Rare Coin Collecting
Rare coin collecting can be an excellent form of investment. In inflationary times, the value of rare gold coins far outdistances the value of the gold in the coin. In times when the price of gold pauses in its upward climb, rare gold coins still maintain their collector value. However, where buying gold bullion only requires certification of gold content, collecting investment grade gold coins requires an intimate knowledge of numismatic details.
Recently, two extremely rare coins were put up for auction. These were a 1795 half eagle with an over $20,000 minimum bid and an 1885 half eagle with a starting bid of $999. Both were used coins; neither was in mint or near mint condition. The value of these coins is based up rarity, the condition of the coin, and a variety of market factors.
Accurate pricing information can be hard to come by without the assistance of experts such as rare-coin.org. A better way of rare coin collecting than stumbling across a coin auction is to deal with professionals who are tuned in to the entire rare coin collecting market.
As the number of American gold coins was diminished by the early 18th century “meltdown” and the 1933 confiscation all pre-1933 American gold coins are rare. In a few cases, there are only a handful of American gold coins in existence for a given year, mint mark, and style.
In rare coin collecting, it is truly important to buy coins certified by a universally recognized grading service. It is obviously important to certify that a rare gold coin is indeed authentic; it is also crucial that the grade of the coin be accurately established as the value of a rare gold coin goes up almost exponentially with higher grades. When done correctly, rare coin collecting can be an enjoyable and highly profitable way to invest.
Shawn Penny
Senior Staff Writer - Rare-Coin.org
