Six Things You Ought To Know When Selling Sterling Online

Online shopping is the new trend. Now people can enjoy the efficiency of buying goods and subscribing to services online. One of the most searched products in the online market today is sterling silver. Sterling silver, according to research originated from Europe. Fine silver is not durable enough to be made into jewelries, holloware, spoon and fork. Sterling silver is scientifically designed to be able to stand pressure and weight. To make it durable, other metals are combined to the original composition of silver.

Sterling silver is used in the production of several medical and dental equipments, kitchen and silverwares, jewelry, musical instruments and so much more. If you have sterling silver at home and you wish to sell your items online, here are a few tips: Determine Your Goals

Setting your goal is very important to ensure that you are using the right selling strategies online. Say, your goal is to sell just a couple of your sterling silver at home. If you will be selling just a few items, you may want to promote your products in online auctions like ebay. However, if you wish to do it professionally or you want to make selling sterling a living, you may want to create a business website where you can post new items on a regular basis. You can choose the designs and suit the website to your business needs.

Post Good Pictures Of Your Sterling Silver Posting actual photos of your products can attract potential customers. You may also add details about your products like any marking on the sterling silver. If there are scratches, you may want to include them with the details so that your customers will know what to expect.

Analyze Your Competition These days, there are many companies selling sterling silver online. Having that said, you need to improve your online presence by joining forums and other activities where you can meet potential sterling silver buyers.

Post Your Items On Facebook If you are a member of Facebook, you may want to maximize your account and post pictures of your products online. In Facebook, you can ask your friends to help you promote your sterling silver items. They can either share your photos or click on the like button so that their friends will be able to see your products. Many online sellers are using the power of social media to improve their ROI.

Offer Customer Service Contact Details If you have your own website, you may want to add an about us or contact us page with your accurate contact details and email address where interested buyers can get in touch with you easily especially if they have questions regarding your products.

Sell Items Through Online Auctions Today, there are many online auctions where you can advertise and promote your products. However, when posting advertisements, be sure that the site is legitimate. Check also the quantity and quality of people who visit the auction website. Moreover, do not place your products in the cars or education category. Make sure that you put your sterling products in the right category so that people can easily find your items.

Sell Items Through Silver Dealers If you will browse online, there are many dealers interested to buy silver. Silver is a very in demand commodity. You will not have a hard time finding a genuine person to transact with. Just like a local dealer, online dealers may offer you high price with your items. You just have to be selective and trust only a genuine individual.

Selling sterling online is not as hard as you think. However, you need to be very clever when transacting online because you are not seeing the people you are dealing with and you need to be wise when choosing people to trust.

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A Gold Mine In Rare Coins - How To Make A 7135% Return On Your Money

Did you know if you invested in rare coins in 1970, you could have made a 7135% return on your investment? There are many stories in which rare coins purchased by savvy investors (in the 1950's) using only a few thousand dollars, realized hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars at auction many years later! In addition, the variety of options are endless. Almost every country in the world has minted coins. You can collect ancient Greek coins or US coins, the choice is up to you. Within each country, coin designs have evolved and changed over the centuries. Some collectors choose to collect a single series while others only collect one coin of every "type". The endless variety keeps this hobby exciting.

There are 4 keys to investing in rare coins:

1. Coins minted for regular circulation before 1964 were actually minted with precious metals, which increases their base value.

2. Low mintage or "population" figures command higher premiums. A coin with a total mintage of 10,000 will generally be worth more than a coin with a mintage of 35,000,000. This is simply because of supply and demand.

3. The condition of the coin affects the value. Coins that look like they just came out of the mint command higher prices than worn or damaged coins.

4. After these, rarity comes into play. If you own a coin that is the only known surviving example, everything else is secondary. The condition will not be as important nor will the mintage. If a coin had a mintage of 5,000 but only one is left in the world, the coin will command a high price.

The best way to purchase rare coins is by making sure they're certified by PCGS or NGC in grades MS-60 or higher. Coins are graded from 1-70 with 70 being a perfect grade. The reason I suggest 60 or higher is because you tend to have better returns with coins that are in great condition and more rare. Never pay a lot of money for an uncertified coin: an untrained eye can easily mistake a counterfeit coin for a rarity or overlook major de-valuing flaws. Try to use your eye and judgment to look for the best looking coin in a grade as not all coins of the same grade are equal! When beginning your coin collection, looking for errors in your pocket change is a great place to start. You can make a few hundred to a few thousand dollars instantly if you know what to look for!

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Buying US Gold and Silver Eagles As an Investment

When it comes to investing one of the safest markets that people have trusted over the many years is gold and silver. And while many people prefer to invest in silver or gold bullion or bars, there are many people in America that prefer to invest in gold and silver eagles. This is something of a dual investment, as you are not only buying gold or silver, whichever one is your choice, but you are also buying the value of a historical and usually uncirculated United States coin.

The reason that many people invest in precious metals like gold and silver is that the value of them will remain relatively steady if your country's currency is dropping, like what is happening now in the United States and in Europe. So you purchase gold one year, and then sell it when you need money and it will bring a profit. That is why many investors buy gold or silver bars, because they are worth a great deal, unlike so many failing fiat currencies. You can keep coins in a small, safe place to protect your physical investment. But if you choose to invest your money in gold or silver eagles, which are coins that have been minted from gold or silver, then you're not just investing in the raw gold or silver but also in the value of the eagles on the coin market and as historical items over and above the materials that they happen to be made from. This gives us eagles an additional layer of value that helps insulate you from losing your value.

On the one hand, the value of the US eagles as coins can change, even going up as they become more rare to make your initial investment all the more valuable. On the other hand if the value of the US eagles as coins goes down, there is always the value of them as gold or silver coins. This makes certain that your investment in eagles has a secondary level. But whether you're an avid coin collector or you want to have some physical money that is easily converted to cash on hand, gold and silver eagles make for a fine investment over the years.

The United States gold and silver eagles continue to be minted in abundance. There is a large market for these coins, as well as a diverse array of weights. This allows even the smallest investor to get involved in these coins.

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Why Gold Prices Are Racing Ahead?

World economies have not been having it good of late. With most Western and European countries just recently recovering from the 2008-2009 recessionary period, current GDPs seem to indicate that they may very well be slipping back into that stage again. Gold, which has been a dependable standard of investment till date, continues to hold fort and is seeing a constantly escalation in price. So much so, that it has superseded the price of platinum. This is not a good sign of things to come.

Investing in any precious metal is based on the underlying fact that it is of some value. There is a lot of sentimental value attached to gold and therefore it has been viewed as a solid investment that can be liquidated at any time. However, in terms of its usage elsewhere, there are other precious that are much more in use, such as that of platinum. Platinum is rarer than gold, yet it has receded in price. Silver, while cheaper than gold is used much more for commercial and industrial purposes, yet it is nowhere near the price of gold. The worry is whether the bubble of gold's price will be able to hold its own.

The reason for this increase in price of gold is simply public fear. Gold is viewed as a safe instrument of investment and has been used by countries as a means of trading for centuries. There is a sort of rapport that has been built over gold. The basic ideology is that if it is shiny and rare, then it is worth something. The price of gold tends to go up when there is instability prevalent among economies. When the value of the US dollar goes down, the price of gold tends to go up and such is the case right now.

It will take a while for people to get over this fright about economies. When they do their faith in gold will slowly come down as well stabilizing prices and demand for the precious metal. When that happens, one will be able to see a drop in the prices of gold. Till then these high rates of gold will continue. Thanks to the present situation, many people are rethinking already their need to invest in gold as jewelry. Many are turning to platinum for its resemblance to white gold. Investing in gold right now would be a good idea, however, when the prices are likely to change is anybody's guess.

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Golden Rules for Investment in Gold

Investments can be made in different manners namely; as deposits with established and reputed bankers or financial institutions; in metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium; real estate for purchase of houses, villas, bungalows, apartments, flats and official establishments; in mutual funds, insurance schemes; education; health care and many more.

However, the investment options vary according to people living throughout the world and it differs according to persons and their inquisitiveness in making such kinds of investments. While one person is willing to earn a regular income from any investment, another may be willing to get capital appreciation and under such circumstances, he opts for real estate.

The gold investment is considered to be the best among various types of investments nowadays on account of the facts that the cost of the yellow metal is increasing day by day. Gold can be used in different forms; some like to make use of the gold in the form of various jewelry items and some like to have the metal in the form of coins, biscuits or cakes.

In fact women are addicted to the yellow metal from the ancient days and in many Asian countries gold jewelry is considered to be the auspicious items when it comes to celebrations like marriages and birthdays. People used to tender gifts to their siblings, friends and relatives in different types of gold jewelry namely; gold chains, necklaces, bangles, air rings, golden watches and many more.

Similarly during the course of any birth day celebrations in order to make the young children happier, people used to tender gold in the form of gold rings and the list is illustrative and not exhaustive.

The prices of various metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium are informed at periodical intervals and in many countries there are exclusive markets for commodities like gold. Silver and platinum like share markets. Many people can be found in dealing with such kinds of gold market dealings and it is well established that gold investment ranks number one amongst all kinds of investments made by people throughout the world.

Investment in gold is considered to be the best on account of the following reasons namely; it cannot be made valueless like paper currencies, shares of companies, insurance schemes etc. Since gold is available in metal form, unless people lose faith in investment in gold it may not lose its value. Throughout the world gold standard is followed and the country's wealth is considered basing upon the holdings of gold.

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Buy Krugerrands As a Safe Investment

Gold bullion is one of the chosen investments for people that do not have as much faith in the modern economic system who want to be sure that they can hold on to the value of their wealth. Holding physical gold coins in your investment portfolio is a means to preserve your wealth. And when it comes to bullion gold coins one of the favored investment options is the krugerrand coin. Krugerrand gold coins, much like gold Britannias and Canadian maple leaf coins, are one ounce gold coins that are a fantastic source of bullion that can be easily stored anywhere from a safe to a deposit box.

Krugerrands may not be as pretty as other gold coins like US Eales, or Philharmonikers and Chinese Panda coins, but they contain a large amount of gold, and krugerrands also have the advantage that they are often cheaper than other gold coins. So krugerrands allow you to buy gold at a lower price, while still keeping your money invested in a physical bullion that will continue to have the same value as an ounce of pure gold. That is the real advantage of krugerrand coins, or any gold coins really; they turn your cash into gold, and gold holds its value in ways different from fiat money.

For example, say that you choose to buy a large number of krugerrand coins. As long as the value of those krugerrands does not go down, it does not matter how far the value of your cash currency drops; the coins will be a higher value. This preserves your wealth in the form of gold bullion, which can easily be sold off for cash if you need more liquid assets at a given time. And of course there's nothing saying how long term this investment must be. This is a really important option given the current economic climate. You could buy a handful of krugerrand coins today and if the price of gold were to sky rocket by next week, you would simply turn the coins around for a short term profit. On the other hand if your concern is your long term wealth then you could keep the bullion for years, even decades, holding it aside as a valuable commodity and banking it against the day when you will need it for one financial situation or another.

South African Gold Krugerrands are minted in sizes from 1/10oz through to 1oz.

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Factors to Consider When Selling Your Vintage Gold Jewelry

You must have seen it everyday; on TV, in shopping malls, hotels lobbies, on the internet, even in your email inbox. -- Advertisements offering to buy your gold and other precious metals, or ads that say quick cash for your old jewelries. -- They're quite tempting, considering these days where most of us are desperately looking for some ways to alleviate ourselves from financial distress caused by recession. But if we're not careful enough to give it a second thought, we might impulsively succumb to temptation and end up feeling duped after making the deal.

Truly, gold trading is a lucrative business, especially in these times of economic crisis. You may not be aware of it, but more and more people are investing on gold shortly when there is a predictable decline in stocks and bonds. This is because the price of gold rises when the currency and other investments falls. Unlike stocks, bonds, and other type of investments that plummet when the economy is unstable, gold is not affected by economic forces. On the contrary, gold's price rises up. That's why more and more people liquidate their gold in times of economic crisis because of good price offered; on the other hand, dealers encourage people to sell them before the predicted gold price increase.

Therefore, before yielding to the enticing advertisements of these buyers, you must know the 'market climate' that affects the price of gold in the market. This should give you an idea when is the best time to sell your gold jewelries so as to make sure you get the highest returns.

Once you decided to sell, one of the basic things that you need to know is the current market price for gold. Do some research; every trader may offer different pricing. When dealing with online gold trader overseas, it's important that you agree in everything about the terms and conditions stated in the contract before sending your goods. It is also important you are dealing with a reputable dealer. They may also ask for extra charges for testing, shipping, etc. This is why you have to figure out how much gold there is in each piece of your jewelry. Generally, jewelries made of gold have engravings stating the amount of karats it has. You may need to use a magnifying glass to see these stamps that are usually located in discreet part of the item. If you are not sure as to whether an item is gold or not, you may perform an acid test yourself or, have the item tested by a trusted gold dealer before selling.

Once you've figured out the worth of the actual gold you have in possession, it's good to have a second thought of possibly selling them at a higher price somewhere in our locality. This is an important consideration especially if you are selling large amount of gold and the dealers are not willing to pick up your gold or is offering a very limited guarantee of your valuables.

As stated earlier, since gold trade is a lucrative business in these times of economic instability, there are lots of buyers who will happily buy your valuables. But finding the right dealer can be the biggest challenge. So, now I'm leaving you some questions that could help you in evaluating prospective gold buyers:

Are they legitimate gold traders? Do they belong to a recognized business association? Do they have accreditation from a consumer advocacy agency? How long have they been in the business? What do their past clients say about them?

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Sell Gold Online

The current economic climate has led to a marked increase in the number of people looking to cash in unwanted gold and other precious metals to gain a little extra cash. There are many ways place places to sell your unwanted gold, and selling online is a popular way to get cash for gold.

Most people have odd bits of jewellery, broken or otherwise, hiding in boxes and at the back of drawers. These precious metals and stones may not have any sentimental value, unwanted gifts, or pieces that are too expensive to fix. Online pawnbrokers and pawn shops will happily accept broken jewellery, gold items with clasps missing, stones missing, and much more. The value is in the gold itself so the appearance of the piece is not always important.

Selling gold online has become hugely popular in the last few year, providing a convenient way to rid yourself of unwanted gold and get cash when you need it most. Online pawnbrokers usually offer a very competitive rate on the price of gold, and you are under no obligation to accept the offer.

If you wish to sell gold online be sure to check a number of sites and compare the price per gram, any postage charges, and any other fees involved. You may also wish to read reviews from previous customers to check they received good prices and good service form the dealer. Some pawnshops and pawn broker services may offer up to 90% of the value of the gold, but remember prices fluctuate on a daily basis.

Compare major online gold buyers before deciding who to use in terms of price, service, extra charges and always read the small print. If you wish to sell gold online the process is simple and most companies use a very similar process. Fill in an online form with your details, the carat of the gold and the weight, and they will send you a free postage pack and preliminary offer. You can determine the carat of your gold by the hall mark, images and lists of which can easily be found online. If you are happy with the offer you receive simply post your gold back in the pack provided via your local Post Office. The pack will usually be insured and the postage paid, don't forget to ask for a proof of postage receipt. Most gold dealers, pawnbrokers and pawnshops will process your gold within a day or two of receiving it and a cheque will be sent in the post, on the money will be deposited in your bank account electronically.

Selling your gold online is a convenient way to get rid of unwanted gold and find extra money when you need it most. Through the use of websites, pawnbrokers and online pawn shops you can often get a better deal selling gold online than you could get in a High Street shop. If you wish to sell gold online you stand to receive your money quickly, and hassle free, without even leaving the house. In harder times this quick and easy way to access money can be extremely useful when that unexpected bill, MOT failure, or other unpleasant financial surprise is sprung upon you.

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Alternative Investments In Gold And Silver

Indian Head Gold Coins

If you are interested in Indian Head Gold coins, then there is an interesting history behind such coins which should be looked at first. Such coins are homage to the original inhabitants of America. They are also considered rare as well as valuable since they have been minted only as few times and that too at the beginning of the twentieth century. These coins were minted originally during the period of 1907 till 1933. During these years there were a limited number of such coins which were manufactured, leading to the rarity of such coins today. Thus, such coins hold great value to the collectors since they are not found nor are made any more. So how did such coins come into being? U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt sanctioned the making of such coins and got the famed artist of those times, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to design the double eagle emblem on a coin. This lead to the formation of one of the most attractive American coins which hold great value even today.

Silver Proof Coins

Like the gold coins with the Indian Head images, the silver proof coins are also rare collectible items, purely because of the fact that they are not minted any more. Such coins were made with a special die and a casting technique which has become redundant these days. The coins were made with bases of silver coin blanks upon which dies were cast three to four times to provide the raised effect. The dies are treated with chemicals to provide the frosted look of the raised sides while the other side has a vigorously polished surface, akin to mirrors. The silver is of high quality, the dies and casts are of special make which add to the exclusivity of such coins. Since silver is being traded at high prices in the financial market, in the commodity trading or parallel market, the value of silver collectibles has gone up. Hence, many traders online are busy introducing such rare silver coins in their long list of silver and gold and other precious metals as commodities for buying.

Buffalo Silver Rounds

When economic times turn uncertain, then people look around to invest in collectibles since the stock market options seem not too lucrative in such times. Buffalo Silver Rounds have thus become popular options for investment for many investors in these markets. This of course leads to actual stocking up of silver in the portfolio of one. However nowadays there are no high premiums tagged with such investments as are to be found amongst the silver bullion coins. There are several reasons for this. Such rounds are not produced by the United States Mint but mostly are produced by private mints. The valuation of the rounds is done in such a way that cost more or less the amount of the silver bullion that is contained in such rounds. They are similar to silver coins when it comes to appearance but are called rounds since they are not part of the official currency of the country.

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Best Gold Coins to Buy

Whether you are a casual investor or a professional dealer, investing in gold is almost always a good idea. Whether you invest in gold coins or gold bars the price almost always goes up. That's the good thing about gold coins and gold bars, it's always a safe investment that you can liquidate when you need or want to cash in on the money. The process behind buying coins and bars isn't quite as clear though.

First of all you need to know that you can buy coins and gold bars in a lot of different shapes and sizes. For the most part if you plan on investing then you need to buy in large quantities to increase the net gain from your investment. When you purchase in small amounts, the gold bars and coins will carry a higher premium above the base price, or 'spot price' of gold. And of course the bullion dealer or trader has his mark up to add. There may also be shipping and insurance costs when buying online, or mail order. This all cuts into your investment so buy in larger quantities, 1oz coins are ideal, and carry relatively small premiums above the spot price. The more you buy, the lower the premiums will be.

When you are buying gold bars this is especially true, you want the biggest size possible for the biggest net gain. Not only that but they are less costly then coins to design and create so they come at a lower premium cost. So if you want to casually collect gold then gold bars are not for you, but coins on the other hand might be exactly what you are looking for. Gold coins are great because they usually are valued higher then the gold they are made from. This is because of the collectors value associated with them, and the minting and production costs which go into producing them. The problem is that it's sometimes hard to find where to purchase these coins from. Most of the time you can find them being sold by the nearest mint and you will have a large selection of limited run coins to choose from. Regardless of which gold coin you choose to buy, gold coins are gold coins and a pure 1oz 999.9% gold coin will contain as much gold as the next.

All in all buying gold bars and coins whether as an investment or a hobby can be profitable. You just need to make sure you know that gold bars are only worth getting when you can afford larger quantities. Either way it's a fun hobby that you have a chance to make some extra money with, so make sure to look into getting yourself some gold coins and bars today.

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China's Golden Dream

Emergence of Chinese currency Yuan is directly interconnected with China's ambitions to become leading global leader. To be in U.S.Dollar or European Union's Euro league is ambition of Bank of China. The People's Bank of China has given every indication that China wants the Yuan to be considered on level with the U.S. dollar and the euro. Where China is lagging behind is lesser gold reserve in comparison to both the U.S. and Europe has. So Chinese are in damage control mood. They are hell bent on buying the gold. If expanding the use of the Yuan was its goal then we can safely say that it's their safe bet. Chinese Government has been piling up their gold bullion to back their currency Yuan. China's currency is poised for a bigger role on the global stage as China's economy continues to grow at breakneck pace

China is not only dependent on buying gold also they have taking other measures too. China is not only counting on their internal sources to pile up their gold stocks but also they are all come out to buy gold in world market. Of the roughly 2,800 tonnes of gold bullion supplied to the world in 2011 (source: World Gold Council), it is assumed that China is on the hunt for most of it, to back the Yuan. In 2009, China purchased four tonnes of gold bullion from Hong Kong. In 2011, China imported 46 tonnes of gold bullion from the small island nation. That's an 11-fold increase!! Hong Kong has free economy with all the transparent stats. If Hong Kong is any indication of China's desire to own gold bullion to back the Yuan, then the buying binge is extreme. China always used this clever tactics to surprise rest of the world.

In coming days China will sign an agreement with India, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia to offer Yuan-based loans in dealings with these countries, instead of U.S.-dollar-based loans. These countries have not raised any objection on this. For their international trade and cross-border lending, they will use the Yuan instead of the U.S. dollar. By 2015 China wants to raise the Yuan to 50% of all transactions from current 13% of all transactions. Apart from that China signed a loan agreement with Venezuela for $30.0 billion-the loan was transferred in Yuan instead of U.S. dollars.

We can come to on a conclusion by this: Experts don't have an iota of a doubt that China will remain the biggest buyer of gold in coming days. Because China's close rivals US and European Union have access reserve of gold to buy their respective currencies and China is lagging behind in this field. Secondly, it means that the Chinese economy and the Chinese companies will continue to be the future generators of growth going forward. One need only look to U.S. international companies and see what an international currency has meant for them in terms of expanding trade with countries worldwide and so providing great returns for their shareholders back home in the U.S.

It proves that China is not only a paper tiger. When time comes they can bite too. In spite of China not reporting how much gold bullion it has, China's population and the People's Bank of China will continue to be the largest source of demand in the gold bullion market.

It's good for common investors who want to invest in gold. Gold investment has become goldmine anyway.

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Having Pride in the History of Gold Coins

Gold is a special metal. Aside from the fact it is scarce, gold was one of the very first metals that people learned to manipulate. It does not tarnish, and seldom needs a difficult smelting process in order to extract and refine. Gold melts at a relatively low temperature, so much that a small oven will do the job. Even at room temperature, it is soft and can be pounded into any shape.

The properties of gold made it the ideal material for making the first coins. Gold was traded by weight even before then, and rulers eventually began to standardize and print their own images on lumps of gold. This was achieved using a bronze print and a hammer, churning out coins by the thousands through hand labor. The first formal coins were introduced around 600 BC in the far east.

Civilizations continued to use gold coinage as a means to store wealth. As time passed, gold was replaced by silver and even copper as the common circulating medium, but governments drafted gold coins and stored them in vaults as an early form of sovereign wealth. Transactions between nations and even banks were conducted via a transfer of gold.

Even in modern times, countries can demand to be paid in gold, and the coin is still one way to organize gold as a unit. In this form, the coin is just a lump representing a precise weight, and it is the gold itself that is valuable. While this might seem like an inglorious fate for precious metal, spending decades in vaults, it is still possible for modern coins to have value beyond its troy ounce.

Modern gold coins are printed with intricate patterns, taking full advantage of the metal's easy malleability and permanent luster. Fine designs can be printed with much less pressure, and beautiful micro-impressions are possible, even creating holographic illusions.

When a person buys a modern gold coin, such as a Krugerrand, Maple leaf, US Eagle, or Sovereign, which are some of the most popular and best know gold coins and traded word wide. They are purchasing a work of art, that has value beyond the actual gold. Such rarities are collectors items, and in the future can be sold for an amount far in excess of its gold content, assuming the owner wishes to sell such a treasure at all. Gold will last the test of time. Buy gold for yourself and your family. Such an investment can be passed down through the generation, as a means of wealth storage.

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Things You Need To Know About Canadian Silver Dollars

Canada is famous for so many things like its appetizing maple syrup, wide open spaces, good skiing areas and the little towns in Saskatchewan. Aside from those, Canada is known for its silver dollars. In 1935, the Royal Canadian Mint issued the very first silver dollar to commemorate King George V's Silver Jubilee. To know more about the Canadian Silver dollars, following are interesting facts that you may want to know.

Varieties Canada's silver dollars have been sought after by collectors and inventors both for its beauty and historical value. The obverse features the monarch at that time. King George V. Emanuel Hahn designed the reverse side of the coin. He sculpted the image of a Voyageur and the aboriginal paddling a birch-bark canoe. If you will look closely, you see faint lines in the background and they represent the Northern Lights. The said design was used on the dollar until 1986. In 1987, it was replaced by the Canadian 1 dollar coin. Interestingly, by 1967 the coin was no longer issued for circulation. After that year, the coin is no longer made of silver but of nickel with the exception of the non-circulating memorial issues for the collector market.

Different Types Of Canadian Silver Dollars The Canadian Silver dollar coins have four types. They are the 1935 - 1967 Dollar, the 1968 Voyageur, the 1971 Dollar and the 1987 Loon. Only two of these four types contain a noteworthy amount of silver. The first type is known as the Voyageur coin. Its design was released from 1935 up to present. From 1935 up until the year 1966, the coin is made up of.6000 ounce of silver. By the year 1967, the Royal Canadian Mint decided to stop the silver production and switched the composition of the coin to another metal. The subsequent coins are made of nickel. On the other hand, a small amount of silver is added to the coins in 1971. To check if the Canadian Voyageur dollar is authentic, always check its obverse design. Its obverse should feature the image of George V or Elizabeth II. Moreover, in 1939 the Royal Canadian Mint came out with a silver dollar reverse design to honor the royal visit. It is an image of the building as an alternative for the Voyageurs.

Specifications Each of the four types of silver dollars has different specifications. The first type which was minted in the year 1935 - 1967 has a diameter of 36mm and.6000 silver content. The Voyageur is measured 32mm in diameter and 15.3g in weight. The 1971 coin measures 35mm in diameter and 232.3276g in weight. It contains.3750 silver. The last type which is the Loon coin measures 25mm in diameter. It does not contain any silver.

Trading Silver Coins Trading Canadian Silver coins is easy yet very tricky. Be sure that when you are buying coins, you purchase with a legitimate coin collector or trader. On the other hand, if you are selling coins, be sure that you give the coins specification to the potential buyer. You can choose to sell your Canadian silver coins to a local coin dealer. Moreover, you can also sell your coins online with a third party company or through ebay.

Canadian Silver Dollars have several varieties over the years. Knowing the specification of each coin is very important especially if you wish to purchase or sell the coins. There are many resources online that will help you understand the coins better. Make your research beforehand before you buy or sell coins.

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Investment Coins - The Benefits and Strategy When Buying

Investment coins include any rare coins, gold coins, sovereigns or bullion (such as Krugerrands), that are incorporated as part of a diverse investment portfolio. They're purchased with the primary objective of making a future ROI, as opposed to coins that are collected purely as a hobby. The quality, scarcity, preservation as well as the intrinsic value of the metal that an investment coin is manufactured from, all need to be carefully considered before it's purchased.

As with any other portfolio asset, it's vital that you know as much as possible about your investment. In this case, if you don't know enough about numismatics to make an informed decision, then it's best to speak to a professional coin dealer who'll be able to advise you on the best rare coin investment for your requirements and budget. They'll also be in a position to tell you if the rare coins you're interested in are in fact genuine, and they can detect the fine distinctions that separate one grade from another.

When considering your budget, you should aim to buy the best possible coin you can comfortably afford, as it will stand you in good stead in the future. To give you an example, a valuable investment coin with a guaranteed performance over a 10 and 20 year period can be purchased for as little as R5 000, and over 20 years one can expect an annual performance ROI of 18.95%. The bottom line is, when investing in rare coins, quality trumps quantity.

Far from once being the exclusive hobby of royalty and nobility, today rare coin collecting for investment purposes is a realistic option for many people who are looking to make a wise investment. It's been estimated that there are now over 100 million rare coin investors worldwide in today's highly active market. It's interesting to note however that it's only been in the last 50 years or so that rare coins have become a popular way to diversify investment portfolios with tax free assets. That's right, rare coins, for example those from the ZAR series, aren't eligible for capital gains tax (CGT) due to the fact that they are officially classified as 'collectables'. It's important to consider that in South Africa, CGT can be as high as 20% and it is imposed on bullion coins such as our own Krugerrands. Tax aside, the fact remains that rare investment coins are one of the most portable assets available. They can be transported with little effort, which adds to their high liquidity factor.

If you're thinking about adding investment coins to your portfolio, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

1) As we mentioned earlier, when it comes to the highest quality and most rare, you should always buy the best possible coin you can comfortably afford. This is because these coins appreciate the most and the fastest.

2) Have a goal to work towards and avoid buying coins in a haphazard manner. Generally, coins are always more valuable if they form part of a set or type, having said that, many sets are difficult or even impossible to complete because the coins are so rare. With this in mind, you need to look at collecting a set or type that is realistically achievable for the time, effort and money you are willing to put into it.

3) Make sure the coins you want to buy are genuine, graded rare coins. Coins that are certified genuine and have been graded by an independent coin grading company such as the PCGS or NGC is worth much more than a coin that has no grade. In fact, you should be very cautious about buying a coin that isn't graded. Quite often, you'll find that a coin comes back with a lower grade than what was promised at the time of purchasing it.

4) Watch out for 'suitcase dealers'. These are individuals who sell coins online and who are only out to make a quick buck. They moonlight as 'professional dealers' but their coins are low value and often ungraded. They're sold for high prices on the premise that they are actually valuable. Unsuspecting buyers find out the true value of the coins when they send them in to be graded, only to have them come back as 'no grade' coins. If you're serious about investing in coins, then you really do need to make sure you only do business with reputable dealers.

5) Learn as much as you can about rare South African coins. The more you know about the industry and the different coins available, the better you're positioned to make informed decisions. A lot of information can be found online, but don't be shy to speak to coin shop owners, dealers and other collectors, who are in a position to offer invaluable advice.

Cash for Gold - Should You Sell Now?   Find a Gold Buyer for Fast Money   Finding Reputable Gold Dealers in Your Area   Short Term Low Prices Provide Perfect Opportunity to Invest in Gold   Is a Class Ring Investment a Good One?