Archive for June, 2009

Ensuring Old Coin Values

by Sylvie Clashmire

Old coin values increase as time goes by. Your coin collection can become a worthwhile investment if you keep it long enough. Knowing what determines its value and how to properly care for your collection is essential for any coin collector.

How is Coin Value Determined?

The factors that determine old coin values are the condition and rarity of a particular coin. The demand for a coin also influences the value and whatever historical value it might have. The actual value of a coin can be found by consulting the Blue Book or Black Book (for non-US coins).

The demand for a given coin is determined mainly by the coin’s rarity. Old coin values are much higher for those coins that are very rare. Sometimes even very old coins aren’t worth very much if there were so many printed that they are very easy to come by.

Historical old coin values are fairly subjective. If someone is really into to ancient Greece then they will no doubt place higher value on these coins. If you have a specialty coin to sell then it is best to find out its historical value so that you target the right group of buyers.

Old coin values are largely dependent on coin condition. This can be difficult to gauge sometimes but luckily the Sheldon Scale helps us determine the condition of a coin. The Sheldon Scale is a comprehensive 70 part scale that many coin dealers use. Coins that are very worn and difficult to read are considered the least valuable while those that are near perfect are considered mint.

Keep Your Valuable Coins Valuable

No matter the condition of a coin when you buy it you can make sure that its condition does not get any worse. This will ensure you old coin values always increase with age.

Don’t handle your coins very often. When you do handle them, always hold them by the edges only. The oils and acids from our hands can increase the deterioration of our coins thus lowing old coin values over time.

Another thing to remember is not to clean your coins. Every time you handle or scrub the coin you wear some of it away. Most cleaners have a negative effect on the coin as well. So always remember to resist the urge to shine or clean your favorite coins.

To maintain optimal old coin values it is important to correctly store your coins. Many people store their coins in paper envelopes or plastic sheathes but this can be detrimental to old coin values. The chemicals in plastic facilitate the break down of coins and the acid in most papers likewise eat away your coins. Make sure you use only acid-free paper to store your coins. it is also important to avoid extreme temperatures and direct sunlight.

With a little effort, you should be able to keep your old coin values from dropping. Your collection could be worth a fortune someday if you are diligent about its care.

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Monday, June 29th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

Silver Eagle Monster Boxes: An Affordable Way To Invest In Silver

by Christina Goldman

The main advantage for buying Silver Eagle Monster Boxes is the cost savings. How so? You see, when you buy American Eagle Silver coins, your price is based on the current market spot price. The dealer then adds a premium per silver bullion coin. However, when you buy in large quantities, your cost will be alot less. Also, most bullion dealers offer free shipping for large orders.

Another valid reason for purchasing Silver Eagle Monster Boxes is the shortage situation in silver bullion. Because of the selloff in the stock market, the financial turmoil in the credit markets and increase in bank failures, investors are turning to hard assets for protection and diversification. Unprecedented demand for silver bullion because of extreme investor demand has forced the the U.S. Mint to stop production of 2008 edition of the Silver Eagle.

The US Mint has rationed American Silver Eagles since early spring and is supplying the silver bullion coins to dealers on an allocation basis only.

Most dealers are shipping American Silver Eagle orders as they receive them from the U.S. Mint. In many cases, orders are experiencing significant delays and wait times of up to several months! Investors wishing to invest in Silver Eagles should purchase as many coins as they can afford now. There is a real risk that anyone wishing to purchase these silver bullion coins in the future will have to pay a huge premium to do so.

The American Silver Eagle coin is the most popular silver bullion coin. The Silver Eagle is not only beautiful but its silver content is guaranteed by the U.S. government. Each beautiful silver eagle coin contains 1 troy ounce of silver and is 99.9% pure. The American Silver Eagle is considered legal tender and can be converted to cash at any given time.

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Saturday, June 20th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

The Gold Krugerrand Coin Pendant – A Vintage Work Of Art

by Christina Goldman

Why is it that your Gold Krugerrand Coin Pendant appears to be of great importance? Well, simply because it was in 2007 that the South African Krugerrand gold coin marked its 40th anniversary, having first been minted in 1967. Except for the vintage feel, these gold bullion coin pendants were made using 1 troy oz. Of .9167 pure gold ( 22k ). There are other variations of the coin pendant having 14K gold composition but however, they are all exquisitely minted.

The sales of the Gold Krugerrand Coin Pendant have now reached their ultimate high since more and more collectors and even investors have fallen in love with these. Most of them cherish the history that developed round the gold bullion coin. Although, there even was a time when it was proscribed to dangle any sort of gold around your neck, wrist or even ankles but since the Krugerrand was a legal tender, folks can pretty much do anything with it – sell it, buy it and even use it as dcor.

This led to the notion of using gold coins as investments since you can easily profit by simply by trading with it in the market.

With all the hype going on, before buying bags and bags full of gold coins, remember that these gold coins are 22 carats, meaning they are very soft so they are just “cut” with some amounts of metal to make it mint-able. So do not equate the 22K gold coin with the 22K gold necklace.

Now that pendants are being sold across markets, it would be best of you have a coin consultant find out if the gold price, authenticity of the coin as well as it’s carat weight is at par or not.

The Gold Krugerrand Coin Pendant is both an investment and a collector’s item that will surely last forever.

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Monday, June 15th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

What Are The Advantages Of Buying The Large Kilo Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar?

by Christina Goldman

The Kilo Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar is the heaviest size gold bar. Just what are the advantages of buying a gold bullion bar this large? Believe it or not, there are two main advantages you might consider when selecting this particular size over other weights:

Low Premium Heavier and larger sized renditions of the gold bullion are indeed recognized and traded across global markets therefore making them liquid and divisible. This is a wiser way to concentrate one’s wealth but bear in mind that you shouldn’t concentrate all of your investments in gold bullion bars, or precious metals in general.

High Liquidity Investing in gold bars can result in a higher return of investment but you might have to wait awhile to see the appreciation. It isn’t correlated with paper shares of stock that have the tendency to rise in value quite rapidly if you made the right trade. The upside about this however is definitely all about the anticipation of getting your hands on the brick of gold.

To balance off, there are downsides over buying large sized gold bars and one of the explanations is the purchase time. You have to hang around for a few weeks to get hold of the smaller ones while the wait for the larger ones customarily is around 2 months at the maximum time.

Why is it tougher to ship the massive Kilo Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar? Storage happens to be the problem. The prices are based on spot gold price so follow the golden rule to get the best out of your acquisition and that is : the more bars to be acquired the smaller amount you have to actually pay. Just say you would be coughing up big sums of cash if you were to move around ten pieces of these gold bars.

Given the pros and cons, I think it is still advantageous to buy the big Kilo Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar.

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Sunday, June 14th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

The Rich History of the American Buffalo Gold Coin

by Christina Goldman

The American Buffalo Gold Coin has a rich heritage. Any potential investor should definitely take the time to learn a little bit about learn a little about the history of the American Buffalo Gold coin. Did you know that it was first offered for sale by the U.S. Mint in 2006? This happens to be the first time that 24K gold coins were produced by the US Government for public consumption.

The American Buffalo coin has a legal tender of $50. The coin’s evidence edition was sold for $800 and its price continued to rise as each year passed. There was even a Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 that mandated a face value of $50 for the 24K coin along with a limit of only 300,000 pieces or about ten pieces per home to be minted and sold.

Here’s some minutiae about the History of the American Buffalo Gold Coin:

The illustration of the buffalo itself The original version of the coin with the drawing of the bison or the American buffalo came out in 1913 and was designed by James Earle Fraser.

Reason of the gold coin creation In order to challenge with other 24K gold coins in the market, the U.S. Government ordered the creation of the American Buffalo Gold Coin. They were losing ground with Canada’s Gold Maple Leaf coin as the preferred coin by investors due to its higher composition.

Even though the U.S. Government has the Gold Eagle coin, the American Buffalo Gold Coin is more engaging for investors due to its 99.9% pure vs. the latter. So that is the reason why in 2008, minting of the buffalo gold coins briefly stopped since it can not keep up with the demands of the market.

The history of the American Buffalo Gold Coin has demonstrated that backers can easily seek safety with gold to get through the present industrial downfall.

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Thursday, June 11th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

The Wall Street Mint Silver Bar – A Beautiful Way To Commemorate 9/11

by Christina Goldman

The Wall Street Mint Silver Bar were created in 2002, specifically to commemorate the events of 9/11. These gorgeous .999 fine silver bars feature the skyline of New York City, with the twin World Trade Center Towers, as it appeared before 9/11. Produced by the Wall Street Mint, these highly collectible, proof-like silver bars are no longer being made and are difficult to obtain. The Wall Street Mint Silver Bars are available in two sizes – 10 oz. and 100 oz.

Let’s look at the advantages to owning both sizes:

100-oz silver bars

1. Convenient way to invest a large amount of wealth in silver bullion form

2. Uniform shape makes it simple to stack and store them in a safe deposit box

3. 6.86 pound weight makes them easy to handle

4. Highly liquid as this particular size is an accepted trading unit

Coincidentally – 100 ounce silver bars came about in the 1970’s when inflation was soaring. Silver, a well-known inflation hedge, was highly sought after by investors as it was illegal to own gold bullion before December 31, 1974.

Small refiners started producing .999 fine silver products in order to meet the surging demand. Demand was so great by the mid-1970’s that large refiners like Engelhard and Johnson-Matthey began to produce the 100-oz silver bars.

10-oz silver bars

1. The favorite size of most investors

2. Smaller unit of value makes them easier to trade for other services and goods

3. Flat, uniform shape makes for easy, neat storage

4. You don’t need alot of money to invest

Because the Wall Street Mint Silver Bars are only available on the secondary market, they offer an investment opportunity with a great chance for future appreciation. Whether you invest in the 100 oz size or the 10 oz variety depends on your financial status and investment objectives.

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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

How to Buy the Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar Without Going To Switzerland

by Christina Goldman

You do not have to trek all the way to Switzerland to procure a Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar. You can purchase it straight from the web and save a lot of money as well as time. Now that you’ve got an idea of how to buy the gold bar, let’s examine the exact places to buy it.

You have overheard luscious stories from some of your investor friends that acquiring gold is a good way to plump up one’s investment portfolio. They’re actually telling the truthful and not just luring you on to invest on a commodity that glimmers and shines.

You also found out that they are actually buying gold bars thru the Net. Is it already that simple? Taking gold bars online is more cost effective since you purchase by the volume. For example 10 troy oz. Worth ; this purchase has a smaller mark-up cost over the gold spot price.

Now that you can not wait to search the Net, be on the look out for scammers. There are credible sites that offer not just the Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar but different types of gold bar products from different states as well.

Buying online is recommended if you really would need to get hold of the actual gold bar as a minimum possible time – approximately 10 to 21 days. You should also consider storing the gold bars in a more secured place and not just allow it to lie around your house as an ornament or if you belong to the rich and the famous, as paper weight.

Even though this method of acquiring gold bar products is more convenient than traveling to far places, be vigilant enough when you buy a Pamp Suisse Gold Bullion Bar since not all that glitters is Gold.

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Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

Morgan Dollars for Sale

by Thomas J Haydene

As children most of us had the hobby of collecting old coins. http://www.buy-morgan-dollars.com is a place where one can buy and sell the Morgan silver dollars. Morgan dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and one more year in 1921. There were various changes that took place in America during the span of the Morgan Dollar.

For decades, the silver Morgan dollar was not that well known and collectors did not pay it much attention. Collecting Morgan dollars did not gather fame until early 1960s. During this time silver was around $1.29 per ounce. One had to go to the bank and ask for them as many banks had bags and rolls of silver dollars.

After the Coinage Act of 1873 came in, dollars were coined on and off. This wiped off the dollar and restored it by a slightly larger dollar called the Trade dollar which was produced with an intension of exporting it for trade with China. The government went through a lot of changes and some acts were passed like: the US government suggested buying silver bullion for its own account to help support the market, the Bland-Allison Act was passed on February 28th, 1878; legislation dictated that the US government purchase $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 a month in silver bullion, etc.

A week after the Bland-Allison Act was passed the Morgan dollars were coined on 7th March 1878. After a several adjustments of the dies the Philadelphia mint cranked out the first dollar. The press was adjusted and 11 more coins were produced after a few rejections that happened. With the intension to deliver the first coin to the President and the 2nd coin to the Secretary of the Treasury ” John Sherman and the 3rd to Linderman the coins were struck on the polished planchets, removed by hand and put in numbered envelopes.

The easy way to buy and sell the Morgan dollars by the way of bidding is offered by http://www.buy-morgan-dollars.com. A few rare coins available on this site are: 1893-O Morgan in Mint State condition, the 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar ” this is very rare to encounter in uncirculated condition or even in circulated condition and 1891 “O Morgan Silver Dollar.

The value of a VAM is little difficult to judge. It stands for “Van Allen – Mallis.” The rare VAMs offered on this site are: 1893 VAM-4 Morgan Dollar has all doubled stars and a closed 9 in the date, 1892-S Morgan Dollar – VAM-2 is rare to come by die variety in which the whole date is doubled, etc.

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Saturday, June 6th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

Finding Historic Old Rare Chinese Silver Coins

by Christina Goldman

For coin collectors all around the world, one of the most extraordinary reveals that may ever be got in the market today are Old Rare Chinese Silver Coins. For one thing, you don’t usually find rare Chinese coins from different dynasties in the local Chinese markets without wondering or suspecting if all of the merchant’s hordes are mere duplicates or fakes of the real thing.

It is also awfully rare to be ready to get traditional Chinese silver coins for modest prices. So, bear in mind that if you’re into the coin picking up business and would like to have some of China’s old and rare silver coins, you’re most likely going to need to shell out a lot of money just to obtain them. What you will be benefiting from these coins though is a part of the state’s traditional history, a valuable and intangible treasure that no one can fiddle with unless they completely destroy such artifacts.

The circulation of old rare Chinese Silver Coins first began when the republic of China was founded after the Xinhai Revolution. Because they had to develop and issue a new army currency to replace the previous one used in the Qing dynasty, they Nanjing provisional government decided to make a new sort of currency called the Silver Dollar.

This was established in 1914 by the nation’s Currency Ordinance and became the nation’s currency of the Republic of China. From then on until the 1930s, lots of the designs have changed overtime but the actual sizes and quantity of valuable metals used stayed unchanged.

These coins have a history so rich the price of these authentic rare coins can be quite compelling for the average coin collector. You will discover that some of these old rare Chinese Silver Coins can’t be purchased less than a thousand dollars from a reputable coin dealer.

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Thursday, June 4th, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments

American Gold Buffalo Coins – Is Proof Or Circulated the Better Investment For The Future?

by Christina Goldman

American Gold Buffalo Coins – Is Proof Or Circulated the Better Investment? You may be confused about the differences between the two types. Since you may be new to investing in gold bullion coins, here are some facts that might help you understand the two variations a little better:

The term circulated means the the coin has already signs of wear since it has been used in commerce. The term evidence, on the other hand, means that the coin went thru a special minting process of polish and die treatment therefore making the coin appear a little different.

This eventuality gives an investor some stable investments he can definitely count on. The coins are made from 99.9% gold or an equivalent of 24K. Since Gold is considered recession-proof, investors are assured of a worthwhile investment even in they are caught in the middle of a financial instability.

The emergence of net purchases has reached these gold coins already and it would be best to understand the true gold coins from the gold covered chocolate coins. These American Buffalo Gold proof coins have a “W” on the front side. This implies the coin is indeed a proof edition. Each of these explanation coins are guaranteed by the US govt for its gold content and purity.

When you invest in the American Buffalo Gold proof coin, you can simply liquidate it to cash since they are widely accepted and traded across all markets. Coin buyers, collectors and financiers alike know good value when they discover one so they’re rushing to get as many explanation coins as they can.

In the future, you may definitely be rewarded for choosing to speculate in the proof edition of the American Buffalo Gold Coins. The sale attractiveness of these American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins are increasing considerably amidst the bear market and the decline of the US economy.

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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 Coin Collecting No Comments