Archive for July, 2007
A limited release of 100-year-old, “S” Mint $5.00 gold “Half Eagles” saved from the San Francisco earthquake and subsequent official U.S. Treasury meltdown. These coins are dated 1866 to 1906 and struck in .900 fine (90% pure) gold. They are collector quality, with a numismatic grade of Extremely Fine.
The images of Miss Liberty and the American Eagle on each U.S. $5.00 gold coin symbolize our nation’s freedom, strength and faith. These precious and enduring coins are becoming more precious and sought-after with each generation and will become a valuable legacy for you and your loved ones. You can buy it on this web site.
July 31st, 2007
A world coin collection can be a great thing to create. Whether you concentrate on old rare coins or new coins from around the world, your family and friends will be impressed to see the various monies used in different countries.
You might even find old rare ones that are extremely valuable while looking for something else to add to your collection. Even kids enjoy creating a collection with different kinds of coins that other cultures use for their particular currency.
Starting a world coin collection may not seem that easy, though. After all, how do you manage to get a hold of the ones from other countries if you don’t travel or know anyone visiting locations that may bring you back a handful of treasures?
In this case, the internet is your best bet for tracking down additions to a world coin collection. There’s a seller for everything, and that includes dealers for foreign ones. By using search engines, you can track down people willing to sell a one from just about any country. There are plenty of rare coin dealers who offer Celtic, old Canadian, silver sets, and a few old Roman ones.
When you get into the business of buying a world coin, be sure that you’re not being cheated and paying more than you should for one from a different country. A coin collecting price guide can help you out in this respect, though many of them focuses on rarer coins.
You can find a free price guide on some websites to help you out with your cost considerations. Another good idea is to shop carefully and compare prices of the one offered by different sellers to get an idea of the average price you’ll pay.
The value of a world coin relies heavily upon its condition, too. If you are collecting coins just to show off rather than as an investment, you probably aren’t as concerned with its world value. As a result, you might not be concerned with its condition.
While it might be ideal to have a coin collection in which every one is in excellent condition, you could focus on collecting many different coins at less cost instead of having fewer coins that cost more. The decision is yours.
A world coin collection can be exciting. Finding old rare coins from certain countries can be difficult, though. Depending on the country, you might easily find the currency that you are looking for or the quest might be more difficult.
Old rare coins from Zimbabwe might be more difficult to find than the Canadian currency ones, for example. Taking the time and effort needed to build an impressive world coin collection can be a fun and rewarding experience, though!
About the Author
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting, and his portal has the best information on world coin collection. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting blog.
July 24th, 2007
Coin collecting is an extremely popular hobby with people of all ages. Children tend to gravitate towards pretty or unusual looking coins, while adults are generally concerned with the financial value of their collections.
Some people build strictly a grassroots coin collection, acquiring those coins that they happen to stumble across, while others buy in bulk and eagerly anticipate new limited edition minting. However you choose to build your collection, you may have many questions about the hobby.
This article will address some popular questions and concerns that first time coin collectors may have.
What is numismatics?
Strictly speaking, numismatics is the study and collection of money and related financial objects or documentation. Examples include not only coins but also paper money, checks and stock certificates.
In practice, however, the word numismatics is commonly used to mean simply coin collecting. Those who practice numismatics are numismatists.
How should I handle my coins?
The short answer is as little as possible. Even the smallest fingerprints on an un-circulated coin can cut the value dramatically. If you must handle a collectible coin, do so only from the edge.
If you need to lay the coin down, use a velvet pad if available. Minimally, use a soft, clean cloth. Handle extremely high value coins only with surgical gloves and a protective facemask.
How should I clean my coins?
You really should have no need to clean the coins. Collectors look for authenticity, not shiny newness. Even damp wiping with a clean, lint-free rag can leave hairline scratches on the coin, lowering its value dramatically.
If it is strictly necessary to remove dirt and debris, ask other coin collectors to recommend a commercial coin cleaner that removes the dirt without scratching the coin or losing the luster. Ask to see coins that they have cleaned before using their advice.
How should I store my coins?
The goal for coin storage is protection from temperature extremes and humidity. You also want to protect your coins from fingerprints, dust, dirt, and chemicals. Some form of dehumidifying equipment is recommended, even if it is just silicone gel packets.
Low value coins can be kept in almost any container. However, higher value coins require special protection. Your goal for high value coin preservation is a container that is as airtight as possible, which also displays the coin so that there no need to remove it from the container.
Many commercial storage options are available. Ask for recommendations from your coin dealer or others in the hobby.
How are coins graded?
Grading coins is an extremely complicated process. Only trained professionals can do specific grading. However, it is a good idea for any coin collector to have a basic understanding of how grading works.
There are 13 standard grades for circulated coins, ranging from the AG-3 “About Good” to AU-58, or “Very Choice about Un-circulated). Uncirculated coins are graded from MS-60 to MS-70, depending on quality and flawlessness.
In practicality, MS-70 is more of an ideal than a realistic grade. A good book on grading will teach you the basics on recognizing the differences.
Some experts utilize different or additional systems, so it is always vital to make sure that you are speaking the same language as the expert with whom you are dealing.
About the Author
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting, and his portal answers your common questions about coin collecting. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting blog.
July 17th, 2007
Although huge amounts of money can be invested in collecting some types of American coins, It is possible to have a load of fun collecting coins without really investing much money at all. I don’t have much money invested in our little coin collections, including those that belong to my kids. In my opinion it’s really not necessary. We don’t do it as an investment or anything - its really just a family activity. The kids get a big kick out of it. When I was a kid, you could sort through pocket change and find coins minted in the teens and twenties. Now days you have to buy bags of wheat cents. Not to worry, they are fairly inexpensive. When I brought the first bags of wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn’t know if the kids would be interested, but they dove in and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought for children, are almost exactly the same as when I was collecting coins as a kid. We have also collected and sorted through old nickels, both Jefferson and Indian Head or buffalo nickels. I especially like those Buffalo nickels myself, but with all the Washington “statehood” quarters, there is a lot of interest in Washington quarters as well.
Collecting coins that are a century or more old gives one a special feel for the history of our nation. You wonder about the history these heavily worn coins have seen. These old coins also say so much about our nation, honoring Liberty and freedom above all. In the same way, today’s politically correct coins which exclusively promote the politicians of the past tell of the foibles of our own modern USA (what subject could possibly be more dear to our self-absorbed and narcissistic federal politicians when they are trying to decide what should appear on our coins than the aggrandizement of politicians like themselves).
There are many types of coins to collect: error coin collecting, ancient coin collecting, international coin collecting, silver coin collecting - there are just so many ways to approach it that its hard to count them all. There really is no right and wrong way to collect coins, in spite of what many so called experts say. You have to decide what your goal is. Do you want to have a family hobby? Well, inexpensive wheat cents are an easy way to get started. Do you want to invest significant money in coins hoping that they will go up in price? Investment guides want you to buy the very highest grades of uncirculated coins, but sometimes regular old circulated coins appreciate significantly in price as well (circulated means the coin has some signs of wear - and sometimes a lot of wear). I have certainly seen the prices of the circulated buffalo nickels I purchase go up steeply in price over the last five years. In the end, its all up to you! I recommend that you buy the coins you like.
If you would like to see some of the coins the author collects and learn more about family coin collecting, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/coin_collecting/Family_coin_collecting.htm
For information about investing in gold or silver coins and other bullion products, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/gold_invest/investing_gold_vehicles.htm
About the Author
Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He has a Mining Engineering degree from the Mackay School of Mines and currently works as an Environmental Engineer. He owns 3 Nevada turquoise mines and markets his own line of jewelry. His jewelry and information site can be seen at: http://nevada-outback-gems.com
July 10th, 2007
When the Titanic left Southhampton, England on her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, the vessel was the largest and most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Just before midnight on April 14, the ship struck a massive iceberg, which ripped through her hull. Within three hours, the Titanic, deemed unsinkable, had slipped into the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. Of the 2,200 passengers and crew on board, only 705 survived, making the sinking of the Titanic one of the worst disasters in maritime history.Limitation: 20,000 pieces
Material: copper-nickel
Weight: 32 g
Issue year: 2006
Diameter: 40 mm (Approx. 1.6 in.)
Quality: Proof
Country: Liberia
Face value: 2006
Customer can only order up to 5 pcs.
You can buy it at this store.
July 3rd, 2007
