A coin collection can be a fun and profitable way to invest. It’s more than just an investment, however. Some collectors are really just bullion investors. If this is why you want to collect, choosing coins is easy. The closer the coin is to the price of its bullion on the market at the time of sale the more desirable it is for that purpose. There are other ways that coins collect value, however, and the most active collectors tend to go after both bullion and base metal coins, depending upon their numismatic value.

If you’re putting together a coin collection for investment, make sure that you buy certified coins. These have been inspected by an independent authority and have been found to be genuine. They’re also graded and sealed in a slab, which ensures that you get the best price relative to the condition of the coin. Anything rare or expensive you buy should come with this assurance. There are some other ways you can make sure that the investment and hobby you’re taking up don’t become a waste of money, as well. The most important thing is to stick with legitimate dealers.

Legitimate dealers will usually have plenty of items that you’d like to add to your coin collection. They typically carry a mix of old and new coins. The older coins will be priced according to their condition and scarcity. If you want your coin collection to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, go for the coins in the best condition you can find. If you’re more interested in the coin itself than you are in its actual looks, the lower priced, reduced-condition coins may be an option. Remember that the condition of a coin is not always assessed in the way you’d think.

If you want silver coins for your coin collection, you’ll find that many of the historical examples are significantly blackened with tarnish. This doesn’t affect their value. The tarnish, which results from sulfur in the atmosphere, actually protects the surface of the coin. Never clean off one of these coins; you’ll destroy the value. Gold coins will always shine, no matter how old they are. If you decide to buy platinum or palladium coins, you’ll find that those metals have their own distinctive signs of age. Any coin, however, if it means something to you, is a good addition to your collection.