What You Need to Know About Rare Coins

Posted by capstonecoins on February 8th, 2016

There are a number of factors to understand with regard to acquiring rare coins. The most critical factors are pricing, value, grading, cyclic timing, quality, and populations. A generic double eagle twenty-dollar gold coin is not a rare piece but it does have a collectible value. The price of rare coins is usually predicted by the current price of gold. For example, a mint state gold twenty-dollar gold 1924 Saint-Gaudens 63 condition may sell for a premium of fifteen per cent more than an American eagle one-ounce gold bullion coin. On the other hand, 1927D Saint-Gaudens gem can sell for more than a million dollars as there are approximately only six known pieces in existence. Therefore, the most important determinant of the rare coin prices is their rarity. A good example is the gold Stella, coiled hair, rare four-dollar that was recently sold for close to two and a half million dollars. There were approximately fifteen of these rare coins minted in 1880 and only a handful is in gem quality. Most rare coin investors do not fall under this category of highly priced coins. However there are several other quality coin denominations including silver bullion that are affordable and which Capstone coins believes are currently undervalued.

Grading services by third parties such as Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guarantee Corp (NGC) authenticate and certify rare coins and also seal them in a tamper proof hermetical plastic slab. Acquiring an authentically certified are coin will give a first time buyer and consumer the guarantee that they are purchasing coins that are properly graded. In addition to the authentication services, grading levels by third parties such as the Certified Acceptance Corp (CAC) also verify coins that are already graded by placing on the slab, a green sticker. Each individual service possesses a population report that indicates the amount of each mint state coins graded. The population report allows for the purchaser to identify each individual coin’s rarity.

A US “type” coin is one that was minted in 1793- 1915 and which has a characteristic design. The coin may be nickel, silver, gold, or copper. A “proof” coin is a presentation, exhibition or numismatic specimen whose manufacture differs from business strikes. They are manufactured using planchets and dies that are more polished and are struck under pressures that are extremely high to give them a mirror finish. A “cameo” look is observed upon contrasting of the object against a mirror of the field. Prior to 1858, mintages were less than one thousand for proof type silver coins. The low mintages of the originals were a guarantee that only minimal numbers survived in gem quality. Most of the coins were melted, lost, scratched, mishandled, or circulated.

The Seated Liberty coins depict a Liberty figure holding a flag, and a beautiful eagle on the reverse side. Proof type silver eagles symbolize America’s history through the use of artist on precious metal. These coins have been utilized for more than forty years as a good inflation hedge. Many investors as well as connoisseurs are currently in search of them.