. Profit Potential = 300 to 600 coins per game.

Enter tourneys against CPU to earn coins. Win every game at least 3-0, and earn around 500 to 600 coins. Most tourneys pay out around 500 to 1500 coins as a trophy bonus. Remember: use your 2nd team to earn coins while preserving your best players’ contracts and protecting them from injury.

. Profit Potential = 200 to 800 coins per game.

Online tournaments pay more coins due to the DNF modifier and online modifier. If you win a game 3-0 online, you can get 700+ coins easily. If you quit a game, then your DNF modifier drops. You get fewer coins in future tourney wins.

. Potential = 300 to 600 coins per game.

Again, same as tourneys w/o the tournament bonus factor.

. Profit Potential = 200 to 800 coins per game.

Same as tourneys w/o the trophy bonus factor.

. Potential = 600 to 750 coins on AVERAGE.

A very popular method where you purchase bronze packs then resell the contents for profit. This has been less effect recently ever since the trading market crashed. Each pack gives you 2-3 players (sell for 200 each), kits & balls (200 each), and contracts & managers (150 to 300 each). The main problem is you NEED TO SELL your inventory to make any money. Since bronze cards have the least value, you may experience days without selling anything.

. Profit Potential = 750 to 25k Coins per pack.

Same as the bronze pack but with silver cards. Carry a slightly higher value, plus adds the possibility to obtain a rare silver card in the process.

. Profit Potential = 500 coins to 1 million coins per pack.

The elite profit method for packs. Has the ability to generate anywhere from 500 coins to 1 million coins profit per pack. This is due to the luck factor if you pull a Ronaldo, Messi, or other HIGH rated player in a gold pack.

. Profit Potential = 1k to 50k coins extra profit per card.

A fairly underground method used to generate more profit from an otherwise lower value card.

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Example

We buy a Valencia RW 4-3-2-1 w/ 7 contracts on the open market for 3k. We could resell immediately for 4k and get a small profit. With Buy, Boost, Bank, we increase the value of the card by:

* Adding 33 contracts

* Adding Player Attributes increase to highlight the card

* Changing the formation to 4-3-3

* then Setting the auction for 9k BIN.

Do you see what we did? Now, a Valencia buyer can use this card RIGHT AWAY in his 4-3-3 formation without worrying about contracts or chemistry. The Player attributes also generates extra attention since the rating attributes cause the card to get highlighted in the listing.

. Profit Potential = 5k to 200k per card.

This method works really well when you find out which players sell the best.

1. Sort auctions by Gold, Minimum Price = 4k coins

2. See what is selling well and create a list of 10 to 15 players

3. Search for these players at the lowest BIN price

4. Buy it then resell the card at a higher price

5. Rinse and Repeatedly

You will eventually get good at recognizing deals in the marketplace, and become an expert “trader.”

. Profit Potential = 2k to 100k coins per card.

Another good method is when you buy cards during a cooled off market during the night, then sell in a higher volume market during the afternoon-evening. Most people play FUT between 4pm and 4am in their time zone. You simply stay up late at night when others are sleeping to pick up bargains. Wait until tomorrow and sell during the afternoon at a higher price. This method is REALLY popular and is currently the largest thread in the UK FUT forums.

. Profit Potential = 1k to 50k coins per card

This strategy takes careful monitoring of 1 specific player. You buy up as many of the player as possible, creating a short supply in the marketplace. This pumps up prices to your advantage. Once the demand is there, you unload your cards at a higher price as you meet the demand.

Example

We buy every Robinho for under 5k, then hold. Wait until the marketplace is absent of Robinho or has a low supply. Then you unload your Robinho’s 1 by 1, giving you FULL control over the market supply.

. Profit Potential = 250 to 1k coins per contract.

Everybody is addicted to contracts. Make easy coins by feeding this addiction with a few minutes of your time.

Example

Search for any gold contracts under 400 BIN. Buy them all then resell them immediately at 500+ BIN. They sell very easily and it’s some quick and easy coins.

. Time Savings = 1 hour to 1 week.

Did you know you can buy coins on eBay?!? Yep. You can get around 4k coins for every dollar. That’s a pretty good bargain if you have more money than time.

Example

It takes you 15 minutes on average to complete 1 tournament game. You earn 600 coins. For every 1 hour, you generate 2400 coins plus 600 trophy bonus equalling 3k coins per hour. This is your average hourly earnings.

With eBay, you get 4k coins for every dollar. If your time is worth USA dollars per hour, then you are valuing your time at 75 cents per hour if you play the tournaments. Play the tourneys for fun, not if coins is your #1 motivation. Using eBay, you can purchase 100k coins for dollars, thus saving you over 30 hours of playing tournaments. Do you see how powerful this leverage is? Do a eBay search for Ultimate Team coins to leverage your time quickly.

. Profit Potential = Unlimited.

I started out with this method 1st to get the ball rolling right away. You simply purchase points through Amazon.com then purchase packs and/or players.

Note: Because of an Xbox 360 glitch, Ea sports suspended the use of MSN points for packs temporarily. They are working hard on this issue and I expect MSN points to be back hopefully by the end of March. No guarantees here. Just my guess:)

. Profit Potential = 5k to 20k coins.

A few generous gamers give away coins if you a

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In fact, everything you require to begin an fascinating coin collection can all be bought from your home. Don’t make it hard on your self by guessing, and possibly decreasing the value of several of your coins. Listed beneath are several of the supplies you’ll need to get going with your collection. You may have some already.

Coin Collecting Gloves

These gloves will keep any damage to the coins surfaces when handling them. Body oils, dust and dirt are enemies of a coins condition.

Coin Collecting Tongs

Using pairs of tweezers is another outstanding way to prevent damage to your coins thus assuring no marks from contact.

Coin Collecting Magnifying Glasses

Weather your assessing the condition, detail or beauty of a coin, get up close with a good enlarging glass and see the coin for all it’s features.

Coin Display Cases

Solid wood or alumnium Coin Display Cases are availble for all types of coins.  Just make sure its archival material.

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Coin Albums

If you’d rather store your coins on a shelf, coin albums are the way to go.

Coin Collecting Software

Picking Out the right coin collecting software program for your coin collection, will depend on what type and size of collection you are directing, and dealing all of the data will be a task that is better left to a good coin software program. While having a good coin software product and a computer is an added expense, it is totally worth it equated to the time and money you will save seeking to do it yourself. Also, reckoning on the coin collecting software platform you choose, it can include all kinds of other relevant information about coins, such as types of coins, pictures of coins and different method actings of how you want to organize your coins. So take your time and do your research before choosing the coin software that’s right for you and your coin collecting hobby.
Conclusion

It does not take a lot of money or a lot of supplies to begin the hobby of coin collecting. In fact, with just a marginal investment in coin collecting supplies, and the purchase of a few coins, you can be up and running in no time. A good price guide, a good magnifying glass, some good lighting, and a good software program will have you on your way quickly.

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Here we will try to describe best places to find old coins.

Shopping malls in your locality may put up coin shows now and then. A visit to such shows could be very useful. You would be able see a good collection of old and rare coins on display and get a lot of information about them. You may also be allowed to buy some coins at a good price because competition is fairly intense.

You should also find old coins exhibited at these shows. You would do well to buy some of these to add to your coin collection and enlarge it. Coin shows offer an excellent source for buyers, and a great chance for collectors to showcase their hobby. It also offers the enthusiasts the enjoyment of seeing a good collection of coins, and the opportunity to feast their eyes on rare coins that they had only heard about but never actually seen.

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There are several shops whose owners deal with coins and have a fund of information about the rarity and value of old coins. Coin shops buy and sell coins. They can tell you everything you need to know about collecting rare and valuable coins. Of course, these coin shops will be expensive places to do business, because the owners want to make substantial profits on the sale of old coins. However, you may be able to buy reasonably priced rare coins at a coin shop if you do a bit of research and arm yourself with sound knowledge about the coins that you are looking for, or take an expert along with you when you go.

The internet will open up for you a worldwide market in coins. You only have to browse the Internet to find numerous websites created for collectors, buyers and sellers of coins, located all over the world. But before you deal with any of these, you should first do a bit of research on their dependability. You should read about their terms and policies with regards to refunding money if there should be a problem with the coin you buy from them.

There are many online shops that are just scams out to get money from gullible people. So, make sure that you look up reviews about the website that you are interested in and also get feedback from people who have previously done business with the site. You should never, on any account, give the dealer your password or pin number.

You can find antique old coins by addressing to numismatist community. These people know everything about antique coins: creating or coining history, alloys, which this coin is made of, image description etc.

One more variant – to exchange coins with other numismatist. Collectors usually exchange ancient coins of same nominal or equal cost if someone has duplicate specimens.

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For more info, go here Sell Gold

Some coin collectors sell their coin collections after the coins’ values have gone up, but some are just simple collectors and coin lovers. They will not sell their collection, they just add to it. Either way, if you have old coins that you want to sell, you will always have a buyer in a coin collector. You only have to be patient in selling the coins because you cannot expect to sell them at once. You have to look for potential buyers. But before you sell your old coins, you must first know their values. This article will give you tips on how to price the old coins that you have.

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The rarer the coins, the more expensive they are. There are limited edition coins that a country’s government issues, meaning there are only a limited number of them in circulation in the old times.

Search the internet for websites that can help you determine the values of the coins that you have. You can input the year and the name of the coins and they will show you how much they are worth today.

If you do not know how to look at a coin’s value, have an appraiser do it. An expert eye will give you a higher price for the coins than when you do it by yourself, especially if you do not have enough knowledge. Employ the services of a coin appraiser and ask for a quotation of the coins that you have.

For more info, go here Sell Gold

Check the coins’ condition. If your coins are scratched or dented, they will not fetch a good price. Maintaining a good condition of the coins means gaining more profit from them.

The metal content will also determine the price. If your coins are made of precious metals like gold, silver or aluminum, they will surely have a higher value than when they are made of cheaper metals.

The higher the demand for a certain type of coin, the pricier it will be.  Even if there is plenty of a specific kind of coin, it will sell higher than rarer ones. This is because the demand is high, so the price will go up as well. It is much better if the coin is older.

The older the coins are the better. The age of the coins is another factor to consider when pricing them. They fetch higher prices than those newer ones. You will not believe how much coin enthusiasts will dish out just to take possession of a very old coin.

You can definitely profit from selling old coins that you deem useless, but in the eyes of a collector, they are very good finds and of high value. Also, if you have a coin collection yourself, you will know their values from following the tips above.

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Most of the bullion coins available are made from silver or gold. A few also come in platinum though, including the American Platinum Eagle, the Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, the Australian Platinum Koala, and the Manx Noble. Here’s a quick rundown of each of these four platinum bullion coins:

The American Platinum Eagle bullion coins were first minted and released in 1997 by the United States Mint. They are offered in four varieties:

1. 1/10 ounce (oz.) coin – With a face value of USD10, 3.112 grams (g) in weight, 0.95 millimeters (mm) thick, and 16.5 mm in diameter.

2. 1/4 oz. coin – With a face value of USD25, 7.78 g in weight, 1.32 mm thick, and 22 mm in diameter.

3. 1/2 oz. coin – With a face value of USD50, 15.56 g in weight, 1.75 mm thick, and 27 mm in diameter.

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4. 1 oz. coin – With a face value of USD100, 31.12 g in weight, 2.39 mm thick, and 32.7 mm in diameter.

All coin varieties consist of 0.9995 fine platinum. One interesting feature of the American

Platinum Eagle coin is that its reverse design changes every year.

The Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf bullion coins were issued from 1988 until 2002 by the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM). They were offered in four varieties: 1/10 oz. coin (with a face value (FV) of CD5), 1/4 oz. coin (FV: CD10), 1/2 oz. coin (FV: CD20), and 1 oz. coin (FV: CD50).

Two additional varieties, 1/20 oz. coin (FV: CD1) and 1/15 oz. coin (FV: CD2), were issued by

RCM, but only in 1994. In 2009, the 1 oz. coin was reintroduced. All coins, which have legal tender status in Canada, consist of 0.9995 pure platinum.

The Australian Platinum Koala bullion coins were first released in 1988 by the Perth Mint, the oldest currently operating mint in Australia. The coin comes in 1 oz. variety, with a face value of AD100. As with most other bullion coins, this value is much lower than the coin’s bullion value.

On the coin’s obverse is a koala, in sunken relief (i.e., lowered from the coin’s plane); on the reverse is Queen Elizabeth II. The coin has legal tender status in Australia.

The Manx Noble platinum bullion coins were minted from 1983 to 1989 by the Pobjoy Mint, the leading private mint in Europe. The coins were offered in five varieties:

1. 1/20 oz. coin – With 1.555 g platinum content, 1.556 g in weight, and 13.9 mm in diameter.

2. 1/10 ounce coin – With 3.11 g platinum content, 3.112 g in weight, and 16.5 mm in diameter.

3. 1/4 ounce coin – With 7.776 g platinum content, 7.78 g in weight, and 22 mm in diameter.

4. 1/2 ounce coin – With 15.552 g platinum content, 15.6 g in weight, and 27 mm in diameter.

5. 1 ounce coin – With 31.103 g platinum content, 31.119 g in weight, and 32.7 mm in diameter.

The coins have no currency value. Their value, rather, is equal to their respective platinum contents. All coins consist of 0.9995 pure platinum.

On the coin’s obverse is Queen Elizabeth II, along with these texts: “ISLE OF MAN” and ”ELIZABETH II”. On the reverse are a Viking ship, the denomination, platinum content, and the words “Platinum fine”.

Source: http://www.bullioninvestorhelp.com

Acquiring coins that are properly tested is difficult; some even have pleasure in selling coins which might be illegitimate. There are various ways to buy diverse unique .

Nearby vendor: You could land in most surprising scenarios after you get the most beneficial top quality coins through some neighborhood coin dealers. The process to buy will likely be exciting when you stage in to the market for the very first time. The alternative to prevent and which of them to favor is beneficial suggestions the coin dealers can give out. Uncommon coins, gold and silver primarily based coins or perhaps the collectible coins which are launched within the form of single edition. The neighborhood dealers have their own resources which make up for an excellent selection. You’ll be able to utilize the details supplied as well as come up with some exquisite coin collection inside the lengthy run.

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Coin broker: The world has lots of gifted and experienced coin brokers who’ve been procuring these distinct coins for the collectors over the country. Commission is charged on every single deal involving sale, but they’re numismatic experts. Buy coins via these coin brokers who specialize in these kinds of coins that are rare to find, especially at a higher price. More coins is often studied within the coin magazines.

Coin club friends: There are actually nearby clubs which engage in coin related pursuits which help in connecting men and women with this sort of prevalent interests. Discover buddies and you even get an opportunity to change or else of the most exclusive make.

Coin exhibits: There are various coin exhibits held now after which in metropolitan areas that have various and also massive assortment. The grades, costs, attractiveness as well as aggressive nature with the coins could change the sales and profits. Over time the prices increase and lower, this factor is crucial for individuals who are thinking about creating funds out from the coin company can use this sort of coin shows to obtain optimum positive aspects.

Being the proud operator of the coin assortment is that which you desire; your wish just isn’t significantly powering. You’ll find multiple methods to lay your fingers on the coins you call for making a complete selection. Get cost-effective coin on the market on line.

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One of the most historic gold coins minted in the nation, these one dollar gold coins had been minted again in 1849 and also authorized because of the Act of March 3. These coins weighed about 25.eight grains and so are .900fineness. The very first set of those coins were released until 1854 and had been referred to as the Liberty Head. The shape of these coins (Sort one) had been afterwards changed and then minted bigger and thinner. Even the design was altered into a nicely carved feather headdress on the female.

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The second most ancient are generally that with the Quarter Eagle Gold coins. These coins had been much more historical than the one dollar coins. The quarter eagle gold coins had been authorized through the 2nd April Act, 1792. These coins weighed 67.5 grains and are .9167fineness. Having said that, with the passing many years, the excess weight of those coins changed to 64.five grains and .8992fineness. Every of those coins is rare and recognized to exist even until date.

One other set of unique gold coins, these three dollar gold coins were also termed since the Indian Princess Head coins. They had been authorized depending on the act of February 21, in 1853. The first set of these coins had been minted in 1854. On the other hand, these coins were not incredibly common amidst the public as well as had been circulated incredibly little.

The 4 dollar Stella coins was developed from the advice of John A Kasson, an U.S envoy. The coin was named Stella as a result of its five pointed star that was envisioned by Kasson. The coin seemed to be 1 of numerous proposals that were created towards the Congress for that international tra coin. A number of these coins are integrated inside the Nationwide Numismatic Assortment when many other people are saved as non-public collections and surface in auctions in regular time intervals.

Purchasing these coins is among the most beneficial investment options and if you’re thinking, , your remedy is basically Coinmogul.

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Obtaining coins that are tested properly is difficult to uncover. Numerous folks get pleasure in buy and sell coins that are generated by them. Here, you do not get guarantee that will they’re the real 1 or not. So try another approach to figure out .  Some out from the many techniques are reviewed under wherein, you receive moderately great coins.

•Regional Merchant: you might surely property inside the most surprising scenarios once you get essentially the most useful top quality of coins through the coin dealer who’s just nearby your location. The whole process of shopping for coins will flip out to become very exciting as and whenever you stage in the marketplace for very initially time.

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•Coin dealer: we’re gifted with just so quite a few skilled coin brokers who’re able to procuring these uncommon coins only for the coin collectors and small business men all more than the world. These numismatic professionals charge commissions on every single solitary offer involving sale. It can be excellent to buy coins through these coin brokers as they’re experts they find out what exactly is very best.

•Coin events: nowadays there are lots of coin exhibitions taking place in just about every city area. The price, grade, aggressiveness as well as the attractiveness characteristics using the coins can certainly really properly alter the profit along with sales. You can receive all kinds of rare coin readily available within the displays that will quite a few of us dream of obtaining.

•Coin alliance: there are many coin clubs opening in most of the massive cities. All the coin enthusiasts can effortlessly be part of this kind of loge. Inside the coin clubs, folks fundamentally help all the guys as well as females searching for help in gathering or shopping for correct coins.  

Hence, to total all of your desires, you receive multiple alternatives for acquiring coins. Simply just lay your amount around the coins and you get it. Get these coins extra inexpensively via on-line stores. Currently if you discover where to buy coins, do not watch for long. All investors on the market increase your income with these types of uncommon coins as well as for all coin collectors you have got a terrific likelihood to increase your assortment. 

Whether or not you decide you want to sell gold coins will be determined by several factors including how much is gold worth, do I think the price of gold will go up or down, and the purpose of holding gold.

First you have to start with a gold coins value. How much are they worth? The value of Gold coins can be divided in two: Bullion gold coins and Collectable Gold coins.  Let us start with Bullion Gold Coins. These are the commonly held Gold Coins that you have seen advertised. The list includes the South African Krugerrand, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and the American Eagle. They are valuable not because of their face value but because of the value of the precious metal contained in the coin, it is the same with Gold as with Silver.  The basis of this value is what is known as the spot price of Gold. That is the price of gold for immediate delivery. The value of a gold bullion coin is really the value of the metal plus a premium for the supply and demand of the coin itself.

 In general, these types of Gold coins are considered legal tender, the Krugerrand being the notable exception, but the face value is much lower than the value of the precious metal.  For example the Gold Double Eagle has a face value of , but the current value of the coins are in around 50′s, a considerable difference between the legal tender value and the previous metal value. A few years ago the American Buffalo Gold Coin was introduced, also with a face value but reminiscent of the “Buffalo Nickel” coin from the early part of last century. The Krugerrand was the first modern, low cost, bullion coin. It was introduced in 1967 and contained one troy ounce of gold. It still commands the lowest premiums in the market. The premium amounts range from around 2% for the Krugerrand to higher than 5% for the American Gold Eagle.

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In the United States prior to 1933 gold coins were minted and released into circulation. That is people actually used gold coins in the market place. By 1933 possession of Gold in the United States was outlawed in an effort to prevent gold hording. Prior to that time Gold coins were used in circulation. These gold coins are valued based on their gold content, of course, but also have a numismatic premium associated with them. This additional value is based on rarity of the coins. That is a large quantity have survived the premium will be lower, if relatively few have survived until now, then the premium can be quite large.

To assess the value of your collectable gold coins you will need to either have them appraised or value them using some sort of online grading website like Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com) This helps you determine a current value for the year and mint of your gold coin. You will need to pay a fee to get full access to their site, but the information can be invaluable if you have value more than a coin or two. A lower cost solution is the one I used when I was growing up: buy a coin collector’s book. There is the Official Red Book: A guide of United States Coins which retails for around .

There are numerous ways to sell Gold Coins now. Traditionally you would need to go to a coin dealer or company that bought and sold gold coins. Now there numerous online and offline options including such old Faithfull’s as Ebay and Craig’s list. They are just a couple of the online additions to the auctions and brokers who have traditionally handled Gold coin sales. eBay even has a section called the  Bullion Center. Another way to Sell Gold Coins is to go the American Numismatic Association (money.org) and search for an ANA dealer in your area.

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Online, it is possible to get the much info regarding the collectible coins. You’ll be able to buy coins online however the factor is a single are not able to see them in hand. But, you could constantly ask for certificates that promise their good quality and value. Therefore, it really is most effective to choose a web-site that is certainly reliable for buying coins online. Make certain you have great collections of coins and the photographs are displayed in which just one can see the coins, charges of individual coin as well as other particulars may also be talked about. You even can buy coins for expense and when price raises one particular can sell them on the internet in addition. Buying coins online can be a improved alternative only deciding on the dependable web-site normally it’s possible you’ll be in loss.

You’ll be able to buy coins online however the factor is a single are not able to see them in hand. But, you could constantly ask for certificates that promise their good quality and value. Therefore, it really is most effective to choose a web-site that is certainly reliable for buying coins online. Make certain you have great collections of coins and the photographs are displayed in which just one can see the coins, charges of individual coin as well as other particulars may also be talked about. You even can buy coins for expense and when price raises one particular can sell them on the internet in addition. Buying coins online can be a improved alternative only deciding on the dependable web-site normally it’s possible you’ll be in loss. 

Get advantage of buying coins online.

. Yes antique stores sometimes have coins. They may not have the kind of selection that a coin shop does, but it can be worth checking on. Where ever you go, take a price guide book or print out a price sheet from the internet so you can compare that to the price of the item you’re looking at.
. There is an auction house near where I live and I have found a number of coins this way (it’s also a good way to get rid of the ones you don’t want anymore).  Check the coin out thoroughly before the auction to make sure it’s of an acceptable quality for you and then give yourself a budget. Set a price that you will bid up to and don’t go over! It’s easy to get caught up in the bidding and go too high. And don’t forget you have to pay a commission to the auction house as well.
. There are a number of websites that sell coins and while shopping online can be very convenient since you can do it when ever you want, there is one drawback; you can’t pick up the coin and examine it yourself. Some places have photos of their coins, but for online stores that have a large inventory it’s just not possible to photograph every coin. So read the description of the coin and check out the return policy before you purchase.
.  For a coin collector, a coin show can be kind of fun. And very convenient! There can be up to 100 or more vendors and coin dealers all selling in the same room. You can find lists of coin shows online. They will provide information about the show like dates, time, cost, and directions. Also, while some of the people that sell at these coin shows do accept credit cards, many do not; they only accept cash. So be prepared. When I go to a coin show, I bring cash, a price guide book, magnifier, paper and pen, small bags to put purchases in, a list of what coins and supplies I’m looking for and a book-bag to carry it all in.

Where ever you go to shop for coins to add to your collection, if you do a bit of homework first you can learn more about the coins you’re looking for and what they’re worth. This will help you be better prepared and can make your coin collecting more successful.

One of the important elements in coin collecting is determining the value of your coins. Before you can do this, you must know the coin’s grade. There are a number of factors that go into grading a coin. They include:

 The condition. Look at the surface of the coin (both sides). Are there any scratches or nicks? Are there any dings on the rim? These can make a difference in the value so it’s a good idea to have a magnifying glass to check these details (I have several of various degrees of magnification-6x, 10x, 12x, and 16x. The 10x is my favorite). Wear (how much of the design of the coin is worn down, how sharp are the details) makes a big difference, especially on circulated coins. With copper or gold coins also look at the color. On an Indian Head Penny for instance, one that is a nice bright coppery red is more valuable than one that is red-brown or brown. And the color must be natural and not come from polishing or cleaning. Most coin collectors prefer coins in their natural state since a cleaned coin is worth less than a non-cleaned coin (and yes, experienced collectors and dealers can tell when a coin has been cleaned).
Luster. Luster is the natural shine that all coins have when they are newly minted. A full luster (a bright shiny surface) can definitely add value to a coin especially for older coins. But as I said above, it must be natural and not come from polishing or cleaning.
Eye appeal. This is the overall attractiveness of the coin. It’s basically all the qualities rolled into one. 
Rarity. How rare is the coin?  An old coin in great condition, with a nice luster, strong eye appeal, and a low mintage (relatively few coins were minted for that particular year) can be worth quite a bit! New coins that have a high mintage are considerably less valuable.

All of these factors go into determining the grade of a coin. The coin grades are as follows:

. Abbreviated as AG and often appears with a number as AG-3 (sometimes they leave off the letters and only use the number in grading publications and websites so it’s good to know both). AG coins shows heavy wear and most details are worn smooth.
Abbreviated as G or G-4. A step up from an AG coin. The design and other details are heavily worn but visible. 
. Abbreviated as VG or VG-8. These coins are well worn but the details can be clearly defined if a bit flat
Abbreviated as F or F-12 (or F-15). They show a moderate to considerable amount of wear while the details are well defined. They can have nice eye appeal 
. Abbreviated as VF. These coins show a moderate amount of wear but details are clear
VF-20 is typical
VF-30 is choice

. Sometimes called Extra Fine it can be abbreviated EF or XF. A step up from VF, these coins have a light amount of wear while the details are sharp and distinct.
EF-40 is typical
EF-45 is choice

. Sometime called Almost Uncirculated, it is abbreviated AU. These coins can have a very light amount of wear but are in great condition with strong, sharp details.  
AU-50 is typical
AU-55 is choice
AU-58 is very choice

.  Abbreviated as MS. Sometimes referred to as Uncirculated (UNC) or Brilliant Uncirculated (BU).  They can range from 60 up to 70 (all 11 numbers are used)
-60. Uncirculated but may show some contact marks, spots and unattractive luster
-65. Uncirculated with a brilliant surface. A few very minor contact marks
-70. Uncirculated, perfect, no sign of any type of wear

.  Abbreviated as PF.  Proof is actually not a grade but a method of manufacture. It is distinguished by the sharp details and a brilliant, shiny mirror-like surface not found on coins of any other grade.

There are lots of books (and websites) out there that go into detail about grading and what to look for on specific coins. Some, like the very popular “Red Book” also give values and mintage figures. Many books will also discuss errors and mistrikes, authenticity and counterfeits, and the different Mints and Mintmarks (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and New Orleans produced the most coins) along with other coin-related topics.

Here’s to your coin collecting success! Happy Hunting (after all, isn’t that half the fun?)

I can tell you right now, anyone can collect coins and you don’t have to be rich. In fact I have quite a large coin collection, and I have had a very low paying job all my life. There are a lot of ways someone can build a great coin collection over time, while still paying the bills.

Coins are so neat looking, I remember when I was a young boy, my grandad would go upstairs and open a safe we had, inside was a metal drawer containing some old Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars. My grandad would let me sit and play with the coins often. I would hold one by the edge on the table top and flip it on the side with my finger and the coin would spin wildly around on the table like a toy top. The coins were frosty silver or whitish colored and were beautiful to look at, they were large and heavy, not like the little coins we have today. I often wondered how many folks actually carried these things around in their pockets everyday, it only took a few of them to weigh quite a lot.

After my grandad passed away back in 1969, my dad sold the old silver dollars, I don’t think he really wanted to, but my grandad had left the family farm pretty deep indebt, so dad had an auction and sold about everything except our house and the barn, to pay off the huge bills. It wasn’t too long after that when dad got bitten by the coin collecting bug. At first it wasn’t coins but paper money that got dad started. I remember dad saw an ad in the back of some magazine, where a guy was offering to pay for every dollar bill you sent him that had a certain treasurer’s name on it, that name was: ” Joesph W. Barr “. My dad looked in his wallet at some dollar bills he had, and sure enough he had one that had the signature ” Joesph W. Barr ” on it. Dad took the dollar from his wallet and kept it in an envelope in his old roll top desk, and after checking his money for several days afterwards, dad found some more of them. Sometime later dad mailed the dollar bills to the address in the magazine ad, and sure enough he soon got a check for the dollars plus an extra dollar each. Dad continued searching and sending in them ” Joesph W. Barr ” dollar bills for awhile, then after a period of time, the guy no longer was accepting them.

Dad then started buying a few Indian head cents and some buffalo nickels. Then as he got older and money seemed to get a lot more tighter, dad quit buying coins and turned to a new hobby, doing sweepstakes. But by this time, I was hooked, I just loved the look of the old coins, the silver ones and the old copper large cents, they just seemed so neat compared to the boring coins of everyday use. Now as I am writing this article, I stumbled across an interesting article about the ” Joesph W. Barr ” dollar bills from the ‘American Numismatic Association’ it said, the following: “At one time, it was speculated that the notes signed by Treasurer Joseph W. Barr would eventually hold a high numismatic value since he was in office for only 23 days in 1968-69. However, during that period, a total of 484 million notes were produced with his signature. The high quantity produced dictates that the notes will never be considered rare in our lifetime. Interestingly, in 1995, numismatic author Alan Herbert stated, “A Barr note deposited in an interest-bearing account in 1969 would have been worth over .00, figuring 6% interest compounded annually. A circulated Barr note kept in a safe-deposit box for 26 years is worth today.”

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So that explains why that guy probably quit buying the ” Joesph W. Barr ” dollar bills, it seemed they might of been collectible for a little while, but they just never caught on. Today you can still buy them on eBay and other places, sometimes for slightly more than .00. Oh well, it is something that has stuck in my mind every since I was a little boy, I will always remember dad checking his wallet for ” Joesph W. Barr ” dollar bills. Now as I wipe the tears from my eyes, yes I am sad to say dad has been gone a few years now, and I still miss him very much, especially when I sit here alone and think about the times we spent together in the years gone by, oh well, at least it’s always great memories when it comes to you, dad.

Now as I regain my mental composure, if I ever had one, I want to say that I never lost the desire to collect coins. And as I got old enough to work full time, and live on my own I started and built a fairly large coin collection. I didn’t have much money as I never went to college or trade school, and I have always had a job working as a laborer, so I had to fine ways that I could build up my coin collection cheaply.

One day, I was looking in the back of a Coin collecting magazine that I had purchased at a local news stand, and I found an ad where you could join a coin collecting approval service. They would send you certain coins once a month, and you could select the ones you wanted to buy and keep, and if you didn’t want them all, just mail the others back to them, and the next month they would send some other coins for you to examine. What made this program better than the other approval services I had often seen was, you could tell them what type of coins you were interested in, and what price you were willing to spend monthly. I selected miscellaneous U.S. coins, everything from old large cents from the 1800′s to silver mercury dimes and buffalo nickels etc. And I chose to only spend a month, for me this was perfect and for about a year or more I stayed in the program and over time I got a nice bunch of coins from them, then something happened and the company folded or went out of business, as I never received any more coins from them and I no longer saw their ad in the magazines.

Overtime I discovered other cheap methods to aquire some nice coins, one of the methods I still use, is something that anyone can do to start building a nice coin collection. Just start searching and examining your pocket change, I still find wheat pennies and silver war nickels, and many pre 1960 nickels, and sometimes a silver coin in pocket change. One time about two years back, I was at a local store and got some change back, I noticed two of the quarters I received looked kinda white in color, examining them closely after I got back home, I discovered they were both pre 1964 silver Washington quarters. I figured somebody must of needed money to buy some cigarettes or milk or something, and must of used some of their old coins, I was just lucky enough to had been there at the right time and place to get them in my change.

One place to find a lot of nice coins is to go to different banks and buy rolls, search through them carefully, and you will be surprised of the neat finds you may come across, plus just add a few out of your pocket change to replace the ones you want to keep from the rolls, and you can turn them back into a different bank for some different rolls of coins to search through.

Another place that is fairly good for finding some rare coins is at local flea markets, be careful though as many of the folks at these places are very aware of a coins value, and they often ask for much more then what the coins are worth. Read up on the coins you are interested in buying, or better yet, take along a pocket coin price guide with you when you go to buy coins, it’s better to be thrifty then foolish.

Anyway, now after collecting coins for fun over the years, I have almost every Lincoln cent that was made from 1909 up to present, and I have every Jefferson nickel from the first one that was made in 1938 to present, and I have a nice sized wooden chest full of miscellaneous U.S. coins, including silver dollars, mercury dimes, buffalo nickels, Large Cents and many more unique and rare coins. I figure the coins will make a nice gift someday, something to leave to my daughter and her children, and maybe I can spark that fire in them, that my dad started in me, the joy of coin collecting. So start checking your pocket change today, you just never know what rare finds you may come across.

There are several different types of computer software that are made for coin collecting. One program that stand’s out is ‘ Coin Collector Professional ‘, it is made for any coin collector, from novices to professionals, and it cost under . ‘ Coin Collector Professional ‘ may be downloaded and tried for free at this website address:

http://www.rb59.com/ccp

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

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So You Are a Coin Collector!

Tell me: Are You Still Collecting Raw Coins?

Take any Coin in Your Collection, and Tell Me What it is Worth.

To do so, you have to make a Decision about the Grade of the Coin.

I will Assume that You are an Expert at Grading a US Coin, so, you have arrived at the correct Grade for the Coin You Selected.

Obviously, the Grade Determines the Value or Worth of the Coin.

And, Once you have the Grade of the Coin, Any source for the Price or Worth of a Coin will Tell You the Value. (e.g.: greysheet, Red Book, Black Book, Coin World, etc.)

Whether you are Getting Ready to Place a Book Value on Your Collection, Getting Ready to Upgrade or Sell one coin from Your Collection, or Getting Ready to Buy or Upgrade a new Addition, the Grade of the Subject Coin is All Important. The Grade is Everything. Nothing Matters More than the Grade of a Collectable Coin.

Now, assume that You are Selling this Coin, and Represent it to be the Grade You Decided Upon. You have Priced the Coin According to a Reliable Price Guide.

What percentage of all Coin Collectors will Accept and Believe the Grade You Assigned, even if They could Examine the Coin In Person?

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Probably a small Minority! Why? Because the Grade of a Coin is the Most Important Identity Factor, and determining the Grade is a Difficult Process. This is True, Whether Buying or Selling. If the Grade is not True, or Correct, then Money Will Be Lost Lost to the Seller if the Grade is too Low; Lost to the Buyer if the Grade is too High.

There is nothing wrong with Buying and Selling Raw Coins. Even if they may come from pocket change or bank rolls. But once you Decide to Make them part of your Collection, they need to be Graded by an Independent Professional Coin Grader.

This is so because You Need to Know the Value or Worth, of each coin, as well as the Total Collection.

But, you say, its Only my Personal Collection, and I am not going to Sell it now, or ever. Great, I say, but do you also Never plan on Upgrading any of those Coins? Whenever you want to Sell a Coin in your Personal Collection, you have to Sell it with a Grade and a Price. This means you have to Represent to someone else, the Grade of the Coin. You Must Do this because you have to put a Price on the Coin. When that Coin has been Professionally Certified and Graded, you have Eliminated the Biggest Argument Point. Knowing the Grade Makes Everything So Much Easier. Te Price is a Given once the Grade is Established.

Dreaming about owning a Coin with the Highest Grade (in any Class), as we flipped through the pages of our Red Book, has occurred to every one of us from the Start of our Coin Collecting days. Each one of those “Dream Coins” Passed the Test, and met the Requirements of the Coin Grading Guide established by the ANA (American Numismatic Association).

What most Coin Collectors don’t realize is that there are only four (4) Companies who offer Independent Professional Coin Grading, and Follow the ANA Official Grading Standards For US Coins. These Companies are: 1) PCGS; 2) NGC; 3) ANACS; and 4) ICG. These are the companies to be used when those Raw Coins need to be Graded.

Get the Highest Price for Coins You are Selling; Get the Best Price for Coins You are Buying; and Get an Accurate Appraisal of Your Collection. Collect Certified and Graded Coins! Don’t Play Games with Buyers and Sellers over the Grade of a Coin. Know the Grade of Your Coin!

Have fun collecting your Perfect Coins!

Robert L Taylor, JD

2006 © Copyright

For Coin collectors, there is always the need to have more coins, to have good coins in the collection. It is always easy to buy new coins for your collection but you need to make sure that the coins you buy are valuable. If you ever need to sell them this will make sure you can do it without many problems. Following the coin grading system is probably the best way to find out the economic value of your coins.

Coin Grading is essentially the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, the fundamental factor in its value. Coins from diverse countries have different coin grading systems but for the most part they are similar. Although Coin grading has evolved over the years to a system of finer and finer grade distinctions, the coins will be given dissimilar values depending on what the coin dealer or coin collector’s Knowledge of coin grain is like.

It normally takes many years before coin collectors or dealers gain enough experience about coin grading. Because of this coin grading will always be unsure about the value of coins. As of 2006 there are four major grading services:

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- PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service)

- NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

- ANACS

- ICG (Sometimes criticized for its grading of modern coins)

I highly encourage you to look for expert advice before making any significant rare coin purchase.

Although if you want to learn more about the basic of coin grading there are very excellent coin grading books available that deal with the subject. Reading books like that should help you understand the different coin grading systems used in the industry. Using the books as a reference guide you should try to give a coin grading to the coins you have in your collection. This process should help you understand the diverse values that have been given for the coins.

As i wrote earlier, coin grading is uncertain and you will find that no tow coin dealers agree on all of the points. Thus it is good to remember what the various letters and symbols in coin grading mean. For example “Uncirculated coins” will often be given the rating of Mint State. This means this is a very good find for coin dealers and collectors. Even those coins will be categorized from the best to the worst.

Here are a few of the coin grading values:

- (Uncirculated or mint state) the coin grade is near perfect. The range of this grade is MS60 to MS70. MS70 is perfect.

- (Almost Uncirculated) the coin Grade is almost perfect, there is almost no sign of wear and tear

- (Extremely Fine), only a light dusting of wear on the highest points

- (Very Fine) the coin grade shows little wear with the major features of the coin very sharp in detail.

- (Fine) There is a moderate to considerable even wear on the coin.

- (very Good) Well worn, and shows slight detail on the main features of the coin.

- (Good) Very worn features, mostly flat in appearance.

- (About Good) Very heavily worn with lettering, details, and dates worn smooth. The worst possible condition of a coin.

Understanding what these various coin grading values are will help you with your coin collection. Very Soon you will know the various prices that are given to different coins.

I hope the information above was useful.

A coin dealer will actively look for various types of coins. They will make sure that the quality of all the coins that they are thinking of buying is of a high quality. The grading of coins that is used will be looked into as well before the coin dealers agree to buy any coins. These coin dealers will also buy the coins only at the current market prices as coins are valued at the time of inspection.

When the coin dealers have found the various coins that they feel will be of good value and interest to coin collectors the coin dealers will make sure that they have the information about their new stock noted down. This information will include the country of origin, the year that it was minted, the condition of the coin, the current market price and a brief history of the coins if it can be found.

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All of these items are of value to the coin collector because it helps them to understand the value of the various coins that they are interested in buying. Coin dealers usually buy their coins from rare coin auctions, internet coin shops, coin collectors who are interested in selling their coins for a profit and fairs where coins are sold in packets. From these places the coin dealers have a good chance at selecting good value coins that they will be able to sell to coin collectors who are interested in those coin types.

In some cases you can find coin dealers who have specialty coins only. These could be coins from one period of time. For instance you will find coin dealers who stock civil war coins or colonial coins. There will also be coin dealers who have lots of experience in dealing with foreign coins. These coins too will be looked at to make sure that they are in a condition that will invite coin collectors to come and look at the stock.

When you are in need of having your coins valued you will generally want a reputable coin dealer looking at these coins. The knowledgeable coin dealers will be able to give you a fair price for the different coins in your collection unless the coins are worthless, in which case you can just chalk these coins up to a way of learning about coins and how coin dealers rate them. After all with so many coins to collect, you’re bound to find some coins in your collection that aren’t worth as much as you thought they were.

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The gross value of the metal used in coins is much lower than the face value of the coin.

Exception to the currency coins are the Bullion coins ,coins made out of precious metal like gold silver and platinum. These coins are not used for currency, gold coins and silver coins as currency was ceased in 1933 when the gross value of the coin became higher than the face value.

Gold and Silver coins are not produced only as souvenirs or as collectors item or for investors.

Gold and Silver coins being very valuable are mainly produced for coin collectors ,or for investors who purchase these coins to safe guard their savings. These valuable coins are a good way of liquidating your investments ,in the United States financial planners are known to advice their clients to put at least 40 % of their savings in purchasing these Gold and Silver Bullion coins.

Every country mints Gold coins for their investors as well as coin collectors.United Stats mints the American Gold Eagle.Canada is known to mint the very popular Canadian Gold Maple Leaf.

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South Africa is known to mint the not so popular in demand the Krugerrand.

The face value of the U.S Eagle is 10$ ,though In this case the face value makes no difference as the gross value of the coin is much more ,the coin in this case is valued as per the prevailing market price of Gold metal. The Canadian Maple Gold leaf also has a nominal face value.

A great number of metals are used for the production of coins ,metals and alloys of all kinds are used for minting coins , earlier valuable metals like gold silver and platinum were used which then became collectors item or Bullion coins ,for currency the use of copper came into practice this too at some point when the metal value of copper increased had to be ceased after copper Nickel was very popular for small coins of cent and quarter .Nowadays steel is used practically for all the coins ,though plating and coloring of different kinds are given to create differentiation among the coins.

There are many types of coins

Currency coins are the ones used for day to day circulation ,the face value of these coins is the market value of the coin ,the gross value of the coin is lower than the face value.

Bullion Coins -Gold and Silver coins ,the coin value of these coins depends 100%on the market value of the metal ,a gold coin is priced as per the prevailing rate of the gold metal .Bullion coins are valued as per the cost of metal their standard weight as well as their purity. These coins are no more used In circulation, they are used as investors item .

Rare antique coins

These coins are collectors item , the value of these coins is determined by the rarity the age the condition the date of issue the mint mark of the coin . If the above criteria’s are not met with the coin ,the coin is graded with a low grade and the market value of the coin is relatively low.

Certain coins have historical significance to their presence and such coins whatever be the condition are well priced n the collectors market.

Coins have been a part of our lives from the 6th century BC ,the first coin was minted by the Mahajanapadas of Indo- Gangetic Plan since then coins are an essential part of lives either in form of currency or In form of Bullion coins as investment.

Coins – go figure – and enjoy!

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The history of Gold coins goes back to 560BC , the first gold coins were invented by a Lydian king, King Croesus.Today Gold coins may not be a part of our currency, but are a major form of investment.

Gold coins are known to be the safest and most risk free form of investing ones savings.

Value of a the Gold coin depends on numerous factors such as its rarity uniqueness ,its history and its condition ,the amount printed on it also can throw some light on its value.

In 2002 July at Sotheby’s a very unknown antique 20$ Double Eagle Gold coin was sold for a remarkable price of ,590,020 ,till date this is the most valuable coin ever found.

Gold coins which are used for investments in today’s times ,can be bought fro Banks or Jewelers, the value of these coins depends totally on the market value of metal gold .

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With the constant up and down in the economy ,prices of Gold too keep fluctuating. Every country today has its own mark of Gold coins ,these coins are embarked with the countries specification. For example United States is known for its American Eagle Coin ,Canada for its Maple leaf Gold coin, Australia for its Australian Kangaroo Gold coin China for its China Panda Gold coin ,Austria for its Austrian Philharmonic Gold coins South Africa for its Krugerrand Gold coin and Europe for its Euro Gold coin, Switzerland for its Swiss Vreneli Russia for its Russian Chervonets UAE for its Gold Dinar..

The American Gold Eagle is the official gold ingot of United States ,certified by the Gold Bullion Coin Act 1985.This Gold coin was first coined I 1986 by the United states Mint .This coin comes In various denominations and is made in 22 carat fine gold.

Canadian regime in 2007 coined a 100kg gold coin ,pricing it at ,000,000,though the gold market rate was milion at that time .This gold coin was produced to promote a new range of

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins.

Gold coins ca be collectors gold coins with high market value for its historical significance or gold bullion coins which are nowadays used as a safe risk free form of investment.

Gold ingots OR Gold coins are made in variations of Kilograms or Ounce ,I Kilograms they can range from 5gms onwards ,I ounce it is half ounce ,quarter and one-tenth ounce.

These gold coins do not have a printed value o them as the value depends on the weight of the coin and the current market rate. Gold under ISO 4217 has an international currency code of XAU.

Most countries have one design printed on their gold coins ,which remains constant every year ,some countries also produce new prints on their Gold coins for showcasing the significance of that particular year ,as every coin in most case has a date printed on it.

Nowadays ,Gold colored coins ,coins not made out of gold have made an appearance in currencies of many countries.

Gold Coins – hold on to ‘em!

The first and foremost rule in handling bullion coins is to handle them as less often as possible, better yet, never at all. Gold bullion coins can easily show dent marks or scratch even from the slightest “accidents” as gold are very soft and malleable metal, this is more prevalent with coins that have exceptionally high purity like the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (.9999 fineness). Silver on the other hand is notorious for being easily tarnished when exposed to even minute amounts of moisture in air or even human skin. Therefore if you must handle your coin, there is a few guidelines that should be taken into consideration:

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1. Hold your coin by its edges, never touch the surface of the coin with your bare fingers as the acidity of human skin would result in color change or wear marks that would tarnish the surface of the coin. Preferably, wear a soft cotton glove when handling bullion coins.

2. Be very careful not to drop, bump or rub your coin against hard surfaces as this might easily result in dents or scratch marks, place foam or soft pads on the table when you are examining the coin to prevent the coin from scratches, ensure that the environment that the coin comes into contact with is dry, clean and free of contaminants.

3. Never breath onto the coin surface, the moisture from human breaths can cause discoloration which would be hard to remove if ever possible at all.

There are many solution offered in the market in storing and displaying your coin collection, in fact nowadays many fresh-out-of-the-mint bullion coins comes in plastic containers that does an excellent job in protecting your investment.

1. For display and short term storage purposes for lower value coins,  coin albums and flips provide adequate protection and effective display for large selection of coin, however since albums and flips are not fully air tight, the coins might suffer discoloration from air moisture and contaminant after long periods of time. Therefore this method cannot be applied for the more valuable coins of your collection. One should also take note that the coin albums and flips should not be made of PVC as PVC decompose when reacting the heat and light , the resulting chemical reaction releases hydrochloric acid which will slowly render your coins worthless!!!

2. The most common and economical solution is to use 2×2 cardboard containers lined with Mylar plastics, the coin can be placed on the Mylar and the container can be fold over to enclose the coin and snapped shut. This provide a high level of protection at an affordable price for the majority of your coin collection.

3. For the most valuable coins in your collection, a coin slab provides maximum protection against the elements albeit at a steeper investment, they are made from hermetically sealed hard plastic holders in which individual coins are encased.

Practicing proper care in handling and storing bullion coins is very similar to learning how to protect your financial investment, which in the long run can insure you against disappointment and protection from serious financial losses due to deterioration of your coin collection, therefore making your coin collecting experience much more rewarding.

Visit our website and online store at http://www.buybullions.co.uk for more information.

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 There are many price guides which are used for referencing by coin collectors. “The Standard Catalog of World Coins” by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler manage to cover coins starting from 1601, all the way down to the present time in five volumes. In the book, coins are identified and their prices are listed.  When trying to determine my coin collection value I have often referred to this publication and can personally recommend it as a good source of information.

A guide book for United States coins called the “Red Book” is published annually and is also a respected authority as a retail price guide. The “Blue Book” and the “Black Book” are also well established price guides to determine the value of a coin and thus the coin collection value. The “Coin Dealer Newsletter”, more popularly known as “the Greysheet”, is a price guide for coin dealers. The Numismatic News publishes prices for dealers, bidders and retailers. There are even online resources which maintain prices of coins like the “NumisMedia” website and a price guide for U.K. coins maintained by Tony Clayton can be found on his personal website.

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As a rule rare coins are more expensive but rarity does not necessarily have to do with the age of the coin. Some Chinese coins which might be a thousand years old do not sell at high rates because they are common. The price of the coin also depends on the demand for the coin. If a lot of collectors want a particular coin, its price will get higher.

Collectors must also think about grade when establishing their coin collection value. Coin grading is a method of assessing the condition of the coin – the grade of the coin has a high determination of the eventual valuation of the coin. If a coin has been damaged its price will be reduced. Similarly, bullion also plays a role in determining value – the presence of precious metals like Gold and Silver increase the price of the coins as well. The aesthetical appeal of the coin has an effect on its price as well; it makes the coin more attractive for the collector. The American Numismatic Association has a 1-70 range for assessing coins, where 70 represents a faultless coin. The Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) are two organizations that go through the meticulous task of grading coins. Coins that have been certified by these reputable organizations have a higher value as their authenticity is more valid and reliable. ICG, Independent Coin Grading, and ANACS, handled by the American Numismatic Association are two other reliable grading services available.

Many people have accumulated tables of coin values which show coin collectors the values of particular coins – these tables can be built up over the course of a lifetime and can prove invaluable when establishing the coin collecting value; they give the collector the knowledge regarding which coins are worthy to be collected. There are also lists of coins worth collecting available with coins that are scarce ranked considerably higher. For example the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent would be one of these coins. Items such as the legendary 1913 “V” nickel can be worth over 0,000. These hefty prices show why so many investors are willing to invest in coin collecting and expect high rates of return to their investments.

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Though the aesthetics may change, price does not. The value of your coins remains the same without reference to color. Coin picking up, or numismatics is a pastime as old as time.

As a pastime, it’s been around for at least 2,500 years. This is surprising since the application of coins has been about for just about that same period of time too. Picking up coins is a hobby that may be enjoyed by any one of any age. A large amount of coin collectors started as youngsters, with assistance from their fogeys or grandparents collecting pennies or nickels.

For some coin picking up can become an entire life pastime.

Memorial coins are a preferred form of collection, as are uncommon minted coins like those which had a mistake in their stamping. Keeping Coins Clean employing a Folder the cost of an antique item goes up if it is kept in good shape. By having it stored in a secure place, one can be certain that it won’t be damaged by the elements or by failure that may reduce its price in the market.

Coins are straightforward to take care off. For people that have been doing this for years, such collections are typically framed or under glass and are usually seen in places like a huge museum. But to people who are only starting out, placing it in an old shoe box or jar will do. Later, when the collection is bigger, it’s time to speculate in a coin folder that would better protect and hold the coins. These folders can be acquired in different sizes depending on the sort of coins the individual is picking up. The coins can be stored in individual plastic pockets or in sheets that make up the album.

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They are available at the local coin store or can be ordered from the web. The benefit of using these is they are handy to tote around make it simple for the person to show. Coin picking up for investment purposes could be a troublesome enterprise. Traditional kings ( and even today’s leaders ) had a telling practice of having their faces imprinted on their currency. On the flip side of the Yank Eagle gold coins is a nest full of bald eagles, the nation’s bird of the US. The nest represents the Yankee dedication to unity and family. Coin Collection in Renaissance Times Modern coin picking up, where the coins are viewed as a work of art as well as a collection of valuable legal tender, is widely thought to have started with Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, who is frequently called the daddy of the Renaissance. For most gold coin collectors, there are the highly coveted rare gold coins and a large amount of gold coin collectors have an interest in these rare gold coins that they’ll offer high bids simply to be ready to get their hands on these. There were only some coins with this blunder, and their scanty nature has made them valuable to collectors. The best beginning place for an idea of their worth is to visit the reference section of your local library. Always be looking out for rare gold coins, and have coins valued by a gold coin expert to elude huge variations in cost. A very inspired coin merchant will go to shows and retailer auctions, keep abreast of current costs and trends, and will probably keep recent with the current coin market. Any financier will recognize the impact of current info on profit levels. Free Ebook! More on Rare Gold Coins and where you’ll be able to find them at http://www.goldcoin-rare.info Keeping the coins in mint condition does not only mean storing them in a folder. This could be done by taking it to a coin shop and paying for the services, or if you like to do it yourself, is by soaking it in a liquid like vinegar, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice or ammonia which is certain to remove any mud or encrustation that are present when it was purchased. They should then be air-dried or patted dry with a soft material. It isn’t a brilliant idea to rub or polish the coins since scratches can happen that can decrease its worth in the market. By making an investment in a coin folder, the person can be certain that the value of the coins will go up either when the demand calls for it or when there’s a need to part with them. Today, building an interesting collection of coins does not need to be pricey, and everybody can take part in this exciting hobby. An keen coin collector will be ready to tell you nearly each piece of history that surrounds any coin in their collection both because they generally tend to specialize and because information is an example of the most crucial factors when it comes to beginning and maintaining a collection of any worth or worth. Maybe one day the coin you purchased last year will have gone up in worth, but the concept is to get it so you can enjoy it now, and for as long as you own it. Hobbyists sometimes start picking up coins from their own locality. This sounds correct because they are the best to collect. Aside from printing issues, one more reason why rare coins can be minted is when the incorrect dear metals are used to make the coins. Remember that most gold coins are more valuable than their legal tender amount so to sell gold for it’s face value would not be sensible.

Though they re unavailable for buying at once from the U.S. You can get a silver locating device or a magnetic pole for finding loose coins in ditches, under autos, or in other hard-to-reach places. Or just depend on your eyes to identify those gleaming metal circlets of potential wealth.

If someone wants to buy a gold coin, then he/she must keep an eye on its pricing. There are a number of gold coins present in the market, including Chinese Pandas, American Eagles, South African Krugerrands, Sovereign (Australian and UK) and Canadian Maple Leafs and British Sovereigns. All these coins have different prices. The pricing of these coins depends on many factors. Some of very important factors include coin type, coin size, face value, coin weight, quality etc. All these factor effect the pricing of gold coins.

The pricing of gold coin depends on coin type. The size of the coin also affects the pricing of the gold coin. Larger the size of the coin, greater is the pricing. Face value is another factor that affects the price of a gold coin. Face value is what is printed on the face of the coin.

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Quality is one of the most important factors if we are taking about . It greatly affects the pricing of the gold coin. It means how much quantity of gold is present in the coin, like if a gold coin contains more than 90% of gold, it is referred to as a pure gold coin. Pure gold coins are expensive and the prices are higher than other gold coins.

So if we are buying a gold coin, we have to keep all these factors in our mind so as to know the pricing of a coin that can fit in our budget. By analyzing all these factors like quality of the coin, amount of gold present in the coin, we can easily determine whether the price of the coin is worthy or not.

If we take a look on last year’s record, we find different pricing for different gold coins. In the last month of 2008 the pricing of some different are following:

American gold eagle – $ 907.55
British sovereign – $ 237.88
Canadian gold maple leaf – $ 951.21
These above prices are according to different weight of the coins. The variation in weight will provide variation in price for a same coin.

So, one must research about the coins conditions and all the factor mention above. A slight change can affect the pricing and value of the coin.

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Unfortunately there are many silver plated or lesser-metal counterfeit coins currently being sold online (various “silver dollar” coins for example). These counterfeit coins are sometimes of such good quality that it is very difficult to identify them as a counterfeit coin if you are not a coin expert.

The big problem with buying coins through the internet is that you cannot touch the coin and must judge the quality and authenticity of the coin from an image and description provided by the seller. That makes it very risky to buy coins online if you do not know the reputation of the seller who is offering the coin.

Knowing what you want to buy and having specific coin knowledge and relevant data at hand, like the weight and size from that specific silver coin in combination with the seller’s reputation can give you an advantage in buying these specific coins online.

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To avoid purchasing a fake look for close-up pictures of real coins, showing the details of the engraving for comparison, also try to obtain the exact coin specification from the mint. Overall silver coins are a very sound investment in an uncertain economy, and with a little research you can be certain the coins you ar3e buying are the real thing.

Collecting silver coins is a serious hobby for many collectors worldwide and to serve these people there are various silver coins for sale at reliable, honest numismatic marketplaces like Boost Silver and other web pages where coin sellers and coin buyers meet.

Unfortunately there are many silver plated or lesser-metal counterfeit coins currently being sold online (various “silver dollar” coins for example). These counterfeit coins are sometimes of such good quality that it is very difficult to identify them as a counterfeit coin if you are not a coin expert.

The big problem with buying coins through the internet is that you cannot touch the coin and must judge the quality and authenticity of the coin from an image and description provided by the seller. That makes it very risky to buy coins online if you do not know the reputation of the seller who is offering the coin.

Knowing what you want to buy and having specific coin knowledge and relevant data at hand, like the weight and size from that specific silver coin in combination with the seller’s reputation can give you an advantage in buying these specific coins online.

To avoid purchasing a fake look for close-up pictures of real coins, showing the details of the engraving for comparison, also try to obtain the exact coin specification from the mint. Overall silver coins are a very sound investment in an uncertain economy, and with a little research you can be certain the coins you ar3e buying are the real thing.

Related Coin Articles

There are many reasons why coin collectors sell their coins – there are coin collectors who are dealers at as well. Selling coins is their option and they may use it to generate income so that they can acquire other coins that they like.

Some collectors travel in search of a coin they want and during that travel, they may encounter coins that may not be qualified for their own collection but they buy them anyway. Upon returning home, they sell the coins they have purchased and make use of the money to buy the coins they are looking for.

There are also coin collectors who gather coins not just as their hobbies; these coin collectors use the coins as their source of income. They make a living from selling the coins that they collect. Sometimes they sell the coins to other collectors and price them higher than the usual price of the coins and this is appropriate if the collector owns limited edition or rare coins.

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On the other hand, some collectors sell their coins because of other factors. They may sell coins because of personal reasons. Collectors sometimes decide to “give away” their collection because they no longer have any option but sell their coins. This is the most difficult situation for coin collectors as they often value their coins and as much as possible would not want to give them away – the coins may be memorabilia or may have sentimental value to the collector.

Once a collector has decided to sell his coins, he must consider if it is really the right time to sell the coins. Is the collector ready to give away his coins? Is the coin at higher price now? Will it do well and will he benefit from selling his coins? These factors should always be considered.

There are other options available to determine where a coin collector could sell his coins. He may want to sell the coins at auctions. Many people now prefer the option of putting their belongings up for auction and this is not limited to coin collections.

There is also a higher chance of having the coin sold at a higher price since auctions include bidding processes. Buyers may bid for a higher price especially if the coin being sold is of rare quality and has a higher value.

A collector may also want to put up a website to advertise the coins that he would like to sell. The Internet is the easiest way for collectors to search for coins. In addition, putting the coin on the Internet will make the selling an easier task. The collector may put up his own website and place the pictures of his coins and some brief descriptions on it. He should also note how much he is willing sell them for.

There are other options too: the seller may want to do a dealer-to-dealer negotiation. He can go directly to coin dealers and sell his coins. The dealers then can sell the coins that they purchased to other dealers.

It is important to compare prices between one dealer and another as there is always a chance that one dealer may buy the coins at a higher price than other dealer. It is wise to shop for dealers and then decide which you one you want to deal with.

It is also recommended that collectors who decide to sell their coins use a coin grading service. It is very important so that the seller not end up a loser when he sells his coins. By using a grading service, the seller will be able to set a price that is based on the assessment made by the grading service who will determine the actual value of the coins.

Most importantly, coin collector should not clean their coins once they have decided to sell them. If they do, the value of the coins will depreciate.

Related Coin Articles

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 coins

American Gold Eagles

The 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 Krugerrands

The 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.

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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 Leaf

Canada’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, C, C, C and C. 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,000,000 on 3 May 2007. At the time the actual gold content was worth over 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 Nugget

Sometimes 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 Pandas

The 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.

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As a new coin collector I have been asked this question numerous times. And before a couple days ago, I did not have the exact answer to this question. Therefore, I took some time to educate myself on the differences between bullion coins and numismatic coins.

The following video presentation will take you through some of the things I discovered. I will explain:

The Hobby of Kings
The Chief Purpose of Bullion Coins (in terms of investments)
The Value of Numismatic Coins
The Grading of Coins
Long Term Value of Collecting Coins

Let’s quickly recap what you just learned from this video.

First, we know that bullion coins are purchased chiefly for investing. And we know that the rise and fall of gold and silver commodities are what determines the value for these coins.

Secondly, we understand the term, “numismatics,” which is simply the study and collecting of money. Exciting isn’t it? We all want to be able to understand how collecting money, or coins in our case, will determine our present and our future.

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Numismatic coins include everything from the ancient coins used as currency from the beginning of civilization, to the official coins minted by the Roman Empire, through today’s modern issue silver and gold coins produced by the world’s government mints.

We looked at the 8 Factors that are considered when grading an uncirculated coin:

Contact marks – overall appearance of the coin. Scratches, indentations and such will lower the value of the coins
Luster – The shininess or appeal of the coin. The heavier, or frostier, the luster, generally the higher the coin’s grade and value
Strike – How well the coin is made. The better the strike, the sharper the coin’s detail and most likely, the higher the coin’s grade and value
Color – mostly applies to copper & bronze coins. Red color is considered the most original. The darker the toning the lower the value
Toning – thin film of sulfide found on the surface of reactive coin metals. This film can cause a coin to have beautiful and subtle hues (increased value) or it can cause a coin to turn an ugly brown or black (decreased value)
Friction – light rub or contact on the surface of coins. The more friction or disturbance to the original coin can significantly lower the coin’s value
Coin or die flaws – flaws created in the production of the coin. An incorrect strike on a substandard planchet or striking a coin with a less than perfect die can lower the coin’s grade or cause it to not be graded at all
Obverse/reverse grade consolidation – Obverse (front side of coin) dominates the value of the coin. Rarely does the reverse side add or detract significantly to the coins value

Finally, you were able to see an illustration that compared the value differences of the 2009 Bullion American Silver Eagle, 2009 MS 69 Silver American Eagle, the 2009 MS 70 Silver American Eagle and the 1997 MS 70 Silver American Eagle. What a difference a point makes!

I hope you found this information useful to you as a collector. I sure learned a lot as I began exploring this hobby of coin collecting.

I look forward to sharing my collection and viewing yours as well. I wish you the very best in your search for the world’s greatest treasures!

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Here are the classifications of coins according to grade.

1. “Mint State” Coins

This is equivalent to a value of 60 to 70 in the Shelby’s grade scale. This means that the coin has no blemishes whatsoever. Most of the coins in this category are uncirculated, shiny, new coins, with absolutely no signs of wear.

2. “Almost Uncirculated” Coins

The “Almost Uncirculated” coins have a point grade of 50, 55, or 58.

It is very important to note that in these coins, coin collectors must know the locations of the high points in a particular coin. By checking the difference of the light reflected in the high points to the other parts of the coin, an “Almost Uncirculated” coin is separated from the Mint State coins.

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3. “Fine Coins”

These can further be classified as” Extremely Fine” (40, 45), “Very Fine” (20, 25, 30, and 35) or “Fine” (12) depending on the sharpness of the remaining details on the coins. The coins are observed to have wear but the designs are still intact.

For “Extremely Fine” coins, the mint luster is still present.

“Very Fine” coins can be compared to coins which have been used for 1-3 years. Minor features of the coins are already gone.

4. “Good Coins”

These coins can be specifically defined as “Very Good” (12), “Good” and “Almost Good” coins.

The coins in this category are worn out. Only weak designs can be observed since the details of the coins in the high points are nearly smooth.

Full rims must be observed for the “Very Good” coins category.

In the case of “Good” coins, the mint mark and the date must be visible.

On the other hand, “Almost Good” coins are the most worn of coins in this category.

5. “Fair Coins”

The coins are “worn out”, but can still be distinguished as belonging to one of the types of coins – as long as one can identify a coin, it is a “Fair C”.

6. “Basal Coin”

These metals that can be determined to be coins – but the kind of coin are undeterminable.

With the classifications described, it will be very easy to grade coins. Just remember that knowledge of the coins’ grades gives coin collectors advantages!

The following are factors that can influence the true value of a coin.   

1.  Grade or condition of the coin.   Your coin will be worth or valued more when it is in good condition.  When in a perfect or unblemished mint condition, an “uncirculated” coin will be worth many times more than a similar coin that has been in circulation.

2.  The rarity of a coin is the principal basis for a coins value. Generally, the rarer that a coin is found to be, the higher it is priced.  Do keep in mind that rarity has very little influence on the coins age.   Chinese coins are a thousand years old normally sell for about ten dollars since there are so many of them; while a  “1913 Liberty Head Nickel”  can sell for up to or over a million dollars because only five specimens are known to be in existence.

3.  Bullion value.   A coin’s precious metal content can determine its value. A platinum, silver or gold coin will not, in general sell for less than the coins value when melted.

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4.  Demand.  There are coins that are greatly in demand; sought after by many collectors, and if that a particular coin is in great demand  the price will be even higher.  Even comparatively plentiful coins can mandate higher value when they are popular with coin collectors.

For instance, “1916 D dimes” are much more abundant than the “1798 dimes” yet in spite of this, “1916 D dimes” sell for so much more because there are many more individuals collecting 20th century dimes than 1700 dimes.

Here’s how you can determine the approximate value of your coin:

1.  Properly, accurately, and correctly recognize and classify your coin, and know the to place value on that coin. You can do this successfully by examining your coin in a catalogue or online with the “coin price guide”; this will give you an idea of the going rate and price of your particular coin and you can determine the approximate value of your coin.  

Everyday coin values are changing; so you need to use a “coin price guide” that is updated on a daily basis to obtain the current coin value. Look at online sites that offer step by step guidance on how to recognize your coin the proper way.

2.  Grade your coin based on your thorough observation and examination of its current condition.  

3.  Consult coin catalogues for a list of  retail prices in or estimates of your coins retail value.  “A Guide Book of United States Coins”, popularly known as “The Red Book” to coin dealers and collectors, provides information on retail coin prices for US coins and is available in libraries, coin shops and bookstores.  “The Standard Catalog of World Coins” (in volumes) is a guide commonly used by coin dealers and collectors as well, to provide information on world coins and is available in many public libraries.

You can also check current coin prices by basing it on the actual dealer coin price found in magazines and newspapers or online auctions such as Yahoo, Coin World, eBay or Teletrade.

Always keep in mind that you are not collecting coins primarily for money; you collect for enjoyment and self gratification, and profit is to be last consideration.  The plain fact that a certain coin does not have a large monetary value, does not necessarily suggest that it is no longer interesting or fascinating or that it must not be included in your collection.

Each coin will have a certain interest in itself, regardless of the condition that it is in and regardless of its monetary value.  There will always be a certain characteristic that will draw you to that particular coin; so when it does, then you should have it in your collection.  Have fun!

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There are many reasons why coin collectors sell their coins – there are coin collectors who are dealers at as well. Selling coins is their option and they may use it to generate income so that they can acquire other coins that they like.

Some collectors travel in search of a coin they want and during that travel, they may encounter coins that may not be qualified for their own collection but they buy them anyway. Upon returning home, they sell the coins they have purchased and make use of the money to buy the coins they are looking for.

There are also coin collectors who gather coins not just as their hobbies; these coin collectors use the coins as their source of income. They make a living from selling the coins that they collect. Sometimes they sell the coins to other collectors and price them higher than the usual price of the coins and this is appropriate if the collector owns limited edition or rare coins.

]]>

On the other hand, some collectors sell their coins because of other factors. They may sell coins because of personal reasons. Collectors sometimes decide to “give away” their collection because they no longer have any option but sell their coins. This is the most difficult situation for coin collectors as they often value their coins and as much as possible would not want to give them away – the coins may be memorabilia or may have sentimental value to the collector.

Once a collector has decided to sell his coins, he must consider if it is really the right time to sell the coins. Is the collector ready to give away his coins? Is the coin at higher price now? Will it do well and will he benefit from selling his coins? These factors should always be considered.

There are other options available to determine where a coin collector could sell his coins. He may want to sell the coins at auctions. Many people now prefer the option of putting their belongings up for auction and this is not limited to coin collections.

There is also a higher chance of having the coin sold at a higher price since auctions include bidding processes. Buyers may bid for a higher price especially if the coin being sold is of rare quality and has a higher value.

A collector may also want to put up a website to advertise the coins that he would like to sell. The Internet is the easiest way for collectors to search for coins. In addition, putting the coin on the Internet will make the selling an easier task. The collector may put up his own website and place the pictures of his coins and some brief descriptions on it. He should also note how much he is willing sell them for.

There are other options too: the seller may want to do a dealer-to-dealer negotiation. He can go directly to coin dealers and sell his coins. The dealers then can sell the coins that they purchased to other dealers.

It is important to compare prices between one dealer and another as there is always a chance that one dealer may buy the coins at a higher price than other dealer. It is wise to shop for dealers and then decide which you one you want to deal with.

It is also recommended that collectors who decide to sell their coins use a coin grading service. It is very important so that the seller not end up a loser when he sells his coins. By using a grading service, the seller will be able to set a price that is based on the assessment made by the grading service who will determine the actual value of the coins.

Most importantly, coin collector should not clean their coins once they have decided to sell them. If they do, the value of the coins will depreciate.

Naval Challenge Coins are non-monetary commemorative tokens, representing group spirit and camaraderie. Case study and selection of coins is called numismatics. Coin collectors are amateur numismatists. It is often a well-liked hobby for centuries. Cash have constantly possessed a unique mystique. Coin collectors are individuals who discover pleasure and fulfilment using a vast range of aged and rare cash that arrive their way. It’s like having or owning a tiny piece of history.

For coin collectors the enthusiasm may be the same, only on a greater price level. Accumulating the different cash and series of cash becomes an addictive and rewarding hobby. Where do coin collectors acquire precious cash? Obviously, they do not appear in bubblegum wrappers, like we did for our cards. To get an evaluation, you need to discover a great coin professional. It can be profitable to obtain an appraisal from a lot more than one coin expert, and also do a little investigating yourself.

Once you’ve begun your coin collecting, you’ll require an easy method of protecting and to maintain them safe and clean. You can find a great deal of people who gather various of types of coins. A few of these cash are outstanding cash from varied areas of the globe, others consist from the American Eagle cash, and there are still people who have a enthusiasm for aged coins of all kinds. As aged cash every once in awhile come to light it may be essential for the coin collector or numismatist to discover info about the old coins that they’ve for their compilation.

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This info procedure will require some duration of time if you don’t have an concept of where you should commence your hunt. Whenever you have recognized this info you should start searching in coin books to see if you are able to discover some history about these cash. Even though the history doesn’t must be very extensive it ought to provide you an concept with regards to the period when these old coins were minted.

Because it will help to have an idea of the cost of the various aged coins that you have you may wish to have these aged coins valued. Your Coins aren’t just a leisure pursuit. They can also generate for you a good return if they are looked following well if the coins you have composed involve some value. Within each country there might be altered coin grading systems.

It can take numerous years prior to a coin collector is going to be able to supply the same accurate coin value. When you have read and feel that you simply comprehend the info, you can go to view your coins and see if you can give them a grade. With all the coin grading system you can find various grades given to various coins with respect to the coins situation.

To evaluate your coins it pays to educate yourself as much as you are able to concerning the particular coins you have. Keep some overall guidelines in your mind. The Expert Numismatists’ Guild is really stern about its members, so look for a dealer that belongs to the Guild. From the library, take a look at books concerned on coin collecting. Try to get an understanding from the grading program. Some people use other grading methods for their coins.

Have an appraisal from the coin dealer on your coin. Study coins which are like yours in coin magazines to provide an idea on what cost you may expect. Since coin professionals are ordinary people like us that can furthermore make errors, you may wish to have a few coin appraisals completed. Whenever you become involved in accumulating coins, you look for people or places where you are able to locate the cash to start or add for your selection.

A good Coin Dealer will do their job precisely, researching and scrutinising the value of the cash they are considering buying. They are going to purchase the cash at the present market value, but only after they’ve identified the grading from the coin. Some Coin Dealers will store specialty cash only.

Coin dealers typically buy their coins from rare coin auctions, internet coin shops, coin collectors who will be considering selling their cash for a profit and fairs wherever cash are sold in packets. Whenever you want your coins appreciated, you will wish to acquire the services of a experienced Coin Dealer. They is going to be able to provide you a fair price based on the present market worth and the situation from the coin.

The really best of luck inside your new chosen hobby.

The urbanization process initiated by Pompey in 63 BC gave greater autonomy to thirty-cities in the Holy Land (amoung them Aelia Capitolina, the name which the Romans re-named Jerusalem) were given the right to mint their own coins.

COINS IN ANCIENT ISRAEL IN THE FIRST CENTURY AD:

During the first century AD, the empire of Rome ruled the world including the Land of Israel. After the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, his kingdom was divided amoung his three sons – Herod Archelaus, Herod Antipas and Phillip. In 6 AD, a new administration was established in Judea, run by Roman Procurators, which except for the short rule of Agrippa I (37-43 AD), continued uninterupted until the Jewish War of 66 AD. The Roman procurators supervised tax collection and judicial proceedings. They tried hard to avoid clashing with or antagonizing the local population. This sensivity is also apparent in the coins they issued, without portraits, and resembling coins struck by the Jews.

During the reign of Pontius Pilate, however, relations between the Roman government and the Jewish inhabitants took a turn for the worse as history points out. (This period also witnessed the short ministry of Christ, and His trial and crucifixion in Jerusalem.) The coins of the later Herodian dynasty revealed a decline in adherence to Jewish religious beliefs. (The exploitation of coins for propaganda purposes is demonstrated especially by the Judea Capta coins, which the Romans struck in the Holy Land and in Rome to commemorate their victory over the Jews. A considerable variety of coin-types is dedicated to the celebration of single great triumph of the Flavian emperors (69-81 AD.)

REFERENCE TO COINS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT;

The monetory system of that period was based on two coexisting methods. The highest denomination gold and silver coins, such as the AURES, the TETADRACHM and the DENARIUS, were used to pay taxes. SHEKELS from the Jewish War or Tyrian SHEKELS were used for the HALF-SHEKEL contribution to the Temple. Bronze PRUTAHS struck by the Roman procurators were used for ordinary commercial purposes. Roman coinage began to circulate after Pompey’s conquest in 63 BC, as well as various Greek coinage, especially the Tyrian SHEKEL. The Roman silver DENARIUS rated 1/25 the value of the gold DENARIUS or AUREUS. The remaining coins were of bronze; the ASSARION, 1/16 to a DENARIUS; the KODRANTES, the ‘penny’, i.e the Roman QUADRANS = 1/4 to the AS; and the LEPTON, copper coin defined in the Book of Mark 12:42 as 1/2 QUADRANS. A DRACHMA, a silver coin, was roughly equal in value to a Roman DENARIUS, the ‘penny of the Gospels’ (Matthew 20:1-15) and (Luke 20:24). A TALENT (for which there was no Roman equivalent) that was mentioned numerous times in Biblical text was worth sixty thousand DRACHMAS.

One can get some idea of the value of the DRACHMA or a DENARIUS from such evidence as the Matthew’s parable of the labourers in the vineyard, “and they likewise received every man a penny”. This being a normal day’s wage for a labourer, which would keep a family at subsistence level. “Pay Ceasar what is due to Ceasar, and pay God what is due God”. (Mark 12:13-17) (Luke 19:22-26).

The ‘Tribute Tax’ was paid directly into emperor’s treasury and the coinage stamped with the name and image of the emperor, so that on both accounts it symbolized subjection (a leading factor that led to the Jewish War). A significant fact that was omitted from the text is that the coin had to be fetched; either Jesus or his followers possessed no silver money or they refused to use the pagan coinage. The betrayal of Judas Iscariot portrayed, “They weighed out thirty pieces of silver… ” (Matthew 26:14-16), refers to Zechariah 11:12-14, “I took thirty pieces of silver-that noble sum at which I was valued and rejected by them!” The shepherd is paid his wages. Scornfully (the magnificence of the price) is the wage too small? – Was it a slave’s price? Unfortunately the significance of the payment is lost and unknown and its illusions are obscure. (The coins Judas received were most likely thirty Tyrian shekels.) “Presently there came a poor widow who dropped in two tiny coins.” (Mark 12:41-44). The scene is laid in the Temple, which refers to the chest ranged against the wall in the Court of Women for the offerings of the people. The poor widow could only contribute ‘two tiny copper coins’ the proverbial “Widow’s Mite”, which makes a farthing (the quarter of an AS of which sixteen made a DENARIUS).

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CHRISTIANITY ON COINS:

The rise of Christianity, and its acceptance by the Constantine early in the fourth century AD brought about major changes in Roman coinage. When Emperor Constantine ascended the throne of Rome in the fourth century AD, and the transformation of Christianity to the faith of the Romans, coins still reflected mixed tendencies, depicting images from the Roman pantheon as well as Christograms. The Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) considered Christianity a disaster for Rome and reinstated pagan images on his coinage. After he died, however, Christianity regained power and influence. Only after Theodosius I came to power (379-395), and the adoption of Christianity as the sole faith of the empire, did Christian images and symbols (crosses) appear on coins. At the end of the fourth century AD and during the fifth century AD, the cross and Christian symbolism had already become established as the primary motifs on coinage. THE

BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND ITS COINAGE:

After the death of Theodosius I (379-395), the polical structure of the Roman Empire changed considerably. The empire was divided into two – the Western Empire ruled by the barbarous German tribes, and the Eastern by the Byzantine Empire ruled by Christian emperors, until the Moslem conquest in the seventh century. Due to the fusion between the Church and the state, the cross became one of the most important symbols on coins, appearing on the obverse on emperor’s crowns and terrestial globes. On the reverse of many gold coins, the cross is depicted at the stop of a stairway.

During the reign of Justian II (685-695), the portrait of Christ was first minted on coins. The reverse of the thin gold coins had the standing figure of the emperor as the “servant of Christ” in the accompanying inscription. Towards the end of the Byzantine period, however, the quality of coins had so deteriorated that the patterns became abstract. (The Byzantines are credited in history in which denominations were indicated systematically on coinage.)

THE CRUSADER KINGDOM AND ITS COINS:

The rise of power by the Seljuk Turks led to the Crusades, for the Emperors of Constantinople had appealed to the Popes in 1073 and 1095 for help against them. When Urban II preached the crusade, it was against the Seljuk Turks. It turned into a crusade to liberate Christian holy sites from the Moslems. After the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099, control over the Holy Land reverted to the Christians, and Jerusalem became the capital of the Latin Kingdom.

The earliest coins struck in the Kingdom of Jerusalem were imitations of gold dinars from the Fatimid period and bore Arabic inscription. Later coins depicting the cross and Christ’s portraits based on the Byzantine type were struck in the mints of Antiochia and Edessa, the Crusader states of northern Syria; Frankish-type dinars, under European influences, were minted in Tripoli in Lebanon. The following Crusader period, coins from the East could be divided into Byzantine, Islamic, and West European imitations, corespondingly with whomever the Crusaders wished to trade or to be identified.

With the fall of Jerusalem in 1099 and the establishment of Latin Kingdom, coins bore Christograms and other Christian motifs. Nor did the Christian Kings of Jerusalem neglect to strike their own coins, on which they placed as emblems such as edifices as the Tower of David, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and sometimes even the Mosque of Omar. They were inscribed with the Christian dogma, “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost”. But, undoubtedly, the most comon coins struck by the Crusaders were thin bullion (low-grade silver) coins in denier denominations, resembling those from their homelands and were struck to proclaim their Latin heritage. The cross was the prime symbol on these coins.

After the Arab conquest (638 AD), the victors adopted the prevailing Byzantine administrative practice, and the first Arab coins were issued in the tradition of Byzantine coinage. Only under the administrative reforms of the Ummayad Caliphate of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685-705 AD) non-Islamic motifs were purged from coinage with Koranic inscriptions replacing them.

CONCLUSION:

The history of early Christianity, as told, is traced from a perspective very few people are aware of – coins. The coins used by the early believers in their daily activities present the ultimate of Christian belief. Thus these coins are important documents reflecting the course of Early Christian history. Frequently coins form an indispensable historical source, particularly where they constitute the sole contemporary evidence for uncharted period of history. Wherever the extent of particular coinage can be assessed more or less accurately we are enabled to draw inference to early Christianity, with their symbolism and motifs.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1) Catalogue and exhibition ‘Christianity on Coins’ – Cecilia Meir, curator, Kadman Numismatic Pavillion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv.

2) Catalogue “The Kadman Numismatic Museum’.

3) Peake’s Commentary on the Bible – Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd, London.

4) Josephus, “The Jewish War” – translated by G.A. Williamson, Penguin Classics, Great Britain.

5) The New English Bible – Oxford University Press.

SIDEBAR – THE CROSS – A CENTRAL IMAGE ON COINS

For hundreds of years, the cross has been known as the holy symbol of Christianity. Though its origins lie in the midst of antiquity, the cross was already an important and influential religious symbol in the pre-Christian period. However, the cross did not gain significance as a Christian symbol until three hundred years after the death of Christ, perhaps because early Christians strove to keep the faith secret to avoid perse-cution by idolatrous Roman rulers. The Christian father Eusebius relates that before the battle against Maxentius in 312, Constantine had a vision of the Christogram (a graphic depiction of the first two letters of Christ, “Christos” in Greek) and hear the voice calling:

“With this sign you will be victorious.” Setting out to battle with military banners and soldier’s helmets decorated with the Christogram, he was victorious. Thus the Christogram, known as the Labarum cross*, become a symbol of victory in battle and, eventually, the ultimate symbol of Christianity and most popular symbol of the late Roman iconography. Toward the end of the reign of Constantine, the Labarum cross as a symbol of victory appeared in a subordinate position on bronze coins (with images from the Roman pantheon dominating).

The cross appears quite frequently on coins struck by subsequent Roman emperors. In the Byzantine period, the cross became a major symbol on coins and was portrayed at the top of a staircase. By the Crusader period, the cross had become a dominant type on coins… *LABARUM CROSS – A graphic description of the first two letters (XP) of the name “Christos” (XPICTOC, or Messiah in Greek)

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Numismatists or the people who study the history and over all appearance of the above mentioned forms of currency are different from coin collectors. Unlike numismatists, coin collectors are only interested in collecting coins and the prestige that goes along with it; a numismatist may also be a coin collector and vise versa.

Over the years, coin collection has been very popular. The most common designs are famous people and animals to depict the era when the specific coin was released.

Numismatists are generally interested in use of money, its origin, appearance, variety and production. They aim to explore the role of the different kinds of currency in our history using mint information. Mint refers to the place or facility where the coins are manufactured. They also grade or authenticate coins to determine their market value. T facilitate this, coin grading system facilities were established.

At this time there are three major third party facilities that authenticate coins and/or paper money. These are: the PCGS or Professional Coin grading system located in Newport Beach, CA; the NGC or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation in Sarasota, Florida; and Paper Money Grading (PMG).

PCGS is a third party institution that was established in 1986, which grades and authenticates coins primarily for commercial purposes. They are an independent body providing expert opinion in rating a coin. NGC is also a third party institution offering services solely to numismatists. It was established in 1987. On the other hand, PMG is solely for authentication of paper money and a smaller department of PCGS.

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When coin collecting was not as popular as it is now, there were only 3 categories into which a coin could fall: 1. Good – which means that the coin has all of the details intact; 2. Fine – which means that the coin has all the details intact and still has a bit of luster visible; and 3. Uncirculated – which means that the coin was never put on the market thus maintaining its original appearance.

However, today coin grading has evolved and is becoming more definite. They use a combination of letters and numbers that corresponds to the quality of a coin. The coin grading system of United States of America is the most comprehensive and recommended for beginners. An example of USA grading system: MS-60 to MS-70 which means that the coin is blemish-free and has good color and strike. In short it’s perfect!

Knowing how to grade a coin properly is not only a gift, it’s an art. It requires knowledge, exposure and obviously skills. For coin collectors, ability to grade a coin is a must because the value of a coin largely depends its grade.

Here are some components Numismatists use in coin grading

1.    Luster – it is a determining factor whether or not a specific coin has been circulated. To have a higher grade, a coin must be technically intact and free from any form of imperfection or blemish.
2.    Surface preservation. Abrasion on the surface of the coin and its location is a huge factor in grading a coin but it does not necessarily mean that abrasion can lower the grade of a coin. For example, if a good-looking coin has a severe abrasion on the back that is unnoticeable it will not count against the coin, but the issue may not be the same if the abrasion is located on the front or focal point.
3.    Strike. It refers to the coin designing process wherein the coin is being stamped onto a planchet. In overall grading, strike does not weigh a great deal.
4.    Coloration. For some coin collectors, preservation of original color of the coin has a huge impact on its value especially if it is a copper or silver coin.
5.    Eye appeal. Some coins may not be perfect but collectors may find them attractive, however, it still requires expert opinion to conclude that a certain coin is excellent in all aspects mentioned.

If you have no background in grading coins, you have no business in coin collecting and numismatics without employing help from the experts. Coins have been playing vital roles, not only in the lives of people who love collecting and studying them, but in society as they represent different eras in history. Whether you are selling, buying or collecting coins, you must acquire the necessary basic knowledge or information; so that you can be assured that it is accomplished properly.

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1. Local Retail Coin Shops

A common method of purchasing coins by collectors is through a visit to one or more of the local retail coin shops in their area. These shops may be found in most of the larger cities and towns. Check your local telephone directory to find out whether one or more local retail coin shops exist in your area.

Coin shops offer the collector the opportunity to inspect coins first hand before purchasing them. Also, many coin shop dealers have substantial expertise in coin collecting and are in a position to grade coins, provide estimates of coin values and offer collecting tips and advice.

A possible disadvantage of coin shops is that coin prices are often higher for collectors as compared with other coin buying channels and the coin inventory available for sale in a coin shop may be limited.

2. Coin Auctions

Coin auctions are an excellent way to buy coins if you are careful to be fully aware of the auction rules and procedures.

There are several types of coin auctions. These include mail bid auctions, Web based online auctions and phone auctions. Regardless of the type of coin auction you participate in, it is important that you fix a set price for the coin you wish to bid for and never bid more than this price. Auctions can be very addicting and you must exercise discipline when using this buying method. In addition, make sure you know what buyer’s fees, if any, are payable.

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3. Mail Order

Mail order is another popular and convenient way to buy coins. Mail order dealers have relatively low overhead costs and are therefore often able to offer coins at a substantial discount from the prices offered by coin shops and other sources.

If you subscribe to a numismatic newspaper or magazine, you should expect to find many mail order dealers advertising specific coins for sale. In many cases, a picture of the coins offered for sale is provided in the advertisement. In other cases, however, the advertisement contains only a written description of the coin and the offer price.

Before selecting a mail order dealer, be sure you are aware of that dealer’s inspection and return policies. When you receive a coin from a mail order dealer inspect it promptly to ensure that the coin is what you ordered and expected.

4. Coin Clubs

Coin clubs offer you the opportunity to buy coins directly from other collectors during meetings. In many cases, coins can be purchased at coin clubs at very favorable prices. To find a coin club in your area, ask your local coin shop dealer, check the community meeting announcements in your local newspaper or contact your local library or Chamber of Commerce.

5. Coin Shows

Coin shows are an entertaining way to buy coins. You have the opportunity to examine the coins before you buy and you can interact with other collectors and coin dealers. Coin shows held in your area are usually announced or advertised in your local newspaper. Try to attend as many as you can.

6. Government Mints

Government mints are a major source of new and recently issued coins. The U.S. Mint regularly advertises its new coin issues in local newspapers and coin magazines and sells these directly to collectors by mail order. Many mints in other countries also sell by mail order.

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Furthermore, silver coins are flexible and long lasting. With that said, silver coins are likely to increase its value. In line with this, selling silver coins are of great potential for earnings.

To be able to market your silver coins at its maximum value, here are some of the best places and how you may be able to market them.

Coin Shops and Book Stores

Silver coins are frequently worth more than their face value, most especially ancient coins. You must also understand the grading system ranging from fine to poor and everything in between. Know the condition of your silver coins if they are in good or bad form.

You may perhaps check the blue book at coin shops or book stores wherein you could see the value of alternative silver coins. You may choose to inquire in coin shops and compare your coins displayed to determine the real value of your coin.

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Browse Online For Reputable Websites That Buy and Sell Coins

Another way to determine the value of your coin is to go online and look for coins that are for sale. To discover the value of your coins, look for similar available coins.
You may also want to visit a certified appraisal shop and have your coins be appraised to know their value.

Find Decent Coin Dealers In Your Area

As you identified the real value of your coins, you could then visit your district coin dealers. Coin dealers will can give you higher price for your silver coins. Just be careful and avoid dealing with fraudulent individuals. Look for coin dealers that are members of organizations such as American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. They are reliable as they follow a given standard code of ethics when transacting silver and gold coins.

Discover Scrap Dealers in Your Area

If you are unsure of your local coin dealer, you may compromise with scrap dealers. These kinds of dealers are ready to buy your silver coins at their market value.

Auction Your Precious Coins

Have your coins be auctioned online. You may go to live auctions near you however, the easiest way it to post them on a respectable online coin auction.

For you to post your items online, you have to create your individual account. After which, you can begin filling out the necessary information about your coins. Check that you post clear images and photos.

People started to collect coins as investments since time immemorial. With the inevitable increasing market value of coins, one can fluently gain profit. On the other hand, before you choose to sell your silver coins, do a conscientious research and be careful in every step you make to market your coins at their maximum value.

One piece of advice is to decide on a reliable place where to market your silver coins. Know if the market value for silver has gone high. They say that timing is important when selling coins. If the timing is right, then do not hesitate to market your coins. However consider the pointers mentioned above in order not to be ripped off with the coin value. Be familiar with how the coin market works and incontestably you will be able to gain profit when you market your silver coins at its the maximum value.

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Almost anything will do for coins with small or no numismatic value. A coin that is worth only face value, is not likely to have much numismatic value. while nearly airtight holders made of inert materials are a better idea for valuable coins.

Bags, jars and boxes are adequate for raw pocket change and circulated coins.

Paper Envelopes or Paper Flips of various sizes (usually 2 x 2) are still used for single coins. Be sure to use envelopes made explicitly for holding coins, otherwise your coins may change color (tone) over time due to reaction with sulfur or other chemicals present in the paper. Since the coin can not be seen, it is now out of favor with collectors.

Folders and Albums are sold primarily for series and type sets. Properly used, they offer moderate protection from wear and handling. Over the years coins may tone due to reaction with sulfur or other chemicals present in the folders and albums, and are therefore not a good choice for long term storage of higher grade coins. The coins are still exposed to light, air, chemicals and human touching. Albums have clear plastic covers over the coins, which slide in and out. This sliding action can leave unwanted and unattractive marks on the coin.

Plastic Flips are available in various materials. “Soft” flips were once made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which decomposed over time with disastrous results for coins; leaving a green appearance and substance. PVC flips are no longer made and sold. Mylar, vinyl and acetate flips do not contain PVC. While not airtight, they are reasonable choices for moderate value coins that will be “left alone” for multiple years.

Vinyl Pages (8 ½ x 11) which fit into a 3 ring binder. Well suited for Cardboard and Vinyl Flips, with great visability of coin obverse and reverse. This is a Great Favorite.

Mylar-lined Cardboard Flips, often called “2x2s” or cardboard flips. At one time, the most preferred and commonly used. but also available in other sizes, are similar to plastic flips. A coin is placed between the two halves, which are then folded over and stapled together (some brands contain an adhesive). The boxes that they come in are ideal for multiple coin storage.

Tubes are plastic containers designed to hold a number of the same size coins. They come in different sizes for different coins. They are fine for bulk storage of circulated coins and are appropriate for higher grade Uncirculated, BU+ and MS60+ coins. A disadvantage is that the coins cannot be viewed without being removed from the tube.

Hard Plastic Holders are preferable for more valuable coins. They are self sealing, and not known to contain any materials that harm coins and offer good protection against scratches, touching and handling, air and chemicals, and other physical damage. They are available for individual and small sets of coins, and come in all sizes.

Slabs are Sonically Sealed hard plastic holders for individual coins. They offer Excellent protection. Because of the expense of having a coin slabbed, they are generally suitable only for more valuable coins i.e.: BU+ and MS60+ Coins.

Although generic slabs are available, most often, a slab will be seen holding a coin that has been Professionally Certified and Graded – which has tremendous advantages. The biggest advantage is when buying a coin on the Internet or by phone. You know what you’re getting. A coin Certified and Graded by one of the “Top Four” gives reliability, assurance and security. A big advantage over the scam sellers of raw coins, and non-conforming grading companies.

Have fun collecting your Perfect Coins!

Robert L Taylor, JD

Copyright 2006

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In today’s world of global uncertainty, one thing remains certain: gold coins. Gold bullion coins continue to outperform traditional vehicles the same way gold coins and bars outperformed everything under the sun during the 1970′s. By holding gold coins in one’s portfolio, you dramatically reduce the overall risk of your portfolio. Just by having some gold coins as part of your strategy, you also allow the price of gold, as it increases, to bring up the value of your portfolio.

It is much easier to buy gold today than it was 30 years ago. Gold bullion coins are easily bought and sold with the click of a mouse. Not only is it easier to buy gold, but gold investments are exploding onto the investment scene like never before. In fact, gold coin sales by the U.S. mint in recent months have outpaced the gold coin sales of the prosperous-for-gold 1970′s. Despite this recent fact, the gold price is just beginning its increase.

As gold coins become more scarce, quite naturally, investors covet the yellow shiny metal at an ever increasing rate. The type of gold coins sought after by investors who follow the price of gold are American Gold Eagles, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, South African Gold Kruggerands, Australian Gold Kangaroos, Chinese Gold Pandas, and Austrian Gold Philharmonics. These are the most popular gold coins available to investors who want profit potential and protection. The benefit to owning these gold bullion coins is four-fold.

1. You get immediate liquidity. This means you can sell your gold bullion coins at or near the gold price at any time, anywhere in the world.

2. You are in control. A strong gold investment is an investment in certainty. Knowing you have gold coins in your possession that you can rely on makes a world of difference to one’s sense of financial well-being.

3. There is tremendous profit potential with gold bullion coins, more so than just about every other vehicle out there. It matters not whether you hold American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, South African Kruugerands, or any other type of these gold bullion coins, they will provide a well positioned investment portfolio an increased probability of profitability.

4. Last but not least, gold bullion coins provide economic safety and stability in a world increasingly plagued with uncertainty and dangers.

Those are some of the “pros” of owning gold bullion coins. There is more that a first-time purchaser of gold coins should be aware of; the “other side of the coin,” so to speak. If you own American Eagles, Canadian maple leafs, South African Kruugerands, Austrian Philharmonics, Chinese Pandas, or Australian Kangaroos, they are subject to confiscation by the federal government. In 1933 Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order which required U.S. citizens to turn in all gold bullion coins produced by the U.S. mint, as well as any gold coins and bars produced by foreign governments. Our country, in that period was in the peak of a crisis: the dollar was in trouble, smart investors were getting out of stocks and bonds, and unemployment was on the rise. This period was the great depression. The consequence of not turning in your gold bullion coins or gold bullion bars was a huge fine and jail. If you buy gold bullion coins today, like the American Eagle, the U.S. mint prints a denomination on the back of the coin. Why? Because if the government were to confiscate gold bullion coins like they did in the 1930′s, you would only receive the denomination value, despite the current price of gold in the market, whether that price be 0, 00, or even 00. The chance of such Federal government confiscation is universally deemed as unlikely.

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Also gold bullion transactions are reportable to the IRS. We will also cover in detail the type of gold transactions that are not reportable, private gold, momentarily.

Also important to recognize is that as the price of gold fluctuates, so does the value of gold bullion coins.

Nevertheless, despite these contingencies, asset managers all over the country are recommending allocating at least some portion of an investment portfolio to gold. Prices are on the rise, in what analysts have termed a long-running bull market which is just in its beginning stages

PRIVATE AND NON-CONFISCATEABLE GOLD COINS

Investors naturally gravitate to gold investment vehicles where they can expect the greatest return with the smallest amount of risk. In the physical gold market certified gold coins reign supreme. Certified gold coins are the gold coins minted by the US Mint befor the year 1933. Saint Gaudens, Liberty, Indian, Liberty, Indian, Liberty and .5 Liberty gold coins are all examples of the most profitable gold coins an investor can acquire for several reasons.

1. Certified gold coins have a limited mintage. The government can not go back and mint any more of these gold coins. You want to own gold coins that continue to go up because of this fact year after year regardless of what the gold price does. Because of their limited availability these gold coins can surpass the gains seen by gold bullion 2 to 5 times.

2. Certified gold coins are also one of the last legally private assets the government allows you to acquire. World Financial and goldcoinsgain.com are not required to ask for a social security number when you buy gold coins or when you sell gold coins.

3. Non-confiscatable. Certified gold coins are exempt from confiscation. Certified gold coins are exempt from confiscation if the government decided to confiscate gold like they did in between 1933 and the early 1970s. You were in a world of hurt during those almost 40 years of you were holding the wrong kind of gold coins. So you can rest assured your certified gold will do what its supposed to do under the most strenuous conditions — protect your money.

4. Immediate liquidity. World Financial is a major market maker in certified gold coins and will assist in converting your gold coins back into cash on a moments notice.

In addition to the advantages listed above, certified gold coins are also more stable than bullion gold coins. The value of a certified coin is not solely determined by what the spot price of gold does. In fact, certified gold provides more stability than the stock market, bond market, or just leaving your money in cash. So if you are tired of having to worry about the current economic environment you may want to consider diversifying out of riskier vehicles into an asset that has stood the test of time.

Portability is also something you should keep in mind when selecting which type of gold coins are right for you. To put things in perspective, you could carry one million dollars worth of certified gold coins in an attaché case. This should give you a sense of comfort knowing that you have acquired an asset that is completely portable and discreetly portable.

IRA AND 401′s BACKED BY GOLD COINS

Gold Coins backing your IRA or 401k rollover makes the perfect diversification asset in today’s uncertain economic environment. Gold coins can be added to your retirement strategy in just a few easy steps.

Step 1. Determine what portion of your retirement account you would like to convert over into gold coins.

Step 2. Print out the one page Gold Coin IRA Setup Form and fill out to the best of your ability. Fax the form into our retirement account department at (818) 506-6597.

Step 3. A Gold Coin Customer Service representative will contact you in a very short amount of time to confirm and guarantee the availability of your gold coins. We then work with your existing custodian to get the appropriate funds transferred over into your new self-directed IRA, backed by physical gold coins.

American eagle bullion gold coins are one of the most popular gold coins allowed by the IRS for your precious metal IRA. American eagle bullion gold coins come in 1 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, and 1/10 ounce denominations. These gold bullion coins are guaranteed by the US Mint for purity, weight and size. The Gold American Eagle bears the “W” mint mark reflecting the gold coin was struck at the US Mint at West Point. The obverse of the American eagle bullion gold coin features Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her hand and an olive branch in her other hand. On the other side of the gold coin a male eagle carries an olive branch as he flies above a nest containing a female eagle and her eaglets. Each gold coin is encapsulated in plastic and comes with a custom designated Certificate of Authenticity.

American Eagle Proof gold coins are also available. The proof gold coins are more desired because each year they are produced by the US Mint in a limited quantity. Each proof gold coin is struck several times with a special die to create a more lustrous finish. Because of the limited quantity, investors will typically prefer these gold coins for their retirement accounts. Weather we are talking about gold coins or widgets whenever there is a limited amount naturally prices increase faster and become more valuable. The American Eagle Proof gold coins are also exempt from confiscation. A lot of investors like knowing they have the type of gold coins backing their retirement account that are not subject to confiscation by the Federal government.

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Russian Coin market has exploded this year! The prices for most quality Imperial Russian Coins (pre 1917) has grown 100% and keep going up. Coin Dealers are confused and if you call most of them you will hear the same answer: “We don’t have any Russian Coins in the inventory right now. Russian Coin Market is hot.” So, who is buying Russian Coins and how it can be possible for the coins prices to grow 100% in just 1 year?

We believe, to understand what happened you will need to go back in the history. Russia went through very difficult times in 20th century; people struggled to feed their families and had little interest in expensive hobbies, such as collecting coins. A lot of silver and gold coins were melted down or converted to jewelry. We know how many Russians coins were minted, but no one knows how many coins survived through all these years of weak economy. Even now all Imperial Russian Coins can not be exported from Russia, so there circulation of such coins outside of Russia is limited to Russian coins smuggled illegally or Russian coins kept by generations of Russian immigrants.

You could see that demand for Russian coins started to grow 5 years ago when Russian economy just started to recover. It’s easy to conclude that the recent growth in Russian coin prices is related to booming Russian economy. In fact, if you compare results of coin auctions in Russia with Russian coin auctions outside of Russia, prices for the same Russian coins outside of Russia are 10-30% below than inside of Russia! The demand is coming from Russia itself where more and more people find investing in coins to be very rewarding. Russian coins on European and North American auctions are bought through proxies and coming back to Russia and western Russian coins inventories, which were not very good from the beginning are depleting. There is a huge demand, which drives the prices up and with quality Russian coins going to private collectors and investors you can find that some rare coins sold in the auction in January are selling for twice as much in June. This is unbelievable 100% Return on Investment in 5 months!!! And, people were saying stock market brings highest returns. The one million dollar question is for how long the prices for Russian Coins can growth and would this market overheat and crash one day.

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We know that every market has its ups and downs and 100% growth is not sustainable in the long term. From the other hand, if we compare coin prices for British and American coins to Russian coins, we can still see that rare Russian coins are still selling for much less than British or American coins of such rarity. For the largest country in the world with, such an interesting history, Russian coin market is still in the developing stages and we believe it will be booming while Russian economy is doing well and a lot of experts suggest that Russia might finally have a bright future.

If you are interested in taking a part of this rally and have little or no knowledge on Russian coins, following are some suggestions, which you will need to consider. As in any growing market there are people, who are trying to exploit and profit from it in a fast way. There are more and more fakes of Russian coins, which are coming to the market, which are worthless, but can be sold to inexperienced collectors or investors for thousands of dollars. People looking for bargains are ending up buying these fakes without realizing that they were cheated. Our advise it to stick to the coin dealers, who specialize in Russian coins, there are still some, such as www.MyCoinDealer.com, which have quality Russian coins in the inventory. Avoid auction sites, such as Ebay, where (don’t be surprised) a lot of Russian coins sold as original will end up to be copies! Buy coins certified by NGC, ANACS or PCGS. Apart from certifying that coin is genuine, certified Russian coins are graded according world standards. When you buy “raw” (uncertified) Russian coins, which is a high possibility they are overgraded or can end up to be cleaned or worse – fakes. You pay a premium on certified coins, but it’s worth it. The fact is that even experts can’t tell if the coin is fake by looking at the picture and without certified agencies, coin market would be doomed. Try to do some research to learn about coin grades, clean coins, coin toning and coin varieties, we suggest you to visit http://www.mycoincollecting.com/ to read more information on these topics. For example, Liberty Gold Dollar of 1879 would cost you around 0 in (AU) About Uncirculated grade and 00 in Uncirculated MS-67 grade and if you haven’t seen a lot of these coins you won’t even tell the difference between the 2. Our advice, that you should buy VF-30 – XF-45 1700-1810 Russian coins and AU or MS-65 1810-1917 Russian coins. These experienced the highest market value growth in the recent years and we believe will keep going up. Russian Gold Coins and Platinum Russian Coins were appreciating fast because of the recent growth in Gold prices, so if you believe the price for gold is going up and can afford such coins, you might find to look at Russian Gold Coins a bit closely.

To summarize, Russian Coin market is still maturing and although 100% increase in price in 1 year seems crazy, it can be explained that Russian coins were overlooked in the past and were very cheap before and just start to get appreciation and demand they deserve in the recent years.

If you make the effort to study the hobby and the market you will be rewarded. Someone who does not make that effort is more likely to waste money on overgraded, problem or counterfeit coins. Before spending a lot of money on coins, you should invest in your knowledge of the hobby. For your own protection you should have at least one reference book covering your area(s) of interest. Reading a few issues of periodicals is another good idea.

A great place to start collecting coins is from circulation. The risk is negligible (you can always spend the coins), examining your coins carefully and see what your reference book says about them, will teach you a lot.

Local coin clubs are usually great for learning more about the hobby, getting material for your collection, and you just might make some good friends, too.

Often new collectors aren’t sure where to begin, and they may have many questions. Do I start with one type of coin, or should I collect a variety? Should I stick to easy-to-find coins, or should I try to collect rarer ones? How much money do I want to spend? Coin collecting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. In fact, it is probably one of the easiest objects to collect. You also don’t have to be very knowledgeable to start a coin collection.

If you are considering beginning a coin collection, you have probably asked yourself one or more of these questions. The answers really depend on your own personal preferences, and you may not discover what those preferences are until you begin. The most important step you can take when beginning, however, is to invest in a good coin collecting book. Once you’ve bought the book, take some time to read at least excerpts from it concerning different coins. You may discover that certain coins interest you more than others.

The next step you might take is to buy a few coin folders. You can buy coin folders that have dates under each slot, or you can buy folders that are blank. The coin folders that have dates will help you determine what coins you need to complete your collection. Often these folders will cover a specific number of years and will be designed for specific coins.

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Keep in mind, however, it is not easy to completely fill up a folder. If the folder covers older coins, many of those coins are considered quite valuable. You will have to be willing to invest a significant amount of money to complete a folder for older coins. If you are not trying to complete a set, but you do want to keep up with the dates that you find, you might enjoy using a blank coin folder. This way you don’t have to leave any of the slots empty.

The Internet provides many opportunities for coin collectors to enlarge their collections, once they have decided what type of coin or coins they want to collect. Of course, you may be able to get some of your coins simply by checking your spare change. If you are going to build your collection, however, you will need to expand your search. There are online auction sites that give collectors just like you an opportunity to buy and sell. Most neophyte coin collectors begin collecting coins that are already in circulation, and usually these coins that are in circulation are more likely to get damaged, and only would be worth whenever you hold onto them for a long period of time. Once you go up the coin-collecting ladder, you move on by collecting coins from other sources, such as antique coin shops, coin shows, internet auctions, flea markets, and from other collectors as well. The art of coin collecting can also be seen as an investment, as the prices of the coins you store and preserve may rise should they become rare, or drop when these coins are in surplus supply.

You will need to consult your coin collecting book to understand the different values and grades of coins. Once you have become more familiar with the specific terms, you will probably want to start off buying inexpensive coins. As you become more experienced in judging the value of coins yourself, you can start to purchase more expensive coins.

As you continue to buy coins, you may find that you get more for your money if you buy sets of coins. This doesn’t mean the sets will be complete. You would likely spend an exorbitant amount of money for a complete set. Instead, the sets you buy will probably be close to complete, but they won’t have the most expensive and rarer coins. As you buy sets, you can keep the coins you need, and then you can put duplicates back up for auction. This is an excellent way to build your collections.

Coin collectors have different themes and goals in mind, with some trying to obtain generally rare coins, whilst others seek samples of coins that were issued from every country or ‘world coins.’ Some collectors also opt to collect coins that were only issued from one country, most likely their own. There are other coin collectors who also store coins that were issued during historically-important periods, such as the Roman, Greek, and Byzantine or the Middle Ages as well as of the Indian, Celtic and Persian empires, and the 18th or 19th centuries. The purpose of collecting coins from different periods may vary, depending on whether the collector wants these coins to serve as a mirror or reflection of the events that happened during the era in which they were produced, or for some other purpose as well.

How much you money and time you spend on your coin collections is completely up to you. The beauty of collecting coins, however, is that you are also investing your money. Coin collecting is a great hobby for any age, and the art of coin collecting will never die.

Herman Klein is a coin collecting expert. For more great information on collecting coins be sure to visit http://www.coincollectingstartshere.com.

Behind coin collecting there are some basics everyone should learn including reasons why people collect coins, types of coins, proper handling of coins to preserve their uniqueness and original condition, coin grading, coin grading services and a set of tools every basic collector should have in their profession.

First and foremost a Numismatist is someone who studies the history of the beauty of coins and other forms of currency. They greatly enjoy the study of coins when it comes to their history, usage and artistry.

There are various reasons why individuals collect anything and coins in particular. With coins you can learn about the historical significance they have around the world. For instance, back in 1986 the United States began a program to start minting the Silver American Eagle available to the public and this was the first time they did that since 1935.

By collecting coins and studying their significance you begin to appreciate their significance of the events that were happening in the world at the moment the coin was first minted. So it’s great to hold a part of that history in your hands. By doing so, you can elect to carry on this history to your children and your children’s children for many generations.

Coin minting is also an art form. The artist just creates their art on a different form of canvas. So coin collecting can also be admired as another form of art.

Below is a list of the different areas of coin collecting you can engage in:

Ancient Coins – This area goes all the way back to beginning of time from Roman and Greek coins to the Middle Ages.
World Coins – This area not only includes United States Coins but also coins from around the world. U.S. coins have 2 subcategories. The first category would be referred to as Old. This includes coins dating back to the creation of the U.S. to 1982. The second category is referred to as modern issue coins. The period includes coins from 1982 to the present.

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Throughout our lives we were familiar with the fact that the front of the coin can be referred to as the heads and the back of the coins is referred to as the tails. However, being a Numismatist these terms are different. For examples the front or head of the coin is called the Obverse. The back or tail of the coin is referred as the Reverse.

When you look at a coin there is a portion of the coin that is raised. This raised portion of the coin is called the “devices” of the coin. For example the portrait of the Liberty on the American Silver Eagle would be considered the “device” area.

The areas of the coin that are flat would be considered as the “fields” of the coin which are not used for the design or inscription.

There are certain ways to hold a coin that can preserve their original state so the coin will hold its value and keep the demand for that particular coin high. Always hold the coin by holding it by the rim with your fingers. Never touch the coin with your bare fingers on the Obverse or Reverse of the coin. The oils from our skin can be a form of ware and tear on the coin. If you have coins that are not encapsulated with a slab you could use white cotton gloves to handle the raw coins.

The purpose of coin grading is to know the proper value of that particular coin in the marketplace. A coin graded at a low level will not be worth as much as a coin graded at a higher level. For a coin to have a higher grade it must follow certain guide lines. If a coin has been given a higher grade it will be more valuable in the coin market.

Dr. William Sheldon introduced a grading scale to modern coin collecting back in 1949. It was a scale from 1 to 70. The lower the grade on this scale the more unrecognizable it could be considered a coin. The coin is more worn and some of the devices are barely present. As stated before the higher the coin grade the less flaws there are in the coin itself. A coin graded at 70 would be considered perfect with no flaws or bag marks.

Circulated coins fall in the range on this scale from 1 to 59. Uncirculated coins will fall into the 60 point and above range and they are considered to be Mint State (MS). When a coin is graded as MS70 they are rarer because not all coins are considered perfect.

Back in 1972, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) began offering grading services for coins through their service called ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service). ANACS is considered to be the oldest grading service in America. In the mid 1980′s the development of modern grading standards was adopted through PCGS and included a sealed plastic holder for the coin. This plastic holder is also referred to as a slab and helps the coin from being damaged. There are 4 top tier third party grading services which include:

ANACS – American Numismatic Association Certification Service

PCGS – Professional Coin Grading Service

NGC – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

ICG – Independent Coin Graders

A magnifying glass with a range of 5x to 10x. Higher magnification is used by grading companies to determine the extra fine details of the coin to give it a grade of MS70, which is the highest grade a coin can receive on The Sheldon Scale.
A Sharp eye for detail – This skill will take years to gain.
Light – A good light is a table top, halogen light.
A good, secure storage location – a good safe that is locked and bolted to your floor. These coins are your legacy to your family and your children so you should protect them. Another place you can store your slab coins in is a slab holder (also store this in the safe). This will help you keep the slabs from hitting each other and keep them in order.

I hope you enjoyed this post on Coin Collecting For Beginners.

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Coins have been collected since ancient times. It is used by millions of people for payment or trade, and has been striked using very precious metals like gold and silver. Now the use of gold and silver coins is not tied down to only trading and collecting. It is also used as financial stabilizers by many investors. How can coins stabilize one’s finance. Dollar value has decreased to the point where other countries would not hold on to it for trade. Inflation causes prices to rise up and decreases the number of items that can be bought with small amount of money. Silver and gold coins have been going the opposite way. They are maintaining their high value over weight. When precious metals decrease in price, it is usually a cue to buy more. Hoarding is very rampant when paper currency shows no progress. Many countries are buying gold to remove their worries of loosing profits. But with micro investors, how can they do the same with gold.

Gold and silver can be bought in different forms. There are bullion bars, jewelry and the ever popular coins. Coins have beautiful designs on it. Like jewelry, they are very nice to look at. It can be stored in bulk without damaging its value. It is easier to transfer because it has a face value unlike bullion bars. Because of this, coin is the best choice for many investors. They are easy to sell which means that they are almost as good as cash on hand. Most importantly, they have proven their consistent high value for almost 8 years. Something that cannot be denied by skeptics.

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First of all what we will look in some of the main reasons which makes a domain priceless and sellable.

# Generic or Day to Day life words.

# Their extensions weather it is .com or .net. Its popularity. (Right now .com)

# Less characters. (Say 4 or 5 at most)

# Their pronunciation. (Don’t say epdu or something else it is not pronounceable)

# The keyboard relationship. (It would be easier to type in “tyru” instead of “oqzk”. Some companies who wants brandable names see this)

Now If we look into the very first point about generic or day to day life words most of them are taken. So how to find some other? Here is the tip. Just try and sit with a pen and paper when you are watching television. Write down the words that you think might be available as a domain name. You can do the same when you are reading some novel or newspaper. This trick surely pays I got many of my domains watching “Terminator” and “Home Alone” kind of movies.

Now the extension. If you have found out a great word which is already registered with .com extension. Then you can try other TLD’s. But in this you run into some kind of risk. You can surely reg “fast.net” & “Love.net” but you can’t bet your money on “babyboydomains.net” or “Simplyrockingnames.org”. So just apply some thinking over here.

Talking about less characters If you find a 3 letter name then just pounce on it. It really has the market. But there are none available right now. So look for 4 or 5 character names. Apply all our rules that we saw before and even then if it passes through all that steps without a hitch then take it in.

Pronounceable or not is also a factor. If you know english language, which I think you will be knowing as you are reading this article then there are no problems. For those who are weak at english they can try http://www.thesaurus.com or any other dictionaries which are available online to look for that name.

Don’t get discouraged if your word is not listed in it. You can surely ask some other guy on chat who is not interested in domains about this word. Otherwise the guy to whom you are asking may reg it before you and all your dreams might get shattered into pieces.

The last but not the least is the keyboard relationship. Some companies may look into it. If they are willing to spend their millions for this domain and other millions for marketing it and making it into a brand. You can try this. some words are just a flick on keyboard. As I said before “tyru” is easy to type in. while oqzk is a bit tougher. Just try it and see the difference.