June 18, 2010 - An extremely rare coin, one of only seven known to be extant, goes on sale June 24 at the British auction house Spink. The gold coin, called a “Thrymsa,” was struck sometime between 620 and 635, as evidenced by a Christian cross on the reverse of the coin. The reverse also features a mint mark for London. The obverse features a portrait of King Eadbald, King of Kent (a region of Anglo-Saxon England) from 616 to 640, as well as an inscription reading “avdvarld reges,” the Latin name of King Eadbald. It is the first English coin to feature the name of the king. It was not until 685, during the reign of Aldfrith, that a coin again carried the name of the monarch.

Eadbald converted to Christianity in 620, so the coin could not have been struck before that. According to the historian Bede, when the king came to the throne, he rejected the church in favor of his native pagan religion. The church, on the other hand, rejected him for marrying his stepmother. However, in 620, the king renounced his wife and accepted Christianity back into the kingdom. No one knows for sure whether Bede’s account is accurate, but it adds to the lore of the coin and the significance of the cross on the reverse. The Eadbald Thrymsa is expected to sell for about $11,000.

Of the six other known Thrymsas, five are held by museums and universities. This auction will be only the second opportunity for private collectors to own one of these rare coins. The rare coin world will have its eyes on Spink on June 24.

June 14, 2010 - A Laguna Beach, California, rare coin collector recently made a record $7.85 million from the sale of a 1794 U.S. silver dollar, according to a May 21, 2010, newspaper report. The sale is said to be the most money ever paid for any single rare coin.

“I consider this an emotional loss, but a financial gain,” said 57-year-old Steven Contursi in an interview with the Orange County Register. Contursi began his coin collection as a small boy, and recognized the coin as a rare find when he purchased it, along with other rare coins, in 2003. The coin is among a small group of early silver dollars dubbed the “flowing hair” variety, from the long flowing hair that adorns Lady Liberty on the face of the coin. The pristine appearance of the hair and the sharpness of other details set this coin apart and lead Martin Logies, director of the foundation that purchased the coin, to believe that this was probably one of the master coins held by the director of the U.S. mint at the time.

In the early 1790s, the United States had no coinage of its own, and this is believed to be one of the very first silver dollars minted in the country. Rare Coins Hold Value Against Inflation

As prices for precious metals rise and worldwide economies suffer instability, rare coins and other tangible assets increase in value. In unstable times, investors tend to flee from traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual finds and seek shelter in tangible assets. An investment in rare coins is doubly beneficial: not only for the intrinsic value of the gold or silver, but also for their value as rare antiques, a wise choice when the price of gold fluctuates as it has in the past few days. Prospective purchasers can include museums and collectors as well as traditional investors.

Conditions today are favorable for buying coins, and rare coins are a good investment against inflation and economic uncertainty.

June 8, 2010 - Right now, gold coins are extremely popular, and if you own rare coins, you are likely to make a fortune out of them. This might hold true for those who are lucky enough to have inherited collections. Dubbed “hot commodities” currently, many people are keen on offering their family heirlooms for sale. Experts advise that such individuals should proceed with the help of a professional who has experience with rare coins.

According to Tom Hyland, Chairman of the Garden State Numismatic Association, the best way to go about selling gold coins, especially rare coins, is to get at least three or four dealers to evaluate them. If all of them come up with a similar value, then you’re probably getting what your rare coins are worth.

In the opinion of Tony Brace of Global Gold Group, rare coins are an excellent choice for investors looking for high returns. At a recent German auction hosted by Teutoburger-Muenzauktion, a particularly rare coin originally valued at $41,856.50 was bid at $47,836. These rare coins dated back to 1832 and belonged to Phillip von Ferrary, who passed them on to coin collector King Farouk, a one-time owner of the 1913 Olsen Liberty Nickel. Another rare coin made of gold, dating back to the Siege of Danzig and depicting two lions and Jesus Christ, was bid at $19,732.35, even though it was valued at $11,959!

Closer home, Mark Fitzgerald from Maine carried two rare coins to a Treasure Hunters Roadshow in Freeport and was pleasantly surprised to know they were worth hundreds of dollars, according to MPBN. Clearly, this is the time for rare coin owners capitalize on gold.

The five or so days after the holidays had not been ideal for the growth of precious metals or rare coins. The US dollar is on the rise. It had gained on the Euro three days in a row. All in all, the dollar has topped the Euro by 6.4% in 2010.

A strong dollar is bad news for gold and other precious metals. The market becomes wide open for other areas of investment that come alive and become profitable. Already many investors have gone the way of equities which have become attractive in an improving US economy. One industry figure is not worried about gold’s performance in an improving economic climate and even counts on it to “hoist(s) demand for commodities.”

To the credit of gold, it managed to sustain its rise despite the “interference” of the US dollar. “Profit-taking” after the holidays was another area of resistance that gold and rare coins had to overcome.

The first week of the second quarter comes right after a holiday weekend, and which holiday weekend comes after a two-week run by gold and after the end of the first quarter. Could it be that industry players had been predisposed to take a breather? Neverrtheless, gold posted a creditable 0.91% hike.

Two days ago we asked where gold was going. Quo vadis, gold? The answer remains predictably the same: UP.

Quo vadis, Gold?

One industry authority referred to 2000-2009 as “stage one” with “easy money being made.” Presumably there is a stage two as he talked of the market “experiencing an intermediate phase” for “serious investors and more serious money…”

Another old hand in the industry sees no immediate foreseeable end to the run of gold and predicts that gold can go as high as $1500 in about five years. He added that prices may even threaten the $2000 mark over the long haul.

Financial Forecast Center expects gold to breach the $1200 level by the middle of 2010

There are credible bases for these optimistic forecasts. For one there is the experience of 2000-2009, not to mention the experience in the 1970s. After all, the decade ended with gold on a vigorous upswing that went past the $11000 level.

For another, the very same economic climate that nursed the bull run of 2000-2009 and other bull runs is still very much in the air.

World economy remains in shambles, with Greece as the latest to attract world attention with its finances on the verge of bankruptcy. Greece is a cause for worry for the European Union since it is a member nation. The Greek crisis already has caused the Euro to lose its value versus other major currencies as there are doubts that the EU can save Greece without banking on IMF help.

Terrorism is on the rise, with Russia as its latest victim.

Back home, deficit spending remains high, interest rates remains low and cannot be raised without creating bigger economic repercussions, the stock market has not recovered its former strength, The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that eat up huge expense funds will take longer to resolve.

These are indicators to the predictable direction for gold take. “Quo vadis, gold?” The reply is UP.

As kids, when we hit the fields and beaches with our first metal detectors we dream of uncovering rare, lost treasure. For Hal McGirt the dream became reality. “I have been metal detecting regularly in the UK since 1994 with mixed results.” Says Hal. One morning in August, 200, Hal unearthed a rare coin dating back to 1490, true treasure.

"When I uncovered the Henry VII angel last year, it was the best object I had ever found.” Hal tells reporters.

But this is where the story losses its golden appeal. While awaiting an export license, he gave the coin to a friend for safe-keeping. As Hal continued to seek an export license thieves burglarized his friend’s home on 9 March. Along with a DVD player, lap top computer, and a small amount of cash, rare coin was taken.

“I am very disappointed that I will not get to see it” McGirt says, who is very desperate to get his found treasure back.

"There is only a long shot that the coin will be in the condition in which I found it. However, if it is, I am willing to pay £500 for its return.” Announced Hal this week.

A spokeswoman for Kent Police said they were investigating the theft of the items from the house and appealed for anyone with information to contact officers.

The famous “double eagles” from that year were never officially released by the government. Only a precious few ever made it from the federal vaults. Only one “double eagle has ever been sold publicly and the price tag: $7.6 million.

And in Roy’s safety deposit box sat nine more rare "Double Eagles".

The government confiscated the rare coins in 2004, claiming that they are government property stolen from the Mint, most likely in the 1930s, by Mr. Langbord’s grandfather, Israel Switt, a Philadelphia jewelry dealer.

A United States District Court judge gave the government one month either to give back the coins or go back to court to prove that they were in fact stolen by Mr. Switt, not an easy task after three-quarters of a century.

Nearly a half-million 1933 double eagles were minted before President Franklin D. Roosevelt shifted the nation away from the gold standard, and issued an executive order making owning large amounts of gold bullion and coins illegal.

If you think you have found hidden treasure, or maybe want to bury some of your own, contact one of our rare coin experts, they will be more than happy to grade your coins or secure your next investment.

The CU3000 is used as a benchmark for coin values; it is a collection of 832 coins that provides a basis for coin appreciation. In 1973, the CU3000 was valued at $1,000; as of March 10th, the index stands at $ 67,658.24, demonstrating the long-term investment value of such coins.

Rare coin investing has become very sophisticated, with Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and Professional Coin Grading Service being the leaders in standardized grading. Says Kris Oyster of managing director of numismatics for DGSE, “I am fond of NGC and PCGS. They have certainly been the industry standard. They continue to maintain quality and integrity for our industry.” The standard processes of these companies have helped to standardize grading, reduce grade-inflation, crackout coins and doctored coins.

Grade-inflation occurs when rare coins are rated too high for their value. Although it still occurs, Oster says “It is a problem, not that big. Over the last three years, NGC and PCGS have done a good job of controlling grade-inflation. I have confidence in these two services.”

Crackout coins are graded rare coins that dealers removed from the sealed NGC or PCGS cases and have regraded, hoping to receive a higher rating. Oyster claims that the reality with regrading is “that they will get the same or lower grades. I do not think that the crackout game is all that it is cracked up to be. You hear about the home runs, but you will never hear about the ten or twenty times when the crackout dealer gets the same or lower grades. There are a lot more strike-outs than home runs.”

Rare coins have produced high returns on investments. Although there are a number of factors, the values of these coins are affected most by the quality of grading that they receive.

According to Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics, it is estimated that Heritage Rare Coin Auctions (the world’s largest auction house for coins), and Blanchard and Co (the world’s largest telemarketer) have a combined list of over 250,000 unique, active collectors. There are other large competitors, but this of itself suggests how large the pool of investors may be. In addition, the Internet and coin also exchanges attract a large clientele. Through successful advertising and web marketing, these companies have to potential to attract millions more.

With such a large customer base, it is no wonder that rare coin sales continue to grow and prices continue to be high. The CU3000 is a collection of 832 coins that provides a benchmark for coin appreciation; in 1973, the CU3000 was valued at $1,000. As of February 26th, the index stands at $67,715.35, reflecting the impressive value of such coins as a long-term investment.

Demand is the important component in rising prices. As Sperber comments of a buyer at a recent auction, “The collector who purchased the other $20 1927D PCGS MS66 for $1,495,000.00 did so because he thinks it’s cheap.” She follows with, “After he bought it, he asked us: got anything else?” For investors, rare coins represent an excellent opportunity to get pieces that are valuable and have a growing number of buyers; this demand is helping to make the market more profitable.

NGC stands for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation; the company has been in business for more than twenty years and has developed a great reputation for helping determine the value of collector’s coins. "We are the referees on the playing field of numismatics," said Rick Montgomery, president of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. "I urge consumers to purchase only certified coins from reputable grading companies ... The best protection is buying certified."

NGC evaluates coins based on the 70-point Sheldon Scale, a precise method for determining the actual grade, and in turn, the expected value of a rare coin. Thanks to this system, a 1797 Draped Bust Quarter Eagle with a grade of MS-62 is known to have a current value of about $200,000, giving the investors great confidence in the coin.

Serious rare coin investors realize that this is an important part of investing in collector’s coins. Said Brent Bullock, a gold coin dealer in Ocala, Florida, “I can't believe people would mail a valuable asset to an unknown entity when they can visit a local dealer." However, it is widely known that national broker dealers do tend to offer better prices and service than most local outfits. The same logic applies when dealing withNGC certified coins instead of a lower-reliability certification entity.

For rare coin investors, profit and loss is decided by the quality of the coins they own. Certification by companies like NGC and PCGS helps to ensure coin quality and enabling investors to buy and sell coins with known values, helping to maximize their profits.

The 1879-O was minted in New Orleans and is considered by many to be the best known of these mint proofs. One of the best documented old coins ever, a small number of these dollars were made to commemorate the reopening of the New Orleans Mint after the Civil War. According to records, only 12 of the coins were struck on February 20, 1879; of those 12 only 4 are known to be in existence today.

Of the remaining coins, the best examples are rated PCGS-65, giving the coin the quality, rarity and historical significance necessary to be a valuable investor’s coin. These rare coins are listed in the PCGS Price Guide at an impressive $175,000.

Valuable pieces such as these provide proof of the long-term investment that certified coins represent. Investors who are looking for coins that have value which will likely increase over time should deal with rare coin exchanges. Exchanges typically have access to coins such as the 1879-O Proof Morgan Silver Dollar and others that exhibit the quality and desirability necessary in collector’s coins.

The measurement of rare coins is the CU3000, a collection of 832 coins that in 1973 was valued at $1,000. As of February 19th, this same collection is valued at $67,664.48, reflecting the impressive value of such coins as a long-term investment.

Many investors have previously found that they were interested in buying some of these coins, but had no experience in rare coins. The key to purchasing such pieces is knowledge; certified collector’s coins derive their value from a combination of quality, gold content, historical significance and rarity. Certification through either the Professional Coin Grading Service or National Guaranty Corporation make it possible to find coins whose values are well defined and most likely to retain value. NGC and PCGS coins trade on a standardized rating system that carries over from purchase to sale.

Now is an excellent time to consider purchasing certified coins; the coins on the CU3000 Index have experienced a price correction over the past few months, but the six-month moving average of the index is above the one-year average and is showing signs of reversing its trend and moving upward. Working with a rare coin exchange can make identifying and purchasing profitable coins a rewarding long-term investment.

There are a number of reasons why auctions are not the best source for serious buyers and sellers. First, buying coins at an auction can waste a lot of time for the investor. This is a slow process of going to an auction reviewing the pieces up for sale, waiting for a piece to reach the floor and then bidding it. For a seller, you can even add a couple of months to the process by waiting for payment to arrive.

Second, buyers will pay a high price; “sleepers” are going to be difficult to find as the house only makes top money if the rare coins sell for top money. Sellers, on the other hand, have no control over the prices they receive and the amount will likely come at a 10% to 20% commission, taking a big chunk of the profit.

Finally, there is always a risk of price traps, such as prices being controlled by the house (either artificially high or low), collusion with dealers or coins that have been graded wrong, either intentionally or unintentionally.

For investments that can be so important and costly, an auction is not the best place to sell or purchase rare coins. Using the services of a coin exchange provides the opportunity to deal with a company that has been evaluated by the Better Business Bureau, deals only in certified coins and uses its purchasing power to get the best prices, making it the best place for certified rare coins.

While the effect isn’t equal, there are similarities between bullion and collector’s coins when it comes to how their prices react. Speaking to gold in general, HSBC analyst James Steele said, "Gold's behaviour in non-USD-terms denotes underlying strength and may portend higher prices, especially if sovereign risks recede and the pace of the carry trade unwinding abates." Gold tends to react positively against any commodity that weakens, be it the euro, the dollar or oil. Because both bullion and coins react to changes in the spot price, both tend to rise on bad news.

Gold is looked at as a hedge against inflation and difficult economic circumstances. While bullion values are more volatile because they are so closely tied to price fluctuations, rare coins move a bit slower since the large portion of their value is tied to something other than the price of gold: namely, the quality of each particular coin and its scarcity.

Although gold price increases do affect collector coin values, they are not moved as rapidly as bullion, something which is not all bad. The differences in their price movements make it very desirable for investors to own both bullion and rare coins, allowing them to potentially profit from positive movements in both.

This 1875-dated coin has long been recognized for its scarcity and was, in fact the first coin to bring $100,000 in a public sale back in 1972. For a number of years, it was believed that the entire mintage was only 20 coins, all of which were proof. Since then, it is know that there were actually more, as between 25 and 35 coins have been identified. This quantity means that the 1875 is not the rarest Three Dollar coin, but the fact that the coins which are available are proof makes them a very valuable commodity in deed.

The investor that is interested in owning one of these rare coins is going to have a difficult time getting one. The demand for these pieces has kept them from frequently making appearances on the open market, as reflected by prices that range from $175,000 to $250,000. Finding a coin like this generally requires the assistance of a rare coin exchange in order to have an extensive enough list of contacts to locate one.

Such pieces as the Three Dollar coin demonstrate the strength of the collector’s coin market. Certified gold coins such as these have become an important addition to many investors’ portfolios; certified coins provide a long-term investment option that has been very successful, as evidenced by the CU 3000 Index. This rare coin index allows investors to see appreciation in old coins, showing a seventyfold increase in the past forty years, as investors look to purchase unique pieces like the Three Dollar gold coin.

While some of the key date Morgan coins like the 1879-CC, 1889-CC, 1893-CC are well known and high desired by both numismatics and rare coin collectors, others are very good investment pieces as well. The 1895-O with the DMPL designation and a grade of MS-65 is valued at $320,000. The 1895-P and the 1901-P were both minted in Philadelphia and are rare enough that PCGS does not have them on record.

There are several key date Morgan rare coins from the San Francisco Mint, among which are the 1883-S, the 1884-S, the 1903-S and the 1904-S. According to PCGS, the 1883-S with the MS designation and a grade of MS-67 is valued at $200,000, while the 1884-S with the designated MS and a grade of MS-67 has a value near $500,000. The 1903-S with the MS designation and a grade of MS-67 is valued in the PCGS price guide at $75,000, while the 1904-S with the same designation of MS and a grade of MS-67 is valued at $46,000

Morgan Dollars represent an interesting rare coin investment for many people. While these key date coins have very high prices for excellent quality coins, there are others that provide very good pieces at more affordable prices. Buyers should consider their investment objectives, purchase only certified coins and work with a rare coin exchange that can help them find the right coins for their portfolios.

The first step to success in buying rare coins is to only buy certified coins. Certification is the method of identifying the authenticity and quality of a coin using a standardized process. The Professional Coin Grading Service and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation are the two recognized leaders in grading coins and both use the 70-point Sheldon Scale and precise steps for determining value. After grading, coins are sealed in a tamper-resistant case and identified so that future transactions for the coin will be at the already-established grade.

The next step for buying collector’s coins is to purchase coins in the investor’s price range that have the best chance of return on investment. A dealer wants to sell coins, and many will sell you any coin, regardless of its value. Researching the value of a coin and its potential for increase can help maximize any profit that a coin might bring. Both NGC and PCGS offer price guides that can help a trader find coins in his or her budget; for example, a 1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle with a PCGS grade of MS-63 lists in the PCGS price guide for $2,500. While the price a coin sells at can vary, the guide offers a very good approximation.

The final step in successfully buying rare coins is to work with a reputable coin exchange. An exchange is preferable to a local dealer because of the amount of available inventory and the potential price savings involved by dealing with a high volume business. A reputable exchange will be highly rated by the Better Business Bureau and have coins ranging from reasonably priced pre-1933 American Eagles to rare Dollar coins and Indian Eagles.

For traders looking to diversify their investment portfolios, rare coins offer an excellent option. Buying certified coins that have a demonstrated potential for return and working with a reputable coin exchange can help increase the opportunities to profit from buying collector’s coins.

The Gold Dollar was an important part of the money in circulation in the United States for most of the 19th century. This coin was used from 1849 until 1889 and was minted in a number of locations. This particular coin, however, is unique because it was minted in the Dahlonega Mint in 1861, the year the Civil War began. Dahlonega, Georgia was not a huge mint location, rather one of the locations established to process gold from the Georgia gold rush in 1828.

Since these coins were used in circulation, most of the remaining pieces are in poor condition, making this coin more valuable. This coin was graded AU-53 by PCGS; for reference, the same coin graded AU-55 is valued at $27,500 by the PCGS price guide. Because of the timing, the good quality of the coin and the limited number available, this specimen was able to exceed its previous amount.

Whether an investor is prepared to spend $57,000 for a rare coin or not, the basic premise is the same for all levels of rare coin investing; find the best quality coin that has the most demand, and purchase it for below what the market will bear; purchasing coins this way provides investors with a good opportunity to find a sleeper and watch it break through and earn an excellent profit when it is sold.

The US Mint was established in 1792 and among its powers were the minting and distribution of coins. Gold coins were issued in 1795, starting with the Draped Bust $5 coin. Examples of this coin exist today and in MS-65 condition have a value of around $500,000.

The 1854 Type 2 Indian Head gold dollar is an example of another rare gold coin that is still available. The Type 2 was created to increase the diameter of the original to make it easier to handle, yet a design flaw limited production to only three years. Because of the limited quantities, these are highly valuable coins, with prices for 1854MS-67 grade pieces valued as high as $115,000.

Rare gold coins are prized by investors for a couple of reasons. First, a limited quantity of these exist today as high quality collector’s coins, the numbers being low because of the 1933 confiscation of gold by the US government. There are excellent coins available that are not only scarce, but in excellent condition and possessing an important piece of American history, making them prized collector’s coins.

The second reason that rare gold coins are highly desirable is that with this combination of rarity and quality, prices for the coins can be high and they can be quite profitable. The CU 3000 Index is used for measuring the value of rare coins. It covers 3000 different issues and grades and features 832 different coins. The index provides record of price movement in the rare coin market since 1970; this index shows that during the past forty years, the value of rare coins has risen over seventyfold.

High quality, unique pieces, historical value and potentially high return on investment are some of the reasons why people invest in rare coins. These pieces have the potential to bring beauty and value together in a special way.

Rare coins become increasingly valuable due to a combination of age, number of available specimens and the condition of the coin. These factors can leave a coin with nothing more than historical value, or elevate it to a position where it is worth millions of dollars. This particular coin is possibly thousands of years old and the only one known of its kind; these factors would likely drive its price quite high, provided that its condition is good enough to make it identifiable.

For rare coins in the past 300 to 400 years, certification is the best means for determining the value of a particular coin. PCGS and NGC are both companies that rate coins, determine their authenticity and help to establish their value. These companies evaluate coins based on the Sheldon Scale, a 70-point system of reviewing the quality of a coin.

For today’s investors, ancient coins have great sociological significance, but the coins that bring the most profit to investors are items such as pre-1933 American coins and rare foreign coins. The true test of these coins is the grade they receive during certification, allowing investors to understand the value of rare coins and find profit from investing in them.

These coins were produced in Philadelphia during their entire lifecycle, in New Orleans from 1840 to 1861, in Charlotte and Dahlonega from 1839 to 1861, in Carson City during 1870, in San Francisco in 1854 and in Denver in 1906. The New Orleans, Charlotte and Dahlonega Mints quit producing these coins in 1861 when they were shut down at the start of the Civil War.

Due to varying levels of production, quality Liberty Half Eagles can be purchased from a wide range of prices. For example, an 1843 MS60 carries a value of $2,300 with PCGS, while an 1839-C with an MS64 PCGS grade has a value of $175,000. This is important for numismatics who are not only looking for fill out their collection, but also for investors who are searching for coins to add to their portfolios.

Investors can find the vast price difference attractive; in a diverse portfolio, it is good to hold a variety of coins, some expensive, some more affordable. This creates not only proven performers, but also allows for “sleepers”, or coins that have not broken through yet to the upper price ranges. For many people, the Liberty Half Eagle is a historic, rare coin that offers excellent potential for investment.

The US Mint was founded in 1792 by an act of Congress. In addition to establishing the governmental entity known as the US Mint, it was decided that the coinage of the country would be minted in both gold and silver. The size of coins and the denominations would reflect the relationship of their values; this was a good idea, except the ration was wrong until 1834 when a 16:1 breakdown brought things into balance.

Unfortunately, that balance was short-lived; the Gold Rush of 1849 introduced a surplus of gold to US markets, driving down its price and throwing off the ratio with silver. This had the unintended effect of making silver coins worth more for their content than for their face value. Bullion dealers were able to gather large quantities of coins and ship them for a profit to Europe, where a silver shortage had existed for a number of years; in other words, many of the silver coins from the early history of the US wound up as currency in Europe!

This transfer of assets back then has made rare silver coins more valuable today because not as many of them exist as were minted. One of the key factors in the value of an old coin is its scarcity and these coins became scarcer when large quantities were melted down.

This transfer of coinage back then has increased the rarity of many older silver coins today. Thanks to the shortage in Europe and the California Gold Rush, certified silver coins from the early to mid-1800s are rarer and more valuable to investors today.

Rare coins can be difficult to spot; to be valuable, these pieces must be a combination of old, unique and in good condition to bring the best prices, but even coins that do not meet all three criteria can still have value, albeit less. In order to see the worth of what your dad left you, grab the cigar box and get ready to start checking.

The first thing to do is make a list of the coins involved; there will no doubt be buffalo nickels, wheat pennies, Kennedy half dollars, Morgan dollars and the like; a list will make the next step easier. The next step is to review your list of coins against a price guide from NGC or PCGS and looking at the date, mint mark and condition to locate high value coins.

If you find a 1913 Buffalo nickel, an 1804 Dollar or other coin with a potential high value, you may consider sending the coin to either PCGS or NGC to have it certified. This is an affordable way to not only confirm the coin is valuable, but a way to preserve it for the future.

If you don’t have the certified rare coin you seek, you can talk with a rare coin exchange and consider purchasing it there. American Eagles, Liberty Double Eagles, Indian Eagles and more can be purchased as the centerpiece of your collection. Coins such as these can make even your dad’s old coin collection more valuable.

The PCGS Generic Gold Coin Index is a cross section of gold coins priced at $1,000 in 1970. The same group of rare coins is priced at around $35,000 today. This 35 fold increase is better than the performance of gold bullion, the Dow Jones or even real estate for that same period of time.

In making rare coin investments, it is wise to work through a reputable dealer of rare gold coins. The investor does not need to search for the rarest of coins, but looking for relatively underpriced rare gold coins with the help of an expert in the field will help make the investment even more profitable over the years.

There are popular coins in the rare gold coin market and there are sleepers. A professional in the field will help search out the forgotten coin, selling for a very reasonable price, before it is “found” and becomes popular raising its price.

As the dollar resumes its perpetual slide, there are two ways in invest in gold: bullion and rare coins. Both have prospered over the last years and rare gold coins hold the promise of better results over the long term.

Buying gold bullion comes down to a few types of gold bars or bullion coins. These investment products are fairly standardized and to a large degree, interchangeable. The same can not be said of a rare coin. There is a lot of variation from coin to coin based on the rarity of each. Recent sales and pending sales of rare Southern Mint coins such as an 1849 D open wreath dollar have demonstrated how a coin can double and triple in value in just a couple of years.

Choosing which coins to invest in is best done with the help of experts in the rare coin field. Certified gold coins are typically priced based on current market conditions; however, there are “sleepers” in the rare coin market and there are currently popular coins that everyone wants. Choosing a certified coin for a long term investment is best done with the help of a dealer who can direct the buyer to where the best long term prospects exist.

Although the Mint still produces proof coins today for quality control and archival purposes, the Mint also produces a large number of proof coins for collectors. These modern coins and sets are not rare coins; the old proof coins, especially from branch mints, commonly are.

Two years ago an 1876 CC proof dime was auctioned. It was described as having had the die polished before striking as well as the planchet (the metal coin blank). The mirror finish of the open areas of the coin and the exceptional detail caused by more than one mint strike is part of what qualified this coin to be certified as a proof.

In the modern era, proof coins are produced in quantity and are not rare, although they are beautiful example of the Mint’s art. The various old proof coins were not mass produced and, often, only a single example can be found here and there throughout the entire range of American coins. Because there often is no clear record of a branch mint producing proofs, there can be debate as to if a coin meets the definition of a proof coin.

For the investor the best practice is to only buy rare proof coins that have been certified by NGC or PCGS. For investment in old rare proof coins, it is also best to work through an established and reputable rare coin dealer.

In 1846, the SS New York went down in a hurricane off the Gulf of Mexico. The ship was carrying gold coins minted in the South at New Orleans, Dahlonega and Charlotte. The Dahlonega and Charlotte Mints were established to mint coins from the first American gold rush but in later years did not mint large quantities. Thus there are typically few mint state rare gold coins from these mints in many years. With the recovery of rare gold coins from this shipwreck, a large number of rare Southern mint coins were inserted into the market in very good condition, diluting values for other similar coins.

The recovery of gold coins from the SS Republic off the coast of Georgia brought nearly 500 early Double Eagles to the rare coin market. The rare coin market works on supply and demand and adding more mint condition rare coins to the market does have the effect of depressing prices.

For reasons like these, diversification of rare coins is just as important as in any other investment. Whether from a shipwreck or Grandpa’s old coin collection found in the attic, having a variety of coins can keep an investor’s portfolio from sinking.

In 2004, one of these rare gold dollars sold for nearly $700,000. This coin was minted at the Charlotte mint which opened in 1838 along with the Dahlonega mint to process gold from the Georgia Gold Rush, the first North American gold rush. Both mints operated until being closed down at the start of the Civil War. The quantities at these mints were never very huge which contributes to their rarity.

Heritage Auction Galleries calls itself the world’s largest collectables gallery. It February 2010 rare coin auction will also include many other rare gold coins. The 1849 C open wreath gold dollar is NGC graded at 45. An 1849 C closed wreath gold dollar is NGC graded at 64. The auction also will offer a 1922 D Quarter Eagle, NGC graded 65. This is the gold coin with recessed highlights, meant to lead to less wear.

The auction has very early American gold coins such as a 1795 half eagle, NGC graded 60 and a 1795 13 leaves Eagle, graded 53 by PCGS. The auction list goes on with a 1907 wire rim Eagle, Saint Gaudens Double Eagles and more.

As gold rises, so does the value of a rare gold coin, although not following the price increase smoothly. It will be interesting to see which of these certified rare gold coins breaks through to higher levels at the upcoming auction.

The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) is a third party coin grading and certification service that has been in operation since 1987. NGC is the official certifier of rare coins for the American Numismatic Association; it certifies the authenticity and grade of both American and world coins, currency and commemorative coins.

All US coins, European coins dated after 1300, and all world coins from 1601 are typically eligible for grading by NGC. The company attributes and grades ancient coins too up to around 500 AD, as well as coins of the Byzantine Empire from 491 AD to 1453 AD. NGC does not grade or authenticate coins too worn to read or coins that are possible forgeries.

NGC rare coins are a standard in the rare coin industry. Before NGC and PCGS, the other major certification service, it was all too common for an investor to buy a coin at one grade only to be told when he or she wished to sell that the coin was of a lower grade making the coin substantially less valuable. The independent coin certification service offered by NGC has solved the problem of varying coin grades. An investor in NGC rare coins can rest assured that when he or she is ready to sell, the coin’s grade and authenticity will be the same as on the day of purchase.

The rare coin market will often outperform even gold bullion over a period of years. The benefit of NGC rare coins is that they are standardized, and these investments have a predictable value and are much more liquid as an investment than a non-certified coin.

Rare coin prices vary according to the rarity and state of preservation, the grade, of the coin. For example, a PCGS certified 1880 Gold Stella $4 gold piece has a $36,000 asking price while a 1850 Liberty Head Double Eagle, grade 30, can be had for as little as $2,100. The Gold Stella is a very rare coin, minted on a trial basis and rarely in circulation, while the Liberty Head Double Eagles were a currency work horse, used in purchase after purchase as the fine details of the coin wore away.

Rare coin prices vary with the market, thus it is wise to deal with a reputable dealer in rare coins with connections to the nationwide rare coin market. Rare coin prices are most predictable and typically highest with certified rare coins because of the certification of authenticity, rarity, and state of preservation that is the certification process.

Whether the investor wishes to deal in the more common, easier to find rare coins such as Saint Gaudens Double Eagles or try to buy the extremely rare King of American Coins, 1804 Eagle, a reputable dealer in the rare coin market can find the coins an investor wants at fair prices.

Rare gold coins typically outperform gold bullion in times of economic distress and inflation. The value of rare coins can be tracked over the years using the CU 3000 index. This index uses the value of a set of rare coins worth $1,000 in 1970 as a benchmark. Today the index is well over $60,000 and has out performed the Dow Jones Industrials and the S&P 500 since its inception in 1970.

The value of rare coins does not so much depend upon their bullion value as their rarity and state of preservation. American gold coins are especially rare because of their confiscation in 1933 and the wide spread melting down of coins for the gold in the early 19th century. Because coin collecting was itself rare in the early days of America, there are very few well preserved old gold coins. An Indian Head Half Eagle from as recently as 1909 with a New Orleans mint mark is worth a million dollars in a 66 grade.

An unusual gold coin is the $4 Stella. All grades 60 and above sell in hundreds of thousands of dollars and a grade 66, 1880, Coiled Hair specimen can sell for as much as one million, four hundred thousand dollars. The Stella was minted in an attempt to facilitate United States international trade and travel and only small numbers were minted. The name comes from the star on the reverse and the inscription, One Stella. The coin was meant to be valued roughly the same as the Spanish 20-peseta, Dutch 8-florin, Austrian 8-florin, Italian 20-lire, and French 20-franc pieces, but the plan did not work out. For this reason, the coin was only minted in 1879 and 80.

Rare coins are treasured for both their monetary and their historical values. Investors who are careful and purchase quality coins are typically rewarded with beautiful and valuable pieces.

Rare coins are in a fixed supply and the coins that investors utilize for their portfolios have not been minted since before 1933, so the supply of these coins only increases when investors sell to take profits, and in some rare instances new batches of coins are uncovered in someone’s attic or backyard. Demand for rare coins has steadily increased since 2001, when mainstream paper investments and real estate values started to fall off.

Rare gold and silver coins fluctuate in value in part based upon their inherent precious metal content, and you may retrieve live precious metal spot prices at reliable websites like www.Kitco.com and www.Goldprice.net. When spot prices fall, you may see lower rare coin values on the PCGS price guide. When spot values increase, rare coin values will likely increase as well, and the movement of rare coin values tends to be a bit more accentuated than bullion bar and coin pricing.

The value of rare coins especially increases when the US dollar becomes substantially devalued, because investors flock to safe-haven assets that the government cannot confiscate. While raw bullion could be and has been seized by our government to restore faith in the US greenback, rare coins are truly safe-haven assets because they are completely private investments. To learn more about the value of rare coins in relation to the value of bullion products, give us a call or browse through our helpful gold and silver investment guide below.

Rare gold coins have usually out performed gold bullion as a hedge against inflation and for protection of wealth during times of severe economic uncertainty. That said, investing in rare gold coins requires more information and professional advice than investing in gold bullion. Investing in rare gold coins requires that the investor deals with a rare gold coin dealer who has experience and a constantly updated rare coin list.

Strictly looking at rare gold American coins, the list of available coins starts with the Gold Dollar (1849-1889), the Draped Bust Quarter Eagle (1796-1807), Capped Bust Quarter Eagle (1808-1834), the Classic Head Quarter Eagle (1834-1839), the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle (1840-1907), and the Indian Quarter Eagle (1908-1929).

Additional rare American gold coins are the Three Dollar (1854-1889), the Four Dollar Stella (1879-1880), the Draped Bust Half Eagle (1795-1807), the Capped Bust Half Eagle (1808-1834), the Classic Head Half Eagle (1834-1838), the Liberty Head Half Eagle (1839-1908), and the Indian Half Eagle (1908-1929).

Keeping track of rare American gold coins, their availability, and pricing is best done with the help of experts in the field, such as rare-coin.org. Knowing where the best current prices are from a rare coin list takes experience and expertise. Knowing availability and best pricing for a Draped Bust Eagle (1795-1804), a Liberty Head Eagle (1838-1907), a Indian Eagle (1907-1933), a Liberty Head Double Eagle (1850-1907), or a St. Gaudens Double Eagle (1907-1933) takes experience and professional connections within the rare coin industry. Dealing with a reputable dealer such as rare-coin.org puts the investor in touch with the best opportunities to own not only excellent investments, but selected pieces of America’s heritage.

Investment grade rare coins certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) typically outperform even gold bullion as an investment during difficult economic times such as today. PCGS came into being to fulfill a need for authoritative, reliable and professional third party grading of rare coins. PCGS rare coins are guaranteed to be the stated grade and sealed after grading to protect the coin against damage. Reputable rare coin exchanges, such as rare-coin.org, deal in investment grade rare coins certified by PCGS or NGC.

Because of the trust put in PCGS rare coins, these coins can be traded sight unseen. Simply put, these certified coins are what they say they are.

The establishment of independent, third party grading has reshaped the rare coin industry to the benefit of the rare coin investor. When investors buy PCGS rare coins, the pre-PCGS problem of a changing coin grade are gone. No longer does an investor buy a coin at one grade only to be told on sale that the grade is lower.

PCGS rare coins are assigned a unique inventory number upon receipt. This process allows anonymous grading. Each coin is graded by a series of experts and results entered into a computer data base. In addition to the PCGS’s exacting standards for grading PCGS, experts have used comprehensive set of grading coins for comparison.

After grading, coins are placed in a container to prevent further wear. All coin cases show the coin’s certification number, grade, date, denomination, unique bar code and pedigree if it applies. This process makes PCGS rare coins safe and valuable investments.

Old rare coins are not only collector’s items, but also investments against the continuing threat of inflation and economic disorder. Certified rare coins typically outperform even gold bullion in difficult economic times. The CU 3000 index is a broad, rare coin index often used to measure return in the market of rare old coins. Its baseline is a hypothetical $1000 investment in the index in 1970. Over the last forty years the index has grown from $1,000 to the mid $60,000 range producing a more than 13 percent per year return on invested capital.

Using the CU 3000 as a guide, the rare coin market is up more than 6,000 percent in the last forty years as opposed to the Dow Jones Industrials which are up 1,400 percent. In other words $1,000 put in old rare coins would have outperformed $1,000 invested in an average Dow Jones Industrials stock four fold.

There are exceptional examples of rare old coins such as the “King of American Coins,” the 1804 silver dollar that recently brought $4 million auction; however, for the average investor, there are more common rare coins capable of bringing excellent returns for reasonable amounts of investment.

Here is where dealing with a competent, reliable, trustworthy coin dealer such as rare-coin.org is important. An established dealer is connected to the nationwide rare coin market and can direct clients to the most promising investments.

Competent rare coin exchanges offer up-to-date market statistics, pricing and expert assistance for those starting to invest in certified, investment grade rare coins.

Only a handful of these coins ever existed. Because many US silver dollars were beings shipped to the West Indies and China where they were used in trade, the government quit minting silver dollars after 1804. In 1834, President Jackson ordered the minting of a few 1804 silver dollars to give as gifts to foreign dignitaries. He chose 1804 because it was the last year that the mint produced silver dollars. However, the mint did not produce any dollars with an 1804 date; all silver dollars minted in 1804 bore a date of 1803 or before, since it was a common practice to reuse older dies to avoid the painful process of creating new ones.

Because the steel dies used to mint coins were very expensive, mint employees of the young country saved money by using a die until it broke. In 1834 when President Andrew Jackson wanted to send a set of 1804 coins to the King of Siam and the Imam of Muscat, no 1804 dated dollars existed. The Mint proceeded to make a new die and produce just a few coins. Today, only fifteen such coins are known to exist; several are in the national coin collection in the Smithsonian Institute and a few others scattered among other collections.

This rare dollar coin shows the strength of the collector’s coin market. High quality coins with historical significance can command high prices, and their scarcity makes working with a coin exchange the best method for finding them. Buying rare coins is most secure when using a service that only deals with certified rare coins.

In these difficult economic times, investors are looking to buy certified rare coins as investments to hedge against inflation and for profits as the value of the US dollar slides. Those who purchased before the extraordinary run up on gold prices over the last decade may well wish to take a profit and sell their rare coins.

Investors who wish to sell rare coins do best dealing with a rare coin exchange, the same as when buying rare coins. Almost always, the best investments are certified rare coins; when buying rare coins, certification guarantees authenticity and sets a precise grade on the condition of the coin. The price of the purchased coin is then based upon what the market will pay for that coin of a given year, mint mark, and state of preservation. When it comes time to sell, certification takes on added importance.

Prior to certification of rare coins, the investor was at the mercy of the rare coin dealers from whom he or she bought and sold. Too often, an investor bought rare coins and was told that the coin had a certain grade, but when it came time to sell the coin, he or she was told that the coin was of a lower grade and less valuable.

The third party certification system allows investors to sell rare coins at the same grade at which they were purchased. Dealing with an experienced and reputable rare coin exchange that deals in certified coins is best. A professional such as rare-coin.org will be there when the investor is looking for a rare coin investment and will also be there when time comes to sell rare coins. The certified coins in question will always be authentic and of the exact same grade.

The recent “correction” in the price of gold may be correcting itself. As the dollar went higher, gold went down a hundred dollars an ounce and a herd mentality took effect with individuals becoming concerned about the value of their gold bullion and rare gold coins. Some of this concern will likely dissipate as the price of gold goes back up, but a little perspective is in order, especially regarding rare coins for sale.

Gold increases in value as the currency loses value, and gold is known for holding its value against inflation. Rare gold coins typically outperform gold bullion. Rare coins for sale in today’s market are very likely excellent long term investments and more stable investments than even gold bullion when the dollar fluctuates. This stability is because of the value attached to the rarity and state of preservation of investment grade rare coins. The bullion value of the coin is typically only a fraction of its worth as a collector’s item making such coins excellent long term investments and less useful trading opportunities.

The value of an American Half Eagle minted in 1821, of which only 15 are known to still exist, will be little affected by a $30 change in the price of gold bullion. However, the value of such a rare and precious coin can gradually increase over the years and decades, and quite possibly surpass the performance of bullion, the stock market, real estate, and many other investments.

Wise investors are checking the current supply of rare coins that are for sale for long term investment. Rare coins present promising prospects as the American economy continues to struggle.

Like its neighbor to the south, Canada is an important producer of coin money and has minted many coins that are of value to collectors. Rare Canadian coins represent an excellent option in investing for people who want stable investments that are not based solely on the worth of a national currency or precious metal.

Rare Canadian coins are like money from any other country. In order to be considered a collector’s coin, a particular piece must be scarce, desirable and in excellent condition. Once such coin is the original Canadian Silver dollar. This coin was issued in an experimental edition in 1911; very few were made and even fewer survive. These rare coins can be worth as much as $1 million Canadian dollars in excellent condition.

Other rare Canadian coins include the country’s gold coins. Gold coins were only available from 1912 to 1914 and these rare Canadian coins are prized collectors items. In addition, there are misprints coins and limited issue coins that have become valuable because of their uniqueness.

Investing in rare Canadian coins shares one important similarity with coins from the US or any other country. Certification is important because it offers a globally accepted grading of the worth assigned to a particular coin. Professional certification allows buyers and sellers to know the worth of a coin before making a deal.

Investing in rare Canadian coins can be a fantastic opportunity, as long as the value is known. Working with a company like rare-coin.org offers access to some of the finest collector’s coins in the world from a company with a strong reputation. Combining certified coins and outstanding customer service allows rare-coin.org to be an excellent place to find strong investment opportunities in collector’s coins.

All American gold coins are somewhat rare because of the confiscation of gold in 1933 and the melting down of many gold coins in the early 19th century. Some gold coins are exceptionally rare and hard to obtain. This is especially true of better preserved gold coins. The price of rare gold coins in excellent condition reflects this scarcity.

Rare coin dealers, in many ways, make the market for certified rare gold coins. Ever since certification of rare gold coins began a generation ago, investors can be assured of the authenticity of a coin, how rare it is, and its precise condition; however, knowing all this about a coin does not mean that the owner will sell at a given price.

Rare coin dealers with connections throughout the industry can help an investor find certified coins that are available and priced right. In dealing with rare coin dealers, it is wise to look for a long term relationship. Developing trust in rare coin dealers comes with experience.

If an investor has not dealt with rare coin dealer previously, a good source of information is a Better Business Bureau report. Reputable dealers such as rare-coin.org have spotless records going back for years. Investing in gold is investing in the future; it is wise to deal with a rare coin dealer that is trustworthy, reputable and recognized by the BBB.

The prices of rare American coins have to do with rarity, popularity, and availability as well as the coin’s condition. A prime example is the first Lincoln penny produced, the 1909 and 1909 S, VDB. The Lincoln cent was the first American coin to show the image of a real person, President Lincoln.

The famous designer of the 1907-1933 Gold Double Eagle, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was to have designed a new cent but died of cancer before completing the task which then fell to Victor David Brenner. Brenner designed the Lincoln cent, including his initials, V.D.B., on the reverse of the coin at the bottom. This raised such a stink that the mint removed the initials partway through the year.

The rarest Lincoln cent is the 1909 S VDB, the first run of cents minted in San Francisco. There were 484,000 minted before the mint changed to a cent without the designer’s initials. The fact a coin with 483,999 brothers is considered rare has to do with popularity and availability. Many people collect pennies and do not intend to sell the prize coin out of their collection. Thus the number of 1909 S VDB’s available is substantially less than the number of collectors that would like to buy it.

Rare American coins include all of the gold coins minted prior to the 1933 confiscation of gold; however, the same factors of rarity, popularity, and availability come into play. Dealing with a professional rare coin service greatly improves the odds of being able to find the rare American coins that one is looking for. Dealing in certified rare American coins assures the collector or the investor that the stated condition, the grade, is going to be the same when it was sold as when it was purchased.

Casual coin collectors may have collected silver coins minted before 1964. Pocket silver bears the value of silver bullion except for a few very rare examples. Gold eagles and double eagles may be only slightly more valuable than their bullion content if they are too worn. In order to have access to investment grade certified coins, it is necessary to have access to the rare coin market.

In the rare coin market, an expert will certify a coin’s rarity and its grade. The numismatic grading system runs from 0 to 70. Typically investment grade coins start at a grade of 40. These coins are sharp and clear with slight but obvious wear on the high areas of the coin. From this state of preservation coins improve to grade 60 where they appear perfectly fine to the naked eye. A perfect coin is grade 70.

The value of a rare coin increases gradually from grade forty to fifty, more rapidly from fifty to sixty, and exponentially from 60 to 70. It may take an expert with years of experience to find an extremely rare, extremely well preserved coin in the rare coin market. More importantly, it takes an expert to accurately assess and certify a coin’s rarity and precise state of preservation. Certified rare gold coins may well be one of the best sources of economic security in these troubled times.

How to buy rare coins depends, to a degree, upon how much one wishes to invest and what ones investment goals are. A respected and trusted agent such as rare-coin.org can direct a client to investment grade gold coins on the low end of the scale where the coin’s gold bullion value is as much as the collector value. Such coins are easier to find and less expensive to purchase. How to buy rare coins when one is looking for very rare gold and silver coins in excellent states of preservation is another matter.

In searching for the best of the best in investment grade gold and silver coins it is, again, wise to deal with a trusted agent such as rare-coin.org. In the case of very rare and expensive gold and silver coins, the desired pieces may be museum collections or in the hands of private collectors with no interest in parting with their treasures. Thus the asking price of a given coin may be well above a reasonable market value.

However, there is a market for all things, including extremely rare gold and silver coins. It is with the help of professionals in the gold investment business that being able to buy rare gold coins changes from possibility to reality.

Silver coins come in two categories: coins that are valuable because of silver content and rare silver coins that are valuable because of their scarcity. Rare silver coins typically appreciate in value substantially more than their bullion content in times of inflation and economic uncertainty.

There are still people around today who can recall a time when saying “do you have any silver?” meant that they needed some change. Alas, those days are long gone. Inflation long ago required that “silver” coins be made mostly from other metals. Since 1965 the silver content of American dimes, quarters, and half dollars has been 18.26 percent. Today’s silver prices are hovering around $17.50 an ounce. Thus old silver coins automatically have an investment value based upon their silver bullion content.

Rare silver coins are another matter. A Mercury dime, the bust of the lady with wings on the sides of her head, in pocket change condition, can range from $1 for most years up to $300 for rarer coins such as the 1942/1 overstrike. The same “mistake” in uncirculated condition could fetch up to $1,400. Another example of rare coin value is an 1877 Morgan half dollar with a Carson City mint mark (CC). In very used condition this coin can go for slightly more than $20 and in uncirculated condition, up to $17,000.

Rare silver coins can be an excellent investment. The most important consideration is not silver content but state of preservation of the coin. Using a certification service like rare-coin.org will assure a buyer of the precise grade of the coin and, therefore, its value at current market prices. Go with experts and be protected with certification of rare silver coins.

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.

A subset of rare coins was created when the United States confiscated privately held gold in 1933. The surviving gold coins, mostly in coin collections, instantly became rare coins. What many do not know is that 1933 was second such event. Individuals melted down their gold coins in the 1820’s and early 1830’s because the price of gold rose making the gold more valuable than the face value of the coin.

The earliest gold coins from 1795 and 1796 were the eagles, half eagles, and quarter eagles. These were ten dollar, five dollar, and two and a half dollar gold pieces. The most commonly minted was the five dollar gold piece, the half eagle. Because of the “great meltdown” of the early 19th century, very few of these early pieces survived and those that do, in good condition, are very valuable. In 1982 an EF-40 grade 1822 half eagle, one of three known to survive out of over 17,000 minted, sold at auction for $687,500. An EF or extra find grade has a small but noticeable amount of wear and usually some remaining mint luster. This was a very slightly used coin that, thankfully, was saved instead of melted.

Although a common benchmark for an average pre-1933 rare gold coin is that they are worth twice the value of their gold bullion, the finer pieces in the pre-1933 range are distinctly more valuable. Exceedingly rare coins from the early days of the nation are a truly unique and usually immensely valuable.

Visiting a coin auction proves the point that investing in rare American coins, especially gold, can be very lucrative. For most people, the safest way to buy and sell rare American coins is through the services of a reputable expert such as Rare-coin.org. Use of professional services can provide a fairer means of purchase and sale of rare coins than participating in an auction.

A recent auction is an example of how valuable a well chosen rare American gold coin can be. The coin in question was a 1907 Saint Gaudens double eagle. This coin had the high relief design by the premier American sculpture of his era. The design of this coin was subsequently changed making the originals more valuable. The coin was described at auction as being one of the finest examples of its type and its auction price reflected this fact when it brought $630,000.

Rather than going to an auction to bid for rare American coins, a better approach would to be to consult an expert. Experts in rare gold coins provide certification of investment; the grading of these rare coins provides the investor with a benchmark of value at the time of purchase and subsequently, at their sale. Dealing with certified gold coins takes the guesswork out of the process, providing the buyer with lasting value, and offering an accurate base for a substantial return on investment as their prices increase.

The original high relief design by Saint Gaudens was a work of art but did not stack well and took eleven strikes at the mint to properly produce the detail required. Just over 12,000 coins were minted in 1907 and eventually the US mint converted to a “low relief” version that stacked better at the bank and took less work to produce. As is typical with such changes in minting procedures and coin detail, the small number of coins minted made the originals very valuable with exceptionally fine specimens reportedly being sold for around half a million dollars each.

The Saint Gaudens double eagle had a number of design changes such as the addition of two more stars from 46 to 48 when New Mexico and Arizona became states in 1912. The coin was minted until 1933. However, in January of 2009 the US mint released a Saint Gaudens double eagle again, using the Saint Gaudens’ original design. Even the date harkens back to Saint Gaudens’ use of Roman numerals and it is dated MMIX! The collector’s coin is one ounce of 24 carat gold.

This beautiful gold coin is not only an excellent way to hold gold bullion but it is also a piece of American history, whether you purchase the recently minted version or a hundred year old collector’s treasure. As is always important purchasing rare coins, deal with a reputable dealer such as Rare-Coin.org for assurance of quality and accurate pricing.

Even though gold and silver have increased by 30 and 50% respectively in the last 365 days, the $100 pullback in the gold spot price in the last two weeks has led many investors to wonder if the gold rally is over. There is no way to tell what spot price fluctuations will occur, although we can look at historical patterns and base our professional projections on what has happened historically.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, inflation was rampant and the dollar lost over 45% of its spending power. Investors flocked to gold and other dollar-priced commodities, which proceeded to skyrocket for years. Gold shot to $850 per ounce and silver went to $55 per ounce, and other commodities like sugar, cotton, and oil, also performed well. Most US economists believe that precious metals spot values will continue to rise until our recession truly eases and our dollar strengthens, and the rare coin market has definitely benefited from the increase in gold and silver spot prices over the last year.

The rare coin market offers investment-grade coins that are completely private to purchase, and these coins track the gold and silver spot prices you see on TV, in the newspaper, and on the Internet, at places like www.GoldPrice.net. There are higher costs associated with the purchase of certified rare coins, because they have a much higher upside potential than bullion.

In addition to the potential profits that you could take from rare gold and silver coins, the fact that rare coins have been classified as private by our government is a crucial benefit of entering the rare coin market. To learn more about gold and silver coins that could protect your wealth privately, register below, or give us a call if you would like your copy of our 2010 Insider’s Guide to the Rare Coin Market.

In these investors’ minds, the United States is heading for a long-term inflationary cycle in which the dollar could possibly become obsolete. If this were to happen, or if economists are correct and we begin the “Greater Depression” in 2010, investors who buy rare coins for safety and wealth preservation could be able to protect their buying power.

Stocks, bonds, and cash accounts have diminished without relent during our current recession, and the outstanding performance of US sock indexes in the last few months has been attributed to by most economists as the offspring of government stimuli and false consumer confidence. If we are on the cusp of a double or triple-dip recession, these gains that have been seen recently could be pared in no time.

There is no sure-fire way to tell what will happen with our economy in the next minute let alone the next year, so select investors have decided to buy rare coins that are widely-traded to privatize their wealth and protect their liquidity.

If you want to sell or buy rare coins that have been certified as being in “Uncirculated Mint State” condition by either the Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (www.NGCCoin.com), contact Rare-Coin.org today to get the information you need.

Since 2001, some investors have seen gains of over 500% in certain PCGS-certified rare gold coins. These coins have not only outpaced the growth of gold bullion prices throughout the same amount of time, but they have provided investors and collectors with never-to-be-produced again pieces of American history. The icing on the cake is that our government declared years ago that these coins are completely private and non-confiscatable assets, so how could it be a bad idea to invest in rare gold coins?

These coins have higher costs, even though you do not have to pay federal or state taxes when you purchase the coins from one of the nation’s major exchanges. If you are investing in gold and you plan to hold said gold for 14 months or less, you should avoid rare gold coins because you may not be able to outperform gold bullion.

If you are concerned that our government could re-enact gold bullion confiscation from US citizens as they did from 1933-1971, or if you plan to stash away your hard-earned wealth in gold for years or perhaps decades, then rare gold coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 lady Liberty could be right for you. These coins tend to move with the gold spot price, and their complete privacy is the real benefit of these investments. Contact Rare-Coin.org or take advantage of some of our free information kits below to get the answers you need about the gold and silver coin markets.

In the last few years, our nation’s devolving economy has created a firestorm of precious metal buying, both in the bullion and rare coin departments. As a general rule, successful precious metal investors utilize bullion bars and coins for holds of 1-14 months, and longer-term investors usually see better results with investment-grade rare coins.

Gold and silver bullion is a better fit for short-term investors because the low markup on these products permits investors to see profits quickly if spot values rise quickly. Bullion is not an advisable purchase for investors who plan on holding their metal longer than 14 months because the minute fluctuations of spot prices (as witnessed today) keep bullion from consistently gaining value.

Additionally, bullion could be seized by the US government if the dollar loses more value against a basket of international currencies, as has been the trend as of late. Historically, our government confiscated the gold bullion within US borders to pay down our national debt and strengthen our dollar. Long-term investors may do better financially with rare coins that have been classified as “Mint State Uncirculated” rarities by PCGS, because these coins track the trend of the gold spot price and the purchase of these coins is done in a completely private manner.

PCGS-certified rare coins have been deemed non-confiscatable assets by our government’s own rules, so another bullion seizure would most likely not include a recall of historical rarities. These types of coins are meant for private collectors, so investors corner this part of the market to protect and grow their wealth over a period of years and decades. To get live quotes on bullion and rare coin values, contact Rare-Coin.org or just register below for our free investment tutorial and discounted pricing.

Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s key interest rate is near zero and has been for some time, and there has been widespread speculation that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will start to raise interest rates in the near future. When this happens, the newly printed dollars could devalue the dollars already in circulation and create hyperinflation as it did in the 1970s. Interest rates reached double digits back then and precious metal prices were driven to then-record heights.

If you believe gold and silver prices will rise, a rare coin investment may be appropriate. However, rare coins are only advisable investments if you plan on a hold of 14 months or more, and if you are concerned about the privacy of your wealth. Certain rare coins have been deemed non-confiscatable and completely private by our government, and you can contact Rare-Coin.org directly to learn more about privatizing your wealth with a rare coin investment.

First of all, rare gold and silver coins could lose value if spot values decline, even though precious metals are considered safe-haven assets during stressful fiscal periods for our nation.

Investors purchase rare coins that are relatively common, and they leave the obscure dates and pieces for the collector demographic. It may not be wise to consider a rare coin investment if you plan on a holding period of 14 months or less, because rare coins tend to have a higher cost association than bullion products.

However, rare coins have shown a historical tendency to outperform their bullion counterparts once the break-even point is reached. If you plan on holding your coins long-term and you appreciate the absolute privacy of a rare coin investment, then contact a rare coin exchange near you or trade with one of our nation’s large-volume gold exchanges for discounted pricing.

Visit www.PCGS.com to see population reports and live retail prices for the most popular investment-grade coins, or contact Rare-Coin.org for more information on top-performing coins such as the $20 Lady Liberty gold coin, the $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin, and the Peace Silver Dollar.

Investors do not go after the same coins that collectors do, but collectors tend to abandon their rare coins to build up their cash reserves during recessionary periods. Investors target “Uncirculated Mint State” coins that are in the MS61-MS66 grading range, because these coins have historically been the most profitable investment-grade coins for holding periods of 14 months or longer. To get the most out of your rare gold coin purchase, work closely with a gold market expert before beginning your diversification in order to fortify the overall strength of your portfolio.

By 6pm EST, the top-performing investment-grade gold coins listed on www.PCGS.com show an average 11.8% gain in the last 30 days, despite the gold spot price’s pullback earlier this week. Gold is currently trading at $1131.80 per ounce, which is an increase of $2.40 for the trading session. You can register for live rare coin price updates below, and you can also receive a copy of the 2010 Insider’s Guide to Rare Gold Coin Prices.

PCGS and NGC maintain population reports and trends on the most widely known gold and silver coins. Numismatists at these two organizations haven taken on the responsibility of inspecting and grading historic American rarities, such as the Lady Liberty Series, the Indian Head series, and the majestic $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin. PCGS and NGC take responsibility for the rare coin grading of silver coins as well, such as Peace Dollars, Morgan Dollars, and even the elusive Carson City Dollars.

It is important to purchase rare coins that have been graded by one of these two agencies, because a seemingly minor grading error could mean the difference in hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars. PCGS and NGC are renowned as the industry leaders, and you can purchase certified rare coins from major gold trading platforms such as the Certified Gold Exchange.

The Certified Gold Exchange supplies household and institutional investors with the most popular physical gold investments at discount prices, and this exchange is known as “The Professional’s Choice In Gold.” Contact Rare-Coin.org or click below to get your copy of the 2010 Insider’s Guide to Gold Investing from the Certified Gold Exchange.

Several of the top-performing rare coins listed at www.PCGS.com and www.NGCCoin.com have pulled back slightly, in response to the gold spot price’s decline to sub-$1200 levels. Since November 3, when India’s central bank purchased 200 tons and $6.7 billion in gold from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), gold and silver prices have rallied unencumbered. That move caused US investors to buy gold in record numbers, both in the household and institutional demographics. In the last eight years, many wise American investors have entered the precious metal market in order to find a less volatile alternative to traditional, dollar-based investments.

Fortunately, several of these investors have found their safe-haven asset with certified rare coins. Rare coin pricing for the most popular coins, like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty, is available by calling our toll-free help desk or requesting free gold price updates and information below.

Unlike the volatile movement of gold bullion prices, rare coin pricing is not as closely tied to the minute fluctuations of the gold spot price. Many investors prefer certified gold and silver coins for this particular reason, because sudden market volatility is much less likely. If you would like more information on the gold bullion and/or rare coin market, request your gold investment starter kit below.

Americans have invested in gold bullion for a much longer period in history that rare coins, but today’s economic situation calls for protective measures on one’s portfolio. Gold bullion is often used as a short-term hedge against inflation, and gold bullion investors typically hold that type of metal from 1-14 months. These investors use gold bullion as a profit-taking venture, but the government confiscatability of gold bullion makes it an unwise long-term investment.

Rare American coins such as the $10 Indian Head gold coin and the $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin were obviously not entirely confiscated by our government, so today’s investors utilize these coins as completely private long-term investments. Commonly-traded rare coins have been classified as private by our government, and they tend to outperform gold bullion during times of national economic hardship. You can track national average retail prices of rare coins at www.PCGS.com, and discounted rare coin prices are available by calling Rare-Coin.org directly.

Discounted rare coin prices may be anywhere from 2-5% lower than the retail prices logged on the PCGS Price Guide. For example, the MS64 $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin is listed at $2550 on the PCGS price guide, but major exchanges like the Certified Gold Exchange is offering this coin for as low as $2365, including insured delivery.

Another heavily-targeted investment-grade rare coin is the MS61 $20 Lady Liberty gold coin, which is valued at $2070 per PCGS. Household and institutional investors can trade this coin for as little as $1860 by contacting Rare-Coin.org directly, or register for your investment tutorial below for the same discounted pricing.

Since 2001, many rare coin investments have increased 300% or more. In the same time, stock indexes have tumbled and interest-bearing accounts have lost principal due to the devalued dollar. Rare coins that went largely unnoticed by the investment community have become heavily utilized portfolio additions, and rare coin investors have been able to offset losses in other funds with their rare coin investments.

The term “rare” to describe historic coin investments is merely semantics, because the coins that investors buy for privacy and long-term growth are both commonly traded and widely known. These coins do meet the government’s stipulations for a “collectible” coin, however, so they were not historically confiscated by our government during the great depression.

If our nation’s financial emergency gets worse, another bullion confiscation may occur. Investors who want to own physical gold without fear of another government recall purchase rare gold and silver coins.

If you would like to learn more about the rare coin market, call us or receive your copy of our 2010 Insider’s Guide to Rare Coin Investments.

The devaluation of the dollar also historically coincides with the rise in gold spot prices and rare coin prices, and this trend has held true in our current cycle. Rare coin collecting is a hobby for many Americans, and this demographic should be pleased to know that they, as well as long-term US investors who utilize rare coins, are the owners of assets that have been projected to double in value over the next ten years.

Gold opened right above $1200 per ounce ion the COMEX division of the new York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and quickly shot to $1217 in the morning trading hours. Gold is still holding strong at 3pm EST, as evidenced by the current spot value of $1214. While gold could increase by 12-18% next year, our dollar and other traditional means of investing have been projected to falter further in 2010.

Rare coin collecting individuals and investors who are seeking a private and secure investment should consider adding coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Liberty coin to their current holdings, because these American antiquities have been the best performing gold coins since 2001. A gold coin investment is a sound move to make, since overprinting of fiat paper currency has historically been favorable for gold products and other commodities. Contact Rare-Coin.org directly if you would like to learn more about supplementing your portfolio or collection with American rare coins.

If you go to the grocery store with a coupon for milk, but you are lactose intolerant the money that you save with the coupon is outweighed by the money you spent on an item that you are unable to use. The same logic applies in the rare coin market, so investors should pay close attention to the type of rare coin that they purchase.

Extremely rare and obscure coins may seem like a good deal at times, but these coins frequently move independently of the gold spot price. Other rare coins may be gold plated instead of 22 or 24-karats, but these two purity levels are the most commonly utilized by investors. Other coins may be pure gold, but they are so rare that it is practically impossible to price-check to make sure that you are getting a fair deal.

Investors who desire a stake in the rare coin market should stick with pre-1933, US-minted coins that have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). Rare-Coin.org supplies these investment-grade coins to household and institutional investors, and you may be able to purchase these coins at or near wholesale levels depending ion the volume of your investment. More information on wholesale rare coins and modern-day bullion coins is readily available by contacting us directly through our toll-free help desk or through our secure email server.

The rare coin market has historically been dominated by collectors and history buffs, but investors have driven the rare coin market during the past few years. Gold and silver are not considered mainstream investments, but they are heavily utilized when our traditional revenue streams dry up. Although bullion bars and coins are often used by short-term investors, bullion is not recommended for investors who plan to remain in the precious metal market longer than 14 months.

The rare coin market offers investment-grade coins that are completely private, and these coins track spot prices that are listed by the Commodities Exchange (COMEX). Investment-grade coins are much more expensive than bullion coins, but they have a much higher upside potential than bullion.

Besides the potential profit that could be seen with rare gold and silver coins, the fact that rare coins have been classified as private by our government is a crucial feature. No paperwork is generated when you purchase these coins, so it is simple to enter the rare coin market as well as potentially profitable. Call our toll-free help desk or send us a message through our secure electronic server to get your copy of our 2010 Insider’s Guide To The Rare Coin Market.

Find a reputable rare coin dealer that stocks the most commonly known and widely traded pieces. By selecting popular coins that are utilized around the globe, liquidity will not likely become an issue for you in the future. Rare coins that have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) are traded in over 120 countries and these coins trend in the same direction as the gold spot price.

Coins like the $20 Double Eagles and other pre-1933 US-minted gold coins are the most heavily utilized by American investors. These coins are easy to price-check so you will always be able to receive fair market value for your coins if you do your homework and work directly with a reliable and trustworthy gold exchange.

Once you purchase your rare coin investment, take delivery of the rarities and place them in a secure location that you could gain access to in a national financial emergency. A home fire-safe, a gun safe, or a safety deposit box at the local bank will work fine, but make sure to check with the bank about their safety-deposit box policy in case the bank goes under. Now that you know how to buy rare coins and be successful in the gold market as an investor, contact us directly for customized mail-out reports and live quotes on the top performing rare coins in the world.

If you have rare coins to sell, it is very important to first know what type of coin you possess. Rare coins of similar years and sizes may appear to be identical, but minute differences in the origin or the grade of the coin could mean a difference of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars. Visit www.PCGS.com, because the Professional Coin Grading Service maintains a complete list of the most commonly known and widely traded rare coins.

It is possible to sell rare coins to collectors, investors, and coin dealers locally, but you may be able to get a better price by calling one of the nation’s major rare coin exchanges. If you decide to sell your rarities, you will ship them insured and registered to the company’s depository, and you generally have the option of receiving a check or a bank wire. Make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company by visiting www.BBB.org, or contact Rare-Coin.org directly for the best information on how to sell rare coins.

Many economists have called for the dollar to slide against other major currencies until it collapse completely, or until our government enacts a second gold confiscation. Historically, our government seized the gold bullion and certificates within US borders, and the gold price was then artificially raised so that the United States could sell the gold and pay down our nation’s debt.

This was necessary at the time because banks were over-leveraged, real estate was drastically devalued and US industries were performing poorly across the board. Owners of rare and unusual coins did not have to surrender their pieces, and the same would most likely hold true in any future gold confiscation.

Individuals who illegally hoarded gold bullion from 1933 to 1971 were considered felons, and a 10-year prison sentence was in order for anyone who was found guilty of hoarding gold bullion throughout this 38-year time span. If our government confiscates gold again, it will be a last-ditch effort to save our economy.

Be assured that a gold bullion confiscation is more likely than the dollar’s entire collapse, because our government would almost certainly seize the gold to save US currency. If gold confiscation is a concern for you as a gold investor, then contact Rare-Coin.org now to learn more about non-confiscatable, completely private rare US coins that could protect you during this difficult financial period in our nation’s history.

Some investors prefer to buy gold and silver bullion, and the bullion market is largely driven by short-term (1-14 month) investors, according to gold market experts. Non-confiscatable rare coins are usually more preferable for long-term investors who are buying for safety, because these coins are completely private and a rare coin transaction is confidential from the time you freeze your price until your package is securely delivered to your door.

While bullion could be and has been confiscated by the US government to back up the dollar and pay down our national debt, rare coins were historically untouched. Call us now or notify us electronically if you would like free information on different gold products, or if you would like to diversify into the bullion and rare coin markets.

Gold bullion trades based on the active gold spot price that scrolls live at www.GoldPrice.net. Gold bullion bars and coins trade at minimal premiums over the gold spot price. Non-confiscatable rare coins generally move in the same direction as the gold spot price, and they also maintain a numismatic value that tends to increase over time. You can check the national average retail value of these coins at www.PCGS.com, or you can get live quotes by registering with Rare-Coin.org or calling us directly.

Coins that are in pristine condition are called “Mint State” and there are different grades of Mint State coins. Mint State coins range from MS61-MS70, and Mint State coins can vary greatly in price depending on which particular Mint state grade the coin has been issued. For example, the $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin is valued around $4000 in the MS66 grade, but an MS67 specimen could easily fetch more than $10,000.

There are other companies that grade rare coins, but the rare coin numismatists at PCGS and NGC are the industry-recognized leaders in rare coin evaluation. If you have rare coins that you would like graded, it is highly recommended that you send the coins to either PCGS or NGC, because your liquidity and value will be better protected if the coins are graded by one of these two reputable companies.

If you already have coins that have been graded by PCGS or NGC, you can visit their websites (www.PCGS.com and www.NGCCoin.com) to check population reports, national retail prices, and the latest news about your rarities. PCGS and NGC do not buy or sell the coins that their numismatists examine, so contact a reputable dealer to trade certified rare coins or contact us directly if you would like us to point you in the right direction.

Beginning in 1839, the US Mint started to release $2.5, $5, and $10 denomination coins. In 1849, large pockets of gold were discovered in California, so the US government authorized the minting of the first ever $20 gold coins. These $20 gold coins, along with the fractional sizes, were produced and released every year until 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt outlawed gold bullion ownership by US citizens.

All gold bullion was removed from circulation and shipped to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where it was then divvied out to the many nations to which the United States was in debt. From 1933-1971, it was a federal offense for American citizens to hoard gold bullion worth more than $100. In 1971, President Richard Nixon removed the United States from the Gold Standard and re-legalized gold bullion ownership.

In 1986, the US Mint began producing the American Gold Eagle coin, a replica of the pre-1933 Saint Gaudens rarity. This modern-day bullion coin has become quite popular, as have a number of the world’s gold bullion coins. However, United States rare coins are generally a much better investment if you plan to hold your gold coins long-term, because they will generally overcome their premium and outpace gold bullion products in the long run. Additionally, United States rare coins are deemed non-confiscatable if another gold bullion confiscation occurs, whereas modern-day products would most likely be seized. Contact us directly or give us a call today to receive free, customized mail-out reports and to get live quotes on the most widely traded bullion products and rare coins.

Our nation’s worsening financial situation has created a precious metal buying frenzy over the last few years, and many precious metal investors have spilled into the rare coin market. As a general rule, investors who take a 1-14 month position in the gold market utilize bullion bars and coins.

Bullion could be a better fit for short-term investors right now because the low premiums could allow for quick profits to be seen if the Commodities Exchange (COMEX) gold price continues to spike. Bullion is not advisable for long-term investors because the minute fluctuations of the gold spot price keep bullion from consistently moving forward.

Additionally, bullion could be confiscated by the US government if the dollar’s value wanes further. Historically, our government seized bullion from its citizens to pay down national debt and strengthen the greenback. Long-term investors may do better financially with certified rare coins, because these coins track the trend of the gold spot price.

Certified rare coins have been deemed to be non-confiscatable assets by our government’s own rules, so another bullion confiscation would most likely not include a recall of historical rarities meant for private collectors. To learn more about the historic bullion recall, contact us directly for your free copy of our Insider’s Guide To Gold Investing.

• PCGS-Certified MS64 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle

• PCGS-Certified MS61 $20 Lady Liberty Double Eagle

• PCGS-Certified MS62 $10 Lady Liberty Eagle

• PCGS-Certified MS65 Peace Silver Dollar

• PCGS-Certified MS64 Morgan Silver Dollar

These coins have been the top performers throughout our current recession, and gold market analysts believe that we could see these coins progress aggressively as the gold spot price rises. Coins that have been certified as being in “Mint State” condition by the Professional Coin Grading Service track the price of gold, but they also have a numismatic wealth that is not available with today’s many bullion coin offerings.

Investors who want to take a short-term position in the gold market generally invest in gold bullion, and bullion investments are usually a profit-taking venture only. Individuals who would like the potential for long-term growth, and immediate security for their wealth, are advised to purchase certified coins. If you would like us to send free, customized mail-out reports to your door, contact us directly and speak with one of our friendly specialists.

If you are considering a rare coin investment, we have provided a free tutorial to help you get started. Once you complete this brief but informative tutorial, you will be well-prepared to navigate the rare coin market.

If you have already invested in the market and you want to liquidate or increase your holdings, contact us directly and ask about institutional discounts that are available for large-volume trades. There are a variety of rare coins on the market, so dealing with a reliable dealership is vital in making a successful venture. While coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty have proven their worth throughout the years, other coins may fit your particular situation more aptly. Contact us today if you require any assistance from our friendly and trained rare coin specialists.

By utilizing the same rare coins that other investors prefer, liquidity is never an issue because there will always be a market for your coins. High-grade Morgan Silver Dollars and Proof-type silver coins that were minted between 1860-1900 are especially difficult to locate, but investors purchase coins like the MS64 Morgan Silver Dollar and the MS65 Peace Dollar. These are rare silver coins that have a proven track record of maintaining their worth in the face of financial tumult, and Mint State versions of these coins tend to appreciate more dramatically than bullion over long-term holding periods.

There is no doubt that substantial profits can be made with a rare coin investment. Many investors have found this to be true since 2001, when gold and silver were near 26-year lows. These metals have risen consistently and are now primed to surpass their historic highs in the current cycle. If inflation and government manipulation of the financial markets continue to toxify your hard-earned wealth, rare gold and silver coins could offset those losses.

When trading rare silver coins, deal with a reputable, established exchange. Check their reputation at www.BBB.org and www.Alexa.com, and see if they offer any sort of price matching policy. By conducting your due diligence before purchasing rare coins, it will pay off in the long run.

• US-minted – By dealing with US coins, you maintain your liquidity even if the US dollar is eliminated. American gold coins are traded in over 120 countries, and they are highly regarded as wise investments.

• Produced prior to the 1933 gold bullion confiscation – Presidential Order 6102 deemed that gold coins “of rare and unusual value” are non-confiscatable by the US government. Modern-day gold coins like the $50 American Eagle would be seized by our government in a national financial emergency.

• Certified as Mint State 61 through Mint State 66 – There are lower grades of these coins on the market, but an old coin with no asthetic appeal is not rare and unusual, it’s a bullion-type item. Mint State coins go all the way to MS70, but you could land in hot water by dealing with anything higher than an MS66 because those coins are extremely expensive and sometimes hard to sell. In the MS61-MS66 scale, prices and potential profits rise with each step up. Regardless of the number, the Mint State designation of a historic American coin classifies that coin as non-confiscatable.

• Commonly known and widely traded dates – Specialty dates and rare mint productions are preferable for some collections who want to complete a set, but investors have found that the common years are the easiest to price-check. There are lots of rare gold coin dealers, so knowing the fair market value of a coin is vital in making a successful investment.

Contact www.Rare-Coin.org today to get your free information kit on rare gold and silver coins. If you already know what you require, our friendly experts can determine if you are eligible for large-volume, institutional discounts.

The most popular investment-grade coin among US investors is the MS64 $20 Saint Gaudens coin, which is currently listed at $2300. Another widely used investment-grade coin is the more affordable MS61 Lady Liberty coin, which is listed at $1765.

Certified coins like the Saint and the Liberty have become welcome additions for Americans’ portfolios, because the current recession has wiped out trillions of dollars in stock, real estate, and cash assets. Historically, a portfolio that contains 20-30% physical gold will be able to successfully ward off the negative effects of corporate debt, government intervention in the financial markets, and a devalued currency.

Rare coin price increases have been a regular occurrence since our lawmakers were granted their stimulus wishes, and US economists have called for higher gold prices throughout next year. If your portfolio has suffered substantial losses in the last three years and you feel vulnerable to further losses, get yourself a little protection with physical gold. Contact a reputable dealer who can fully elaborate on the different types of gold investments, or contact us directly at 800-300-0715.

Investors buy rare coins for safety and wealth preservation, which are two things that will be at the top of everyone’s wish list this holiday season. Stocks, bonds, and cash accounts have diminished without mercy during the last three years, and our nation’s real estate values haven’t fared much better. The US real estate market lost about 30% across the board since 2005, and many property owners have purchased gold and silver coins as their back-up plan as well.

While collectors enjoy the rarest, most obscure pieces on the market, today’s savvy investors buy rare coins that are widely-traded. Liquidity is never an issue if your rare coins are certified as investment-grade by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

Investment-grade coins range from Mint State (MS) 61 to MS66, and investors choose coins that were minted in relatively large volume. This way, there is a global market for the coins, if and when you decide to sell. If you want to sell or buy rare coins, contact www.rare-Coin.org at 800-300-0715 to take advantage of institutional rare coin discounts.

www.PCGS.com

to track the average selling price from a reputable dealer, but some large-volume exchanges offer rare coin discounts.

The recent spike in the gold spot price has stirred interest in rare gold coins, such as the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty. These and other pre-1933 US coins are a commonly chosen route of diversification for US investors. Though some investors choose to play the bullion market, preservation-minded investors have been the more prevalent demographic as of late. Investors who want to focus on wealth preservation and long-term growth are usually better off investing in certified rare coins.

The “certified” designation indicates that a coin has been inspected by a licensed numismatist, and declaired to be in Mint State condition. Mint State American coins are an asset that is deemed exempt from another government-led bullion confiscation. Learn more about the historic gold confiscation at www.Gold-Investment.info.

Investors purchase coins that are in MS61-MS66 condition, because these have historically been the best performers for security-minded buyers. Investment-grade coins are commonly and widely traded, so liquidity and price-checking are never an issue. Take some time to learn more about the rare coin market, because investors have made 46-78% with certain rare gold coins in the last year. Contact www.Rare-Coin.org at 800-300-0715 to find out about rare coin discounts on the Certified Gold Exchange.

Even as the dollar showed signs of strengthening last month, the gold price has held its own, and it is now climbing again. The gold spot price at 11am EST was $1092.80; this is a mild retreat from the new record-high of $1096.80 that was reached this morning. The fluctuating gold price could be repressed if safe-haven demand wanes, but most economists expect investors to increase their gold holdings until our nation regains firm financial footing.

Presently, our economy appears to be settled from the trauma of the last three years, but the fluctuating rare coin prices tell a story of consumers and investors who fear what the future holds for the United States. Many market analysts fear that the impressive numbers of the third quarter are the calm before the storm; once our government exhausts their stimulus money, more economic problems could emerge. Rare coin investments become substantially more valuable when the masses increase their demand for safe-haven assets. Rare coins are well respected by investors because of their gold content, numismatic qualities, and government non-confiscatability.

Investors who believe that our nation’s long-term financial life is at risk should carefully consider a rare coin investment. Gold could be your back-up plan, your protection, your last line of defense, in case our nation continues to falter economically. Contact a reputable gold dealer near you, or contact www.Rare-Coin.org directly at 800-300-0715.

Conduct a background check on any potential rare coin dealer. I check the Better Business Bureau (www.BBB.org) and Amazon Alexa (www.Alexa.com) before I do business with any company. Only invest with a firm that has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, or five stars with Amazon Alexa.

Once you have found a reputable dealer, speak with a rare coin specialist who patiently listens to your investment goals before making a recommendation. Ask the broker what they’re commission and delivery charges are, and do business with non-commissioned representatives if possible.

Since you worked long and hard for your money, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Take a small position with the company, let them earn your long-term trust and business. If you are pleased with the way they operate, you can initiate full diversification. Financial advisors typically recommend between 25-30% gold diversification during volatile economic periods. For short-term (1-14 months) investors, this means a bullion purchase. Investors who want to hold their precious metals for years without fear of government confiscation should hedge with certified rare coins.

It’s that simple. You now know how to buy rare coins. Contact the Certified Gold Exchange directly to see if you qualify for their large-volume discounts; if not, they can always point you in the right direction.

As long as investors continue to flock to gold, silver, and other safe-haven assets, American rare coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty should easily outperform US stocks and real estate. Many institutional investors and household buyers purchase American rare coins when doing their gold and silver investing, because rarities like the MS64 $20 Saint Gaudens and the MS61 $20 Lady Liberty tend to grow at a faster pace than gold bullion products, including post-1986 coins produced by the US Mint.

Some rare American pieces carry premiums that are significantly higher than those of bullion, but investors who were willing to pay those premiums have had an historical advantage over the last few years. Many US coins that were minted prior to 1933 have increased by more than 400% in the last eight years, and their growth has accelerated substantially since Congress passed our government’s bailout and stimulus plan.

If an investor feels that rare American coins could be the proper diversification strategy for his or her portfolio, now may be the best time to consider this investment. Market analysts believe that gold could surpass $1100 per ounce before the end of 2009, so the magnified growth of these coins could continue to impress. Investors can track the national average retail prices of rare American gold and silver coins at www.PCGS.com, which is the official site of the Professional Coin Grading Service. Large-volume discounts may be available, so contact the Certified Gold Exchange directly if you want to begin or continue your gold diversification program.

At the beginning of the month, our dollar was outperforming the market, causing gold and silver prices to lay flat. Around the middle of the month, the dollar index started to fall, and gold and silver spot prices correspondingly rose. Silver almost broke the $18 per ounce price on the Commodities Exchange (COMEX), and gold broke its al-time record of $1033. The new record high for gold is $1071, but the devalued dollar did not remain at its 14 month low for very long. Although still very weak when compared to other major currencies like the euro, the yuan, and the yen, our dollar has strengthened somewhat. This has repressed precious metal prices, but gold and silver spot prices are still projected to register gains of 18-21% in the next 365 days.

When the gold spot price rose to its new high of $1071 three weeks ago, rare coin price fluctuations were not immediately noticed by market analysts. Coins like the Saint Gaudens and the Lady Liberty sometimes lag behind spot prices in movement; once investors saw that the spike was sustainable, rare coin prices started to rise. The recent repression of gold and silver spot prices has not drastically affected the prices of rare coins that have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). This industry-recognized leader in coin inspection and certification posts the values of their graded coins at www.PCGS.com, although many gold exchanges can provide household investors with prices lower than these national average retail figures. Contact PCGS or the Certified Gold Exchange to learn more about rare coin price fluctuations.

Savvy investors know that commonly traded, widely known pieces are the best rare coin investments. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) have inspected, graded, and encapsulated investment-grade coins since 1986, so American investors who want a long-term stake in the gold market usually purchase coins that have been certified by either of these two industry-recognized grading agencies. Pre-1933, US-produced coins like the $20 Lady Liberty and the $20 Saint Gaudens have been two of the best performers for the last few years, and market analysts do not foresee these coins having major setbacks anytime soon. Investors who want to learn the difference between obscure rare coins and investment-grade rare coins should visit www.Gold-Investment.info or contact a reputable gold exchange that specializes in investment-grade rare coins.

Many of the coins that PCGS and NGC certify are extremely rare and obscure, and collectors sometimes search for years to find a specific coin. In the past few years, investor demand for rare coins has increased dramatically. Economists have attributed this trend to the growing fear of a second gold bullion confiscation. President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1933 Executive Order exempted “rare and unusual coins” from the unprecedented national recall, so many of today’s rare coin buyers are investors, not collectors.

In order to stay liquid and synchronized with the active gold spot price, investors purchase commonly traded and widely known pieces. “Investment-grade” is the common designation for these coins, which are typically pre-1933, American-minted coins. Coins such as the $10 Lady Liberty and the $20 Saint Gaudens have garnered national respect as a powerful and protective long-term investment. Limited quantities of these coins have been certified by PCGS and NGC, and they are available through select gold investment companies. Individuals who want to price-check rare coins should visit www.PCGS.com or contact the Certified Gold Exchange directly.

Deposits at the top five US banks grew 29% from June 2008 to June 2009, yet only one of these banks boosted its lending by the same proportion. These five banks added $852 billion in deposits during this time, but lent less than 60% of that amount. Some banks have even decreased their lending, including embattled Citigroup. Citigroup received more taxpayer assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) than any other bank, so their unwillingness to lend to taxpayers is disturbing, to say the least. Our government claimed that TARP would allow large banks to increase their lending to consumers, but then again, they also claimed that our national unemployment rate (now at 9.8% and climbing) would never surpass 8%. Cautious investors have chosen to invest in safety rather than “economic recovery,” so rare coin prices are gaining momentum.

Rare coins like the MS65 $20 Saint Gaudens and the MS65 $5 Indian Head have registered significant gains during the last two years, and analysts expect that these gains will continue until consumer confidence in our banking system returns. Investors who want to purchase bullion or rare coins should contact a reputable gold dealer that has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Short-term and long-term investors have been able to take advantage of the gold price movement, and their confidence in the wealth preservation power of precious metals will most likely continue, even if these extraordinary price fluctuations do not. The majority of DJIA share holders have opted for the PCGS coins rather than bullion, which could be a strong indication that they anticipate our financial recovery to backtrack before it solidifies. DJIA components have lost significant value during the last three years, but many Dow investors have managed to stave off their financial doom by vesting 20-30% of their assets in the rare coin market.

The vast majority of stock investors who have purchased certified rare coins have invested in the MS64 Saint Gaudens gold coin. This coin was minted from 1907-1933, and the US Mint only used gold mined within the United States to create this true work of art. Its’ Mint State designation allows its classification as a government non-confiscatable asset, and during the last 12 months, the MS64 grade Saint Gaudens has provided investors with $3.03 in movement for every $1 that the gold spot price has moved. Investors should carefully consider this coin as an effective strategy to combat declining stock values.

These coins track the gold spot price, unlike some of the more obscure and expensive choices. Coins that are not deemed worthy of encapsulation with a MS grading and serial number may not be eligible for confiscation exemption just because they are old, much like the rusted body of a Model T does not constitute a classic automobile. Investors who want to learn more about gold investing and the issues surrounding the gold confiscation should visit www.Gold-Investment.info, where an online tutorial has been provided free-of-charge by the Certified Gold Exchange.

Caterpillar, Inc., and other construction companies have reported that China and India would lead the global recovery, and the equipment manufacturer confirmed this week that Asia is its best-performing market. Pfizer, Coach, and UPS also said that sales are showing signs of life in Asia, but business has been hard to come by within the US. UPS has reported that their US clients are shipping fewer and lighter packages. More customers are also choosing slower shipping options, which are less profitable for UPS. These developments will most likely be the norm for the next few years, because rising unemployment rates and lower incomes will deplete the number of consumers who actually have funds to spend. Many investors have decided to hoard the money that they have left, and some investors have decided to supplement their rare coin holdings. Gold and silver coins could increase in value during the next few years, as our weakening dollar and struggling industries correspond with a higher demand for safe-haven assets.

There are a wide variety of rare coin products that are available to American consumers, and some of these gold and silver coins are considered "investment-grade" in today's market. Demand for investment-grade gold and silver coins has grown dramatically during the last few years, as fear of a second government bullion confiscation of gold and silver has grown. The fear of such a confiscation has escalated lately due to our government's increased involvement in US financial markets, and many gold bullion analysts believe that the government will eventually confiscate bullion, with the alternative being annexation of our nation by our debtors. Financial independence is on the forefront of many investors' minds, which is why certified rare coins have been especially profitable during the last eight months. There are a wide variety of investment-grade rare coins, like the MS64 $20 saint Gaudens gold coin and the MS65 Morgan Silver Dollar. Contact a reputable gold and silver exchange to learn more about rare coin investments, and the benefits that these coins offer.

The NAS report shows the poverty rate to be at 15.8%, which means that nearly 1 in 6 Americans are living below the poverty line. While everyone was pleased to see that child poverty is lower, the poverty level of individuals between the agoes of 18-64 is 14.3%. This figure is especially disturbing because the demographic is supposed to represent the vast majority of our nation's work force. The Northeast and the West coast saw some of the most dramatic influxes of poverty, due to a rising cost of living that has been exploited by lower personal incomes. In addition the rising poverty level, there are over 36 million individuals in the United States and Puerto Rico who are receiving federal food stamp assistance. Americans who fear a rising poverty level are encouraged to supplement their portfolios with safe-haven assets, such as gold bars and rare coin investments. The certified Gold exchange has provided the world with a free, award-winning investment tutorial, which is available at www.Gold-Investment.info.

White House advisers and economists have spun some pretty incredible tales throughout the last few months, and they are still shamelessly selling our massive deficit and failed bailout as an effective strategy. Our nation recorded a budget deficit of $1.4 trillion during the last fiscal year, which is the largest recorded annual deficit since World War II. These disappointing facts do not dissuade our current administration's "yes men" and "yes women" from proclaiming that significant progress has been made on all fronts. Proponents of the bailout plan have claimed that such a measure was needed in order to prevent a total economic meltdown, but many Americans believe that this stimulus simply delayed the implosion of our nation's financial sector. Many of the men and women selected to lead our nation during these frightening economic times have asserted that our nation is recovering, but this recovery is non-existent to the vast majority of US investors. Until we feel that economic recovery is truly underway, and we think that our government again has our best interests at heart, rare coins such as the $20 Saint Gaudens and the Morgan Silver Dollar could continue to render security and profits to long-term investors.

Many shoppers have decided to purchase a large number of Peace Dollars or Morgan Dollars, which are the two rare silver coins produced by the US Mint prior to 1933. Many of these coins have been certified as Mint State by either the Professional Coin Grading Service(PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC). These silver dollars are hermetically sealed and encapsulated, so that the integrity of the silver and the numismatic value of the coin remain unharmed. Certified silver coins could increase dramatically in value during the next 12 months, but these debt-free, liquid assets are especially valued by investors who seek a back-up plan for their other investments. "The situations that are really recipes for disaster are situations where you (have) an obligation to give, but you don’t know what to give...those are the situations where you run the risk of turning wealth into dross," said Joel Wadfogel, professor of economics at Wharton University. Wadfogel believes that up to $25 billion could be saved every year if consumers put an end to "gift-guessing" that helped to grind our nation's gears into financial seizure.

Wadfogel believes that the credit that consumers use during our holiday shopping season has contributed to our nation's crisis. Wadfogel said that "unwanted and wanted spending are equally good for sellers. But spending is supposed to be good for buyers. When we say it is good for the economy, we can’t just look at the amount of spending, we want to think about the amount of satisfaction that we’re getting from the spending when we think about the economy." His blunt rationale is refreshing for many rare coin investors, who have grown weary of our government's same old song and dance.

An unforeseen economic boost in the form of a second government stimulus would most likely shield our economy from a total shutdown, at least for a few months. This appears to be what the current economic stimulus and bailout package has done, although opponents of the plan believe that more harm than good is being done. Last week, White House representatives announced a milestone in its efforts to refresh our housing sector. These representatives reported that 500,000 homeowners have received government help since the deferred payment program was launched earlier this year, but new home defaults and foreclosures are far outpacing the number of borrowers who are eligible to receive federal assistance. There were 344,000 properties that entered foreclosure last month, and this is the third-highest total since RealtyTrac began compiling figures in 2005. There have been more than 300,000 foreclosure filings for seven consecutive months, and there were 15.8% more homes repossessed in September than in August. While some economists foresee these numbers leveling off in the near future, most investors aren't taking that risk.

Some investors who have concerns about the future of the US real estate market are reinforcing their property lines with gold. Many economists fear that a large number of property foreclosures have been delayed until our government can determine if they qualify for federal assistance, and when hundreds of thousands of loans are denied, it could further deepen our recession. Gold bullion and rare coin investments have become a popular diversification strategy for real estate investors, because the privacy and liquidity that they provide is an advisable way to hedge a dormant real estate investment.

Policymakers at the Federal Reserve, the government entity that is in control of setting and maintaining monetary policy, were uncertain about what to do about our failing housing sector last month, when a program aimed to boost the struggling market was due to expire. Some members of the Fed wanted to purchase more mortgage-backed securities, while other members of this closed-door meeting believed that a reduction of purchases was in order. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke ultimately decided to spread the remaining purchases out over an extended period of time, so this third option eliminated the "coin flip" theory that some economists assumed the Fed would use. Nevertheless, many investors believe that our leaders in Washington are playing a game of Russian Roulette with our financial future, and our trigger-happy lawmakers seem to change ideas faster than John Wayne could empty a six-shooter. The latest move from the Fed doesn't appear to be the correct one, however, because many regions of our nation are still facing lower home values and increased foreclosure rates. In addition to these problems, our government has had an "unforeseeably" hard time selling the mortgage-backed securities, because many potential investors are skeptical about these government-owned investments. Many investors want a privately-held investment that is host to strong projections, and some of these investors opt to store their wealth in the rare coin market. US gold and silver coins could show substantial gains over the next decade, but the security that they provide is far more important to most American investors.

Among the companies who released third quarter earnings reports today was Johnson and Johnson, the healthcare products maker. Sales for the company were down 5% during the last quarter, disheartening many shareholders who expected an increase in sales over the last three months. After Johnson and Johnson released their latest data, the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJIA) dropped 0.5% to 9839, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes dropped 0.2% each.

Investors and government officials have vainly been searching for evidence that economic recovery is underway and that our nation is again on the path to worldwide financial supremacy. Such evidence has been scarce, apart from the recent rally in stocks. Many thought that our nation’s real estate market had bottomed out, but the last quarter dealt another severe blow to many properties, and the viscosity of real estate is a major detriment for many of today’s safety-conscious investors. Some investors have opted to invest in gold and silver, either in bar or coin form. These precious metals are globally liquid, and the peace of mind that they provide to investors is very much appreciated during these unsure economic times.

Some wide-eyed Wall Street economists still think that US stock indexes are poised for another incredible quarter, and they believe that gold will soon start to decline in value as our nation’s consumers grow more confident that economic recovery is underway. Others feel that the gold bug has some more time in the spotlight before it bows out. "We continue to believe that gold fundamentals are attractive and forecast prices to average $1150 per ounce in 2010," analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a recent report.

The Deutsche Bank analysts are not the only experts who believe that gold could continue to climb. Many analyst feel that gold’s long-term effectiveness as an inflation hedge is still top notch, and that the privacy and liquidity that physical gold offers is unmatched by other commodities or gold stocks. If rare coin investments continue to outpace bullion in both silver and gold, investors could see some coins, like the MS64 Saint Gaudens, selling for $3000 or more. Investors who are new to the rare coin industry are encouraged to speak with a professional from a reputable gold exchange who can clearly explain the pros and cons of gold investing.

The investment-grade Saint Gaudens coin is presently trading at $1795 by our nation’s major precious metal exchanges, and the PCGS price guide at www.PCGS.com lists the national average retail value of this coin at $1915. Gold bullion prices are expected to rise significantly during the next two years, and market analysts believe that the $20 Saint Gaudens investment-grade coin could continue to outpace the growth of gold bullion products, as it has done over the last 12 months. In past cycles, short-term investors dominated the market, and gold bullion outperformed the dollar for financial growth made by some certified coins. Current trends dictate that investors search for long-term stability within their portfolios, and this urgent need could have a more beneficial effect on certified coins than bullion. Gold has been widely considered to be a safe-haven asset, but gold bullion’s confiscatable status raises questions about such a claim’s authenticity to American investors. Investors who visit www.Gold-Investment.info can learn more about the various types of gold, and what sort of investments could derive the most benefit from gold bullion and/or certified rare coin investments.

The MS64 Saint Gaudens is one of America’s original Gold Eagle coins, and it is currently trading around the $2000 level. This is the most popular investment-grade coin in America, along with the US Mint’s modern-day American Gold Eagle Proof, which is the only non-confiscatable gold coin that is permitted for retirement accounts. The value of both of these coins could be drastically affected by the extension of our government’s stimulus package.

The head of the Democratic House Campaign Committee, Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, said last week that a second stimulus package would probably not be implemented, unless White House economists noticed a rapid deterioration in the employment picture. This type of obtuse perception shamelessly begs the question, “Where do these ''experts'' have their heads right now, in order for them not to be able to see what is happening?”

Our 2009 deficit equals about 9.9% of our GDP, exponentially more than the 3.2% from 2008. This is of no importance to some big-spending lawmakers, like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat. Reid wants to keep giving $8000 to first-time homebuyers, which is an incentive that was originally produced by our government’s stimulus act. Nevada has the highest foreclosure rates in a nation home to a 9.8% unemployment level, and this gentleman wants more of his voters to sign up for a 30-year mortgage.

Our national deficit is $1.4 trillion and it is expected to grow over the next few years. Until our self-serving lawmakers realize that “second-mortgaging” our own country is as fool hearty as going into debt to another nation, which we’ve also done, we may continue to see more conflicting economic data. Investors with rare coins are encouraged to hold fast to those investments, since their privacy and liquidity could be of great use in the near, or not so near future.

Cycles that occurred during the 1930s and the 1970s taught us that rapidly rising interest rates can deliver mortal blows to a weak US dollar. Some expect Bernanke to hold interest rates low for an extended amount of time, but the key lending rate has remained near 0% for a historically long period of time already, and the government cannot afford to maintain this for much longer. Rising interest rates will negatively affect bonds that are purchased with a lower rate, and the excess currency that is poured into the market will devalue the greenbacks that investors are currently holding. Independence from the dollar’s downfall is what many investors seek, and some of those individuals find that rare coin investments are their best option.

Gold coins provide lightning liquidity, and they provide investors with the ability to store a large amount of wealth privately. Yesterday’s rare coin prices were surpassed when the Commodities Exchange(COMEX) spot price again incremented up this morning. The gold spot price at 12:30pm EST is $1043.30, which is a 0.05% increase so far today.

October 6, 2009 – Rare coin investments historically tend to rise in value when gold and silver spot prices increase, and today was no different. Silver posted a gain of $0.72, or 4.33%, by this afternoon, and the handful of investors who took advantage of silver’s recent low were pleasantly surprised by the metal’s movement. Investors had a wide range of options to choose from today as most markets performed fairly well, and some of these keen-eyed investors purchased rare silver coins. 

The Morgan Silver Dollar and the Peace Dollar moved in a positive direction today, after remaining relatively flat during the last three weeks. The MS64 Peace Dollar is listed as a Top Ten gainer on the PCGS price guide, and it currently shows a 7.6% increase in that coin’s value. Rare coin investments do not always outpace the growth that is seen in bullion items, but for the last 12 months that trend has prevailed. In favorable financial seasons, bullion may sometimes outperform the rare coin market, but some gold and silver coins have produced as much as three times the profit that raw bullion metal has yielded in the last year. Some investors simply anticipate a rapid-growth period for precious metal prices, and they seek some quick profit. These investors have traditionally done well with gold and silver bullion. Others are more concerned with the preservation of their wealth, and they do not want their stored capital to be repossessed by shady government officials who operate behind closed doors. A rare coin investment may be more suitable for these leery investors. A reputable gold exchange can provide the proper metal for any investor, and the Better Business Bureau can provide the necessary insight on a potential broker’s background.

October 5, 2009 – Discussions over a true economic recovery within the United States might have to remain on the back burner for quite some time, if the most recently released data is an accurate indicator of our nation’s fiscal health. Investors with rare coin holdings are encouraged to keep a tight grip on those coins until President Barack Obama and his staff are able to find a viable solution to our economic woes. Some feeble attempts at economic growth were seen in weeks past, but the true state of our economy will only be known after the Obama administration’s stimulus funds are depleted and the United States is left to stand on her own weary financial legs. Rare coin investments increased by an average of 1.2% this morning, pleasing investors who have watched rare coins outpace gold bullion substantially over the last 12 months.

The Associated Press conducts a monthly analysis of consumer stress in 3100 counties across our nation, and the latest findings disappointed many idealistic economists who were vainly hoping for a quick and painless recovery. The AP’s newest figures do show some positive signs, but many believe that the bottom line has been padded by seasonal employment, federal stimulus funds, and new retirees who have decided to relinquish their demoralizing, “swan song” job searches. The AP poll shows that, of the 3100 counties, 39% were considered economically distressed in August, compared to 41% in July. The unemployment rate in some communities declined slightly in August, but some frightful numbers still appeared. Nevada, Oregon, and Michigan all posted significant increases in their level of economic stress, as defined by foreclosure, bankruptcy, and unemployment rates. If our nation continues to deteriorate financially, investors who are holding rare coins could see favorable gains over an extended period of time. 

Investors can track gold and silver coins at www.PCGS.com, where the Professional Coin Grading Service price list is updated regularly. The active gold spot price is $1005.20, and this is a $1.80 gain for the trading day.

The Washington-based Commerce Department released in a statement today the latest statistics on US-manufactured goods, and it appears that demand for American-produced products is down substantially. According to AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger, many economists projected that a 0.7% gain would be seen in this field. The 0.8% decrease in demand is worrisome to these economists, who fear that weak consumer confidence and spending will further repress factory orders within our nation. The US Labor department also delivered a stiff jab to stock indexes this morning when it revealed that our national unemployment rate now stands at 9.8%. This news took the legs from under the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJIA), constricting that index by 64 points within the first half-hour of trading. The Nasdaq market dropped 11 points, or 0.5%, and the S&P 500 lost 0.8% in worth. Investors who fear that the future could hold more financial disappointment are encouraged to effectively diversify into precious metals.

Investors employ gold, silver, and platinum to balance losses in other areas of their portfolios, and they have histiorically done well when the majority of US markets uniformly underperform. Rare coin investments and bullion bar investments are the two most widely purchased precious metal products. Gold-Investment.info contains a plethora of useful information for investors who would like to know more about gold diversification.

Failed financial giants AIG and the Lehman Brothers Holdings Corporation focused on exotic, high-yield investment strategies, and many of today's big players are making moves into the similarly-volatile commercial real estate market and overseas manufacturing industry. Government overhaul of the current financial regulatory measures is supposedly near the top of President Barack Obama's "to do" list, but in the meantime, household investors monitor certain risks that may be lurking in the investment world. Many commodities are trending in a positive direction because of the pitiful performance of other markets, so some investors have decided to invest in commodity-based exchange traded funds(ETFs). Sugar, oil, cotton, and other commodities may be "purchased" by buying shares of a company that holds such items, and there are also multiple gold-"based" ETFs that are available. The regulatory overhaul needed in big business is also needed in the ETF market, however, because savvy investors and market analysts fear that paper shares in gold and silver could remain as such permenantly. An ETF backed by nothing is worth nothing, so investors who buy gold as a security hedge should choose their physical metal investment avenue only after thorough research has been conducted.

Investors who seek liberation from the fear of an unethical and unprofitable securities market are encouraged to take physical delivery of their gold investment. The peace of mind that investors gain when they store actual gold bars and coins privately is immeasurable.. Gold's spot price at 6pm EST is $1000.60, and the metal posted a 5.13% increase in September.

The national unemployment rate could easily top 10% within the next three months, and economists believe that this plateau will be surpassed before the end of 2009 due to a lack of consumer spending that would keep otherwise struggling businesses afloat. Five states now hold unemployment levels of more than 12%, including California and Michigan, which are two major players in the manufacturing and automotive industries. As individual states watch their jobless levels climb to record-high levels, many individual household investors are searching for an asset that could provide protection and profit, even if cash and retirement accounts are devalued to the point of uselessness. Pre-1933 US rare coins could be such an asset, according to precious metal investors who have seen exponential growth in these coins since 2001. A worsening economy could mean even higher prices for gold and silver bullion. Numismatic coins are 200-400% below their historical highs, meaning that even more extensive growth could be seen over the next 5 to 10 years.

Coins that are graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service(PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC), have historically performed better than gold and silver bullion pieces when our US economy and currency has faltered. The active gold spot price is $1007.90, and silver bullion is trading at $16.69 after an early-morning, 3.1% gain.

Consumer confidence has been tentative since June, as unemployment levels have kept shoppers' dollars at home. "Consumers remain quite apprehensive about the short-term outlook and their incomes. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is not very encouraging news," says Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Research Center. The department of Labor will release new unemployment numbers later this week, and the national unemployment level could be at or near the 10% mark. Even consumers who do not personally have job concerns are embracing frugality with their newly-practiced spending habits. Government officials worry that stocks could take another major dive if consumers negate to recirculate their dollars into our economy. Many concerned investors are taking control of their own finances by liquidating stocks. They convert the stock funds into rare coins like the Saint Gaudens gold coin, and the Morgan silver dollar, where inflation cannot deteriorate the investment as if it were in an interest-bearing cash account.

Investors who are concerned about the direction in which our economy is headed should consider a rare coin investment for long-term security and potential profit. Visit www.Gold-Investment.info for answers to questions about rare coin investing. Today's gold spot price is $990.80, which is a 0.07% decline for the trading day.

Leaders from China, Russia, and India indicated at the G20 Summit last week that they want long-term modifications in the international monetary system. One of these changes is the possible replacement of the US Dollar as the world reserve currency, which is a move that World Bank President Robert Zoellick is now considering.  "The United States would be mistaken to take for granted the dollar's place as the world's predominant currency. Looking forward there will be increasingly be other options to the dollar," Zoellick stated. Many nations hold large volumes of Dollar-based investments, and a weaker US currency would devalue those investments proportionately. In concurrence with world leaders who do not want their wealth to fluctuate based on US fiduciary policy, many US investors are shifting funds out of Dollar-based accounts like certificates of deposit(CDs) and savings accounts. Rare coin investments like pre-1933 certified US gold could be a better option for long-term investors who wish to prosper, regardless of what strategy the US government implements.

Retail prices for pre-1933 US gold and other types of coinage is listed by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation at www.NGCCoin.com. The current gold spot price, which is the basis for the price of bullion bars and coins, is $991.50. This is a 3.65% monthly gain and an increase of over $700 per ounce since 2001.

Orders for durable goods dropped 2.4% in August 2009, although economists expected a 0.5% increase from the previous month. This is the second drop in three months for durable goods orders, and the commercial aircraft sector posted horrendous losses as well. The Commerce Department report includes a 42% decrease in that department, and other transportation-related goods were down 9.3% last month. A key measure of business investment health is the "capital goods" category, and this category saw a 0.4% decrease in August after a 1.3% decrease in July. This negative outpouring of numbers has persuaded many investors to purchase rare coins and other precious metals items. Information on all types of precious metals is available by visiting www.precious-metal.org.

The rare coin industry is quickly becoming the most popular way for investors to purchase gold for long-term security. Despite economic tremors that are rocking the manufacturing and technological worlds, rare coins and other gold investments could continue to appreciate in value for quite a few years. When the economy regains strength, gold could stay flat or even lose value. Many investors are planning on cushioning their portfolios with gold and other commodites until that time arrives, which economists say could be twelve years or more.

The rising interest in rare coins and other physical gold products is due to the increasing amount of pressure that the Obama White House is under. Almost a year after President Barack Obama took office, home sales are down and stock investors are spastically grabbing at thin air, as investment-grade commodities take root. Many investors made a fortune in previous years, as real estate and stock markets posted their best returns ever. An indisputable law of physics tells us that what goes up must come down, and this law is applicable to the investment industry as well. The G20 Summit comes on a day that the Fed announces new losses in the housing sector, and most stock markets in the US and overseas dropped today as well. Financial security is the main concern for the majority of US investors, and rare coins provide them with a potentially profitable way to stabilize their portfolios. The 2009 Investor's Guide to Gold Investing is available free of charge to all investors at www.certifiedgoldexchange.com. This award-winning tutorial includes information on rare coins, bullion, and other types of gold investment.

The gold price is active on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) at $995.40. Rare coins fluctuate based on numismatic value, intrinsic appeal, and the inherent value of gold. The Professional Coin Grading Service and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation grade and certify rare coins, giving them more value than bullion. Visit www.PCGS.com for certified rare coin retail prices, and never pay more than what is listed on the PCGS price guide.

Critics of the bill have opined that the beneficiaries could view the extra proceeds as a disincentive to getting a job. There are currently around 16 million unemployed American citizens, and McDermott says that his bill would cost $1.4 billion. This bill comes on top of the extended benefits given to the unemployed masses by President Obama's stimulus act. Many economists believe that the government is robbing Peter to pay Paul, and they think that the public's agreement is pushing US rare coin prices up around the globe.

Rare coins made of silver and gold are typically certified by a reputable third-party grading company like the Professional Coin Grading Service(PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC), and they always come hermetically sealed in a hard plastic slab, with all pertinent information clearly visible. Investment grade rare coins are used to add safety and balance to one's portfolio during tumultuous fiscal times. The active gold spot price is $1013.30. Visit www.GoldCoin.net for your free 2009 Gold Coin Investment Guide, which is available to all institutional and household investors who want to know more about rare coins.

China is now relying on US-based products less, according to the latest numbers from Yahoo Finance at www.finance.yahoo.com. China's bond demand is down, and they have decreased their US oil consumption 5.4% in the last month. The world's second largest consumer of oil, China has been increasingly demanding of the United States to reel in excessive spending and energy use in order to save money, a fair request considering that China is the largest holder of US debt. A weakening Dollar could possibly cause the Chinese to shift out of their US bond holdings and into a handbasket of currencies from around the world, a blow that the US economy may not be able to survive. China has stated that this is a real option, and consumer fear is moving rare coins accordingly.

Investors who are considering buying or selling rare coins should know exactly what coin is being dealt with and what sort of dealer business is being done with. Always log on to www.bbb.org to check out the Better Business Bureau reputation of any company that you plan on making investments with. Coins certified by PCGS and NGC carry a numismatic premium that tends to grow with time, and they also carry the inherent value of gold, which is currently $1015.50 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Stay up-to-date with news and information about numismatic and bullion coins at www.goldcoin.net.

The sad cycle that revolves around US home foreclosures is continuing to repeat itself, as one factor drives another until homes are lost, families are broke and broken up, and banks and corporations close. The unemployment rate is rising, meaning that less Americans are able to make payments on their homes and autos, items puched on them by the government's tax and rebate credits. As more families get behind on their payments and go into default and foreclosure, the companies who build the houses and insure the mortgages get stiffed, meaning that they can't afford to pay their bills, leaving the bank with the tab. Sheila bear, head of the FDIC, has repeatedly said that the bank insurance fund needs to come up with some quick cash to cover all the money that is in US banks, or else there could be a major crisis. Rather than deal with the FDIC or one of the over 400 banks on the Fed's "troubled" list, may investors stick their wealth in US rare coins in order to protect it and to help it potentially grow.

The gold spot price, which is used to determine the price of bullion coins and bars, is currently $1003.70, which is a 0.38% loss for the trading session. The active gold spot price is available for you at www.goldprice.net. Investors should keep in mind that rare coins listed on the PCGS price guide are sometimes available at a lower cost by contacting a reputable gold dealer.

Sheila Bear, the head of the nation's bank insurance fund, warned earlier in the year that the FDIC could go broke. There are over 400 banks on the government's "troubled" list, and the list is expected to grow as more home and auto loans go into default and foreclosure. A weaker banking system that is based on US currency will probably mean a weaker US Dollar, as investors trend away from large financial institutions in order to store wealth themselves. Rare coins are considered a great way to store large amounts of wealth during tough economic times because they are easily stored, and many of the pre-1933 US rare coins are projected to rise dramatically in value over the next few years.

Rare coin values and gold bullion spot prices are available 24/7/365 at www.goldprice.net, the site used by many private and institutional investors to track precious metals prices. The COMEX spot gold price is currently $1012. rare coin prices differ depending on coin type and grade, and more information about rare coins is available at www.PCGS.com and www.certifiedgoldexchange.com.

Rare coin dealers say that while obscure, high-risk coins that tend to fluctuate wildly have seen significantly less demand in recent years, investment grade coins like the original American gold Eagle, the Saint Gaudens gold coin, are poised to break their historical highs when current inflationary woes are considered. Silver and gold rare coins did better in previous cycles than low-premium bullion products, and some investors choose the more expensive coinage because of trust issues with the current government. Pre-1933 US gold coins that have been certified by a reputable third-party grading agency like the Professional Coin Grading Service or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation have been deemed non-confiscatible by President Roosevelt's 1933 Executive Order 6102 Section 2-B.

Gold is currently valued at $1014.60 per ounce, and the yellow metal that many buy as an insurance plan has been knocking on the door of a record high in recent days. Many economists believe that gold has no choice but to rise as inflation shrinks the value of US currency. Gold bullion products and rare coins of investor interest can be evaluated at www.PCGS.com and www.goldprice.net.

The debt ceiling is the amount of debt that the Fed allows the United States to have. The current US debt is just below the $12.1 trillion limit, but lawmakers have no choice to raise the debt ceiling as government spending continues to increase. If the national debt limit is surpassed by the Obama administration's spending habits, the current financial catastrophe could suddenly become much worse. US bondholders, including China, would not be able to collect on their bonds and extreme measures by bondholders could be taken to recover their lost earnings. Investors and countries all over the world invest in US bonds, meaning that the if the Treasury runs out of options to improve the economy, the White House could face a barrage of problems from angry bondholders holding worthless promisary notes. Charles Konigsberg from the Concord Coalition, a deficit watchdog group, believes that the Fed's actions could throw the United States and the rest of the world into a depression. Many financial planners and private investors are looking at rare coin investments to protect themselves before the financial disaster gets any worse.

The gold spot price, which is based on one ounce of COMEX gold on the New York Mercantile Exchange, is posted on www.goldprice.net at $1018, a $10.40 increase for the trading day. PCGS certified and graded rare coin retail prices can be found at www.PCGS.com.

Consumer spending is considered a major factor in the health of an economy, and the Fed's recent assessment that consumers are bringing home less income could be a bad sign for those who believe the economy will right itself anytime soon. The average income for American households dropped 3.6% in 2008, and a recent AP poll revealed that 70% of Americans believe that the United States could undergo another financial collapse. Economists worldwide are telling people to forget about a possible future collapse, because the current national and world economy is still in shambles. Many analysts have repeatedly said that the recent rise in the markets is due to government intervention and optimistic stock investors. The lack of any real evidence that could point to a better economy is obvious to anyone who is not a White House economist, and gold and silver rare coins are projected to break all-time highs because of the country's current plight.

Gold dropped in value in early morning trading on Tuesday, then quickly rebounded to post a 0.8% gain by 2pm EST. The asking price for one ounce of COMEX gold is $1008.50, a $7.90 upwards move so far on the day. Some rare coins, like the MS61 Lady Liberty gold coin, outperformed bullion items drastically today, registering a 4% gain and bringing the coin to $1800 levels. Precious metals prices can always be obtained directly from the Certified Gold Exchange at goldprice.net.

Many investors are growing weary of stock brokers that argue for a bull market, because it is obvious to anyone who can see the forest instead of just the trees that stock markets will tend to rise slightly when the government saturates them with cash, as they have done to the automotive industry that "suddenly' had an outstanding quarter, thanks to the $1 billion Cash-For-Clunkers program. Financial markets inside the United States are, for the most part, unchanged from a year ago. Those in Washington who want corporations to be forced to take accountability for their actions say they are being hampered by lobbyists and competing lawmakers. Simon Johnson, former chief economist with the International Monetary Fund, believes that the behavior of the banks could lead to "some huge and scary" situations in the future. The thinking for many gold investors is that they will have a real liquid asset that will still be worth something if some of these huge and scary situations cause the entire system to collapse.

COMEX gold for September delivery is trading at $1000.20 on the New York Mercantile Exchange(NYMEX). This corresponds into a 0.6% price decrease for the trading day. Gold bullion coins and bars reported similar price decreases, while many PCGS and NGC certified numismatic coins like the MS63 Saint Gaudens reported 1% price increases. Gold bullion is up 5.5% in the last 30 days, and numismatic pre-1933 US gold coins certified by either the Professional Coin Grading Service or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation have gained an average of 18.7% in the last 30 days. Rare coin pricing can always be tracked at PCGS.com and goldprice.net.

The Dow Jones, Standard and Poor's 500, and Nasdaq stock markets contracted very slightly today after the government reported that the Cash-For-Clunkers vehicle recycling program boosted the automotive industry. Many stock investors though this could potentially boost confused markets, but a large number of investors took the government's report with a grain of salt, because the $1 billion that was given to the auto industry surely aided the report's bottom line. Also, the World Economic Forum listed the US banking system 108th out of 133 nations in terms of fiscal independence. Countries with banking systems considered much more unstable than the United States in previous years have moved up the list, leaving the United States right behind Tanzania's banking system in terms of solvency and strength. These factors are causing many investors to convert trillions of dollars of assets into gold. Investors choose safe haven liquid assets like rare coins in order to store a large amount of wealth in a small place privately, and they also choose gold coinage for the potential profitability the numismatic items offer.

Friday saw little movement in the gold spot price, with kitco.com and goldprice.net showing $1006 as the cost for one ounce of COMEX gold. Gold has increased in value 35.5% in the past year, including a 6% price rise in the last 30 days. Up-to-date prices for gold bullion and rare coins can be tracked at goldprice.net and PCGS.com.

At 1pm EST on Thursday, the gold spot price on the NYMEX remained at levels consisten with earlier in the day, with gold for September delivery sitting right below the $1000 mark at $993.40. Gold bullion has increased 32% in the past year, an average of 2.7% per month for the last 12 months. ETFs have increased 29.8% in the last year, and investment level NGC graded coins have increased an average of 36% over the last 365 days.

The spot price on gold bullion has risen 4.16% in the past 30 days, and according to the recent changes in the PCGS price guide certified MS62 Saint Gaudens gold coin has shown a 13.8% increase in the same time period. Many long-term projections for both gold bullion and the rare US certified gold coins have caused some investors to diversify out of their traditional holdings such as stocks and real estate, although investors inside the United States are becoming more and more cautious about holding gold bullion. Due to the historical confiscatibility of gold bullion during trying fiscal times, American investors should be aware of the risks associated with owning precious metals. Although some analysts are predicting a full economic recovery by the end of 2009, many experts believe demand for both the gold bullion and the non-confiscatible rare US certified gold coins will rise because of the limited availability of the metals and increasing economic stress within the United States.

The demand for safe haven assets remained strong throughout the afternoon trading hours on Tuesday, as investors kept a wary eye on the fluctuating value of the United States Dollar. At 6:30 EST the gold spot price sat at $993.10, retreating slightly from $1003 after short-term bullion holders took profit in the early morning trading hours.