Experienced investors know that the worth of certified gold and silver coins, is initially determined by their status as either rare, or bullion coin. Government-issued bullion coins generally carry prices that hover a bit above the current gold spot price, while rare gold and silver coins command much higher premiums.

The reason why certified rare gold and silver coins are so costly is because they possess numismatic value, which generally appreciates over time. The world’s two most reputable rare, gold and silver coin numismatic certification companies are the PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), and the NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). The PCGS pioneered modern rare coin numismatic certification back in 1986, and the NGC, which is the official certification company of the ANA (American Numismatic Association), was incepted one year later. This web-logger recommends only these two certification companies to prospective buyers, as more obscure certifications could likely fetch a disappointing liquidation price in the future.

Each of these companies uses their own team of rare coin experts to individually examine, and “mint state grade” each gold and silver coin, which is based on a 70-point “Sheldon Scale”. This numismatic grade for investment-quality rare, gold and silver coins usually ranges between 61, and 66, and ultimately determines the worth of certified gold and silver coins.

Novice investors are hereby warned to avoid paying for PCGS, or NGC-certification for modern bullion coins, and to always conduct background checks on any precious metal dealer that they are considering.

Those who have completed their research can avoid paying outrageous retail prices for their gold and silver bullion, and rare coins by contacting one of our friendly specialists, who offer institutional discounts on these coins to household investors like you.

Shannon King