American Eagle Gold Coins Are Sold By Gold Value Rather Than Face Value

March 10th, 2010

When purchasing coins, it is common to consider a coin from the current year based on its face value.In fact, with the exception of rare and antique coins, face value typically determines the worth of any coin. American Eagle gold coins, however are separated from this distinction based on the fact that they are made from almost pure gold.These coins are comprised of 91.67 percent gold, meaning that their actual value is based on the amount of gold that they contain.This makes them worth much more than their stated face value, which ranges from five dollars up to fifty dollars.

One thing that makes American Eagle gold coins so unique is that their gold weight is stated on each coin in troy ounces.All of these coins are made from gold sources here in the United States, and the coins are guaranteed for purity, weight, and content.The main mint for these coins is in West Point, New York, which is shown in a mark beneath the date.American Eagle coins show Lady Liberty on one side, which comes from the 1907 American Eagle design, and a nest of eagles on the reverse to symbolize unity and freedom.

American Eagle gold coins are considered bullion coins, meaning that they are intended solely as a form of gold investment rather than for circulation.They are the only bullion coins guaranteed by the United States government, which makes them the most popular bullion coins on both the domestic and global trading markets.These coins are made of 22 karat gold and each contains anywhere from .1091 troy ounces of gold up to 1.0909 troy ounces.All coins are identical in design except that they show the amount of gold contained within them, making the five dollar coin read differently from the fifty dollar coin in that respect.

While judging coin values based on only their face value is ideal for circulated currency, the content of the American Eagle gold coins is what gives them their value.Because of this, their worth is based entirely on the current price of gold.This means that the average price and value of a fifty dollar gold Eagle is over one thousand dollars.Collecting bullion is an excellent investment, and these coins are among the most traded in the world, ensuring that they are easy to sell when you are ready to cash in your investments.

 

What to Purchase from a Coin Dealer

March 10th, 2010

If you wanted to diversify your portfolio through the purchase of coins what exactly would you acquire through a coin dealer? Would you seek out rare and valuable individual specimens? Would you consider a large assortment of coins? There is no single answer available for the modern investor, but it is important to work with a reputable coin dealer in order to get the best opportunities and pricing.

Consider that a modern coin dealer is likely to work strictly over the Internet and be able to provide up to the minute per-ounce prices on the precious metals they are selling. This should always have an influence on the prices being asked by the coin dealer, particularly if the coins are purchased strictly for their intrinsic values.

For example, a good online coin dealer will make all of the American Eagles available at reasonable rates. These are minted in gold, platinum and silver and can be broken down into full, half, quarter and tenths of an ounce. A good coin dealer will also make what are known as “junk coins” available to their clients as well. Junk coins are American quarters and dimes minted prior to 1965 and containing either 90% or 40% pure silver.

Of course both examples demonstrate why an investor would opt to visit a coin dealer in the first place – the coins have intrinsic and a secondary face value. All of the American Eagles have a monetary face value imprinted upon them, and the junk coins can always be used as standard currency too. This means an investor can insure themselves of some value regardless of market conditions, and explains why a coin dealer is necessary for the modern investor.

 

Investing in Bullion

March 10th, 2010

Bullion is a term that tends to be a bit misunderstood. If one is holding a silver dollar of contemporary origin, for instance, they are holding a coin whose face value probably exceeds the value of its component metals. The value is determined by the Treasury. This type of currency is called “fiat currency” because its value is simply agreed upon, though the materials of which it is made may be very common and, essentially, without real worth. Bullion, on the other hand, is a quantity of a precious metal that is of a specific and verified purity, and therein lays its worth.

The value of bullion is determined by its mass. This means that the weight of the coin or bar, calculated against the purity—or fineness—of the metal, determines how much one can demand in the market for their gold or silver or other precious metals. Of course, very few investors actually see or possess the gold they own, if they happen to own large amounts. For individuals, however, bullion is one of the easiest ways to save wealth. No matter what happens to currency, precious metal seems to retain its value and is an excellent hedge against inflationary forces.

Bullion can be purchased in small quantities. There are two basic ways to go about this, aside from purchasing fashioned gold such as jewelry. One can purchase ingots, whose value is solely a function of their purity and mass. One can also purchase coins, which have a third determining factor where worth is concerned. While the bullion in a coin may be far more valuable than the face value—and, most often, this is the case—the value of the coin design may be far in excess of even the material of its manufacture.

The Morgan silver dollar is a good example of this. The rarest types of these coins are among the priciest collectable coinage on the market. These coins are cast of .900 fineness silver. They are one troy ounce in weight. At current market values, this places the value of their bullion at around $20, with some significant fluctuation. The value of some of these coins, however, extends into the six-figure range. This is a good example of how a coin can be worth more than both the face value and the value of the actual metal used to produce it.

How to Buy Gold Bullion

March 10th, 2010

It is interesting to note that many people think of pirates or out of date coinage when they hear the word “bullion”, but that is a complete misunderstanding of the term. Certainly, gold bullion was a common item transported in the classic sailing ships of ancient history, but it is also something readily purchased by smart and successful investors in the modern period too.

How does someone buy gold bullion? It is actually very simple, but does require a bit of knowledge and some research. The research should always be directed at identifying vendors who can sell the highest-quality or purest gold to their clients. The required knowledge for someone who wants to buy gold bullion will simply need to be about the format to be purchased. For example, will they buy a standard industry unit intended to be kept in storage, or will they opt for an investment-grade pieces with almost one hundred percent purity?

When someone decides to buy gold bullion it is usually as a form of investment, and most buyers won’t even hold the small bars that they own. Instead they will work with a reliable vendor offering ownership and storage options to their clients. This means that the investor receives a specially printed document certifying the exact weight of the gold that they own and the purity of the gold. This document is also transferrable should the investor desire to sell or trade their gold on the open market.

Investing in gold is a very flexible strategy, and choosing to buy gold bullion is a great way to easily balance the portfolio.

Gold Bullion Is a Solid Way to Invest

March 10th, 2010

When asking any investment specialist what the best method of ensuring high returns and a safety net would be, you will be told to diversify your investments.This is simply good business practice.Investing all of your savings in a single method could leave you severely hurting if that means crashes.Many people who have invested in stocks lately or in savings and loans in the 1980’s can attest to the risk included in using only a single investment type.If you are looking to diversify your investments, you may want to consider gold bullion.

Bullion investments allow the purchase of uncoined precious metals.Because the price of metal is not subject to the same wild recessions and inflations as stocks and other investments, they are largely considered to be more secure.Pure gold bars weigh in at .9999 percent gold, which makes them the best on the market.Having a number of these as assets can help keep you prepared for the future.Gold bullion is an excellent investment for yourself or for your grandchildren.

When you are looking to invest, there will be many things to consider.Stocks certainly offer the potential for overnight riches as well as slow accumulations, but there is great risk as well.Precious metal investing, such as the purchase of bullion, tends to appreciate at a slower rate but with significantly less potential for loss.The simple truth is that the gold market is far less likely to plummet to new lows tomorrow, making it an excellent choice for long term investors.