Fine Rare Coins Blog

★ World's Largest Gold Coin!

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Here is a fantastic video showing the making of the world's largest gold coin. The Perth Mint shows they are second to none in producing coins with this Australian legal tender coin cast from pure 99.99% gold. It is 31 inches wide and is more than 4.7 inches thick. The unveiling at the Perth Mint marked the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Western Australia capital.

Collecting World Coins

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:17:00 +0000

I've seen a new trend in coin collecting over the past year or so with a lot of people starting World Coin collections. It's no wonder when you see some of the designs! There are some absolutely gorgeous coins coming from the Australia and Oceania region. And Africa has some very beautiful and colorful coins coming from the Congo and Somalia. Even though most of them are minted elsewhere, they are still great collectors coins. And don't forget about the coins of Asia. The frosty and mirror finish silver proof Pandas are a great example of an artistic way of collecting and investing in silver bullion. Coins from the Middle East are quite desirable also with current world events. They have some stunning designs combined with their beautiful alphabet lettering. And of course the European coins will keep you fascinated for quite some time with all of the history and drama that is Europe.

So if you haven't really thought much about collecting world coins, now might be a good time to start while the supplies are good and the prices are extremely low.

★ Buying Coins Online ★

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Making sure you get a great deal buying a coin online has just been made a little easier at Fine Rare Coins. Now you can use the PCGS Photograde side by side with the NumisMedia Price guide. Just compare the photos of the coin you are looking to buy with the clear photo examples provided by PCGS Photograde, then using that information you can refer to the NumisMedia Price guide to get the current fair market value for the coin you are considering purchasing. This really makes it easy shopping for coins online. The PCGS Photograde, and the Numismedia Price Guide open in new browser windows so you can see all the information on one page!

Make sure to share this information with your coin collecting friends and at your next coin club meeting. By the way, make sure your coin club is listed on the Coin Clubs page at Fine Rare Coins. You can also post meeting times, location, and coins for sale!

★ Guide to Grading Coins ★

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:10:00 +0000

Now on the Coin Grading page at Fine Rare Coins, you can use a great step-by-step approach to the grading of uncirculated and proof coins online. Reprinted by permission from the book "How to Grade US Coins" by *Jim Halperin, you can follow along online with the numismatist widely considered the most astute rare coin grader and trader in numismatics, as he shows you how to grade mint state and proof United States coins. This is a great reference tool for all United States coin collectors, complete with photos and detailed descriptions of what to look for that you will want to refer to often, so make sure to add this to your favorites.

Here are some of the areas that are covered:

The Grading Process
How To Grade Mint State Coins
Surface Preservation
Strike
Lustre
Eye-Appeal
Determining Grade
Is It Proof Or Business Strike?
Prooflike Coins
Grading Other Series
Why Won't They Grade My Coin?
High End vs. Low End; The Bust-Out Game
Computer Grading

You can also buy a 167 page paperback version at Amazon:

Just Click Here

*Jim Halperin is co-founder of Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, the largest rare coin dealer and auctioneer in the world. He also writes science fiction novels, and endows a health education foundation.

Starting a Coin Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:53:00 +0000

What type of coins should you collect?

Coin collecting has many roads to choose from, and if you have not chosen a path that you want your coin collection to follow yet, now is a good time, and here are some great ideas to consider.

Type Collecting

This is a fabulous way to not only learn about many different types of coins, but also to be able to select key dates and high grades of some very nice investment quality coins. Try collecting one of each type of US coin ever minted, from early half cents up to coins currently in circulation. Dansco has a great album for that, number 7070.

Or how about world coins? Try collecting one coin from each country. That will keep you busy and satisified for many years. Or create your own category to make a truly unique collection that only you have put together!

Complete Collections

Maybe you prefer to have a complete collection of coins from a particular denomination, including every date and mint mark. Many people choose this route and soon become experts in a small field of numismatics. It is very satisfying and rewarding to know that you are well educated in an area where other collectors may come to you for answers and advice. Writing some articles on your findings to share with other collectors, is a great way to give back to a hobby that you enjoy.

Investing

We all want to see our collections grow in value, and some people choose to just buy a few investment coins to add to their financial portfolio. What are the best coins to buy and tuck away? Here is an area where you need to learn a little about coins and what makes them rare. Taking the word of a dealer trying to sell you a coin rather than looking on your own to buy after you have done some research, applies to not only investing in coins but to any other tangible investment. Make sure you know why a certain coin is rare. For example, how many did they mint, what grade is it, is it certified, and what company did the certification? These are all questions that you can find the answers to in any number of Coin Publications and online.

Sometimes to see what a coin is worth in a book, doesn't give you a realistic idea of what you could buy or sell one for. What sellers are asking, and what people are actually willing to pay, can best be seen by looking at the thousands of coins that are bought and sold everyday on eBay. By carefully knowing what you are looking for, and paying attention to customer feedback scores, you can get some great deals, and do it all from the comfort of home!

These are some ideas that will hopefully get you started on the wonderful adventure of coin collecting!

10 Kilo Silver Bullion Coin!

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:01:00 +0000

A spectacular investment coin weighing 10 kilograms has been released by The Perth Mint. Made from 99.9% pure silver, the large Australian Lunar bullion release celebrates the 2011 Year of the Rabbit. This video shows part of the production process involved in making such a large Australian legal tender coin.

Limited to a maximum mintage of 500, it can be purchased at The Perth Mint while stocks last.

The World's Largest Coin!

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:15:00 +0000

The Royal Canadian Mint has long been recognized as one of the most innovative in the world, with a tradition of technical perfection and superior craftsmanship, but the large gold coin they produced took things to a new level. The coin is a 2007 Canadian $1 million dollar Maple Leaf. Measuring 21 inches in diameter and weighing in at 220-pounds, the coin has been recognized by the Guinness Book of Word Records as the largest coin ever made. The coin was forged out of 999.99/1000 pure gold and the high monetary value of the coin can be attributed to the rising gold prices that we are currently seeing. A Spanish precious metals trading company bought the coin from the estate of an insolvent investment firm at a rare auction in Vienna in June of this year.

Don't miss watching this very interesting video!

► The Perth Mint ◄

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:20:00 +0000

The Perth Mint, located in western Australia, is the permanent home of the world's greatest collection of investment gold bars. The huge collection includes many unique bars from around the world that have been artistically crafted into into a myriad of unusual shapes, sizes and glittering designs.

Enjoy the virtual tour of the Perth Mint above, I will continue to add videos and virtual tours of coin related sites, so make sure to add this page to your favorites now!

► Metal Detecting ◄

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:49:00 +0000

There are lots of ways to add more coins to your collection, but it's really hard to beat the thrill of finding them buried in the ground! Who knows how long they have been there, what could that beeping from your detector reveal this time? Maybe it's the motherlode! The video above of the folks in the UK is great. What a trip it must have been to find that much hidden treasure!

You have lots of places near you that are just waiting for you to explore. Who knows what has been just below your feet all of those times you walked down to your favorite beach. How many old abandoned buildings do you know of? Lots of farmers will gladly let you poke around if you promise to share the loot you find.

If you don't have a metal detector, here is a great place to find a good deal:

Metal Detectors

★ Christ on Coins

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:13:00 +0000

You would think that depictions of Christ on coins would be common, but it seems that only a few varieties from the Byzantine era are the only ones that collectors of religious themed coins can find. The coins of emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025 AD) show Christ facing and holding a book of Gospels. Some coins have inscriptions of King of Kings around a cross. These are great coins to collect. From fairly inexpensive bronzes to silver and even some gold versions. Once again here is another small area of collecting that can keep you busy for years. You can usually find some on our Ancient Coins page.

To see what is currently available,

Click Here

Tips for Investing in Rare Coins

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000

It is estimated that there are well over 50,000,000 casual coin collectors in the United States. 2,000,000 of which occasionally purchase coins on the internet or from television shopping channels, government mints, or in response to print ads and direct mail. Of these, over 250,000 have developed a numismatic strategy, participate in registries, and have established a relationship with one or more dealers. They buy quality rare coins for their collections or for medium to long-range investment goals such as such as college tuition, retirement, and estate building. With these facts in mind, it is easy to see why investing in at least a few quality rare coins would be a smart move.

Here are a few Lincoln Cents that have performed well in the past and will only do better in the future as the 100 year old design is coming to an end:

1909svdb

1909s

1914d

1922 plain

1931s

These key date coins are solid numismatic investments. Certified examples of these coins are still affordable, and remember, there are only so many of them out there and that's all there ever will be. On the other hand, the number of coin collectors and rare coin investors continue to grow. You do the math.

Click on each of the dates above to see what is currently for sale, and buy one or more of these
Fine Rare Coins before the prices go out of sight.

Tips for Buying Gold and Silver Bullion

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:25:00 +0000

You have heard it before, that owning Gold or Silver bullion is a sure thing. They are solid, and they have never been worth zero. Not only used as the finest metals in jewelry, but they also have many high tech uses for being the best electrical conductors. A lot of "must not fail" electrical circuit boards in aircraft and military weaponry depend on gold for the high speed electrical signal it produces. All of your high-end appliances use gold and silver in the circuitry for the best performance. And best of all, it is a world currency. Gold and Silver are recognized worldwide for their monetary value and can be easily be sold for cash anywhere.

If you have never owned Gold or Silver before it would be good to read up on what will be the best road for you to take based on your financial needs and goals. "HOW TO BUY GOLD LOW" is a good reference and a place to start. You may also want to look at the gold investment strategy at "New Millennium". Another bullion buying resource "Buy Gold Safely: Everything You Need To Know About Buying Gold" is worth checking out.

If you are ready right now to start buying gold and silver, you definitely should start with the huge market on eBay. You will find individuals and dealers offering the largest inventory of gold and silver bullion as well as thousands of rare coins. It is by far the most extensive selection of coins to be found anywhere online. Click on the links below to take you there:

Gold and Silver Bullion

Gold Coins

Certified US Coins

Silver Dollars

You can see what todays current gold and silver market price is by clicking HERE.

War Nickels and Steel Cents

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:46:00 +0000

World War 2 gave coin collectors two unique collectible coins, the Lincoln steel penny and the silver Jefferson nickels. The "War Nickels" had the large PD or S mint mark on the reverse to help identify the coins easily when they were pulled back out of circulation. The 1943P, 1943D, and the 1943S Lincoln steel cents have that bright silver steel color and really stand out from the other copper pennies. Combine the Lincoln steel cents with the war nickels and you have a nice type set that displays great!

There is a lot of great history behind these coins, and a display that showcases them will be sure to start many conversations. Even high grade certified specimens of these coins are still very affordable and should be a part of every American coin collection.

Click on any of the higlighted words in this blog to add a few of these great coins to your collection!

Starting a Great Coin Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:40:00 +0000

How you start your coin collection can be the most important step in the years of aquisitions that lay ahead. Because this is the direction that your collection will take and even though it can be changed at any time, the beginning only happens once. It should be what you find to be the most interesting area that you want to explore.

Time has a way of going fast, and this is a hobby that has so many areas, it is hard to master them all, and there is just not enough time. And maybe you don't wish to master any particular area of collecting, but rather just to see a little bit of everything coin collecting has to offer, then maybe a Type Coin collection is the way to go. This is where you acquire a representative coin of each denomination of any given country. I actually enjoy this route myself.

Ancient and world coins will really give the history buff a good workout. When you can see and touch coins that are a couple thousand years old, it does something to you. You get a sense of what life was like then. When you hold a United States proof coin next to an ancient Greek coin, a lot is said without any words.

Coins from different countries along with their paper currency make a great display and a fun collection that can be started on a small budget. But the easiest and quickest way to start is to reach in your pocket and take a good look at what may be the beginning of a fabulous coin collection.

Coin Collecting News and Views

noreply@blogger.com (Bob) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Welcome to our very first blog post at the Fine Rare Coins Blog! This really is a great hobby and it deserves as much input as we all can give to it, so that all the coin collectors who follow us can learn from our great discoveries and our not so great mistakes. We all have some sort of direction that our collections have taken us, and whether you are into collecting Lincoln cents, finishing up that Type Coin Collection, or wanting to get some insight as to what certified coins will make the best investment, this is the blog where we hope we will all find some answers. So make sure to do your part and leave your words of wisdom about this great hobby, I am sure someone out there will need to hear it.

Fine Rare Coins is also our very well organized online coin store offering a huge selection of United States and World Coins, Proof Sets, Colonial Coins, Paper Money, Bullion, Exonumia, Scripophily, Error Coins as well as Coin Collectors Supplies and lots of Coin Collecting Resources. We have made the huge eBay and Amazon coin inventories easy to browse, with informative news links that are constantly updated. So make sure to bookmark this blog and our store for some good information, fun stories, and a great selection of coins to add to your collection.

Remind me to tell you about the Bar Cent I was given as a kid because my moms' friend knew I was into collecting coins way back then in third grade. But a coin dealer told me it was a fake and gave me five dollars for it. At nine years old, five dollars went a long way at the hobby shop for some slot car racing! I will always wonder if it was really a fake or not. On second thought, don't remind me...