| With so much information and beauty contained in | | | | coveted rare gold coins and a lot of gold coin |
| so small a package, it is no surprise that coin | | | | collectors are interested in these rare gold coins |
| collecting has been a hobby nearly as long as the | | | | that they will offer high bids just to be able to get |
| concept of coins themselves. | | | | their hands on these. |
| The history of gold coins dates as far back as | | | | A similar problem happened in Philadelphia a few |
| 2,700 years ago. The first gold coins in the world | | | | years later, when the P on the die of some 1989 |
| were issued in Lydia around 640 B.C. certain | | | | quarters was clogged with dirt, preventing the |
| internet websites will provide you with a lot of | | | | coins from being properly stamped. Although |
| information about the history of gold coins. | | | | there are exceptions, most old coins are not |
| Gold coins are a favorite of coin collectors with an | | | | particularly valuable unless they are very well |
| eye toward investment. | | | | preserved. The best starting place for an idea of |
| Collectors covet the unusual and uncommon | | | | their worth is to visit the reference section of |
| above all else, and these minor oversights result in | | | | your local library. |
| a very limited number of coins. This means that | | | | Coin collecting for investment purposes can be a |
| supply is much lower than demand, and even | | | | tricky endeavor. |
| something that looks almost exactly like a | | | | Being a member of a coin club can build the |
| common penny can actually be a precious rare | | | | collector's network. Some members may want to |
| coin. Avoid touching the coin unnecessarily, as dirt | | | | part with a particular coin in exchange for another, |
| and grease from your fingers will tarnish the finish | | | | etc. Coins that are no longer used generally have |
| over time. Exposure to air oxidizes metal, | | | | more value than those that are still active, |
| changing its colour. | | | | because coins in the past were made of 100% |
| To the collector, bragging about 'finds' constitutes | | | | silver or gold. Since the demand for silver coins |
| one of life's most enjoyable pastimes. | | | | increased and they were difficult to produce they |
| One thing is for certain, there isn't a coin collector | | | | are now made of 40% and 60% copper. |
| out there who will stop collecting just because the | | | | After completing the collection, the coins should |
| prices have risen a little and probably the same | | | | be stored in a nice folder or album. This will keep |
| amount will consider selling their prize collection to | | | | them clean and easy for the individual to carry |
| the highest bidder. Commemorative coins are a | | | | around and display. Coins can be cleaned by |
| popular form of collection, as are rare minted | | | | soaking them in any of the following liquids: |
| coins like those which had an error in their | | | | vinegar, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice or ammonia |
| stamping. If a certain set of coins doesn't interest | | | | which will remove any dirt or encrustation that's |
| you, it won't be any fun at all to become a | | | | on the coin when it was acquired. Afterwards, |
| collector. | | | | they should be air-dried or patted dry with a soft |
| If you are interested in making the highest profits | | | | cloth. Rubbing or polishing the coins is not advisable |
| possible with your coin collection, you will need to | | | | since it scratches and will decrease the market |
| find a merchant partner who is experienced in the | | | | value of the coin. |
| specific rare coins that interest you, and who will | | | | Coin collecting can be a lot of fun. By deciding on |
| sell them to you at a good price. | | | | a specific period to begin with then searching for |
| Starting a Coin Collection | | | | it, the collector will have something valuable as an |
| It is never too early or too late to have a hobby. | | | | investment. |
| Some people are hobbyists for fun while others | | | | A numismatist holds an ancient coin that has |
| see a bigger picture; and that is to make money. | | | | passed through dozens or hundreds of hands |
| Some objects that may seem inexpensive now | | | | throughout the millennia. In medieval times, the |
| may become valuable or priceless later. | | | | collection of ancient coins was already popular, but |
| A few good examples are baseball cards, toys | | | | it was known as a hobby for kings. |
| and stamps. Many people have made a fortune | | | | An avid coin collector will be able to tell you |
| by collecting and selling on auction sites like EBay. | | | | virtually every piece of history that surrounds any |
| Another collection that can become profitable is | | | | coin in their collection both because they tend to |
| coin collecting. Getting started is as easy as | | | | specialize and because knowledge is one of the |
| deciding what kind of collection you want. Coins | | | | most important factors when it comes to starting |
| are made every year and some are introduced | | | | and maintaining a collection of any value or worth. |
| years later so focusing on a particular time period | | | | Perhaps one day the coin you bought last year will |
| and location is important. | | | | have gone up in value, but the idea is to buy it so |
| Conducting research using reference books or the | | | | you can enjoy it now, and for as long as you |
| web can aid in coin collecting. You can learn almost | | | | own it. |
| anything about the coins to be collected and will | | | | Before purchasing coins, one must do much |
| help the collector discover those who want to sell | | | | research about that coin. He must assess its |
| coins. | | | | current market value and make sure that the |
| Another good source of information is subscribing | | | | coin is genuine. Scarcity should not be confused |
| to a coin publication such as Coin World or | | | | with overall mintage. During the silver booms, |
| Coinage Magazine. The local coin shop can also | | | | many, many silver coins were melted for there |
| expand the search for those antique coins outside | | | | bullion content. |
| the collector's city or state. | | | | American coins have undergone several changes |
| All too often, new coin collectors who try to go it | | | | in material. For example, during World War II, |
| on their own without professional help end up | | | | pennies were made out of steel, because copper |
| being scammed out of hundreds or thousands of | | | | was needed for the war effort. There are also |
| dollars. | | | | variations on the American Eagle that are minted |
| By examining a coin, one comes to know the | | | | from silver or platinum instead of gold. |
| geography, philosophy, sociology, artistry and | | | | You can get a silver locating device or a magnetic |
| other aspects of the culture they existed in. | | | | pole for finding loose coins in ditches, under cars, |
| Buy quality! Buy quality! Buy quality! That's all you | | | | or in other hard-to-reach places. Or simply rely on |
| hears these days when you are considering rare | | | | your eyes to identify those gleaming metal |
| coins as an investment. The Gold Eagle features a | | | | circlets of potential wealth. Always be on the |
| representation of Lady Liberty striding with torch | | | | lookout for rare gold coins, and have coins |
| in hand through a field of light rays on its front | | | | appraised by a gold coin expert to avoid large |
| side. | | | | differences in price. The development of two |
| Coins, which were printed on standardized weights | | | | large coin organizations in the mid-to-late 1800s, |
| of precious metals and stamped with a | | | | the American Numismatic Society (ANS) and the |
| government guarantee of value, was the answer | | | | American Numismatic Association (ANA), helped |
| to this unwieldy, easily sabotaged trading process. | | | | spark American interest in building and maintaining |
| For most gold coin collectors, there are the highly | | | | a coin collection. |