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 Are These Valuable Collectibles Or Junk? I have no idea whether any of them are worth anything but it deserves a punt even though I have to lug them back by plane to England. The excellent antique and collectible shows on the BBC turn up some unusual items and some turn out to be quite valuable. I’m hoping these bits and pieces reward me in a similar way. If they are worthless I’ll give them to a charity shop. Also published at www.DaveKnightsBlog.com
This American Eagle 1oz pure silver dollar coin up for grabs on eBay at the starting bid of 14.99 British pounds. The world’s most popular silver bullion coin. Many collectors consider the Silver American Eagle to be the most graceful design of all U.S, coins. So do I – it’s beautiful. Each coin weighs 1oz (31.101 grams) and has a composition of 99.93% silver and 0.07% copper. The coin is a fairly large 1.6 inches (40.6mm).
The Liberty design on some U.S. Bullion coins is so loved by Americans and coin collectors. It appears on the Gold Double-Eagle, the Silver Half-Dollar and the most recent and still minted one ounce, Walking Liberty Silver Dollar.  U.S. Double Eagle $20 Gold Coin Gold Double-Eagle The Liberty started life as a standing figure on the $20, double-eagle gold piece of 1907 designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Originally two high relief versions were produced. Neither of them stacked well and they were never released for commercial use. Only 20 ultra high relief coins were produced and are worth millions of dollars each. 12,317 of the high-relief version were produced but even these were deemed unsuitable for commerce. For obvious reasons both are highly sought after. The coin considered suitable for commerce, a flattened version, was minted from 1907 until 1933. All versions are highly collectable and could make you rich if you find one or two. Silver Half-Dollar  U.S. Half-Dollar 'Walking Liberty silver' coin The Gold Double-Eagle was followed by the U.S. Silver Half-Dollar which Adolph A. Weinman designed. It was minted between 1916 and 1947. The standing Liberty became the walking Liberty and is considered the most graceful design to adorn American coinage. The Silver half-dollar is 90% silver, 10% copper and has a melt value around $14 at the time of writing. But that would be a mistake. These face value 50 cents coins sell for up to $14,000 in mint condition. As with all coins and collectibles the value is depended on age, condition and rarity. American Eagle Silver Dollar  American Eagle 1oz Bullion silver coin The world’s most popular silver bullion coin is the American Eagle Silver Dollar Coin. Many collectors consider the it to be the most elegant of all U.S. coins. It is current and began life when the first coins were minted in 1986. The coin’s obverse design is the ‘Liberty Walking’ by Adolph A. Weinman first used on the 1916 silver half-dollar. The reverse design is the ‘Heraldic Eagle’ by John Mercanti. Each coin weighs 1oz (31.101 grams) and has a composition of 99.93% silver and 0.07% copper. The coin is a fairly large 1.6 inches (40.6mm). I started collecting ‘Eagles’ when silver bullion was about half the price it is now. The price of bullion coins, bullion bars and items with precious metal content is affected by market fluctuations in the base metal price. Silver and other precious metals have risen exponentially for some years. So, on paper, I have turned a profit. Not all of them were bought at such a low price though because I collected them over several months. Actually I didn’t realise just how many I bought so I have decided reduce my collection to raise cash to buy different collectibles. It’s not that I have lost confidence in the bullion market. No, I am sure that with the continued economic problems in the world bullion will continue its rapid rise. Bullion products are a safe-haven these troubled times. Buy an ‘Eagle’ on eBid I am putting a few of my ‘Eagles’ are up for sale on eBid. Go here to see what is currently on offer. What should you collect as a hobby; coins, paper money, or stamps? Which will be the best investment? I find it strange that some people who collect coins, paper money, or stamps, always want some kind of return on their investment. These are the same people who think nothing of buying a new car and then selling it a few years later for a fraction of what they paid for it. A new car loses value as soon as you drive it on the road! As for investing in paper money, if someone is buying notes and thinking how much will they be able to get when they sell them again, this person has the wrong hobby. Enjoy collecting for the pleasure and for the fun of it.
Coins and stamps are tangible reminders of years gone by. Yet, while coin collecting is flourishing as a hobby, stamp collecting is decreasing in popularity. Many families who inherit stamp collections are more interested in getting the collection appraised than continuing the collection. You can’t collect something if you don’t know what it is. Stamp collecting dates back to 1840, when the first stamp was issued in England. One of the earliest indications of stamp collecting is an advertisement from an English newspaper in which a young woman sought used stamps as a way to wallpaper her room. Soon, post offices discovered stamp collectors as a good source of revenue. From there, stamp collecting began. There are no rules about stamp collecting. Some people collect stamps from a certain country while others focus on a particular theme, such as flowers, ships or buildings. Unfortunately, stamp collecting has simply lost its appeal to younger people. Coin collecting, on the other hand, is at its peak in popularity. Rare or modern coins offer history that collectors can hold in their hand, and every period during the past 2,500 years is reflected in coinage. Stamps disappear and become part of the ground. A coin can be dug up and, while new varieties of stamps are not really being discovered, new types of coins from all over the world are still being found. How many stamps or bank notes do you think you’ll find while out exploring with a metal detector? Whilst improperly stored coins can degrade and lessen in value, paper money can be damaged by handling, sunlight, or water. All are subject to flood, fire, or other natural catastrophes. A stock certificate with half of it burned away is just as good as a mint one in terms of its value on the exchange. In fact, as long as ownership can be proven, it often doesn’t even matter if the physical certificate exists. The same can’t be said for paper money. You can insure against these problems, and go to great lengths to assure proper storage conditions, but all of this costs money and adds to the cost of the investment, often for many years before there is going to be any return at all. Today, coin collecting is one of the world’s most popular hobbies. Amateur collectors enjoy coins for their beauty and rarity. Added to this is the excitement of searching for and finding specific coins and the challenge of identifying new ones. Why is coin collecting thriving and stamp collecting dying? Coins are still being used and are still fascinating. It is an investment as well as a hobby. Coins continue to go up in value while many stamps are at the peak value they will ever receive. Furthermore, many are going down in value. Enjoy your hobby, and consider whatever you invest in it to be pleasure money, the same way you would count money you spent going to ball games, or dining out, or buying new clothes. Then, whatever you or your family get out of your collection is pure profit, whether it is more or less than what you originally paid. After all, if you spend $20 a week going to the movies, you don’t expect to get anything back for your $1,000 a year collection of ticket stubs, do you? I believe there is room in both the collecting of coins and paper money for both collectors and investors. The important thing to remember in investing in coins or banknotes is rarity and desirability. Gary Anthony Lacey is the owner of the Coins Online web site at: http://www.coins.money-maker.co.uk/ where you can learn more about collecting coins. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Lacey Instil the thrill of coin collecting in your children; it will be fun and exciting for them and you. It is a way to engage with your children and educate them in a fun way. If one or more of your children are hooked on the idea you have have a built in way of rewarding them for excelling at school, helping at home and for them keeping their room tidy. A fun learning aid Coin collecting can be an aid to learning geography and history. It will also instil a sense of value and values in them. Value because they will learn that collecting can be profitable, or unprofitable, and values because collecting encourages self-discipline, self-worth and patience.  A variety of different chinese coins. © kentoh - Fotolia.com By letting them make most of the collecting decisions they will learn to be astute in their dealings with sellers and dealers. While it is good to teach children trust and honesty they also have to learn that not everybody is trustworthy and honest. They will also learn that something old doesn’t necessarily mean that it is necessarily worthless. If sufficiently enthused they look for places to buy or find coins. I’ll bet that quite a few relatives have some unwanted coins laying around. Take them to flea markets, garage sales, antique fairs and get them looking through Craigslist or the listings on eBay. When looking on-line don’t just look locally, you can buy thing from all over the world these days. In the United Kingdom we have printed publications like Loot and Exchange & Mart, there are you usual on-line sources like eBay and Craigslist although the latter is not as popular here as in the US. During the summer months there are many boot sales; a kind of fair held in the open and consisting mainly of private sellers offering second-hand things. These are all sources where you can buy coins usually at cheap or reasonable prices. Teach your children how to haggle to get lower prices. With antiques and collectibles prices are not set in stone. Motivate your children Encouraging your children to see coin collecting as a hobby is not necessarily easy, but still possible. Try to motivate them to like coin collecting by helping them realize the importance and benefit they can get from it. Kids love the idea of treasure trove so the promise of their collection going up in value will inspire them. No false hopes though your kids will never forgive you. Explain that any increase in value is long term and that collectibles do lose value sometimes too. Start with coins with a story then show them to your children. Sit down with them and tell them the stories about the coins. This will build their interest. There is lots of useful information on the Internet for you to get clued up on your coins. Decide your budget Coin collecting as an investment for your children’s future must comprise some ancient coins and some precious metal coins like the American Eagle Silver Dollars. Collecting coins to educate your children should include coins of the world. How to Have More Fun Coin Collecting Many novice coin collectors wonder how they can gain more experience with their new hobby. Here are some tips that can help novices make their online and in-person visits more fun and enjoyable. Remember that coin dealers are human beings like everyone else. Some novice collectors feel intimidated when they visit their local dealer’s shop or go on the Internet to purchase rare coins. The way to get around this is to remember that coin dealers are human like everyone else. There is a real live person on the other end of the computer terminal. Once this stress is removed, shopping for rare coins becomes more enjoyable. Remember that it is okay to ask dealers questions. Novice collectors can have fun learning many things about certified coins, buffalo nickels and other rare coins if they take the time to ask dealers questions about those coins. Contrary to popular belief, many dealers are more than happy to answer any questions that a novice collector might have about rare coins. These dealers understand that an educated collector becomes a life-long collector. As a result, novice collectors should ask their dealer questions about the coins and currency that interests them the most. Reputable websites have a contact number or e-mail directly to the business and encourage questions. Remember that it is also okay to look at the dealer’s stock of rare coins. Many novice collectors have difficulty looking through a dealer’s stock because they are afraid they may drop buffalo nickels or Morgan dollars onto the floor. Ninety-eight percent of the fun of coin collecting is actually seeing rare coins up close or knowing that they can be purchased and obtained quickly and easily. This experience is fun and it also helps novice collectors learn the nuances of various coins that make a collector more knowledgeable about coins. As a result, they should be encouraged to rummage through a dealer’s stock as much as possible or browse the online collections at length. Remember that a dealer has to earn a living, too. Some novice collectors scowl at the prices that dealers charge for their coins. This problem can be alleviated to a great extent if the novice collector remembers that a dealer has to earn a living like everyone else does. Dealers have to purchase their merchandise on the open market. They must also account for shop expenses, taxes and earning a living. For these reasons, dealers must price their merchandise in such a way so they can earn reasonable living selling coins to collectors. If you are interested in Coin dealers, be sure to visit http://www.davidlawrence.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_P_Stanfords It’s Halloween again and the ghosts and witches and spirits will be out in force tonight. Tomorrow they will transform back into sweet little children again. The costumes will be discarded or stored away and a million scooped-out pumpkins will be on their way to landfill. But what about Halloween for the collector? What things produced for today’s celebrations will be tomorrows antiques? Already vintage Halloween collectibles are selling on eBay so there are opportunities for both dealers and collectors. There are skulls, black cats, Jack o’ Lanterns, plastic pumpkins, postcards, candy holders, cake picks and costumes. The best items are German or US made, the German made items were mainly exported to the States. Look out for the vintage items produced between the Great War and WWII. These are highly collectible and are fetching the best prices. There are so many Halloween niches that as a collector it’s best to decide on the items you like best and stick to collecting them. A dealer would research the niches and pick the most profitable. Don’t neglect to hide away some modern things for the future though, you could be the owner of that rare plastic witch that turns out to the big ticket item of the future. There’s a good article here with advice on keeping kids safe at Halloween and it has links to further reading on the history of Halloween costumes and the true origins of Halloween. Article Author Dave Knight The shortest answer to this question is yes but as there are exceptions it is better to answer “it depends”. As with all antiques and future antiques care should be taken when cleaning and some items are best lefty to experts to deal with. Silver Coins Never polish collectible or antique coins whatever the metal. This is a job for experts and cleaning at all can ruin the value. Silver Tableware It is okay to polish most sterling silver tableware but do it the right way. Don’t use a polish or cloth that is too abrasive as this could ruin and devalue the piece. Never use a power polisher on silverware. Here are some tips to remember when cleaning and polishing silver: Use Your Silverware. Handling helps keep silver free of tarnish, so use your pieces regularly. Wash By Hand. Wash and dry silver by hand. Use a little detergent-based liquid soap in warm water. Dry By Hand. Use a soft dish towel, don’t leave to dry as water may stain the silver. Never leave your silver to dry on stainless steel drainers or rubber mats. Use Silver Polish. Buy a quality silver polish and follow the instructions carefully. Rub the polish into the items thoroughly as this will achieve the best result when buffing. Buff. After a short time allowing the polish to dry use a clean, soft and dry cloth to buff your silverware to a bright sheen. Only do this by hand. Store Carefully. If you intend to store your silver for a long period apply a tarnish retardant. Wash Before Use. Silver polish tastes horrible so wash your silverware before use in the way suggested above. Silver-Plated Items. You will wear the silver plating away if you polish such items too frequently. It is preferable to use them often and wash as above to prevent tarnish forming. Whether you collect antique or modern silverware these tips should ensure you protect the value of your investment. When buying new items there is normally a product-care leaflet included. Read it carefully for additional or special instructions. Article Author: Dave Knight People collect so many different things now that many of the items will never get universally popular. There must be thousands of collectors who share their passion with only a handful of other enthusiasts. Magazines, especially antique and specialist-subject publications, are popular collectors items. But the varied subjects covered by them mean the market for them is as fragmented as the topics. So are special interest magazines worth collecting? Some time ago I auctioned a collection of Wheels & Tracks magazines on eBay. They were given to me by a guy who was having a clear out at home and fortunately he didn’t just ditch them into the trash. As a result of that sale I think that magazines, even special interest magazines like Wheels & Tracks, should only be collected for there value and interest to the owner. They are not a big earner so as a general rule they are not an investment. As with all things there are exceptions to the rule but W&T is not one of them. Maybe in the future someone’s grandchildren will get to sell them for a tidy sum but there is no immediate profit to be had. Wheels & Tracks was first published in 1982 and continued to arrive on the news-stands every three months until 2001. Just why it was discontinued I don’t know but the articles are just as interesting now as they were when first published. Inside is the pages are packed with photos, detailed drawings and reviews. There is a readers forum, a section named Indentifile that asks readers to identify vehicles and other objects from photos. There’s a discoveries section, book reviews and lots of other features. Not only a historical record of military hardware but a veritable treasure trove of information for the military enthusiast. While focusing on the vehicles used by the armed services during the 20th Century it is inevitable that both WWI & WWII are covered throughout the series. Vehicles of the United Kingdom, United States of America, Republic of Germany, most other European nations and many other countries around the world are featured. A lot of the vehicles, which were total wrecks when found, have been restored by collectors and exhibited at military shows. Those articles, usually accompanied with progress photos are particularly interesting. If military vehicles and military history are your thing then look out for Wheels & Tracks, they have a wealth of interesting articles, facts and photos in their pages. As for collecting magazines and other publications pick a subject you enjoy. You may not get a monetary return on your investment but the pleasure you’ll derive from reading the articles and looking at the photos cannot be quantified in profit terms. |
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