Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ToughCOINS, post: 1913086, member: 20480&quot;]<span style="color: #ff0000">Replies to the OP&#039;s questions . . . </span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It&#039;s a big coin for a newbie like me, and I don&#039;t have the cash, but I thought, &quot;Hey, it doesn&#039;t hurt to dream a little&quot;!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I was interested in getting a gold coin (ANY gold coin), but some very wise and very helpful folks here pointed out that I might not be <i>satisfied </i>with a 1/10 modern, a pre-1933 1/4 eagle, etc.&nbsp; <span style="color: #ff0000">I&#039;m not sure why you wouldn&#039;t be satisfied with a smaller coin . . . the Indian gold of all denominations are very popular because of their designs.&nbsp; I also think a nice ciculated three dollar coin is a gratifying piece to own.&nbsp; That coin seems incredibly cheap right now.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Then I realized that I absolutely *<b>love</b>* the St. Gauden&#039;s design. So if I could afford a Double Eagle in a year or two, how should I start learning about them?&nbsp; <span style="color: #ff0000">Learn to grade them by examining them at coin shows, where you can examine many of them.&nbsp; Learn which are common and rare by observing availability at shows and on-line (don&#039;t use local coin shops as indicators of rartity - that&#039;s too small a sampling of the marketplace to be representative).</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>(Note: I might &quot;settle&quot; and buy a smaller coin with the same design, but don&#039;t wake me up from my dream just yet)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The first thing would be learning how to grade them more accurately.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Then I need to monitor sales online so I can see what they are selling for.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When it gets time to buy, should I concentrate on looking at the high-mintage years first?&nbsp; <span style="color: #ff0000">While there is some prospect of a financial return on investment, there is no guarantee.&nbsp; Focus instead on what makes you happy . . . flawless surfaces, toned gold, better dates . . . something special about the coins you buy, as it is only the thrill of ownership that guarantees a return on your investment.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also, there don&#039;t seem to be as many AU or less coins out there; mostly MS60 and above. Is that because most of the lower-grade coins were melted down at different points in US history?&nbsp; <span style="color: #ff0000">Gold coins were not so selectively melted as to destroy most of the circs, leaving Uncs in the majority.&nbsp; Most of the gold resided in banks as reserves against circulating paper money, especially the larger coins, as they were not only a lot of money to carry around in one&#039;s pocket, but also impractically heavy for same.</span>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in