Coin Collecting: Consumer Protection Guide "The electronic age has created marvelous new opportunities for coin enthusiasts to add to their collections and to their store of knowledge. But it has also opened up new opportunities for coin scammers. Cheating has always been a part of the world of money, including the world of collecting money. The Internet just makes it easier to cheat, and be cheated. Not all of the coin collecting consumer information below is specific to the online world or to deception in numismatics. But it's all relevant to the coin consumer in the information age. Consider this a coin consumer protection guide." Consumer Protection Guide --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RARE COIN CONSUMER PROTECTION The single best defense for a collector to avoid being taken advantage of or being downright ripped off is knowledge. And since knowledge can take a lifetime to acquire, the next best thing is books. The following link can provide not only the beginner but also the advanced collector with a good starting point to acquiring knoweldge that will help you throughout your lifetime. RARE COIN CONSUMER PROTECTION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whizzing "The deceptive practice of whizzing has left many once desirable coins nearly pariahs in the marketplace. Whizzing is the mechanized wire-brushing of a coin's surfaces, usually by an attachment to an electric drill. It is done to smooth over imperfections and brighten surfaces so much that they may be said to glow. It is a harsh and drastic alteration of original detail that can also be used in an attempt to mask tooling or other repairs." Whizzing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you getting your money’s worth? "Are you getting your money’s worth? The cold, hard truth is that you just might not be. Here are some very important things to consider when purchasing coins for investment:" Are you getting your money’s worth? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
