Any certified coin hawks who watch the PCGS price guide as closely as this web-logger does, probably noticed something interesting recently. The gold spot price fell over the last two weeks from $1120 per ounce to less than $1100 per ounce today. Although traders at Merrill Lynch and Goldman-Sachs have called for support levels from $1130-$1170 by the end of the first quarter of 2010, the dollar has over performed as of late, which has repressed gold prices. This however, is where the interesting fact about the PCGS price guide comes into play.

If you scroll down the list of coins on the price guide until you see “Gold Coins”, you will notice a laundry list of coins ranging from $1 pieces all the way to $20 gold pieces. Common date coins (the lowest priced coins in each grade) for the last two coins in the list (the $20 Liberty Head and the $20 Saint Gaudens) are the coins most often purchased as long-term investments. Click on either of these two coins, and see what stands out.

Look at all that green! As of today, gold is down $6.20 and it is flat overall for the last 30 trading days. However, rare coin price increases are presently seen across the board. For example, although gold is in the same place as one month ago, the MS63 Saint Gaudens coin is up to $1920 from $1790 last month. Although rare gold coins typically do move with bullion, anomalies are occasionally seen when exceptionally large transactions occur, or when the threat of another government-spearheaded bullion confiscation swells. To learn more about the rare coin market or to trade rare coins directly, contact one of our rare coin experts today.

Shawn Penny

Rare coin price increases were seen this week, but not across the board. While two of the most popular investment-grade rare gold coins showed a 3:1 profit over the pre-ounce gold bullion spot price, some specialty pieces lost substantial value in the aftermath of the somewhat disappointing Long Beach Coin Show.

Although some coins achieved more than their expected value at this recent show, which was highly anticipated by many of the world’s leading numismatists, the majority of pieces sold for less than their expected value and two traders I’ve spoken with mentioned that there was a visible lack of interest in specialty coins. The Long Beach Coin Show isn’t the first coin show that I’ve heard this about recently, but it actually seems to be more of a regular trend these days.

While certain coins have performed quite well under the duress of the current recession, values of other types of coins have been driven down almost as harshly as stock and real estate values. Collectors simply can’t afford to pay those ultra-high premiums for rare dates and specially minted coins right now. However, not all is lost. The current trends show that widely traded coins, such as common year American coins minted prior to 1933, have much more upside potential than any extremely rare pieces.

The latest rare coin price increases can be attributed to a drop, not only in the dollar but also in Americans’ confidence in our economy, and if you have long-term concerns about our nation’s financial welfare as well as your own then a rare coin investment may be wise. Call Rare-Coin.org or send us an email if you would like a free portfolio assessment as well as our award-winning investment brochure.