Coin collecting is a fun, engaging opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover diverse works of numismatic art and connect with different periods of history, not to mention the difficulty of locating hard-to-find coins.
Two variables influence the value of coins. The first is the coin’s bullion value, which is the quantity of real metal it contains. Many collector coins are made of precious metals like gold or silver, and their inherent worth as metal storage devices is high. The bullion value of a coin is calculated by multiplying the number of ounces of metal in the coin by the current spot price of that metal per ounce.
A coin’s second source of worth is its collector or numismatic value. This is a more difficult component to determine than bullion value, and it mostly applies to ancient and rare coins. In the end, buyer sentiment determines a coin’s collector value, albeit there are certain guidelines to follow. The higher the collector value of a coin, for example, the fewer examples were minted due to scarcity of supply.
The condition of a coin is also critical to collector value, as buyers who value coins for their numismatic appeal would pay significantly more for coins that are close to uncirculated than for coins that have plainly seen regular use.
How to start collecting coins
When you first start collecting coins, it’s advisable to concentrate on the bullion value. While investing in rare coins may be lucrative, predicting the collector market for a coin in five or 10 years is more challenging.
Modern bullion coins, such as the Canadian Maple Leaf silver coin and the American Gold Eagle, are excellent starting points. Because all of these coins are made of high-quality gold or silver, they are great precious metal investments. They’re also visually appealing coins, which is crucial for any coin collector.
Even if the price of the coins may contain some numismatic value, certain older coins might be excellent bullion value stores. Coins minted before 1965, for example, have 90% silver and are highly sought after by coin collectors for their metal content. Ordering a mixed bag of junk silver coins will allow you to supplement your collection while also allowing you to invest in silver metal.
Some coins, like American silver dollars, are a mix of bullion and numismatic assets. These coins are common enough that collector value isn’t high, yet they sell for more than their bullion value. Although these currencies aren’t necessarily the best bets in terms of growth, they do hold their value well. Because these coins are older, they’re also a lot of fun to collect for numismatists who like the historical aspect of the hobby.
Rare dates and mint markings are frequently two of the most essential variables in establishing a coin’s numismatic worth. Rare minting defects can greatly boost a coin’s value. If you’re buying coins only for their numismatic worth, only buy certified coins. Certified coins have been checked and graded by a reputable body before being placed in a secure container.
Many coins are primarily used as numismatic assets. Though the metal’s bullion value is still reflected in the overall price of these coins, their rarity means that their collector value accounts for the majority of their ultimate cost. If you want to buy coins only for their collector value, you’ll need to know which coins will be the most popular among collectors.
Last but not least, contrary to common assumptions, a coin does not have to be worth hundreds of dollars to be a solid numismatic investment. The Jefferson nickel from the year 1950-D is one of the greatest examples of a low-value coin that is highly sought by collectors.
A 1950-D nickel, which has a unique date and mintmark combination, might reach $70 or more in uncirculated condition. Although the face and bullion values of this coin are fairly high, its numismatic value makes it affordable to budget collectors.
Could I just invest in gold first?
Gold still has value in today’s society, even if it no longer backs the US dollar or other global currencies. It is still extremely important to the world economy. To verify this point, all one needs to do is look at the balance sheets of central banks and other financial organizations like the International Monetary Fund.
These organizations now control nearly a fifth of the world’s above-ground gold supply. Furthermore, several central banks have raised their gold holdings, signaling long-term concerns about the world economy.
One of the reasons for gold’s importance in the modern economy is that it has efficiently preserved wealth for hundreds of generations. For currencies denominated on paper, the same cannot be said.
In the early 1970s, one ounce of gold was worth $35. Assume you had the choice of keeping an ounce of gold or keeping the $35 you have now. They would both buy you the same thing, such as a brand-new business suit or a high-end bicycle.
If you had an ounce of gold today and converted it to today’s values, it would still be enough to purchase a new suit, but not the $35. In other words, if you kept the $35 instead of the one ounce of gold, you would have lost a lot of money since the value of gold has increased while the value of a dollar has decreased due to inflation.
The assumption that gold preserves wealth is even more essential in an economic setting where investors are confronted with a weaker US currency and rising inflation. Historically, gold has served as a hedge against both of these scenarios. When inflation rises, gold generally rises with it.
When investors see that their money is losing value, they will begin to invest in a hard asset that has retained its value in the past. Gold prices rose in lockstep with inflation throughout the 1970s, which is a fantastic illustration.
In general, gold is seen as a diversification investment. Whether you’re worried about inflation, a falling US dollar, or simply safeguarding your wealth, gold may provide a balanced component to your portfolio. If you’re looking for a way to diversify your portfolio, gold is unconnected to stocks, bonds, or real estate.
Gold stocks appeal to growth investors more than income investors. Although gold stocks rise and fall in lockstep with gold prices, there are certain well-managed mining companies that are profitable even when gold prices are low. Increases in the price of gold generally enhance the value of gold stocks.
A little increase in the price of gold may lead to significant gains in the best gold stocks, and gold-stock owners frequently obtain a far greater return on investment (ROI) than gold-stock owners.
Are coins a good investment?
The ability to recognize inexpensive assets is crucial in coin investing, as it is in other sorts of investing. You may find coins for significantly less than their real value at estate sales, antique stores, swap meets, and other places if you have a thorough grasp of coin prices.
Learning to interpret the precious metals market fluctuations accurately might also help you time your purchases more successfully. When silver prices decrease, for example, it could be a good idea to diversify your investment portfolio with silver bullion. Recognizing deals in precious metal coins, as well as stocks, real estate, and other financial assets, may help you become a more successful and wealthy investor.
Although coins may be profitable investments, it’s important to enjoy your coin collecting hobby! You don’t have to quit collecting coins just because they aren’t always the best investments if you enjoy them for their historical significance or aesthetic appeal.
You may benefit from your hobby while also learning about a new area of coin collecting if you include some solid investments in your collection. Precious metals include gold and silver. Proof commemorative coins are manufactured in limited quantities. They are more valuable and collectible since there are fewer of them manufactured, and many collectors are anxious to add them to their collections.
Every investment has advantages and disadvantages. Buying shares in a gold mining company might be a better alternative if you don’t want to hold real gold. You may build gold-based wealth by investing in coins, bullion, or jewelry if you believe gold is a safe bet against inflation.
Some argue that gold is a barbaric relic whose monetary value has vanished. In today’s economy, paper currency is the favored method of payment. They believe that gold’s only benefit is that it is a material utilized in jewelry. On the other hand, those who feel gold is a unique asset with unique intrinsic characteristics that make it important for investors to have in their portfolios are on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Finally, if you want to profit from rising gold prices using leverage, the futures market may be the way to go, but bear in mind that every leveraged investment has some risk.
Hi, my name is Matt Roberts, and I have been a financial analyst and advisor for the past 7 years.
While my job is based within the money industry, in my spare time I enjoy looking into potential new investment opportunities. From cryptocurrencies, to purchasing vintage cars, everything has the potential to gain you money if you are wise and make the correct investment decisions.
Through this site, I hope to educate others on investing in general, and hope to provide others with useful information that can benefit them and the opportunities they have. If you are not confident with finances, investing money can be a daunting step, however, it is a lot easier than many people are led to believe.
