| Collecting silver and gold bullion coins can be an | | | | Here are some tips to start your silver and gold |
| investment, an insurance against market inflation | | | | bullion coins collection: |
| as well as a passionate hobby all combined into | | | | 1. Are you an investor or collector? This is the |
| one. Amassing silver and gold bullion coins are the | | | | major factor that will influence which coins to buy |
| easiest method for you to start owning gold and | | | | and which coins to "admire only". Furthermore, |
| silver. Many of the bullion coin series also feature | | | | caring for rare collectible bullion coins requires |
| multitudes of designs, created with outstanding | | | | more technical expertise and some considerable |
| craftsmanship, therefore making them very | | | | investment in keeping your collection in pristine |
| desirable objects to collect.Ever since the first | | | | condition (but well worth the price). |
| bullion coin is issued in South Africa in 1967, many | | | | 2. Bullion coins are not fast money earners, they |
| national mints worldwide have followed suit issuing | | | | are usually kept for years before even trading or |
| their own bullion coins series, the most popular | | | | reselling them. As your collection grew, |
| being the British Britannia series, the Chinese Gold | | | | investment in the safekeeping such as a hidden |
| Panda Series and the American Silver Eagle series. | | | | safe in the house or the bank deposit vault would |
| Most silver and gold bullion coins are never used in | | | | be necessary. |
| daily commerce (some bullion coins like the | | | | 3. For starters, silver bullion coins are a great idea |
| Krugerrand have no face value!), despite that | | | | as they come cheaper, thus you can generate an |
| many of the bullion coins issued today are | | | | impressive collection in a shorter time (and with |
| bestowed with legal tender status in their | | | | less budget!). |
| respective country of issue, therefore making | | | | 4. Focus on collecting a few types of bullion coins |
| them exportable to most of the countries | | | | as starters, the marketplace can be full of |
| worldwide without being subjected to import | | | | counterfeit and scams, read up about the series |
| taxes, duty or VAT. This fact makes silver and | | | | of bullion coins you collect, knowing certain facts |
| gold bullion coins a very attractive means for | | | | such as sizes, purity, designs of the coin as well |
| private gold or silver ownership. Investors often | | | | as special issues (e.g. there is no such thing as a |
| put their money in gold and silver bullion coins to | | | | silver Krugerrand) can easily help you identify |
| balance off the effects of inflation because the | | | | which is a deal and which is a scam. |
| value of both metals have since increase more or | | | | 5. When buying from your local coin dealer, take |
| less consistantly for the past five years. Then | | | | the time to check your dealer background first, |
| again it is notable that since many bullion coin | | | | are they reputable in your area? Has this dealer |
| series, especially those that changes designs | | | | sold similar items before? Do they offer honest |
| every year, have very limited mintage, many of | | | | advice and friendly service? |
| them below 100,000 units per year. This results in | | | | 6. When buying online, the best method is to start |
| some bullion coins fetching much higher prices on | | | | buying from auction first before going to individual |
| top of their market gold content due to its rarity | | | | shops, as auction website such as ebay have |
| and collectible value. Hence investors tend to look | | | | feedback system tracking the past sales of the |
| for bullion coins that have repetitive design | | | | particular seller, giving good indication on whether |
| throughout their years of issue, have substantial | | | | the seller provide good service, or whether they |
| mintages and does not command a high premium, | | | | have sell similar items in the past and of course |
| one such excellent example is the South African | | | | whether they provide good quality wares. And |
| Krugerrand coin, when it was first issued, the | | | | the large market place of auction websites with |
| South African Krugerrand fetch a premium no | | | | multitude of sellers, can give good comparison of |
| higher than 5% of its gold content, today the | | | | prices of a particular coin, giving you a good grasp |
| premium can be as less as under 1% on top of | | | | on how much price that this particular coin is |
| their market price of gold. | | | | trading at. |