| A 1900 Russian Kopek in 2003 was valued at 50 | | | | exploit the gushing market with worthless fakes. |
| US Dollars. In today's market a coin that is a | | | | According to Robert Oaks Guide to Beginning Coin |
| proof of the same date is valued as high as 250 | | | | Collecting, there are some definite guides to follow |
| US Dollars. A Rouble from the same time period | | | | before jumping in to buy that "deal" on ebay. |
| was valued at 200 US Dollars in 2003, and now is | | | | Rarity |
| valued at 1800 US Dollars and up. | | | | Judging the rarity of a coin is a very complicated |
| So what is causing the sky rocketing market for | | | | business. Mintage figures are not always accurate. |
| Russian Coins? Most in the coin collecting business | | | | In the case of the Russian coins, because so |
| attribute the explosion to the Russian economy. | | | | many of the coins (and no one knows the exact |
| Over the past decade we have seen the Russian | | | | number) were melted down to infuse the |
| political arena go through marked changes. During | | | | economy, what once was a very common coin, |
| this time frame, the economy in Russia | | | | may in fact now be an extremely rare collectors |
| plummeted and many of the old coins were | | | | item. How do you tell? Find a reliable source to |
| actually melted down to be put directly back into | | | | verify the variety of any coin prior to purchasing |
| the local economy. | | | | it. |
| This cause a dramatic depletion in the number of | | | | Quality |
| authentic Russian coins remaining in circulation. As | | | | Cons are valued based on their condition. Proof |
| the economy and political nature in Russia has | | | | coins are the most valuable of all coins regardless |
| stabilized and actually begun to recover, the desire | | | | of origin. These coins were designed specifically |
| for the old coins exploded into a mad frenzy. In | | | | for collectors. The exclusive design is seen in the |
| fact, currently any Russian Imperial coins can no | | | | number of imprints on the coin. However, most |
| longer even be exported outside of Russia. | | | | coins have not been preserved properly and even |
| Any coins that are currently outside of Russia are | | | | the oils from fingertips can decrease the value of |
| collected by private collectors and are rare. They | | | | a coin. A simple scratch could cut the value of a |
| are so rare in fact that the Yale University Library | | | | particular coin nearly in half. |
| has jumped on board with a large display of coins | | | | The old rule of collecting coins is buying the best |
| on loan to them. Even at Yale however, some | | | | quality you can afford. It will pay off in the |
| coins are being placed in question. With the | | | | investment. Be sure of the value by taking the |
| staggering market for the coins, counterfeiting | | | | coin to a reputable source. There are many |
| has become big business. Yale currently has two | | | | associations that specialize in certain eras or |
| coins that are being question as authentic or | | | | countries for coin collectors. Find one that is |
| counterfeit. Fake Roubles are showing up every | | | | focused on your area of choice and join it. |
| where. The beginning collector can easily be taken | | | | Finding the coins |
| in by a fake coin. | | | | There are many venues to find coins to purchase. |
| So what are the experts saying about this | | | | A beginner however, should avoid places such as |
| market explosion in Russian Coin Collecting? Will it | | | | ebay as they can not verify the validity of the |
| crash soon or continue to have the unbelievable | | | | coin nor the condition over the internet. Coin |
| return rate currently being seen in the market? | | | | dealers, even with their draw backs, can be the |
| Looking at the coin collecting market in the United | | | | safest market for beginners. |
| States over the past five years, coins of the | | | | There are a few dealers that have professional |
| same time frame are still valued at a higher dollar | | | | affiliations. In choosing a dealer look for one that |
| value than their counterparts in Russia. Coin | | | | has affiliations such as the PNG (Professional |
| collecting in Russia is a relativity new market and | | | | Numismatists Guild), ANA (American Numismatists |
| is just beginning to develop. This leads most | | | | Association) or the ANS (American Numismatists |
| experts to believe that this trend will remain in an | | | | Society) listed in their business file. These |
| upward swing for some time to come. | | | | organizations have a reputable history and are |
| With that in mind the topic on many coin collecting | | | | great resources for the beginning coin collector. |
| forums is not on the escalating values of the | | | | Joining an organization such as is listed above may |
| Rouble but on the counterfeiting business. For new | | | | be the best investment in your coin collecting |
| collectors, the reality is that many are trying to | | | | adventures. |