The Different Categories Of Gold Coins And Gold Bars

The different categories of gold coins and gold bars can determine the price of the physical metal. The categories can be differentiated by several factors. One factor is the way a coin or bar is manufactured; another factor is the rarity or what circumstances a coin or a bar has been through. The first category of gold coins is gold bullion coins. Gold bullion coins are gold coins that are usually a little above the spot price of gold. Gold bullion coins are the best way to buy the most physical gold for your money in a coin form.

The next category of gold coins is numismatic gold coins. Numismatic gold coins are coins that for a number of reasons are worth significantly more then its weight in gold. Some reasons can be the way the coin is manufactured, the age, the circumstances the coin has been through or the rarity of the coin. Gold bullion coins can also become numismatic coins over time depending on its age, rarity or the circumstances it has been through. The last category of gold coins is proof gold coins. Proof gold coins are gold coins that are struck with specially treated dies to give the coin a detail and mirror like finish. Some proof gold coins are even double struck to give the coin more details. Proof coins are usually collectibles and is considered a kind of numismatic coin.

The first category of gold bars is gold bullion bars. Gold bullion bars are similar to gold bullion coins in the aspect of usually being a little above the spot price of gold. Most gold bars will usually fall under the category of gold bullion bars. Gold bullion bars are also one of the best ways to buy the most physical gold for your money in a bar form. The next category of gold bars is ingots. Ingots are gold bars that are manufactured by pouring molten gold into a mold. Ingots can come in sizes as large as four hundred troy ounces, to as small as one gram.

Ingots that are one to twenty grams are usually known as chip gold. Chip gold usually comes in a credit card like seal to make it easily more identifiable. The last category of gold bars is numismatic or rare gold ingots. Rare gold ingots are usually not for sale and can be found in museums. Some aspects that can make these gold ingots special are the historic significance they hold. Gold coins and gold bars are the best ways to invest in physical gold. By knowing the different categories, it can make investors aware of the many options they have.

Gold Coins

Gold coin investment provides hedges against devaluation and currency degradation. Yet, the investors constantly hunt the internet for more information regarding gold investments.The new epoch in the gold investment began when it was restored in 1974. The trading in Mexican and Austrian bullion coins gradually became popular. But, the introduction of Kruger Rand’s of South Africa laid the foundation for the present vibrant gold coin market.Having a coin collection is a sure expensive hobby yet the happiness and pleasure that is obtained by even taking a look at the collection is worth the cost. Most people start a gold collection with a Gold Sovereigns or an American Eagle. A coin has no determined weight or size. Gold coins can only be measured based on their value or even on their weight.

The weighing of gold coins are done in the unit gram. Previously the unit troy ounce was used. The purity of a gold bar is determined as the number of parts per 1,000. Gold having a purity of 999 parts of 1,000 is the purest form of gold that is available. The weighing of gold coins are done in the unit gram. Previously the unit troy ounce was used. The purity of a gold bar is determined as the number of parts per 1,000. Gold having a purity of 999 parts of 1,000 is the purest form of gold that is available.The quality rare coins are available for $300 to $2500 and the high quality rare ones are available somewhere between the ranges of $1000 to $25000. Rare gold coins can be sold and the right value can be received depending on the demand. Popular rare coins always have enduring demand and have fewer chances to decline in value.

Where in the United States can you buy gold bars or coins?

I would like to know what is the best way to buy gold coins or bullion in the U.S. I am not a coin collector; I don't care about that stuff. I want legit, recognized, gold coins that I can purchase from a reputable place with their certificate and KEEP with me - not have a piece of paper saying I own them and they are locked in some vault somewhere. Just as a form of security and piece of mind for me, I guess. I also thought about giving them as gifts to my small nieces and nephews rather than toys etc. once in a while.

Does anyone know what is the best way to go about doing this? I don't really care where the coins are from as long as they are authentic, certified, etc.

It is legal too, right? To buy coins from here or anywhere else? I'm obviously very ignorant about the subject. I had thought about doing this about 4 years ago when the price was like 0 per ounce, now I check and it is like 00 and I want to kick myself for not buying then.

Thanks!
By the way, I realize that the price of gold is ridiculously high right now, so I probably won't be buying very soon, but I would like to buy when it is reasonable again.

Gold Coin Investment As A Better Option

The fact that the returns with almost all low risk investment options are rather low is one of their main problem. The point is that gold coin investment can be considered as an exception of this rule. Talking about most low risk cases, the investment results are not able to match with the levels of inflation and, consequently, it leads to the lost of money when it comes to the final calculations. On the other hand, in most cases the price of gold is able to keep up with inflation.

The ability of gold to attract nearly everybody is obvious. In addition, gold coins have this ability in enhanced degrees not only because of the reason that the gold is very pricey itself but also because when it is shaped as coin, it becomes the ultimate personification of wealth. The point is that gold has much more than just emotional appeal and it is really true as it is a long term investment.

For those people who want to make investment for any reason, there is a huge amount of investment vehicles available to choose from. Yes, stocks and securities, bonds and mutual funds are available to each investor. These investment vehicles can bring considerable return for any investor but the risk involved in the vehicles is also high. In the case that you do not want to go with a high risk option you can choose one thing of the following: either real estate which can be leased or low risk options

It will be useful for you to be aware of that the low risk options are government bonds issued by the Department of Treasury. Of course, as always, there is one drawback with these vehicles and it is that the got return is based on a fixed interest percentage that is set by the government. The investment interest is generally adjusted to stay at par with the rate of inflation that means that the investments return is still low. On the other hand, gold coins have a totally different approach.

So, gold coin investment is a wise decision for two reasons. The first one is that it is made of gold that means it rarely loses value. The second one is that a gold coin becomes a collector’s item when it becomes old enough that means the value of gold coin grows a lot. For example, there is a collector who has bought an American $20 double eagle gold coin that was sold for a whopping $7,590, 020 at an auction! For the first time the coin was introduced in 1933 and the auction was held in 2002.

There is no doubt that gold coin investment is a very lucrative option. And in the case that the gold coin is kept properly, it carries the value of gold and, as it was already mentioned, gold prices rarely go down. If the case is that you keep the gold coin for long enough you can be sure that you have a gold mine in your pocket and you are definitely lucky and potentially reach person!

Gold Coin Collecting Is Fun And Exciting

by dillon

gold coin collecting

Gold coin collecting can be an exciting hobby to take up. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the lure of a shiny gold coin? Maybe you’ve watched movies where villains hunted down valuable Krugerrands - you could have a part of that too, only in your case, buying and selling old rare coins isn’t an illegal activity! Still, gold coin collecting is a hobby with a unique and thrilling flare.

Some of the old rare coins are the most valuable, but most legitimate rare coin dealers warn openly that dealing in gold coin collecting is more of a neutral investment for your money. Don’t expect to land huge bargains or get great return on your Sovereigns or Brittanias. Rare coin dealers note that the market for gold has stabilized and won’t provide rich profits, but they also point out that gold remains a reliable commodity.

Gold coin collecting can be made even more exciting when the words -sunken treasure- appear. Common tales of pirate gold and sunken ships stir up all sorts of thoughts of riches and instant wealth for people, and some people know very well that sunken treasure and collecting gold coin can be an attractive lure. It’s quite true that sunken treasure does exist, and rare coin dealers or collectors are always excited when treasure coins are dragged upwards from ocean depths. That doesn’t mean that every rare coin dealer claiming to have coins procured from sunken treasure has something you should invest in.

Buying coins for your gold coin collecting pursuits can be done through banks or reputable dealers, though being scammed is a high risk when dealing with individuals. The risk of fraud in any commodity is present, and buyers are warned to beware of purchasing coins with less value than expected. Specialists in gold coins or rare coin dealers can be good places to find coins for a collection.

Always look for dealers that subscribe to the Professional Numismatists Guild (commonly known as PNG) for your gold coin collecting. There are thousands of dealers all over the internet (and especially auction sites such as eBay), but these dealers do not always maintain the recognized code of ethics of the PNG. The PNG requires many specific things for dealers to be members, making guild members a good choice to do business with. For buyers’ convenience, the PNG has a dealer directory to ensure honest business.

There is a wealth of information on the internet for gold coin collecting, sunken treasures, the commodity of gold, and rare coin dealers. If you’re planning to delve into the hobby of gold coin collecting, be sure to do your homework and research to know what you’re getting into. Start small, don’t get too excited, and always be careful in what you’re investing your money into. Deal with reputable rare coin dealers or individuals that subscribe to the PNG, and avoid bargain offers that seem too good to be true or ones hyped up with tempting tales of pirate ship gold.

First Spouse Gold Coin Sales Figures

by: Michael

It's been some time since I examined the most recent sales figures and
mintages for the First Spouse Gold Coins. For some collectors, this series has moved off the radar, but it might be time to give the series a second look.

The First Spouse Gold Coin series initially started off strong. The first three coins sold out within less than one day and secondary market prices for the coins spiked. Subsequent releases did not generate the same amount of interest and the premiums for the first three coins quickly receded. Starting with the fourth release, the First Spouse Coins have showed a pattern of declining sales figures, which briefly broken by Andrew Jackson's Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin.

The latest sales figures for all releases are presented below. The coins which are still on sale are shown in italics. The data comes from Numismaster.


Unc Proof
Martha Washington 20,000 20,000
Abigail Adams 20,000 20,000
Jefferson's Liberty 20,000 20,000
Dolley Madison 12,541 18,355
Elizabeth Monroe 4,519 7,933
Louisa Adams 3,215 5,749
Jackson's Liberty 3,519 6,180
Van Buren's Liberty 2,773 5,078

The US Mint has stated that they will produce and sell each First Spouse Gold Coin until the coins have sold out or for approximately one year from the release date. In practice, it seems like the US Mint is removing the oldest coin as new coins are released. Most recently, when the Martin Van Buren's Liberty coin was released, sales of the Dolley Madison coin ended.

Today the US Mint will release the Anna Harrison First Spouse Coin. To coincide with the new release, they will likely stop selling the Elizabeth Monroe coins. The coins initially went on sale February 28, 2008, so it will be just over a year. Baring a sales surge in the closing days, the Elizabeth Monroe Uncirculated Coin seems likely to have mintage of less than 5,000.

I can't recall any modern gold coin with a mintage this low. The closest is the 1997-W Uncirculated Jackie Robinson Gold Commemorative which had a mintage of 5,174. This coin currently sells for a considerable premium. Will the low mintage give collectors a newfound appreciation for the Elizabeth Monroe First Spouse Gold Coin?

It's possible, but I would add the caveat that mintages below 5,000 might actually become commonplace for the First Spouse series. Each of the uncirculated versions of the coins currently for sale remain below this level. Looking ahead, the 2009 releases might end up with even lower mintages. The coins feature relatively lesser known figures, the price of gold remains high, and there seems to be very little collector interest in the series. This will be an interesting situation to watch as the series progresses.

2008 First Spouse Gold Coins

Coin Series

The First Spouse Gold Coin Series began its second year in 2008. The series had begun in 2007 to complement with the Presidential Dollar Program by creating 24 karat one half ounce gold coins to honor the spouse of each President. After the first two coins were released simultaneously, the remaining coins have been released to roughly coordinate with the release of each corresponding Presidential Dollar coin.

For 2008, two of the Presidents being honored on Presidential Dollars served in office without a spouse. The authorizing legislation for the First Spouse Gold Coin program provides stipulations for the coin design in these situations. The obverse of the coin is to carry an image of Liberty from circulation coins of the era of the Presidential term. The reverse designs will be representative of themes of the President. For coins released during 2008, both Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren served in office without a spouse.

A total of four different First Spouse Gold Coins were released during 2008. This is the number of coins which are released under the program for all but two years. The following coins were released during 2008:

* Elizabeth Monroe
* Louisa Adams
* Andrew Jackson’s Liberty
* Martin Van Buren’s Liberty

The obverse of the first two coins feature portraits of the First Ladies. The obverse of the Andrew Jackson coin features Liberty from the Capped Bust Half Dollar, and the obverse from the Martin Van Buren coin features Liberty from the Liberty Seated Dime. Reverse designs include the reopening of the White House, a journey across Europe, “Old Hickory” the war hero, and a young Martin Van Buren reading under a tree.

Coin Specifications

Date: 2008
Mint: West Point (W mint mark)
Weight: 0.5000 troy oz. (15.554 g)
Composition: 0.9999 fine gold
Diameter: 1.041 inches (26.49 mm)
Thickness: 0.074 inches (1.88 mm)