| Many foreign mints produce high quality coins in | | | | Another factor may be the protection the foreign |
| precious metals. Some of these quality coins are | | | | mints afford their collectible coins. These coins are |
| colorized, many are proof, and most are | | | | often encased hard capsules, which protect them |
| accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. But | | | | from the environment. Each capsule is often |
| the real future worth of these coins may not | | | | housed in a hard display case. Hence, buying one |
| come from their beauty, but from their low | | | | of these coins, unless something bizarre |
| mintage, which can make meeting demand | | | | happened, usually means buying a well preserved |
| difficult. | | | | coin. The trust that the coin was never |
| The Perth Mint is a prime example of a foreign | | | | mishandled is higher that it would be for buying a |
| mint producing a myriad of low mintage, high | | | | loose coin from a stranger. |
| quality coins. Many issues are restricted to a | | | | While coins having appreciated in the past is no |
| release of five thousand, making escalation of | | | | guarantee that those minted today will appreciate |
| value a real possibility. Other issues are capped at | | | | in the future, the conditions are possibly even |
| a release of ten thousand. With the Internet, | | | | more favorable than ever, since more collectors |
| more collectors are becoming interested in foreign | | | | are joining the search for these coins regularly. Of |
| coins, When demand exceeds supply, the reaction | | | | course, there is always the possibility interest will |
| of the market is to have the price increase. | | | | drop, but there is no indication to this author that |
| Recent issues of Perth Mint collector coins being | | | | this is the current case. Indeed, when the |
| offered on eBay indicate that collectors are often | | | | economy improves there is a real possibility that |
| inclined to offer a premium for coins they missed. | | | | more people will start or resume buying coins, and |
| New collectors perhaps missed out on coins at | | | | the market will have to absorb any increase in |
| the time of issue because they had not yet | | | | demand that may follow. |
| entered the growing group of numismatists who | | | | The contents of this article are the opinion of the |
| collect modern foreign coins. Many coins | | | | author, and you are urged to research the |
| significantly increase in value, as determined by | | | | market for yourself before making any decision |
| what the bidding public is willing to pay, in just a | | | | to purchase coins in the hope of making a profit |
| year of less after an issue sells out at the mint. | | | | in the future. With coins, there is never a |
| And it is what buyers are willing to pay that | | | | guarantee. |
| determines the value. | | | | |