Blog | Main Street Coin

January 18, 2016

Five Ways To Ensure Your Coin Collection Is A Good Investment

The idea of making money from your coin collection is intoxicating. Every coin collector dreams of stumbling upon a rare, undiscovered treasure worth millions—maybe hidden in an estate-sale find or forgotten in a chest in your great-aunt’s attic.

But we live in the real world, and here, valuable collections rarely happen by accident. Instead, they come from hard work, smart purchases, and patience.

If you want your coins to gain value as they age, do not buy unless you can answer “Yes” to all of these questions.

Is It Rare?

Chances are if a coin wasn’t particularly rare when you purchased it, not much is going to change with the passing of a few years. If you are looking for an investment then the coin needs to be rare, preferably with a demand that exceeds the supply.

Delving into U.S. coins with limited runs or the rarest coins from a particular series is a good way to start. Certified ancient coins are also worth consideration.

Is It Authentic?

If you’re planning to drop a lot of money on coins, make sure you’re getting the real thing! Whether you are purchasing rare U.S. coins or ancient coins, make sure they are certified. Familiarize yourself with reputable grading services like PGCS for American coins or NGC for ancient coins.

Is It in Good Condition?

You already know that condition affects the value of a coin, but increases in value aren’t always consistent across grades. If you are looking to make money on an investment, purchase the best specimen that you can afford of a particular coin.

Can You Move It?

Just because the value increases doesn’t necessarily mean there is anyone out there willing to buy it. As we mentioned earlier, focus on coins that have greater demand than the actual supply can satisfy. If there isn’t interest from collectors, you may have trouble moving certain coins.

The last thing you want to do is discount the sale of an investment!

Is It a Fair Price?

Just like any other investment, the number-one rule is to buy low and sell high.

It’s easy to get excited when you find a coin you want—and too easy to rationalize that purchase. But when looking at coins from an investment standpoint, it’s not about your desires. It’s about the market and the appropriate price range for that coin.

Finding them takes more time, but you’ll get the biggest return over time if you buy coins below their fair market value.

January 10, 2016

The Storm that Crushed the Spanish Empire

The signs have been there all along.

The waves are noticeably higher, and sea foam is dancing across the surface of the ocean. Birds are flying lower than usual. Smoke from the lamp floats toward the ground as if bowing to the heavy wind. The breeze that hits your face seems unfamiliar. It’s not the wind that softly caresses your cheeks on a fair day, but the wind that slaps you in the face—cold.

A storm is coming. You have to brace yourselves.

“Strike the royals!” you command your men as you feel the first few drops of rain hit your skin. They follow you in earnest though you can see small beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. Others are busying themselves with securing loose gear, closing all portholes, and tightening the doors.

It’s too late to turn back now. There is no use steering the whole fleet back to Cumana; it is already leagues away. You also know that you have to get the treasures—hundreds of gold bars and thousands of silver coins, precious gemstones and pearls from the rarest of oysters—back to the Spanish Empire fast, or else. You dare not think of it.

It comforts you to know that your men are all well-trained and that this is not the first time that you have sailed through a storm. But something in your gut feels different. The sea is a cradle lulling your ship to sleep, and you tighten your hold on the wheel to keep your balance. Drops of rain are falling faster now, more relentless. Thunder rumbles like a hungry giant’s belly, starved for food. Your men are working their way down the mast and striking more sails, even as they start to get drenched.

Your right-hand man comes to you and shouts over the wind, “What of the treasures, captain?” Your eyes immediately dart to the three chests at the side of the deck, neglected by the men who just earlier were gloating at the treasures they contain. You feel a knot tighten in your stomach.

“Bring them to my cabin,” you say, but another roll of thunder drowns out your voice. A huge wave comes out of nowhere, and you grab the wheel, holding on for dear life. A blinding flash of lightning hits the ocean, much too close to your ship’s hull.

“Drop anchor!” you shout, but it is lost in the thunder.

Suddenly, something catches your eye: the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, not ten pasos away, is rising up – up – UP. She’s being lifted by a monster wave, taller than 20 men. She’s completely broadside to the wave—the worst possible position. The men aboard rush to the uphill side, trying to balance the weight… but it’s hopeless.

As you watch, frozen, she broaches halfway up the monster wall of water, and then tips further. She capsizes, and after a horrible interminable moment, tumbles down the wall of water upside down.

Thankfully, you can’t hear the crew as they plunge headfirst into the dark abyss.

And then you realize the monster wave is coming right for you.

“Turn her! Into the wave!” The helmsman spins the wheel, but it’s far too late. Weighted down with the gold of the New World, you can’t turn her in time.

The monster is upon you, fierce tide sucking the ship’s belly into the wave. All you see above is roiling black water.

Eight Spanish treasure ships sank off the coast of Florida in 1622. They carried over $400 million in gold and riches from the New World, which would have replenished Spain’s struggling economy. The loss of these ships contributed to the downfall of the Spanish empire.

The shipwreck was discovered in 1985, and placed on permanent museum display. Then, in 2015, certain items went up for private auction.

January 3, 2016

5 Reasons To Invest in Gold

If you’re new to investing, the older hands will tell you it’s both an art and a science. There’s a reason for this: You need an artist’s penchant for risk-taking, but a scientist’s obsession with reality. Obviously, you must know your market; after all, knowledge is power. Particularly when you browse the Web, you’re sure to find reams of text dedicated to the Great Gold Debate: whether the world’s second most precious metal is a worthwhile investment.

The verdict?

The jury’s still out.

Nevertheless, here are five reasons why you should consider gold as a good, smart, long-term investment.

1. It’s a Hedge

As a rule, seasoned investors are likely to use their investment in gold to offset the decline of a certain currency, and that’s usually the US dollar, but not always. It also serves as protection against resultant inflation. Bear in mind that gold has more than quadrupled in value over the last decade, and given the political and economic volatility in gold producing countries like South Africa, gold’s unlikely to go anywhere else but up.

2. It’s a Safe Haven

2008’s financial meltdown drove the global investment fraternity into a gold-buying frenzy and the price of the metal shot skywards. Add to this the ongoing crisis in the Eurozone as well as the knock-on effect of domestic issues in the US: the impact of Obamacare, the Wall Street Reform Act and the debt-ceiling crisis of 2011. Any measure of economic uncertainty tends to make gold more attractive – and there’s more than enough of that going round, both domestically and internationally.

3. Globally, There’s Growing 24-Karat Passion

Frank Holmes, CEO and chief investment officer at U.S. Global Investors, an investment fund based in San Antonio, is waxing lyrical about what he sees as a growing demand for gold ornaments and jewelry in emerging market countries like China and India where the metal is regarded as an important cultural symbol. “Fifty percent of the world’s population believes in gold for love, romances, birthdays,” he argues.

Together, China and India account for the majority of worldwide demand for not only jewelry and ornaments, but also coins and gold bars. In 2014, China actually overtook India as the world’s leading consumer of gold, and the demand remains solid.

4. It Has a History of Holding Its Value

Gold has a very long and rich history throughout the world and is both respected and valued because of it. Given that it’s been interwoven into numerous cultures for millennia, it’s worth investing in and holding onto for that very reason. Unlike paper currency, coins and other assets, gold retains its value over time and a great many people see it as the best way to preserve their wealth and pass it on from generation to generation.

5. Supply Constraints

It’s always worth remembering that much of the global market’s gold supply since the 1990s has come from the sales of gold bullion – bars kept in the vaults of the world’s central banks. This practice slowed in 2008 and hasn’t really picked up again. At the same time, according to Bullionvault.com, the production of new gold from mines has been steadily declining since the turn of the millennium and supply constraints inevitably increase demand as well as price.

In the final analysis – provided you take a long-term view and see your investment in gold accordingly – you can’t really go wrong. Of course, it makes sense that the precious metal should form part of a broader investment portfolio because of its speculative nature in the short term, but as a commodity, gold sets a very high standard indeed.

Did you like this post? Check out “Should We Say Goodbye to the Penny?” and our other great articles.

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December 27, 2015

From Alloy to Obverse—The 8 Terms You Need to Know to Start Collecting Coins

Coin collecting, or “The Hobby of Kings,” has entertained the rich and well-heeled for millennia. It’s probably the oldest hobby in the world, too – with roots tracing back to the ancient Romans.

Know what to look for as you build your kingly collection. Here are the fundamental numismatic terms:

Alloy
A mixture of two or more metals. For coins, the most common metals are gold, copper, and silver.

Die
An engraved stamp used for impressing a design (images, value, and mottoes) upon a blank piece of metal to make a coin. All coins made in the U.S. are struck by a pair of dies. The dies are in a machine called a coining press.

Filler
A coin used to hold or “fill in” the spot in a collection until a better grade coin can be added to take its place. Collectors typically use a low grade or even a damaged coin as a filler until its replacement is secured.

Incuse
The part of a coin’s design that is pressed into the surface. (As opposed to “relief,” where the design is raised above the surface.) Most U.S. coins use bas-relief, where the designs are above the level field of the coin.

Obverse
The front (or “heads”) side of a coin. It usually has the date, mint mark, and main design, oftentimes a portrait. The opposite side is the “reverse” side.

Relief
The part of a coin’s design that is raised above the surface, the opposite of incuse.

Tone
The hue or color a coin acquires through age, as oxygen and sulfur alter the coin’s metal over time. It is most common in silver and copper coins; gold coins are the least susceptible to toning.

Type set
A collection of coins based on denomination. For example, a nickel type set would contain one of each of the four types of nickels that the United States Mint has produced. Traditional collections consist of all the dates within a series, such as the state quarters collection or the Lincoln set.

Type sets are more common among younger and newer coin collectors. Date sets are commonly sought by experienced and wealthy collectors.

Did you like this post? Check out “How Much Would a Bengals Super Bowl Ring Be Worth?” and our other great articles.

Main Street Coin specializes in rare coins and currency. We are also gold, silver, diamonds, and jewelry buyers. Visit us first for a free evaluation. We are located in Fairfield, Hyde Park, Milford, and Florence.

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December 20, 2015

How the Lost Confederate Gold was Stolen

The night was typical for late May in Chennault, Georgia: a little humid, but the ground where the Confederate soldiers slept was cool and welcoming. Captain Parker tucked his satchel beneath his head and finally drifted to sleep, worrying about the priceless treasure he was guarding.

His scouts had reported seeing Union cavalry ahead on the road to Augusta, so they had to find another way. He wished this trip were over already.

Hidden in wooden barrels or not, it wasn’t safe to travel with this much treasure.

Midnight Attack

Around midnight, one of the guards was alerted by a rustling sound. Suddenly, ragtag men rushed the wagon.

“Woohoo!” one of the bushwhackers yelled, kicking a barrel off the back of the wagon.

This crew wore ragged uniforms of both blue and gray – and there were many of them. The guard stood silently as the crowd descended.

Wealth Beyond Measure

The barrels exploded coins, socks full of specie, and ingots as it hit the hard ground.

Parker awoke to the thud of a man hitting the ground next to him. It was the guard, who’d been struck unconscious by one of the bushwhackers – some of whom stood knee-deep in Confederate gold.

One of the soldiers glanced his way, pulling a revolver from his hip.

“I know you’re tempted to try and stop us, but there’s far more of us than you. We don’t want to kill you. We’ll just be taking payment for our services from this here treasure you were trying to hide. We’ve lost more than this will ever cover, and we don’t give a damn about them frogs!”

Desperate, Hopeless Men

Parker knew many had lost everything in this war. Families, fortunes, and even entire towns had been destroyed, leaving some men had literally nothing to return to.

He knew it was foolish to ask his men to fight for the payment of a war they never wanted, to risk their lives one more time.

He threw up his hands and stood silently, accepting. The bushwhackers loaded their satchels,pockets, boots, and even their canteens with as much loot as they could carry.

The night ended with the sounds of coins hitting the ground like heavy rain drops. As the thieves rode away into the night, loose coins jostled out of their clothes as if to offer payment for compliance.

The Confederate’s massive treasure shipment melted away in that Georgia night. It was never recovered.

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December 13, 2015

The $135,000 Star Wars Fan Holiday Gift

Have you noticed? A little story about something that happened in a galaxy far, far away is taking over pop culture.

Star Wars fever is back with the upcoming December 17 release of The Force Awakens, and we’re about to see branded merchandise everywhere. It’s all exciting, but one piece of merch is obviously king of the heap.

Disney has released a one-of-a-kind spin on the flick’s cutest droid, BB-8, in 18-carat gold and diamonds. The resulting piece is probably the world’s shiniest robot and was appraised at $135,000.

The bejeweled droid is just 4.25″ high, weighs a little over one and a half pounds, and is made of 18-carat yellow gold and 18 carats of diamonds. (That’s an estimated 860 stones.)

It will be auctioned off later this month, after being displayed at the Force 4 Fashion exhibit in New York. Proceeds from the auction will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Shine on, you crazy diamond-studded robot. Shine on.

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December 6, 2015

Three Worst Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Coin Collection

John’s in deep trouble. He just started collecting coins, and had a great collecting plan: a smart budget, an interesting collection type, and a steady approach to shopping for his first coins.

Then he forgot it all and started making big mistakes. He got overexcited, pulled the trigger on a bunch of coins without researching them first. He blew his whole budget (and then some!) on a stack of coins worth less than what he paid for them.

Now he’s broke, has no money for new coins or anything else, and his wife is on his case.

Don’t be like John.

Coin collecting is a fun, rewarding, and potentially lucrative hobby. Stay smart and avoid these beginner mistakes.

Avoid Impulse Buys

Buying on impulse is the fastest way to throw away good money on a bad investment. Don’t get suckered by a smooth-talking salesman or a shiny Instagram pic.

Think about it just like any other investment. Do your research. Look at CoinWorld.com, PCGS, the Red Book, and other reputable resources to get an approximate valuation for that coin. These tools will let you pay a fair price and avoid those bad deals.

Store and Handle Coins Properly

Some inexperienced collectors take their coins home and toss them together in a box or storage container. The coins spend their days rattling around together, getting tossed out on a table and manhandled by grimy, uneducated hands.

This is a great way to destroy the value of your coins—so don’t do it!

Coins should be properly stored in special coin albums or folders. This prevents them from coming in contact with other coins, which will cut down on nicks, scratches, and other damage.

When handling the coins, hold the edge of the coin—never the flat obverse or reverse faces. This will minimize the transfer of oils to the coin, preventing unnecessary erosion or other damage.

Don’t Clean That Tarnish!

This is where many collectors run into trouble. It is important to use proper cleaning techniques on coins in your collection. The best advice for cleaning coins: DON’T.

It can be tempting to remove tarnish and imperfections from a coin, so you have a pretty collection of bright and shiny coins. However, this is one of the worst things you can do for your coins. Tarnish gives a patina to a coin that makes it more valuable to other collectors.

Store your coins properly and keep them away from cleaning supplies.

Did you like this post? Check out “Should We Say Goodbye to the Penny?” and our other great articles.

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November 28, 2015

This Christmas, Give the Gift of Numismatics

Talk to any passionate coin collector and he will eagerly tell you about his beloved collection—the story behind each coin, where he first saw it and how valuable it is.

As coin and currency enthusiasts, we have the privilege of holding priceless pieces of history in our hands every day. These coins are intimate passages to distinct moments in time.

Learn history and real-life skills

Coin collecting makes abstract concepts real. It’s a useful and fun hobby in so many ways:

It takes discipline and budgeting to save up for special coins.
Planning a great collection trains collectors in goal-setting and perseverance.
Coins make history tangible and real, much more so than textbooks.
Coin collectors develop incredible attention to detail.
Collecting provides practice for long-term investment planning.

Additionally, numismatics is a great way to get to know people. There are hundreds or thousands of numismatics groups, fairs, and forums across the globe. Coin collectors meet new friends and have connections with people from all types of backgrounds through their mutual love of numismatics.

This Christmas, give the joy of numismatics

Coin collecting is a wonderful and fulfilling pursuit. And it’s so easy to begin—anyone can collect coins, starting with just the change in her pocket.

So, this Christmas, consider giving a child the priceless gift of this lifelong hobby.

There are several beginner’s kits for coin collecting on the market. The Hobbymaster and BCW options are both high-quality and reputable for beginners.

At Christmas, the child can use the kit right away, filling it with the coins from her pocket! Sit beside her and watch the magic of discovery unfold. You could even give some of your own coins as the centerpiece to this brand-new collection.

For a coin collector, if there is anything better than finding a rare coin in mint condition, it would be seeing a young child thrilled for growing her own collection—one beautiful coin at a time.

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November 21, 2015

Beginner’s Guide to Coin Collecting

Coin collecting is a fun, educational and potentially lucrative hobby. Coins tell unique stories, carry historical significance and offer us a unique and direct connection to the past. Today, there are millions of people who collect coins as a hobby.

If you are interested in starting your own coin collection, good news! Coin collecting is easier than you think. Get started smart and fast with these easy steps:

1. Have a Smart Budget

Your first step is deciding your budget. Be realistic here! Healthy and robust coin collections don’t appear overnight. They are carefully grown through smart purchases and acquisitions. Make sure your other important expenses (bills, retirement, healthcare, savings, etc.) are covered before investing in your coins budget.

2. Research, Research, Research!

You should learn as much as you can from the experts. If you’re an online reader, there are many online coin experts to follow, such as Coinweek.com, CoinWorld.com and Coinnews.net. Book readers should definitely pick up the latest Whitman’s Official Red Book, the ultimate source for reliable information and photos of coins. Many beginners also find books written by Jeff Ambio and Q. David Bowers generally helpful.

In addition to online articles and publications, check out the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) website. The PCGS is a rare coin grading and authentication service, and offers an extensive, well-organized archive of past coin auctions, including high-quality images of the coins.

Pro tip: Be wary of coin advice from unfamiliar writers. There are a lot of self-professed “coin experts” who publish bad advice.

3. Plan Your Collection Strategy

Now you know a little about the industry and the basics, it’s time for the fun part—planning your own unique coin collection!

Every coin enthusiast’s collection is unique. What type of coins would you like to collect? Any of these themes would make for a wonderful coin collection:

A. Coin series—For a particular type of coin, collect one from each year and each mint where they were produced.

B. Type set—Choose a coin denomination (such as the ten-cent piece, or dime) and collect one example of every major design used on it.

C. Date collection—Choose a specific year with particular significance, like your birth year, or a notable historical period (perhaps World War II). Collect all coins from this period.

D. Specific theme—Choose a specific theme—such as presidents, political figures, or animals—and collect all coins on this topic.

E. Specific location—Collect coins minted from a specific state, country or continent.

4. Finally, Buy Coins!

You’re educated, budgeted and excited. Time to go! Find a reputable coin dealer near you, and start looking at their merchandise. Look for a dealer who is happy to talk coins and answer any of your questions.

Once a coin catches your eye, ask the coin merchant whether the coin is PCGS or NGC certified. These designations mean the coin has been reviewed and graded for quality, rarity and authenticity. Generally, PCGS or NGC certification makes the coin more expensive, but also ensures better quality than non-certified coins.

Did you like this post? Check out “How Much Would a Bengals Super Bowl Ring Be Worth?” and our other great articles.

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November 10, 2015

Should We Say Goodbye to the Penny?

Benjamin Franklin designed the first pure copper half-cent. It was issued by a private mint in 1787. Back then a penny could buy you plenty. Today they’re tossed in the nearest “penny dish” without a second thought. In 2006 the cost to produce a penny exceed its face value. The modern penny is made up of 2.5% copper to 97.5% zinc. The U.S. Mint reports that each coin costs almost 2.5 cents to make. Whether it’s time to say good-bye to the U.S. penny has been debated ever since.

Even though the penny might not have much of a future, it does have quite a past. When Teddy Roosevelt introduced the Lincoln penny in 1909, it was the first U.S. coin to bear the likeness of an actual person. And there are those who believe it would be wrong to abolish one of the most minted coins in history, and the coin that bears the visage of one of the United States’ most revered presidents.

When other countries have eliminated their lowest-denomination coins, there was no measurable economic impact. A couple years ago, Canada stopped producing its penny, deeming it a waste of money. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands have done the same.

So while many love the penny, there are just as many arguments against keeping it. On what side of the argument do you fall? We’d love to know your thoughts.

Did you like this post? Check out “How Much Would a Bengals Super Bowl Ring Be Worth?” and our other great articles.

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