| Coins can also be strikingly beautiful in their own | | | | Coin Collection in Renaissance Times Modern coin |
| right, with the top designers of a nation striving to | | | | collecting, where the coins are viewed as a work |
| have their motif chosen for immortality on the | | | | of art as well as a collection of valuable legal |
| face of a coin. | | | | tender, is widely thought to have begun with |
| The history of gold coins dates as far back as | | | | Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, who is often |
| 2,700 years ago. The first gold coins in the world | | | | called the father of the Renaissance. |
| were issued in Lydia around 640 B.C. certain | | | | On the flip side of the American Eagle gold coins is |
| internet websites will provide you with a lot of | | | | a nest full of bald eagles, the national bird of the |
| information about the history of gold coins. | | | | United States. The nest represents the American |
| Many countries produce gold coins for collectors | | | | dedication to unity and family. |
| or for commemorative purposes. These coins | | | | Everybody wants to make sure that their |
| oftentimes emphasize unique aspects of the | | | | investment is protected, but there are no |
| country?s culture. | | | | guarantees, especially in rare coins. In fact, some |
| This guide will help you recognize a few | | | | rare coins take years to appreciate to the point |
| exceptional American rare coins that you just | | | | of being able to sell it profitably. |
| might have lying around your house, shoved in a | | | | This can be done by following what coins are |
| change jar, or tucked away into a pocket. | | | | being sold for, and what dealers are paying for |
| Physical dirt can be removed by careful washing | | | | coins. You will need to be shown how to assess |
| with a hand soap and patting dry. Tarnish, called | | | | the true value of a coin which can be based on |
| toning to collectors, does not lower the value of | | | | many factors such as age, mintmark, and |
| the coin. | | | | condition. |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | Coin collecting for investment purposes can be a |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and | | | | tricky endeavor. |
| professional "full service" Search Engine Marketing | | | | It would be surprising place to find rare coins at a |
| help at very affordable rates. | | | | flea market, but stranger things have happened. |
| To the collector, bragging about 'finds' constitutes | | | | These places have different ideas about pricing |
| one of life's most enjoyable pastimes. | | | | which is due to their lack of understanding of how |
| Some people happily collect more common | | | | a coin should be priced. You will find overpriced |
| everyday coins, going through their pockets at | | | | coins but if you are lucky you might find a rare |
| the end of the day for them is fun, checking | | | | coin somewhere in those stacks of coins that will |
| dates and mintmarks on their change. Some | | | | make it worth your while. |
| collectors can spend thousands of dollars on rare | | | | Flea markets sellers are usually looking for a quick |
| silver and gold coins from the 1800's and early | | | | sell and would probably give you discounts when |
| 1900's. Some collect coins from different | | | | you buy their items in bulk. Try to buy other |
| countries. | | | | items and get your coins added as a bonus. |
| Commemorative coins are a popular form of | | | | Auctions: |
| collection, as are rare minted coins like those | | | | If you are looking to invest in really, really rare |
| which had an error in their stamping. If a certain | | | | coins, the best place to go would be an auction. |
| set of coins doesn?t interest you, it won?t be any | | | | Auctions are the only place where you can find |
| fun at all to become a collector. | | | | people selling their rarest and most expensive |
| If you are interested in making the highest profits | | | | coins. Several of these auctions are happening |
| possible with your coin collection, you will need to | | | | online at the same time and most of the sellers |
| find a merchant partner who is experienced in the | | | | are looking for the highest bidders. You must be |
| specific rare coins that interest you, and who will | | | | aware and warned that some of these sellers are |
| sell them to you at a good price. | | | | frauds and will not make the price you pay |
| Finding Rare and Collectible Coins | | | | worthwhile. You should try to learn more about |
| Coin collecting was started only as a hobby for | | | | these coins and their worth before trying to buy |
| most people, however you can hear what other | | | | one from an online auction. |
| people say (or you probably have heard yourself) | | | | Other Coin Collectors: |
| about news of people cashing in on their old coin; | | | | Coin collectors usually have duplicate coins that |
| and that encouraged more people to go on a | | | | they are willing to sell for a price lower than its |
| coin-collecting streak. If you are one of those | | | | market value. The only problem is it is hard to |
| people who want to invest in coins, here are | | | | find another coin collector that collects the same |
| several places to start your collection. | | | | coins as you. The best places to look are online |
| Coin Shops: | | | | groups, forums and (if you have one) local groups. |
| Many shop owners are dealers that know a lot of | | | | Other coin collectors are the best people to turn |
| information about coins and are selling coins too. | | | | into when you want to start your own collection. |
| These coin shops are a valuable place to find and | | | | They can offer you tips, discounts and some |
| gain more information about coins and coin | | | | might even be tempted to give you some of |
| collecting. These coin shops can be costly, though, | | | | their coins to kick-start your collection. |
| as they are anticipating selling their coins for a | | | | Coin collecting is like any other investment the |
| profit. With enough knowledge and/or having | | | | value will fluctuate: they may depreciate in value |
| someone who know a great deal about coin | | | | and/or gain value at any time. The best way to |
| collecting at your side, you can get great prices | | | | profit in coin collecting is keep updated with the |
| for your coins. | | | | news and the prices of the coins. This will not only |
| Coin Shows: | | | | help you in not being fooled by merchants but by |
| There are times when your local mall will have an | | | | learning how to price a coin even without a price |
| exhibit from several coin dealers and that will let | | | | list. |
| you see all of the collections and allow you to buy | | | | A numismatist holds an ancient coin that has |
| some coins for a lower price due to the | | | | passed through dozens or hundreds of hands |
| competition. You will probably also see several | | | | throughout the millennia. In medieval times, the |
| new coins that are available and suitable for your | | | | collection of ancient coins was already popular, but |
| collection. | | | | it was known as a hobby for kings. |
| These coins shows are great not only for sellers | | | | An avid coin collector will be able to tell you |
| and buyers but also for coin enthusiasts who | | | | virtually every piece of history that surrounds any |
| want to see rare and hard to find coins. | | | | coin in their collection both because they tend to |
| Mail Orders/Web Sites: | | | | specialize and because knowledge is one of the |
| There are thousands of dealers worldwide and | | | | most important factors when it comes to starting |
| most of them have websites that allow buy coins | | | | and maintaining a collection of any value or worth. |
| and pay for them through mail order or through | | | | Perhaps one day the coin you bought last year will |
| any online payment system such as Paypal. You | | | | have gone up in value, but the idea is to buy it so |
| should do your research on these companies and | | | | you can enjoy it now, and for as long as you |
| read their terms carefully to make sure that you | | | | own it. |
| can get your money back when you have a | | | | Before purchasing coins, one must do much |
| problem with the coin you purchased and/or | | | | research about that coin. He must assess its |
| received. | | | | current market value and make sure that the |
| For every legitimate web site, there are may be | | | | coin is genuine. |
| hundreds of fake web sites that are just | | | | And while the rarest and finest of all rare coins |
| attempting to get your money. You should always | | | | have reached stratospheric prices, what does this |
| ask for feedback from previous customers | | | | leave the rest of us? Not much, unless you are |
| before paying anybody online and remember not | | | | willing to do a little work. |
| to give out any password or pin numbers. | | | | As you can see, sharp-eyed coin collectors can |
| Flea Markets: | | | | really make a profit by keeping their eyes for |
| The first vital piece of information that you'll need | | | | rare coins in everyday transactions. |
| when considering coin dealers is his or her | | | | The internet is home to a lot of gold coin dealers |
| professional qualifications. Some important | | | | wherein you can meet all sorts of people from all |
| questions to ask include, does the coin dealer | | | | over the world who are into both buying and |
| belong to any professional groups? How long has | | | | selling gold coins. Always be on the lookout for |
| he or she been in business? | | | | rare gold coins, and have coins appraised by a |
| But as time goes by, the number of these coins | | | | gold coin expert to avoid large differences in price. |
| go down. Some get lost and some are damaged | | | | You can get a silver locating device or a magnetic |
| beyond recognition. | | | | pole for finding loose coins in ditches, under cars, |
| A similar problem happened in Philadelphia a few | | | | or in other hard-to-reach places. Or simply rely on |
| years later, when the P on the die of some 1989 | | | | your eyes to identify those gleaming metal |
| quarters was clogged with dirt, preventing the | | | | circlets of potential wealth. |
| coins from being properly stamped. | | | | During the Renaissance, popes and nobility began |
| For most gold coin collectors, there are the highly | | | | collecting coins for their artistic and historical value, |
| coveted rare gold coins and a lot of gold coin | | | | and the name "the hobby of kings" was born. |
| collectors are interested in these rare gold coins | | | | Always be on the lookout for rare gold coins, and |
| that they will offer high bids just to be able to get | | | | have coins appraised by a gold coin expert to |
| their hands on these. | | | | avoid large differences in price. |