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Message:: [QUOTE="almostgem, post: 2001116, member: 20875"]I've never really looked at my collection as a "real" investment, but having said that, I think it is always a good idea to have a certain amount in hard currency. Unfortunately, most people don't seem to get it and end up buying near or at the top, then spend years waiting for the top to reappear. When silver hit $40, I sold a bunch of Engelhard 10 ounce Silver bars. Most of those I purchased when silver was between 6 and 7 an ounce. Having said that, I still have complete collections of $5.00 maple leaves, Libertads, and American Eagles. The wife has a complete collection of 1/10 ounce Gold Eagles and has collected about 3 pages worth of world cold coins in different karat weights and types (mostly 1/10 to 1/4 ounce).Where rare coins are concerned, I got burned when we first started collecting by purchasing a "rare" Morgan dollar .... then they went and found a whole bank vault full of them ....grr. But over time, I think the value of our coins has about doubled. I would have done far better in the stock market, but have also lost a lot there during the crash of 2000, and to a lesser degree again in 2008. Whenever I get the chance, I introduce kids to collecting for very selfish reasons, but even though selfish, I think coin collecting enriches and enables learning.[/QUOTE]