FAQs

Gold coins come in various sizes from tiny little $1 gold coins smaller than a dime that start at about $350, $2.5 gold coins that are about the size of a nickel that start at $450, $5 gold coins roughly the size of a modern quarter that start at $600, $10 gold coins about the size of a half-dollar that start at $1,000 and $20 gold pieces roughly the size of a silver dollar that start at about $1900 each. Within each size, there are both common date examples and very rare ones that, in each case, can add thousands to the values.

It is usually best to have a portfolio that includes both metals as the advantages of the lesser-priced silver coins allow for the accumulation of large quantities of inexpensive coins, and the gold being more valuable tends to add more stability.

Gold and Silver coins should represent a portion of one's overall investment portfolio; most clients try to have at least 15% of their invested capital in some physical form like gold and silver coins. Many have upwards of 30% in this area, depending on market conditions.

Generally, rare gold and silver coins should be a long term outlook. Any funds being applied should be the type of capital one can let sit and grow over the years to benefit. Many pass their coins on to their heirs or hold for retirement, but a 3-5 year time frame should be considered. While there are times prices move rapidly, it is generally best not to speculate on short term movement to get the best results.

The best market times to accumulate or buy gold and silver coins are during periods where the economy is experiencing low inflation and low interest rates (the lower the better). Generally higher inflation increases the value of both gold and silver coins and presents the best sellers market. 

When a coins' value is in part due to its condition, the grade or condition must be established by someone besides the dealer involved in the buying or selling of the coin. Having a coin graded by an independent third-party protects the buyer and seller. The top grading services seal the coins they grade into tamper-proof, hard-cased holders to prevent damage to the coin, and insuring the coin they graded is the coin in the holder. All rare coins we provide come certified and graded by the most stringent standard in the industry the NGC (Numismatic Guarantee Corp of America) and come sealed in their holders. (This does not include the loose half dollars dimes and quarters that make up the "junk silver" or coin silver ).

When a client of ours is ready to sell their coins, there are several options available since the customer will have the physical coins in their possession. Coin owners are free to sell them to whomever they may choose to, but we hope our clients will allow us to make an offer to repurchase coins purchased from us as they may become harder to find over time. We would appreciate the opportunity to repurchase them.

All gold and silver coins are guaranteed to be both genuine and in the condition stated, and any rare coins should always be acquired after they have been certified and graded by an independent third party. Hence, the dealer is not the only party establishing the grade or authenticity. The Numismatic Guarantee Corporation of America is the most stringent independent grading standard in the industry, and all of our rare coins are graded by NGC ahead of time, except for the coin silver (pre-1964 dimes, quarters, and half dollars).

Most find the security of a safety deposit box in their local bank or credit union the best place for storage some prefer and home safe or hiding place. Whichever one chooses, coins should be secured against theft as one would look at a pile of cash.

Bullion, which includes all sorts of bars or rounds or foreign gold that are not US legal tender, are Federally regulated and require divulging private information, including social security numbers, and require dealers to report via 1099-B forms to the IRS the sales. The numismatic market is free from these regulations and the customer retains their financial privacy and are treated like adults and responsible for their reporting. Unlike bullion, US gold and silver coins have a fixed supply as no one can go back in time to create more of them, making them a far better way to accumulate than bullion.

Numismatics, which are coins that carry value beyond their metal content and have a legal tender status (i.e., they were issued as money intended to be spent in circulation), do not require reporting by the dealer when either buying or selling. However, it should be noted, any collectible bought and sold for profit should be reported as such when sold, but it is left up to the individual to report.