Investors who are seeking a long-term safe haven precious metal investment generally purchase American rare coins like Double Eagles, and limit their taste for international precious metal to bullion coins, as short-term diversifications for more costly rare coins. Double Eagle coins are rare, 22-karat $20 Lady Liberty, and $20 Saint Gaudens gold coins, minted from 1850 to 1907, and from 1907 to 1933, respectively. These two coins have been among the best-performing coins in gold for the past three years, as their numismatic value generally tends to appreciate over time, particularly during periods of economic duress. Today’s serious long-term investors are using Double Eagle coins, and diversifying with a wide range of international precious metal bullion from various countries.

Since bullion coins possess no numismatic value like rare coins do, their prices usually hover slightly above the current gold spot price, which is the cost of one troy ounce of pure gold. International precious metal bullion coins all contain nearly one troy ounce of pure gold, although they vary between 22, and 24-karat purity, and are also minted in smaller denominated versions of the one-ounce coins, for greater affordability. Popular 22-karat international bullion includes South African Krugerrands, and British Sovereign coins, which contain added alloys for greater durability. 24-karat bullion coins include Canadian Maple Leafs, Chinese Pandas, Austrian Philharmonics, and Australian Kangaroos, Koalas, and Lunar coins. Investors are encouraged to complete their research, and then to contact one of our friendly specialists, who offer institutional discounts on bullion, and rare coin.

John Burke

Over the past handful of years, investors have been running for cover, from the collapse of traditional investments in stocks and bonds. Retirement account holders have been hit especially hard, with IRA’s losing over three trillion dollars, since 2001. Consequently, more and more investors have been converting their anemic investments in stocks and bonds into precious metal funds. Diversified investments in gold and silver have benefited household investors for decades, and many financial and economic experts believe that our current global economic crisis, warrants investments, like diversified precious metal funds.

Gold and silver bullion-backed IRA’s are growing exponentially among baby boomers in particular, with diversified investments in one, and ten-ounce gold and silver bars, and 22 Karat gold, and silver bullion coins. Gold and silver American Eagle bullion coins are favorites among patriotic, American investors, who enjoy the added security of taking physical possession of their precious metal funds. These beautiful, bullion coins are also offered in proofs, as their near mirror-like finish, or “relief” is a genuine tribute to modern American minting technology. Most experienced precious metals investors recommend physical possession of at least some of their metal, as they empower investors with economic independence, especially in the event of a financial emergency. Investors in ETF’s, or Exchange Traded Funds, may want to consider diversifying part of their Internet bullion shares into physical metal, as institutional discounts are available to household investors. Readers are encouraged to continue exploring this website, or to contact one of our highly trained precious metal specialists to assist them with their investment needs.

John Burke

Large-volume precious metals dealers make purchases for financial institutions like insurance companies and banks, and the surplus from those transactions is offered to household investors at the same, large-quantity discount. There are lots of helpful sites for investors to refer to, like www.gold-coin.com and www.rare-coin.org for retail prices on a wide variety of bullion and rare coin items. These sites also offer daily market updates, buying tips, as well as other helpful links to assist precious metals buyers with their long-term and short-term financial needs. Short-term investors typically buy bullion bars and coins, as their prices normally hover slightly above the current gold spot price, and holding periods for bullion normally range between one and fourteen months. Popular bullion items include coins like 22 Karat American Eagles, and bullion bars by Credit Suisse, or Johnson Matthey.

Long-term precious metals investors usually buy certified rare coins, as their numismatic value has been validated by either the PCGS, (Professional Coin Grading Service), or the NGC (Numismatic Guarantee Corp). Numismatic value generally appreciates over time, and a great many investors prefer to pay the added premium of having that value verified by one or both of these companies. Certified rare coins like $20 Lady Liberty’s, or $20 Saint Gaudens, are among the most popular long-term purchases, with other coins like $2.5, $5, and $10 Indian gold coins, being favorites for diversification. Investors can comparison shop retail prices on these and other certified rare coins on www.pcgs.com, or www.ngccoin.com. They are then advised to contact a reputable, large-volume precious metal dealer, to avoid paying retail prices on their rare coins and bullion items. Large-volume dealers make institutional buys for corporations and banks, and pass those large-volume discounts down to household investors like you and me.

John Burke

Well gentle readers, it seems like the proverbial “other shoe” has finally dropped, or the so-called “cat” is out of the bag, as our nation’s Federal Reserve announced yesterday, that Americans are to expect an imminent inflationary period. Of course, this news is being not so cleverly spun, as this inflationary interim is merely supposed to be a dose of financial medicine for Americans to swallow and stomach, in the name of economic recovery. It’s morbidly funny, but this news reminds me of the old public service messages that they used to publish in China, telling her citizens that cigarette smoking was good for them. Go figure. In contrast, independently thinking investors are increasing their holdings in physical precious metals, like bullion bars, for added financial security, and general peace of mind.

Investors with a strong historical perspective are aware that there could possibly be a second run on our nation’s banks, and that physical ownership of physical metal traditionally provides immeasurable security. Bullion bars have historically been widely believed to be ideal for physical possession, as they are easily and discretely carried or stored. Current gold prices are far surpassing projections for this month so far, and experts are calling for gold to reach as high as the $960’s within the next few days. Interested investors, who have carefully evaluated their own, specific, individual financial needs and expectations are advised to contact a reputable, large volume precious metal dealer, like the Certified Gold Exchange, for expert consultation on bullion bars, and competitive prices.

John Burke

The popularity of precious metals investments has boomed over the past few years. Investors in droves have been abandoning their traditional investments in stocks and bonds, and converting their remaining investment and retirement dollars into precious metals like gold and silver. Precious metals investments have traditionally been considered to be ideal investments to preserve wealth, as well as to possibly augment it in the future. Today, global economic conditions are extremely tumultuous, as dollar values continue to struggle, while many financial experts fear the onset of an imminent long-term inflationary cycle. Even the most idealistic projections for economic recovery are years away, which is why so many investors are taking a proactive approach to their own financial independence now, by investing in precious metals.

Precious metals investing offers a great many options, and it is absolutely essential for each investor to thoroughly evaluate his or her own, specific, individual, financial needs and expectations, before committing to any precious metals investment. It is the only accurate way to determine which specific type of investment best suits those needs. For example, a potential gold investor, whose primary financial needs are long-term stability, would do best to research a rare coin investment, as rare coins have numismatic value, which historically tends to appreciate over time. Conversely, a gold investor, who is interested in short-term profit, would generally choose bullion, as bullion has no numismatic value. Interested investors are advised to contact a large volume precious metal dealer, like the Certified Gold Exchange, for expert precious metals consultation, and competitive prices.

John Burke

Just about any seasoned investor will agree that a precious metal investment should always begin with a good, long look in the mirror. Each and every investor must first conduct a thorough, detailed evaluation of their own, specific, individual financial needs and expectations, before committing to an investment in precious metals. It is only through such an evaluation, that an investor can determine which specific type of precious metal investment best suits those individual needs. For example, a prospective investor may decide that he or she is interested in short-term profit investment in precious metals. Traditionally, this type of financial need would generally call for an investment in gold bullion, since bullion is used for short-term profit, as it doesn’t possess numismatic value, and generally doesn’t appreciate over time. Bullion prices also tend to adhere closely (slightly above) to the spot price of gold so the relative value or cost of a bullion investment can be easily ascertained.

On the other hand, if a prospective investor’s financial goals were long-term security, with a chance for future profit, then he or she would traditionally choose a rare coin investment. Rare coins possess numismatic value, which generally tends to appreciate over time, which makes them the popular choice for long-term investing. Physical possession of both types of investments (at least part of them) is also widely recommended, in the event of an unforeseen emergency, or another run on our nation’s banks, like in 1929. Prospective investors are advised to contact a reputable, large volume precious metal dealer, like the Certified Gold Exchange, for world-class precious metals investment consultation, and competitive prices.

John Burke

Precious metal coins have long been widely regarded to be premier investments, as well as ideal diversification vehicles. Today, investments in precious metal coins are more popular than ever, as multitudes of investors have been converting their portfolios and retirement accounts from “paper asset” investments in stocks and bonds, into precious metals investments. Precious metals investments have traditionally been regarded as the ideal safe haven to protect and grow wealth, which is why more and more investors are choosing precious metal coins as their financial “floatation device” in these tumultuous economic times. The United States Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, reported a 6.1% decrease for the first quarter of 2009, and many financial experts fear that these types of economic indicators reflect the onset of a vicious inflationary cycle.

Savvy investors are aware of the inverse correlation between dollar values and precious metal values. Current dollar values are under great strain, as inflation threatens to manifest itself, after more than four years of reckless currency printing by our nation’s Treasury Department. All of this isn’t necessarily bad news for gold investors, as today’s economic factors are remarkably similar to those of the early 1970’s. During the 70’s the U.S. dollar lost about 60% of its’ spending power, while investments in stocks and bonds failed miserably to keep up with the rise of inflation. Gold investors however, made as much as 1000% on their initial investment. Today, precious metal coins like $20 Saint Gaudens, or $10 Indian Head coins, are valuable investment tools for financial security, and potential future profit.

John Burke

Demand for gold is at an all-time high. Traditional “paper investments” like stocks and bonds have been decimating countless portfolios beyond recognition, and more and more investors are flocking to precious metals in the hopes of escaping the destructive elements in today’s economic environment. Factors like inflation, government manipulated interest rates, dollar devaluation and overprinting of our nation’s currency have all contributed to creating the global economic investment panic that we all face today. As a result, many unsuspecting investors are rushing into investments that could further harm their already damaged portfolios, and jeopardize their financial futures beyond repair. As I’ve stated many times before, it is essential for each investor to conduct a detailed analysis of his/her own specific financial needs and expectations from owning gold before entering into any gold investment. Precious metals investment offers many options, and it is wise to carefully evaluate all of them as well, before making any rash decisions. Technological advances in past years have streamlined the gold purchasing process, and many new investors are becoming attracted to purchasing precious metals online.

Precious metals transactions online are also referred to as ETF’s (or Exchange Traded Funds). They were first introduced on the Toronto Stock Exchange around 1992, as a way to expand the growth of the world’s precious metal trade market. Purchasing precious metals online is convenient and fast. With a phone call and a few clicks on the computer, an investor can own electronic shares of gold within minutes. Though this method is convenient, it never results in physical possession of gold. In the event of an unforeseen emergency, or technological failure, these electronic shares would be worthless. Purchasing precious metals online may be a great way to initially convert a portfolio into precious metals, but it is also wise to convert at least some of those ETF’s into physical gold.

Danny Burns

If you want to know the metal content of the change in your pocket, you’ll have to check the minting dates and Google every single one of them. We all know that they haven’t made any silver coins since the early to mid sixties, but they’re still removing metals from coins whenever the metal value of a coin outweighs the face value.

If we were still on the gold standard, we wouldn’t have this problem, of course. But what I’m getting at is that it’s really no wonder 2008 showed such high demand for precious metals investing. The dollar’s shrinking and everyone knows it. Hopefully, you’ve been in the metals game for awhile now, but if you haven’t, I’d recommend getting started before the dollar to metals ratio gets any steeper.

Did you know that pennies minted before 1982 are worth nearly three cents in copper? Your penny jar might only be ten bucks in cash, but it could be closer to twenty in metals. Of course, since 2006, it’s been illegal to melt those pennies down for metal content, but the point remains: The dollar is shrinking and metal is rising.

Something I like to do whenever I get a handful of change is pick through it for dimes and quarters made before 1966, when they removed silver from the minting process. I almost never find anything these days, because there are a lot of guys like me out there, picking out the silvers and stashing them in a shoebox somewhere (and apparently, they’ve been doing this for longer than I have).

I don’t mean to paint the shrinking of the dollar as being too dire. Certainly, in some corners there’s a fear of a total collapse of American currency, and if you’re not prepared, the coming years might really take the wind out of your sails, but metal investors have a degree of shelter from the storm.

At least cash investors can take comfort in the fact that the paper dollar still has a few years left on its warranty. The 3×6 piece of paper the buck is printed on is still worth less than a buck.

It’s kind of unfortunate that people only seem to really turn to gold when the economy is in rough shape. The savviest of metals investors simply buy when the values are low, and sell when the values are high, simple as that. To me, metals investing is more about being prepared for economic troubles than it is about making a desperate scramble to cover your assets when troubles rear their ugly heads.

If nothing else, gold is an excellent safeguard against inflation, and while we’ve seen record inflation in the last few years, inflation isn’t something that eventually “tops out” and stops or anything.

People are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel now, and with new management for the US economy on the horizon, 2009 and 2010 might see a change for the better, but what I want to tell people who are tempted to get a little too comfortable is simply this: This isn’t the last tunnel we’re ever going to climb through.

It’s kind of like, your house is insured against fire, right? You don’t wait until your carpet is ablaze to call your insurer and go “Uh yeah, about that fire policy?” You’re prepared for whatever’s to come. That’s what metals investing is about. You shouldn’t wait until your cash catches fire, you should already have some money in metals just in case that happens.

To me, that’s what investing is all about. This is especially true with metals investing, but I think it works for just about any smart investment. It’s basically an insurance policy against economic troubles. I mean, over time, you can get rich on metals if you know how to watch the market, but the most important thing about metals is that you’ll have a little something if, well, to grab a recent headline, if your bank closes its doors for good.