Posts Tagged ‘collecting’
Mexican 50 Peso Gold Coin – A Very Special Mexican Gold Coin
No coin collection can be complete without a fine set of Mexican gold coins, most specifically the Mexican 50 Peso gold coin. An affordable coin made of 90% gold alloy and 10% copper alloy, this specimen is a great investment for those collecting gold bullion coins, and is one of the most durable in the Western Hemisphere.
The Mexican 50 Peso gold coin was issued in 1921 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain. It is the first ever such gold coin issued and therefore is also known as the Centenario.
The coin is a beautifully rendered specimen that displays an image commonly known as “Winged Victory” carrying a laurel wreath in her right hand and a segment of broken chains in her left hand. Behind the image of Winged Victory can be seen two of Mexico’s most well known volcanoes. The date 1821 on one side of the coin indicates the commemorative year, while the data on the right will designate the year the coin was minted.
Known as restrikes, roughly 4 million specimens of this particular coin were minted between 1949 and 1972. However, 50 Peso denominations of Mexican gold coins that were minted in 1921 in 1931 and also those produced before 1949 are considered the favorites. The reverse side of the coin features the Mexican coat of arms. An eagle delicately balanced on a cactus holding a serpent in its beak is also displayed.
The Mexican 50 Peso gold coin contains a fineness of .900 and contains 37.5 g troy ounce. For a taste of independence and a piece of history, investors and collectors accumulating Mexican gold coins should make room in their portfolio for this very special Mexican 50 Peso gold coin specimen.
What Is Your Coin Collection Worth?
Coin collecting is a very popular hobby. Not only are coins a great collectible, they can also be quite valuable as well. What determines the value of a coin? As with most things in life, the law of supply and demand. How do you tell whether your coins are rare, and thus valuable?
Appraising the value of a coin is not always easy. Your best bet would be to take the coin around to several different coin dealers to have it appraised. Most dealers will appraise coins for free, especially if they’re interested in buying them.
Another good method is to ship your coins out to a professional grading service. Having these services appraise your coins will almost always come at a cost, but having an accurate value for your coins or collection may be well worth it.
There are certain publications that a coin enthusiast can use to know how much coins generally are in the market. A good reference that both the dealer and collector can use is the US Coin Redbook.
In most guides coins are grouped into two price categories: retail and wholesale prices. Naturally, dealers tend to use wholesale prices when dealing in bulk or with one another. Retail, as you probably know is a higher price dealers charge collectors.
As with many other types of collections, coin collections can be incredibly valuable. As a collector, it’s crucial for you to know not only the value of your existing collection, but also any coins you may want to add to your collection.
Engelhard Silver Bars – A Trusted Name in Silver Bullion Bars
If you collect silver bullion bars, Engelhard Silver Bars are, in all likelihood, a component of your silver portfolio. These beautiful bars haven’t been mass produced since the 1980′s. Obviously, acquiring one can be very difficult. The easiest method to do so is to purchase one from a fellow collector on an auction web site such as Ebay.
Engelhard has a spotless reputation for the quality and purity of their bullion bars, and the bars are always stamped with the exact purity of silver contained. Collectors love this brand, because they know that they have the ability to sell or buy with confidence no matter where the investor is located, nearly anywhere in the world.
The ten and one hundred ounce bars have been the most popular of the silver bars with investors. Investing in one hundred ounce bars is popular, because you can invest in pure silver and at the same time avoid the premiums usually found on legal bullion coins.
Most investors buy Engelhard Silver Bars in one hundred ounce bars, because they usually sell when the price of silver goes up. Those who buy to invest in their own financial future usually buy a smaller bar. Investing in silver coins is more commonly done, but purchasing silver bars is becoming increasingly popular. This may be due to the fact that recently one hundred ounce bars sometimes carry a premium of 40% or more.
Experienced collectors know that investing in gold and silver is one of the best ways to achieve financial security. While most markets go up and down, these usually remain constant. Think of the stock market recently – investors were losing millions of dollars. This isn’t likely to happen when you invest in gold and silver coins, bullion, and bars.
Investing in silver is also a popular way to plan for retirement. When you start collecting early on, the value of your collection accrues over the years and usually has a high value when you do decide to liquidate. Collecting silver and gold is a very smart way to secure your future. There aren’t many markets that you can rely on like this.
Whether you collect silver, gold or both, make sure you invest in the best quality in order to achieve an excellent return when you sell. If you haven’t added Engelhard Silver Bars to your collection, there is no time like the present!
Are You Going To Buy Silver Bullion?
With the different bullions on the market today, silver bullion is one of the most popular types. Because silver is much less expensive than other precious metals, it is more affordable for the average person. This cheaper price allows anyone to be able to purchase a greater quantity thus giving them the feeling they are getting something for their money. They can also purchase silver when they have a small amount of extra money laying around as opposed to having to save a larger amount to purchase gold.
Because silver is still cheap, it also attracts people who are speculating that the price to go up. These days, this isn’t too much of a pipe dream because of the booming economies of India and China. These economies will demand more and more precious minerals thus boosting the price of silver bullion.
The most popular form of silver for people to collect is silver bullion coins and ingots. Silver bullion coins and ingots have often come from ancient times and even shipwrecks. This not only creates a mystery around them but it also increases their value.
Some of the higher valued silver bullion is called an ingot. Ingots are small or large bars of silver. The more mystery surrounding the ingot, the higher the price. This means that these bars can be worth much more than their silver content alone.
The most popular form of collecting silver bullion comes in collecting silver bullion coins. These coins include the Canadian Maple Leaf as well as the Silver American Eagle coins and Commemorative coins. The Maple Leaf coins are minted each year in a series. The Royal Canadian Mint officially seals these coins which increases their value.
The official coin of the United States is the American Eagle. These silver bullion coins have two strikes, the business strike and the proof strike. Proofs are more valuable because there are fewer of these strikes that are produced.
When giving silver bullion coins as gifts, the Commemorative coin is very popular. Commemorative coins are popular because they commemorate a special event or time in history. Because their production is limited, they are quite valuable making them highly sought after.
Another reason people buy silver bullion is to hedge against a weakening economy. With all the turmoil in the world these days, buying silver bullion coins and ingots would offset the declining dollar and make a safe investment for the future. Hopefully, the economy settles down but if it doesn’t you can always count on silver.
Collecting Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coins
The Swiss 20 Franc gold coin, also known as the Swiss 20 Franc Vreneli is beyond question among the world’s most dignified and classically designed Swiss gold coins. Because Switzerland has always exercised buttressing its currency with gold, Switzerland has long been acknowledged as among the most financially stable and powerful countries in the world.
The Swiss gold coin most commonly known as the Swiss 20 Franc is a well-crafted and endearing piece that exhibits the profile of a Swiss woman, more generally recognized as Vreneli, with braided hair, wearing flowers and looking left.
Over her head are the words “Helvetia”, an additional common epithet for this specific coin. The diametrical face of the coin exhibits the familiar Swiss shield over an oak limb that has been tied with ribbons and includes the denomination and the date.
The Swiss 20 Franc Gold coin was minted in Bern and consists of 90% gold. Altogether, 29 pieces were struck in 1879, a small cross imprinted in the center of the Swiss cross on the obverse side distinguishing these from others.
The coin, measuring 21 mm across, has been minted in various years, the most commonly known being:
* 1897 to 1916
* 1922
* 1925 to 1927
* 1930
* 1935
* 1945 to 1947
* 1949
When it comes to collecting or investing in Swiss gold coins, genuine Swiss gold coins are some of the most beautiful ever minted. The first-ever striking of gold coins in Switzerland occurred in about 1492, although the gold Swiss 20 Franc coins are the most famous and were issued in Switzerland from 1897 to 1935.
German 20 Mark Gold Coin: A Stunning Old Rare German Coin
Anyone who owns, trades, or collects gold coins would not have a complete collection without a German 20 Mark Gold coin piece. These beautiful gold coins display a wonderfully detailed profile of Kaiser Wilhelm and were minted between 1871 and 1913.
Kaiser Wilhelm, the King of Prussia, was the most powerful man in all of Europe for many years. Otto von Bismarck became the King of Prussia in April of 1871 and united the Alsace-Lorraine region of French and German territories.
The German 20 Mark gold coin is one of the most famous of German gold coins in the world. Otto von Bismarck created common currencies as well as a central bank and legal system.
The German Mark is a popular and common unit of money that was found throughout much of Europe and Germany before the unification of Germany. A wide variety of German gold coins were minted in the following 60 years, using different standards and materials.
Standard gold coins have been available in 20 Mark denominations since 1871. As Prussia was the largest and wealthiest of all the provinces within the Prussian Empire at the time, these coins are especially coveted by collectors and investors from around the world. The German 20 Mark gold coin was issued between 1871 to 1913, measures 22.5 cm in diameter and contains a .2304 gold content.
The obverse side of the head displays Kaiser Wilhelm’s profile facing right, surrounded by the words, Wilhelm Deutscher Kaiser Knig V. Preussen. Otto von Bismarck Kaiser Wilhelm is considered to be the father of the German Empire. He served as Germany’s First Chancellor.
The other side displays the familiar Deutsches Reich German Eagle with wings spread and the 20 Mark denotations. The Kaiser Wilhelm II coin displays the profile of Wilhelm II, who was the last Kaiser of Germany. The edge is exquisitely designed with leaves and cinquefoils and lettering.