Hey Bill, I have a small, but interesting (to me) collection of Spanish Colonial coins. They're mostly from the late 18th century, and of middling grades, but I find them very fascinating. I've always had an interest in this period of history, and I like silver coins, but there's no way I can afford a decent collection of US Mint silver coins from that era. In fact, the Spanish Colonial coins were just as likely to have circulated in the US, so in a way you might say that these are not so much a 'world coin' collection. Until the big silver discovery in the 1850s, these were legal tender in the USA.
At last count I have 1200 coins from 160 countries. Almost all is circulated minor coinage with a few better pieces added to flesh out countries I like. I am slowly working thru a 10 lb. bulk bag and expect both numbers to rise a little.
Bill, why wouldn't people collect coins outside of Europe and North America? I can tell you that there are definitely coin collectors in Latin America, and many in the Middle East, but maybe not on the same level as in Europe and North America. I cannot comment on East Asia. I can say that in South Asia, like in India, there are many coin collectors. So a definite yes.
I think I have around 160 countries myself. I have the Franklin Mint book and then made it a point to add countries that I thought would not be on the list such as Ex-Soviet Union countries........ Basil
I was informed that investors from Japan have poured in 500 million with buying American Gold coins but this information was from an American Gold coin dealer so who knows. I do know that in Asia alot of currency is transformed into gold for there is little respect for the long time value of nationality paper and land could always be taken away. As for collecting in itself, I would guess that the more wealth a nation has, the more disposable income there is to spend on anything and everything. Now as for non-European and non-American coin collecting goes, I would thing that with the growing Mexican-American population in our country, that these citizens children might want to remember thier families past with Mexican Silver as they become more influencial. I believe that the Mexican gold coins have done well in Califorina for over a hundred year and fifty years now. But then what do I know. I only hope that NASA finds water on Mars so our Astronauts could ice their beer.
In Asia and the Middle east, a lot of coin gets made into jewelry, thus the prevalence of 21k gold in arab countries and 23k jewelry in India. Aisans have a very healthy disregard for paper money, as everyone should. Gold is portable property, as is silver and precious gems. Land is only valuable where the political situation of a country is stable, but if your wealth is in gold, you can carry enough across a border to keep your family fed while you start over in business.
I love this country and I do not belong to and would not belong to any of the out of the mainstream groups but even here where the political situation is stable, land is being taken away at a more frequent pace and not always at fair market value. Forget about history and the railroad barons stealing land. Today we have political leaders from both partys using various domain clauses to take valuable real estate that belongs to working middle class, hence no clout, and turning it over to developers who will build condo's and henceforth the legal rational for the courts is they are providing the country,township, whatever, with a larger tax pool. We even have land grabs. I remember Mayor Dinkins in New York having a policy of seizing property, from elderly citizens who after spending a lifetime of working had thier taxes increased and couldn't make the bill on time, and then those houses were given to welfare that subdivided it for four unwed mothers and their children to live in for free. This occured on the north shore of Staten Island to entire neighborhoods. So yes I do think that stocks and real estate are nice investments but no investment is always a sure thing. Why, I remember leaving one of my apartments in New York and walking around the corner and seeing the World Trade Buildings on my way to work. If the Twin Towers could vanish and be for the most part forgotten in this country then anything could happen in this county politically and military in our life time. That's why I divest into not only in stocks, my home, my wifes diamonds but also gold coins. No one never knows what one will need for the future which is why one should also support the NRA and try to support/ vote the most honest hard nosed person into office at any level.
I am one of many collectors of Japanese coins, but the "Euro Group" doesn't seem to be the place to discuss them!
I saw one of your potential coins at the main forum site. I'll be glad to discuss your knowlege of Japanese coins under your post there.
