How to know when to sell your coins

When is the perfect time to sell coins? This may be a dumb question if asked of a coin collector however timing really does make a difference. There are times when a collector wakes up in the morning and suddenly makes a decision to sell his precious collection of coins. There are also times that a collector needs to give up his coin collections due for personal reasons and the idea of selling his precious coins may be the most difficult part. No matter what the reasons are, it is a fact that this does occur in the life of a coin collector.

There are many reasons why coin collectors sell their coins – there are coin collectors who are dealers at as well. Selling coins is their option and they may use it to generate income so that they can acquire other coins that they like.

Some collectors travel in search of a coin they want and during that travel, they may encounter coins that may not be qualified for their own collection but they buy them anyway. Upon returning home, they sell the coins they have purchased and make use of the money to buy the coins they are looking for.

There are also coin collectors who gather coins not just as their hobbies; these coin collectors use the coins as their source of income. They make a living from selling the coins that they collect. Sometimes they sell the coins to other collectors and price them higher than the usual price of the coins and this is appropriate if the collector owns limited edition or rare coins.

On the other hand, some collectors sell their coins because of other factors. They may sell coins because of personal reasons. Collectors sometimes decide to “give away” their collection because they no longer have any option but sell their coins. This is the most difficult situation for coin collectors as they often value their coins and as much as possible would not want to give them away – the coins may be memorabilia or may have sentimental value to the collector.

Once a collector has decided to sell his coins, he must consider if it is really the right time to sell the coins. Is the collector ready to give away his coins? Is the coin at higher price now? Will it do well and will he benefit from selling his coins? These factors should always be considered.

There are other options available to determine where a coin collector could sell his coins. He may want to sell the coins at auctions. Many people now prefer the option of putting their belongings up for auction and this is not limited to coin collections.

There is also a higher chance of having the coin sold at a higher price since auctions include bidding processes. Buyers may bid for a higher price especially if the coin being sold is of rare quality and has a higher value.

A collector may also want to put up a website to advertise the coins that he would like to sell. The Internet is the easiest way for collectors to search for coins. In addition, putting the coin on the Internet will make the selling an easier task. The collector may put up his own website and place the pictures of his coins and some brief descriptions on it. He should also note how much he is willing sell them for.

There are other options too: the seller may want to do a dealer-to-dealer negotiation. He can go directly to coin dealers and sell his coins. The dealers then can sell the coins that they purchased to other dealers.

It is important to compare prices between one dealer and another as there is always a chance that one dealer may buy the coins at a higher price than other dealer. It is wise to shop for dealers and then decide which you one you want to deal with.

It is also recommended that collectors who decide to sell their coins use a coin grading service. It is very important so that the seller not end up a loser when he sells his coins. By using a grading service, the seller will be able to set a price that is based on the assessment made by the grading service who will determine the actual value of the coins.

Most importantly, coin collector should not clean their coins once they have decided to sell them. If they do, the value of the coins will depreciate.

History Of The Indian Head Penny

An Indian Penny is a coin that’s value equals one cent. It was minted from 1859-1909 in Philadelphia at the local mint, (also, in 1908 and 1909, it was minted in San Francisco). James B. Longacre, who was an engraver, came up with the design for the coin. The PCGS grading service gave it a grade of MS65-Red.

The front of the coin has Miss Liberty in an Indian Head dress of feathers along with the year it was produced. The band of the head piece also houses the word, “LIBERTY,” (mainly because it is a law that it has to be on every coin somewhere). This side of the coin also has the, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” written on it. Sadly, in the years between 1859 and 1864 it did not have any thing on it to show who the designer was. Then in 1864 the coin was switched over to bronze and Longacre got a chance to fix the image. At this point he put the initial “L” for his last name in the ribbon behind Miss Liberty’s head. The design remained the same until a minor change occurred 1870 by William Barber.

The back of the coin had two separate designs. Up until 1859 the back of the coin had the wreath of laurel on it with “ONE CENT” written on the back as well. Then, in 1860, the reverse side design was changed. Until the end of the mint cycle it had “ONE CENT” on it as well as a Federal Shield above it. The “ONE CENT” was wrapped in an oak and olive wreath that had a ribbon tying it together.

This coin was only 12% nickel and 88% copper. This was before the actual invention of the Nickel and this one-cent coin was sometimes referred to as a Nick or Nickel. During the Civil War they were moved to the back shelves and replaced with tokens in many of the state in the North. However, the popularity of the one-cent coin from 1859 did promote a new coin that was similar. However, the newer coin was made up of 5% zinc and tin and 95% copper. The coins weight was also lowered from 72 to only 48 grams. This was the coin that was used until 1982 when the one-cent coin we currently used was introduced.

There were 1,849,648,000 Indian Coins produced. In 1909 the S Coin had the lowest amount produced with only a mere 309,000. However, the 1909 coin is not the scarcest coin because there were very little 1877 coins actually kept.

Beginning a Collection of Gold Coins

December 21, 2009 by Coin Master  
Filed under Start Coin Collecting At Any Age

Coin collecting is an absorbing hobby, but gold coins also make an extremely attractive investment. A mature collection can be worth vast amounts of money, while even the smaller ones can make excellent profits when sold. If you are looking for an investment that will protect your funds in the long term while also providing something that you can appreciate for its own sake, then gold coins are an excellent choice.

Gold has been used to make coins for more than two and a half thousand years. It has played an important role in the history of human development, particularly in its value as currency. Gold coins have always been the most prized in any culture. However this precious metal is too rare and too valuable to be in use in the common currency today.

Specially designed coins are often produced in order to commemorate major events. These might be the coronation of a new monarch, an important anniversary or even a sporting event.

Gold has always been valued highly, and this makes it a very secure investment. The price of gold holds stable even when there are fluctuations in all other markets. It is also recognized for its value around the world, and most countries invest their own money in gold in order to ensure a stable national reserve. Gold is also held by many of the major banks. Since they are no longer circulated (although they can still be legal tender) gold coins are considered highly desirable as reserves.

There are a multitude of dealers both online and with specialist stores, and there are plenty of opportunities to speak with both professionals in the coin trade and other collectors. The advice you receive can be invaluable, and there are many highly respected businesses selling coins online and at shows. You should always be cautious before handing over your money however, particularly over the internet. It is a good idea to check out someone’s reputation among other collectors before you make a purchase- and to be careful when making sales too, as there are people who will try to pay far less than the true value if they sense you are unsure about it.

There are a large number of collectors and dealers who are interested in the market for gold coins. The internet is a key way in which buyers and sellers communicate with each other. The prices at which coins are exchanged are usually dependent on the value of the gold from which they are made. The South African Krugerrand and gold sovereigns are considered to be some of the most reliable form of gold bullion.

Beginning a collection of gold coins allows you to form a new interest at the same time as you protect your money. Coins are also extremely durable and so they can easily be found in the best condition, and it takes very little effort to keep them looking this good.

Coin collecting raises intense passions in many enthusiasts, which means that there are always potential buyers out there who are looking to expand their own collections. This, together with the stable value of gold, means that you can put your money into gold coins without having to worry about what will happen in the future when you need to turn it back into the sort of coins you can spend.

Having your investment spread around a collection of coins also means that if you want to make some money you can sell off just some of the coins, whereas if you invest your money in other ways you may have to sell the whole investment in order to release even a small portion of your funds.

The one thing you can never do too much of is research into the different types of coins and their current values. This way you’ll never end up paying too much for a coin, or find yourself selling your collection at less than the true value. No amount of reading can replace the judgment of an experienced expert, however, so it is always a good idea to have your coins appraised by a professional.

Which Coins Should I Buy Now For Future Profit?

The main value of a coin will always be in its aesthetic and historic interest as part of a collection. The men and women who have a passion for coins often go to great lengths in pursuit of the rare coin that they are keeping a space open for between their other finds. If your main interest is in making a profit then you may want to look at other options for your money, as you are unlikely t o fully appreciate your coins, and you are unlikely to see your funds increase rapidly, especially without the collector’s drive to hunt out the rarest and most valuable coins.

Many collectors do see their coins as a potential source of money in the future, and as a safe way to protect their savings “just in case”. There is also plenty of interest in the likely future values of coins, either for the collector’s own lifetime or as a valuable inheritance for the generations to follow. A large number of coin collectors do see their coins as an investment, even while appreciating their beauty.

If you would like to begin a collection, and are interested in buying coins which do have a good chance of increasing in value, then you will not be alone. The basic rule for choosing such coins is to look at their past value. If it has been increasing steadily then the chances are good that it will continue to do so. Rather than buying the most expensive coin you can find under the assumption it will always be the most valuable, or finding something cheap because it sounds like a bargain, you should take the time to look at what that coin was worth over as many past years as you can.

Was it worth more or less three years ago? What about five or ten years ago? If you can find data from twenty or thirty years ago, or even longer, then you will have an even better idea of the long term trend. If the price of the coin has been decreasing or staying at about the same figure, then it is unlikely to suddenly change and start increasing. It there has been a pattern of growing prices over a number of years then it might be a good investment. A good rate of growth would be five or ten percent in a year. If this has held steady for a fair amount of time you can feel confident it is likely to continue.

This may sound like a lot of effort, and indeed many coin collectors who are interested in the non-financial value of their coins would not bother with looking at the past prices in detail. Collectors who consider their coins as an investment will be much more successful if they put the work in before they buy, however, in the same way as performing a thorough investigation can improve your chances in any field of investment.

As you build your collection you will not just be saving for your future, but gathering coins that have important historic value too. You may find that your interest is piqued by the stories of the coins you buy, even if you began with only their prices and your profit in mind.

What’s the Value of Your Coins?

December 13, 2009 by Coin Master  
Filed under Buying Coins 101

When collecting coins, the most interesting part about it is getting to know about the different value of each coin. This tends to be true because it is very interesting to see anything you own start to grow in value. This feeling also tends to make your hobby seem like it has more function than many people’s hobbies may. It is also extremely fun to see how much your few older coins can be so many more coins today.

So, now that you have started this new hobby, you are going to need the proper resources to find out exactly how much each of your coins is worth. The first place you should go to, to try and find the value of your coins is a local coin dealer. The coin dealer is an expert in the field of collection coins, so they are going to be the ones that try to keep up with how much each coin is worth. Also, if you want to learn more news about what is new in the coin collection world they will also know most things about that too. These dealers should also be able to help you sell your coins for as much as you can sell them for.

Another great way for to find the value of your coins is by using a blue book. These books have a list of just about every coin that has been used and how much they are worth today. Every year, this book gets updated so these books will always have the correct value of each coin. The only problem with these books is that many times after the book has been published the values of the coins have already changed.

Also, the internet is a very useful tool to find the updated information. The only issue with the internet is that the value one site gives you may not be completely correct. This is why it is best to check a couple different sites to make sure that the value you are getting is the proper value.

Though, these coins do have a supposed to have a set value, this number is really based off the buyer and sellers idea. Remember, when you are trying to sell a coin for a particlular price does not mean that you will be getting that much for it in the end. If you are having a problem selling a coin then try lowering the price just a bit.

So, go out there and enjoy your new hobby of collecting coins.

How to Begin Your Coin Collection

December 9, 2009 by Coin Master  
Filed under Start Coin Collecting At Any Age

There is a wealth of detail in the markings on a coin, but few people take the time to understand their meaning, or to find out the real value of a coin- the price collectors are willing to pay for a rare specimen, rather than what you can buy in a shop with today’s common currency. Some of the information you can get from a coin is the year it was made, the language that was spoken by its makers, and what metals and symbols were prized by culture that used it.

The history of gold coins is long and intriguing. They were first used in Lydia around the year 640 BC. Gold has been used as currency for almost three thousand years. Each coin was designed to reflect the values of the culture that produced it. The Kangaroo appears on Australian gold coins, and the Panda is celebrated on a different Chinese coin design every year. The American equivalent, known as the Gold Eagle, displays a nest complete with young bald eagles, as a testament to the importance of the family and of unity. Perhaps the great majority of coins show the image of the ruler who held power when they were minted. The practice of putting famous and influential faces onto the currency continues to this day.

There are many coin collectors around today, but their hobby has existed almost as long as coins themselves. The first collectors who took an interest in the different coins of the world were doing so well over two thousand years ago. Petrarch, one of the great Renaissance men, is credited with originating the collection of coins as an aesthetic pursuit. Before his time it was more for the value of the precious metals from which they were made that people sought out coins.

Anyone can begin collecting coins. It is a very easy and inexpensive hobby to take up, and numismatics, as it is technically termed, is enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Many developed their enthusiasm as children, collecting coins of small value for their designs. This can be an interesting hobby for an older person, such as a parent, to begin with their child.

A good place to start your collection is with the coins specially designed to commemorate various occasions. An interest in coins can be stimulated by an interest in the event they commemorate. Coins that bear an important date, such as the recipient’s birth date can also make an interesting gift on a special occasion. Collecting local coins or ones relating to a particular period of history that you find interesting can be highly rewarding too. Coins that originate in your area will be much easier to find, so they make a great beginning to your collection. Most coin experts are intrigued by where and when their coins were made, and spend hours finding out about their history. Choosing a particular type or age of coin means you will soon develop a good knowledge of what coins you are looking for, and their values.

Many collectors target coins with particular errors on them, since these are usually particularly rare and difficult to locate. These include mistakes in the stamp causing faulty designs to appear on the coin, and coins that were erroneously made with the wrong combination of metals.

Coins can be bought at shows or from dealers, but you may also find interesting coins mixed up in the circulating currency. If you are particularly interested in older coins, then it could be worth your while to get a metal detector, which will be able to locate silver or magnetic metals. Even without such equipment, many exciting finds have been made just by picking up what somebody else has dropped. The luckiest chance can bring a coin to the attention of a collector, since the vast majority of people do not recognize what they have, and rare coins can be passed through the normal routes alongside common currency for years.

Valuable coins should be stored and treated correctly to keep them in the best condition. Choosing a coin collection means that preserving the value of your items is much easier than with many other hobbies. Many people choose to show off their finds by having them framed and hung on the wall, or presented in glass cases. Many museums house large coin collections that are displayed in this way. The beginner can however be safe in the knowledge that an old cardboard box or empty glass jar will keep their collection just as well protected.

Once the collection has grown, in size and in value, it can be worth getting hold of a coin folder, specially designed to keep coins safe. There are many different types and sizes of folder. The best choice will depend on the size of the collection to be housed and whether the collector expects to add many new coins in the future. Some folders have sheets of plastic pockets to hold various coins together, while others provide separate pockets for each coin. As well as keeping your collection safe and organized, putting your coins into a folder will mean that you have them ready to take with you should you want to bring them to a show or to have them valued. If you are interested in trading coins with other collectors then having them to hand will be a big advantage. A range of folders is available in most coin stores, or online.

To ensure that coins stay in top condition, it is important to make sure they are clean before they are put away with the rest of the collection. A simple soak in vinegar or lemon juice will usually do the trick. Ammonia and alcohol are also effective for this purpose. There is no need to polish the coins. In fact, this can damage them by wearing away their markings or making scratches. Simply pat them gently with a cloth, or leave them to slowly dry off in the air. Many coin shops offer a professional cleaning service, but this will not be necessary unless you are a serious collector, perhaps with too many coins to take care of yourself.

Finding out how much your new-found coin is worth can be just as interesting as discovering its history. Most old coins that you come across are unlikely to be worth very much, and the price you can expect to get if you do decide to sell will depend a great deal on the condition of the coin. There is usually plenty of information on rare coins to be found at local libraries, and the internet also holds a vast range of information. If you believe you have found something that is very valuable, it is a good idea to consult an expert. They will be aware of recent fluctuations in price and will be able to identify anything you are having difficulty with.

Particular coins, such as ones that were only created in limited numbers, can be valuable. Some coins are rarely found in good condition, making perfect examples worth a lot of money. Coins that are bought as investments should always be carefully stored and looked after, in a coin folder or similar packaging designed for the purpose. It is the gold coins such as the Kangaroo and the Eagle that many collectors see as the best investment. These coins tend to be of greater value as collector’s items than as currency. They can be bought from specialist collector’s stores or dealers in precious metals, over the internet or at shows.

Coin collecting can be a very profitable hobby, if it is done right. The value of particular coins can increase over time, and there are often collectors willing to pay large amounts of money for the rarer coins that will fit into their collections. If you are interested in the coins for their own sake, and prefer to spend your time learning about their history rather than seeking out buyers, you will probably find this to be a more rewarding experience. You will also gain much more knowledge about coins that will probably help you to build up a more valuable collection in the end.

Buying Coins on eBay

December 1, 2009 by Coin Master  
Filed under Buying Coins 101

eBay is an excellent resource for finding bargains on rare coins of all types. You should start your research with “Advanced Search” feature located on the search results page. This feature allows you to make coin searches based on Country and other criteria. For example, if you are looking for rare coins in the Houston, Texas area, you may restrict your search only to a specific area and deal with available coin sellers. You should also specify a maximum and minimum price you’re willing to pay for a rare coin, offer free shipping; only accept PayPal and other options.

When buying a coin, you should look for trustworthy coin sellers who have many positive feedbacks and if possible no negative feedbacks. If a negative feedback is listed, you should read it. Most active sellers who have made a lot of sales have a few negative feedbacks, even if they’re always being honest. There’s always the possibility of an unpleasant customer or con artist showing up and it doesn’t mean those sellers are at fault. Most coin sellers on eBay are scrupulous about coins grading and offering good pictures so you may judge the offer for yourself. Be cautious and very suspicious if a coin seller has a feedback score under 90 percent.

You shouldn’t expect to buy a coin at fifty percent or even twenty-five percent discount, it’s plainly unrealistic.

If you want to have a pleasant experience with your eBay purchases, read the following tips and you’d never have to be concerned about your eBay rare coin purchases again.

1. It is recommended to buy from Power Sellers. These people are already well established in eBay community and care about their customers and reputation.

2. If you choose not to buy from Power Seller or a coin seller with feedback number lower than 200, you should check their latest sold items (are they rare coins?) and when the seller is registered with eBay. If a seller has been around eBay for 1-2 months, you might just find a scam.

3. If possible find a coin auction with “No reserve price”. It means you don’t have to bid up to “normal” price on the coin, and you have better chance in landing an excellent deal on a rare coin.

4. Examine through auction listing and read Return policy. You should make sure that the seller gives you at least a week to review coin and determine if the coin was correctly advertised.

5. A useful eBay feature that not all eBay members seem to know about is a feature known as “Want It Now”. Just click the “Want It Now” link located at the bottom of the search page and you may post an ad for a specific coin you are looking for. It is a free service.

It is also strongly recommended to use the “contact seller” feature to get specific information from a seller; it helps you to get a better sense on their familiarity with the item and most importantly, their honesty. If you get vague answers, don’t deal with the seller.