Coin
collecting in the United States became popular almost as soon
as coins were first made. Although many of the early collectors
were Englishmen, some of the founders of U.S. numismatics include
Lonin G. Parmelee, Harold P. Newland and T. Harrison Garrett
whose incredible collection was sold around the time the principle
of U.S. Rare Coin Investments was making efforts at turning
his own hobby into a profession in the 1970's.
Today, rare coins are considered sound investments and in fact
have been featured numerous times in the Wall Street Journal,
Barron's, Money Magazine, on CNBC, and numerous other financial
publications. Investment professionals from Harry Browne to
independent financial planners have recommended some portion
of one's investment portfolio to contain precious metals and
rare gold and silver coins. Some suggest
as much as 25% of one's overall wealth be placed in a position
of rare coins and precious metals. In other words, rare
coins have been no secret to those "in the know".
Informed investors have long considered coins not only as a
means for capital appreciation, but also as a way to secure
long term retirement goals, establish a confidential low key
way of protecting their own investment assets to balance out
the fluctuations in dollar related portions of their holdings
and to enjoy owning something they have learned that over time,
would stay in demand, hence providing safety as well as possibly
spotting and owing certain rare coins that have been for the
most part undervalued, and subsequently realizing a higher demand
thereby showing great profits when sold down the road.
Investing
in rare coins up till the new wave of fresh investment dollars
coming into the industry recently, was considered a long-term
investment. Frankly, the investor should consider this approach
as a means to a more diversified portfolio. Too often in the
past, unskilled investors equated portfolios with stocks and
bonds. However as seasoned investors have seen and as the
modern portfolio theory has suggested, one should strongly
consider investing in assets that can have a counter effect
to the dollar and most other dollar related (and reported)
securities. This approach "spreads out" one's portfolio and
reduces risk. Take for example one who purchased gold, silver,
rare coins and other forms of hard assets using this approach
as well as a means to hedge against weakening trends in currency
and securities markets. Even if the dollar related securities
portion of the portfolio didn't perform well, the overall
portfolio generally reacted favorably due to this diversification.
We at U.S. Rare Coin Investments have been involved in the
research, trading and financial aspects of rare coins and
gold and silver, precious metals for decades. We feel that
especially now, in today's atmosphere of uncertainty in the
global economic climate, as well as changes in the US financial
markets with regard to a variety of reasons, from uncertain
tax consequences and changes, increasing reliance on foreign
manufactured products, the seeming instability and somewhat
wild fluctuations in the stock markets as well as what would
appear to be a bottoming of interest rates, that today
may represent one of the true windows of opportunity
for beginning the formation of a rare coin investment portfolio,
as well as the recommendations to those who are already involved
and have a position in rare coins to take a more aggressive
posture.
Those who have coins, whether purchased or inherited should
seek out expert advice now, and formulate an intelligent financial
plan in which to capitalize on these changes in the economic
atmosphere, thereby securing a more profitable and secure
future in their own lives and the well being of their families.
Relationships we have built over many years in the trade,
as well as a strong following with collectors and investors
which include some of America's most wealthy families gives
us the "inner circle edge" when it comes to helping you sell
your valuables, or as you begin or evolve into the deeper
facets of the rare coin business as many can attest. Our abilities
and representation stretches on several continents through
personal relationships, affiliations and expert inside representation.
Please read more in our services section to see what we can
do for you in this wonderful world of rare coins and tangible
assets.
Set Building as an
Investment Tool
One of the most rewarding investment strategies
is building sets of rare coin series. Rare coins have historically
done well in both bull and bear markets. Substantial long-term
profits have been made by coin collectors because rare coins
have shown high rates of appreciation.
Collectors have an advantage because while
high profits may not be their primary motivation to obtain
rare coins, they are able to limit their scope and concentrate
on one area of collecting. If they have a plan that allows
them to collect coins with proven rarity in an orderly fashion,
they are in a position to reap strong rewards down the road.
Often sets of coins are more liquid than
a group of unrelated coins. In many instances, the whole
is greater than the sum of its parts. Successful set building
is a function of both rarity and condition, which enable
the collector/investor to determine his or her comfort level.
Since its inception U.S. Rare Coin Investments
has assisted collectors/investors in assembling investment
grade sets of rare coins. We continue to offer the following
services:
We help you to find an area of interest that would
make a suitable investment
Together we develop a strategy
Your goals are transformed into a “want-list”
Our expert buyers find the right pieces to meet your
needs
We contact you as soon as we have located suitable
pieces for your collection/investment
We work with you step by step. No coins are
sent without your approval in advance. You have total control
over your collection/investment by using these services provided
by US Rare Coin Investments.
Call Toll Free 1-800-624-1870 for
more information.
Collecting
and Investing in Sets
Sets of rare coins have long been recognized
an excellent storehouse of value and a useful component to
an investment portfolio. In addition to having an opportunity
to collect valuable and authentic artifacts from the past,
rare coin sets can be a method of adding diversification to
the precious metals portion of a portfolio. Often the people
who start out as collectors become investors, and investors
become interested in coins’ histories. Excellent rare
coin collections are also excellent investment portfolios.
How to build a set Sets are comprised of the dates and mintmarks in
a series. For example one could assemble a set of gold dollars.
It would consist of one piece for each date and mint in the
series. Another way to collect is by assembling a Type Set.
Such a set would include one example of a certain design in
a group of coins. For example one could assemble a Type Set
of gold coins. One piece in that set would be a gold dollar;
another would be a half eagle, and so on. Of course, there
are other strategies. Some enjoy collecting an example of
each type by a certain designer or an historical period of
time. Others collect coins by die variety. A famous collection
consisted of all the die varieties of 1794 Large Cents. Some
collect by mintmark. Carson City coins as an area of concentration
has been very popular. Some collect the first and last date
of a series. There are no rules here, only your interests.
Sets as Collectible Sets of rare coins should be chosen with care and
assembled with the following in mind:
Have a strategy which includes acquisition and liquidation
Purchase coins over a period of years
Be prepared to hold them for the long term
When the opportunity presents itself, be prepared to
liquidate them
Sets as Investments Coin sets can be a wise choice for maximizing your
return on investment. The individual pieces are often less
valuable than the collection is as a whole. When assembling
a set, choose the best quality coins that will enable you
to meet your investment goals. Follow the same steps as a
collector in assembling your sets of coins.
How to Start Call toll free 1-800-624-1870 or Email
us for more information on recommended sets of rare coins.
Introduction to Coin Collecting
In the 1500’s among the interests of wealthy Europeans
was coin collecting. They were interested in Ancient coins
for their rarity and historical value. Coin collecting became
a prestigious hobby. By the end of the century coin collecting
became popular among the nobility. During this time the first
coin catalog was written, and the first coin auction took
place in Holland.
Since then rare coin collecting has become
extremely popular. Politicians, entertainers, and ordinary
people have been and are enthusiastic collectors. Today worldwide
there are perhaps 50 million coin collectors. In the U.S there
are 7 to 10 million. As a hobby, coin collecting is wide spread
and diverse.
Great museums of the world are places where
some famous collections are found. These include the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and great museums
in the major capitals of the world.
The range of collecting is enormous. One
can collect anything from Ancient coins to a modern mint’s
products. There are no rights or wrongs as to what to collect.
The choice is with the individual.
How is a coin’s value determined?
Value is determined by the marketplace. Condition, demand,
and rarity are the three factors that act in combination to
allow the value to be established.
Condition
Most United States coins were issued for and saw circulation.
Many were mistreated or just used in commerce, making them
undesirable for numismatic value. A few exceptions are colonial
coins; early coppers, which are half-cents and large cents;
early silver and rare gold coins. These are for the most part
unobtainable in uncirculated condition at any price. However,
the Almost Uncirculated grades of AU50 to AU58 are possible
for many of these issues.
Mint state and proof coins are two different
categories. The former consists of pieces that were manufactured
for circulation that never were circulated. They are rated
in 11 grades from MS60 to MS70. These measures of a coin’s
state of preservation often depend on very small differences
from one grade to another. Proof coins were not meant to circulate.
They were specially struck on specially polished planchets
and received careful handling. Many, especially modern proofs,
were made for the collector market.
The appeal of a coin is determined by a number
of factors including its design, color, strike, luster, and
the absence of wear or distracting marks. All of these affect
the coin’s beauty and can attract investors and collectors
increasing the demand for the set in which the coin is found.
Demand
The demand for a particular issue comes from collectors who
want or need the coin to complete a set. It also comes from
investors who want to sell their coins at the appropriate
time to make a profit. Various factors influence demand. These
include provenance, historical significance, and prior market
success.
Rarity
Coins are either rare in absolute terms or conditionally rare.
A fundamentally rare coin has a low mintage. If fewer than
1000 pieces were minted, no more than that number of collectors
can own the issue making it fundamentally rare. Other coins
have large mintages, but are rare in higher conditions. Perhaps
they were not saved when issued or they were poorly struck
and wore quickly. Because scarcer issues are more desirable,
they are more difficult to obtain and their prices are higher
than common coins.
Call Toll Free 1-800-624-1870
for more information or Email
Coin
collecting in the United States became popular almost as soon
as coins were first made. Although many of the early collectors
were Englishmen, some of the founders of U.S. numismatics include
Lonin G. Parmelee, Harold P. Newland and T. Harrison Garrett
whose incredible collection was sold around the time the principle
of U.S. Rare Coin Investments was making efforts at turning
his own hobby into a profession in the 1970's.
Investing
in rare coins up till the new wave of fresh investment dollars
coming into the industry recently, was considered a long-term
investment. Frankly, the investor should consider this approach
as a means to a more diversified portfolio. Too often in the
past, unskilled investors equated portfolios with stocks and
bonds. However as seasoned investors have seen and as the
modern portfolio theory has suggested, one should strongly
consider investing in assets that can have a counter effect
to the dollar and most other dollar related (and reported)
securities. This approach "spreads out" one's portfolio and
reduces risk. Take for example one who purchased gold, silver,
rare coins and other forms of hard assets using this approach
as well as a means to hedge against weakening trends in currency
and securities markets. Even if the dollar related securities
portion of the portfolio didn't perform well, the overall
portfolio generally reacted favorably due to this diversification.
