency Convention are among the best-known regional coin conventions. Baltimore’s Convention attracts a lot of people to attend, based on the majority of standards. Among the fundamental things to check for as you attempt to discover the rarity of a coin is an apparent double image. This usually means that someone goofed up at the mint when they were printing the coins. If there seems to be some sort of misprint or misspelling of the words on the coin.
Some basic things to look for when trying to find out if a coin is indeed rare is the viewable quality of a double image. This usually means that someone goofed up at the mint when they were printing the coins. There may be an error in spelling or printing on the coin. If there is not enough space between the words on the coin that is a unique characteristic that you should take note of. A double printed coin is something to keep on eye out for. Since the coin is truncated, it is a rare commodity.
These coins are much harder to get your hands upon unless you know some experienced and well connected dealers,but you can find coins from ancient Greece and the Byzantine empire. Most of the coin shows and conventions out there are either free or have a small cover charge. If coins are your joy you will have lots of fun.
Have You Found A Reputable Gold Coin Dealer?
There are many influences that would motivate a person to begin purchasing gold coins. An explanation is they are seen as smart investments because their value can be increased, so individuals are more inclined to purchase them. Even today coin collectors have high demand for hard to find coins.
Particularly which ever reason a person selects for purchasing gold coins they know that is one of the safest ways for them to invest any surplus money they have. Just due to the fact that they understand that over time these coins are unlikely to depreciate in worth but instead are more likely to appreciate.
If you are in the market to purchase coins, you should ensure you are dealing with a coin dealer who is known for his honesty and good reputation. If you can select one who is a member of the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or the Professional Coin Grading Service Choosing to use dealers who are not members of these professional bodies, unfortunately puts you at risks of purchasing fake coins and monetary loss.
Once you have found a reputable dealer, you can make a decision regarding the amount of gold that you want to purchase. Because the price of gold fluctuates so frequently, it is best to know how much you are able to spend.
As well as knowing how much money you have available to invest in your gold coins you need to learn what gold coins are free and which are the best ones to invest in. Presently gold coins fall into three assorted classes. The various ratings applied to gold are standard gold bullion, scarce and collectible.
You will realize that common gold bullion coins are really bought and sold for the sum of gold that’s in them. The value of hard to come by and collectible coins changes quite often, so when placing a value on them, several factors need to be taken into consideration. The cost that one receives for hard to find coins will be settled mostly by three facets.
Also, when you are going to be buying gold coins it is essential that you understand a little bit about the ranking and evaluation procedure. This will then help you to better understand the rare coin marketplace as well as help you to perhaps spot a barachieve when one arises.
How To Buy Silver Bullion Under Spot With Junk Silver Coins
How would you like to buy silver coins at a discount?
I’m going to tell you about a certain type of coins that you can purchase under the spot price of silver.
Yep. Below cost. The type of silver bullion that I’m referring to are 90% silver coin bags.
You’ll often hear 90% silver coin bags referred to as junk silver bags. They aren’t really ‘junk,’ though. This term is simply used to describe a bag of circulated silver coins in average condition. These coins are really only valued for their silver content, not their collectible value.
Junk silver bags contain coins that were struck in 1964 or earlier, such as the silver Kennedy half dollars, Roosevelt dimes, and Washington quarters. They are comprised of 90% silver. After 1964, the amount of silver contained in coins was reduced to 40%.
Here’s the neat part – the 90% silver bags containing dimes or quarters can be purchased through some dealers for as much as 1% under spot! It’s like getting silver on sale! How cool is that?
Yes, the coins will look worn, have nicks, scratches, and show their 40-plus year-old- age. However, keep in mind, it’s what inside that counts. And these ‘junk silver’ coins will usually still contain over 99 percent of their silver content.
So which would you rather have? A newly-minted, pristine American Silver Eagle that costs 9% (at current prices) over spot? Or a bag of 90% silver coins that you can buy for 1% under spot? If you buy the bags, you can get 10% more silver! Amazing, huh?
You can purchase junk silver bags very easily online from any of the larger, reputable dealers or from your local coin shop in various sizes and denominations. Or, you can try one of the popular online auctions sites for even greater savings.
Collecting Coins Can Be Very Rewarding
Both a hobby and a long term investment, coin collecting is an activity that can be extremely educational and rewarding. Collecting gold and silver coins especially is an activity that is gaining popularity, particularly in the US.
Gold coins were first found in western Asia and their demand only grows. However, they are an investment; do not expect returns within your first few years collecting. Older coins have much better return than coins from the last fifty years, although the value and price of these coins is linked to the price of bullion.
Silver coins have become extremely popular among collectors in recent years, particularly because of the high price of gold. Many silver coins are available from the US Mint. Just as gold coin value is affected by its bullion value, so is silver coin value affected as well.
The best coins to invest in are the ones collectors seek the most. Remember that your coin collection will appreciate in value over time, and that a coin collection can add to the overall value of your investment portfolio.
When collecting rare coins, or beginning to collect coins, ask yourself which type of coin will you collect? Certain coins will be more difficult to find, or more expensive, than others. You can gather gold, silver, or other rare coins from other cultures. There are also series coins, coins from various mints, and tokens that represent a certain period in history and are of interest to researchers.
Good places to begin coin collecting are local clubs and on the internet. Searches for the particular kind of coin you would like can begin from your own home. The US Mint offers many coins for purchase, and often there are coin shops and shows where dealers present their coins for consumers to collect. Be sure to visit your local flea market or antiques store for coins that may be donated or given away.
Use caution when handling coins. Oils and wear from your hands may cause discolorations and for the features on the coin to rub off, particularly for ancient coins. If you mishandle a coin, this could degrade its value. It is suggested that collectors wear gloves and keep coins in clean conditions to prolong the life of the collection.
Why Buy Silver Bullion?
With the different bullions on the market today, silver bullion is one of the most popular types. Because silver is much less expensive than other precious metals, it is more affordable for the average person. This cheaper price allows anyone to be able to purchase a greater quantity thus giving them the feeling they are getting something for their money. They can also purchase silver when they have a small amount of extra money laying around as opposed to having to save a larger amount to purchase gold.
Also, this low price attracts speculators hoping to cash in when they see a rise in the world price of silver. Given the booming economies of countries like China and India this dream may soon become a reality.
When buying silver, people tend to buy silver bullion coins and ingots. These types of silver were once found in ancient times. The mystery surrounding these coins only adds to their value.
Some of the higher valued silver bullion is called an ingot. Ingots are small or large bars of silver. The more mystery surrounding the ingot, the higher the price. This means that these bars can be worth much more than their silver content alone.
The most popular form of collecting silver bullion comes in collecting silver bullion coins. These coins include the Canadian Maple Leaf as well as the Silver American Eagle coins and Commemorative coins. The Maple Leaf coins are minted each year in a series. The Royal Canadian Mint officially seals these coins which increases their value.
The Silver American Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the U.S. And is struck in both the business strike and proof strike with the later being more valuable because less of these coins are produced.
When giving silver bullion coins as gifts, the Commemorative coin is very popular. Commemorative coins are popular because they commemorate a special event or time in history. Because their production is limited, they are quite valuable making them highly sought after.
A weakening economy finds people turning to silver bullion coins and ingots. This is a great investment in case the economy collapses or severely weakens. In this case, the bullion can still be used in trade for goods and services. Hopefully, the economy remains strong enough that we don’t have to abandon paper currency but if it does, silver bullion coins and ingots are a great substitute.
Silver Christmas Rounds – A Fun Way To Buy Silver Bullion
Silver Christmas rounds are a lovely type of silver coinage called bullion rounds. The term round came about because the silver was fashioned into coins and therefore was able to be stacked into rolls. This made it very convenient for the coins to be shipped and handled. You’ll quite often see them referred to as silver art rounds because they can be purchased inscribed with a variety of designs ranging from Santa, christmas trees, snowman, animals, angels, and many other seasonal figures.
These dated season bullion rounds are not only fun to collect but some of the older, rare dates are highly sought after and command a higher premium than the newer issues.
Specifications:
1. You can buy silver bullion Christmas rounds in sizes ranging from one ounce to five ounces. The one ounce variety is the most popular.
2. Each silver round coin contains one full ounce of pure silver.
3. It has a purity of .999 fine silver.
4. It is not government-backed and has no legal tender status.
Varieties:
Silver bullion rounds are available in both name-brand and generic.
Name-brand silver rounds include the one-ounce private mint produced A-Mark Precious Metals, Wall Street Mint and Sunshine Minting. These silver rounds will display the name or hallmark of the mint that manufactured them.
Generic silver rounds are produced by a variety of small, little-known firms as well as those produced over the years by companies that may or may not still be in business. They typically have a smaller markup than the name-brand silver rounds. These include the silver bullion Christmas rounds.
Most Valuable:
Engelhard Silver Prospectors is the one ounce silver round that is most sought after by collectors. It was minted by Engelhard but has not been produced since 1988. This silver round is difficult to obtain and occasionally can be purchased on the secondary market.
Reasons to Buy:
1. Silver rounds are readily available.
2. They typically sell for a lower premium than government-backed silver bullion coins.
3. The value of the rounds is directly correlated to the current price of silver.
4. Their small size makes them perfect coins for bartering.
Conclusion:
Silver bullion Christmas rounds are affordable, fun to collect and easy to store, count, buy and sell. They are an excellent way for the small investor or collector to invest directly in pure silver bullion.