Are Collectible Coins a Good Investment? - Hero Bullion (2024)

Posted - July 14, 2022

Are Collectible Coins a Good Investment? - Hero Bullion (1)

Is it a Good Time to Buy Collectible Coins?

Many precious metal investors will tell you that there’s almost never a bad time to invest in the precious metals game and this is especially true as it regards collectible coins. Precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium are always in demand and will continue to be so. This is especially true as it comes to telling signs of inflation and the suggestion of an economic downturn. So, yes, this is a seize the day moment if you’ve ever had an interest in buying collectible coins.

How do I Begin Collecting Coins?

Collectible coins are treasured by many investors. Many famous people are known to be avid collectors: J.P. Morgan, the Hunt brothers, Wayne Gretzky and Nicole Kidman to name a few. And they all started from scratch, just like anyone stepping into the world of collectible coins today.

With a little research it’s easy to jump into the marketplace and find the coin or coins for you. It’s simply a matter of going online and/or visiting your local coin merchant. But new coin collectors shouldn’t just follow the advice of merchants. A coin collector should put a focus on becoming experts themselves.

And this is done by asking questions of merchants about quality and value and searching for specific collectibles online and paying attention to buying and selling trends. Study coin values, their denominations and rarity. Follow up with trade magazines, learn which questions to ask and then consider what aligns with your personal taste or interest as it comes to stepping into the profitable world of collectible coins.

How is the Value of a Collectible Coin Determined?

The value of a collectible coin is determined by the physical metal in the coin (known as its ‘bullion value’) and its numismatic value. Let’s have a look at each and what they mean.

The bullion value is easily determined by assessing the quantity of gold, silver, palladium or platinum in a collectible coin. Generally, this refers to the number of ounces that are stored in the coin. Multiply this by the actual spot price per ounce of the precious metal at any given time. This is the bullion value of your collectible coin.

Numismatic value is a slightly different factor as it comes to determining the worth of a collectible coin. Generally, this determination is applied to rare and antique coins and is based more on rarity and even the sentiment of the coin’s owner. This determination is a bit more subjective and can vary as a result.

The condition of the coin is also taken into account. Uncirculated collectible coins often draw more interest and, thereby, are awarded a higher value. This isn’t to say that circulated coins are not a good investment, but an investor should expect a lower return as it comes to coins that display or suggest usage. New is new and used is used so consider your options accordingly.

Collectible Coins Are For More Than Just Collecting

Are collectible coins a good investment? Coin collecting can be for everyone, and the investment potential is high. For serious collectors or investors, coins are a tangible asset that easily hedge against inflation while also adding some solid diversity to your portfolio.

Just know what you’re looking for and understand your investment goals. If you just want as much weight as possible, then your goals aren’t building a collection and you should avoid the high-premium coins. A little research goes a long way and, as always, before you commit to any actual investment be sure that it’s for you, suits your needs, fits your direction. Happy investing!

About The Author

Are Collectible Coins a Good Investment? - Hero Bullion (2)

Jake Haugen

Follow@herobullion

Hero Bullion provides an environment that is informative and safe for those looking to own physical gold and silver bullion as an investment. We love helping folks at all stages throughout their bullion journey making progress towards acheiving their financial goals. Whether you are a seasoned bullion investor or brand new to the game of gold and silver bullion ownership, we're here to help and serve you in any way we can.

Are Collectible Coins a Good Investment? - Hero Bullion (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to invest in coins or bullion? ›

While gold bars give you the best option if you want to preserve your wealth, gold coins offer the best value when selling. Of course, gold bars will offer the best value when buying but they don't give you the flexibility that you want when you want to sell.

Is it worth buying collector coins? ›

With coin collecting, as with collecting other items, the more rare the coin, the more valuable it is. investing in rare coins has the advantage of potentially providing significant profits. However, it also has downsides to consider, including the fact that earning money investing in rare coins takes time.

Are collectable gold coins a good investment? ›

The bottom line

There are several reasons to consider investing in 1-ounce gold coins. These coins are often collectible and have a relatively low cost of entry. Moreover, the potential tax and diversification benefits that come with gold coin investments can be hard to ignore.

Are collectable coins worth anything? ›

While coin collecting may seem like a trivial hobby, the reality is that there are some coins out there that are worth so much that they can fetch thousands, or in some cases, millions of dollars.

Do bullion coins go up in value? ›

For example, many collectors are willing to pay more than the spot price for a new American Eagle or an old and interesting Buffalo coin. Collector's coins also tend to increase in value over time as they become rarer, so this makes bullion coins an especially good long-term investment.

Should I buy silver coins or silver bullion? ›

Both are sound investments, but investing in coins might be more suitable if you have collector tendencies. Silver bullion may be best if you're looking to invest larger amounts and lock in a stable price.

What is the difference between bullion and collectible coins? ›

What we often refer to as 'numismatic' pieces are crafted for collecting, whereas our 'bullion' coins are manufactured with investing in mind. Both numismatic and bullion coins are made from exactly the same purity of metal – 9999 gold, 9999 silver, or 9995 platinum. In many cases, they even share the same designs.

What coins go up in value the most? ›

20 Most Valuable Rare Coins to Know About
Year-DateCoin TypeValue
1885Liberty nickel$350+
19373-legged Buffalo nickel$450+
1916-DMercury dime$800+
1901-SBarber quarter$3,500+
15 more rows
Nov 24, 2023

What is the most sought after coin for collectors? ›

31 Most Wanted Coins that are Worth Selling or Collecting
  • 1796 Draped Bust Quarter. Image source. ...
  • 1864 Two Cents. Image source. ...
  • 1876 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. Image source. ...
  • 1883 “No Cents” Liberty Nickel. ...
  • 1892 Columbian Commemorative Half Dollar. ...
  • 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent. ...
  • 1916-D Mercury Dime. ...
  • 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar.

What is the best size gold coin to buy? ›

If you're looking to buy gold coins, 1 oz is the best size to go for.

What coins are collectors looking for right now? ›

Five Modern Coins You Should Be Looking for Right Now
  • 1968 Proof Quarters with Deep Cameo. Proof sets returned in 1968 after a three-year hiatus. ...
  • 2008 Silver Eagle – Reverse of 2007 Variety. The American Silver Eagle is a popular coin both inside and outside of the hobby. ...
  • 1876 Liberty Head Eagle : A Collector's Guide.

What coins should a beginner collect? ›

There are plenty of inexpensive coin sets to collect. The Washington quarter set has more designs to collect than any other coin. There are more than 100 designs, with the 50 States and America the Beautiful quarters. Buffalo nickels and pre-1965 Roosevelt silver dimes are also popular first coin collections.

What year penny is worth $20000? ›

That's what happened to several pennies produced in 1982, which pushed their value up from 1 cent to nearly $20,000. The penny in question is the 1982-D Small Date Copper Alloy Lincoln Cent, which sold at auction in 2016 for $18,800, according to Numismatic News.

Are buffalo nickels worth anything? ›

Many buffalo nickels can be traded for about 50 cents but under the right conditions it could be worth over $1,000, according to coin collector David Sorrick at In God We Trust LLC. “The series itself is fairly affordable for the average collector. Yet enough work goes into it to make it worth the chase,” Sorrick said.

Which quarter is worth $1000000? ›

1796 Draped Bust Quarter: A Relic of Early America

Only a handful of these quarters remain in existence today, making them highly sought after by collectors. With a value exceeding $1 million USD, the 1796 Draped Bust Quarter is not just a coin; it's a tangible piece of early American history.

What years coins are worth collecting? ›

9 of the most valuable coins in the world
  • The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. ...
  • The 1787 Brasher Doubloon. ...
  • The 1787 Fugio cent. ...
  • The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar. ...
  • The 1343 Edward III Florin. ...
  • The 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny. ...
  • The 2007 $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. ...
  • 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel.
Mar 12, 2024

How do I get the best value for a coin collection? ›

If your coin collection is pristine, the value will most likely be higher unless you have a few rare gems in the mix. Any errors on your coin such as misspellings or incorrect dates could make the value skyrocket.

Which coins are collectors looking for? ›

14 of the most valuable coins
  • 1972 doubled die obverse Lincoln Memorial cent.
  • 2004 D Wisconsin quarter, Extra Leaf Low variety.
  • Sacagawea Cheerios dollar.
  • 2008-W silver eagle reverse of 2007.
  • 1879 $4 Gold Stella.
  • 1955 doubled die Lincoln penny.
  • 1927-D Saint-Gaudens double eagle.
  • 1894-S Barber dime.
May 19, 2022

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