Developing a hobby of collecting gold coins can prove to be a very expensive one. US gold coins are fascinating, so you find that many people who come across them and can afford to collect, start doing so if they are interested.

Gold makes the world go round, remember the gold rush? That changed the destiny of many families. Have you seen how people react to gold? Even those who pretend to not even be remotely interested? From gold nuggets, to gold bars, golden biscuits and gold coins. Gold was actually used to make coins that were in mass circulation until it was phased out and metals and materials such as copper, nickel, silver and paper. When any trading was done with gold, it was the intrinsic value that was taken into account. With paper money however, it’s the promise of the value to be paid by the government which takes precedence.

During the depression, in 1933, gold coins stopped being minted in an attempt to take the economy out of its slump. In view of this, it was then illegal to be in possession of gold bullions or coins, and most US gold coins were recalled and melted. This is the reason for the rarity and scarcity of these coins. Those that were kept however go for ridiculous amounts. A 1933 US Saint Gaudens Gold Eagle was auctioned for seven and a half million dollars. Some US gold coins are more valuable than others, and more in demand so they don’t all cost the same.

A rant about how much I hate getting canadian coins back as change.

I don’t really hate Canada, I love Canada. I just don’t like getting canadian coins.

Sorry the title of the video is so misleading, and this video was made to be funny, not serious. For all of you Canadians watching this, I DON’T HATE CANADA!

My Coin Collection is just alot cool american coins. Can any one else collection out there top mines??…?

A coin agent’s work is basically to acquire coins you need and are having a hard time getting. The agent will have to deal with the coin sellers and if they are dealers in coins it would be best if you knew your agent well just so you don’t get swindled by both your agent and the dealer.

If your coin agent is a novice or learner they will probably not get you the right prices and will probably be getting the prices from the dealers, which won’t help you at all. The worse will be if you and your agents are both beginners coz you will both end up doing the wrong thing and use more cash than it is necessary.

How you work with your agent is important because it is him or her that ensures that you get the coin you want at the lowest price. Of course the agent might want to add their own price to the deal or reduce the price with the dealer and then tell you that the price is a certain amount so as to get more cash out of the deal.

This is why background checks and finding out if your agent has a good reputation is important.

Once you have settled for a coin agent, then your working relationship will have to be one of trust and understanding. Be comfortable with each other and don’t judge the methods the agent uses unless of course if it is illegal. If you do suspect illegal means then report your agent and quickly cut all ties.

When collecting coins, one thing to consider is how to arrange and take care of the coins. Coins that are collected may be antique, ancient, or limited editions coins. These coins come from many countries and are usually high in value. A collector must know how to keep and take care of them so that they will retain the same appearance and value.

One way to take care of coins is to purchase s selection of coin accessories. Not only are coin accessories used to make a coin collection presentable and organized; but the primary purpose of coin accessories is to take care and preserve the coins.

When buying coin accessories it is important to choose those accessories that will best satisfy the needs of the collector. Some factors that may be considered are durability, price and usefulness.

Many coin accessories can be found in collectible stores and even online. Here are some coin accessories that may be considered:

Coin Boxes

Coin boxes are the most common sought for coin accessories as they are very convenient to coin collectors and specialists. The compartments of the box provide for easy location of the coins. The compartments are also wide, which provides flexibility in placing the coins. The wide compartments also allow the collector to handle the coins the proper way.

Coin Albums

Coin albums are similar to any typical album with the difference being that the coin album is especially designed to hold coins. A coin album has a transparent layer that aids in the protection of the coins. The collector does not need to handle the coins one by one. All he has to do is turn the pages and the coins are all there protected from improper handling.

Coin Holders

Coin holders are best for those collectors who collect coins during their travels. They allow portability of the coin collection. In addition, the collector does not need to carry his entire collection. He can simply place a single coin in the coin holder. Coin holders provide safety for the coins and prevent a coin from the many elements that may depreciate its value.

Other coin accessories can be found in the market. Determine the primary purpose of the accessory and if it can satisfy your needs. Prices will differ depending on the durability of the accessory. Research the many coin accessories that are sold and compare prices before choosing one.

A selection of old coins dug up by a metal detector in Tonbridge. Some dated from 1837

The golden rule of coin collecting is simple. Do not clean your coins. You could say that is strange, huh? Cleaning them is killing them. Cleaning your coins significantly reduces the value. Dealers, collectors and experts in the field will know when a coin has been cleaned, and it won’t garner even a second look if you were trying to sell it.

Some people might think that they should give their collection a scrubbing because a few pieces don shine, or because they look kind of dirty. An old bent coin is more appealing to a collector than a shiny one. You want to retain the originality and authenticity of the coin as well as the mystique. For instance take a collection that was found buried in a bag somewhere. You can tell a story. It looks old; it’s dirty, bent or broken. You also retain the history of the coin.

This is not to say that there are no ways of cleaning your coins. There’s ways to do it, but you better leave it to the experts. If you must clean your coins, then take them to someone who is experienced. The same applies to polishing your coins. Don’t do it. The chemicals in the polish can degrade your collection, and you could end up with more things wrong than you started out with. If you found your coin broken in two, please don’t glue it back together, leave it as is. Another thing, never, ever wash your coins with water. Have you ever seen a greenish looking layer on a coin? That’s what happens when they are exposed to moisture.