I’ve been thinking about diversifying my investment portfolio for sometime; according to my financial advisor and retirement planner, this is a good idea for everyone, but is especially recommended in times of fiscal and political insecurity on a national level and also on an international level. After doing some research, I’m thinking that I want to purchase some silver US coins. Specifically, I want to purchase some silver bullion United States coins that I can use as part of a silver individual retirement account (IRA).

In order for coins to be included in a silver IRA, they need to be silver bullion and they need to have been minted in the U.S. After doing some reading at the US Mint website – http://www.usmint.gov – it turns out that only the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins are allowed in a silver IRA. These silver US coins – the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins – “contain a minimum of one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver.” 

(http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/american_eagles/index.cfm?action=american_eagle_silver)                                         

Now, I’ve also been thinking about buying some other silver US coins, as part of my overall investment strategy, not just for a silver IRA, and the U.S. Mint offers a collection called “American the Beautiful” which are five ounce silver US coins that commemorate national parks. According to the Mint’s website, “these coins are made of .999 fine silver, have a diameter of three inches and weigh five ounces.” That means they weigh more and have more silver than the American Eagle Silver Bullion coins!

(http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=8305)

The Mint also produces silver commemorative coins in the form of silver dollars, and there are historic silver US coins, too, some of which are only valued for their melt value (how much silver they contain) and others that appeal to collectors because of historic value, rarity, and condition. And then there are the coins that are only 90% silver, such as the Peace Dollars, the Morgan Dollars, Washington Quarters, Roosevelt Dimes, and Jefferson Nickels.

Are silver US coins a good investment? I think so, especially if you keep in mind what kind of coins you are buying and why you are buying them in the first place. If you’re looking at diversifying your portfolio or starting a silver IRA, then the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins are the way to go. If, on the other hand, you are looking to build a silver coin collection, there are plenty of silver US coins that can – and should – be included in that collection.

IMAGE SOURCES:

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins images: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/american_eagles/?action=american_eagle_silver_proof

America the Beautiful coin images: http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=16564&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=48501

Silver Jefferson Nickels images:
http://coins.silvercoinstoday.com/silver-jefferson-nickels/

With the holidays here once again, and the new year about to begin, many investors are wondering which gold coins to buy.  Some opt for classics like the American Eagles, while others look for rare coins.

As Doug Winter illustrates in Coin Week, rare gold coins.com, there are all kinds of reasons that coins are especially valuable or rare. Sometimes coins are rare because their condition is so extraordinary. Other times, coins are rare just because there's not that many of them around. The first are called condition-oriented rarities and the second are called absolute rarities. There is even a third category which features coins that have both attributes. These are coins that have both things going on - they are both in extremely good condition and or the date is extremely rare as well. There are very few of these and there are even fewer of these that have managed to survive.

Other things that go into making a coin particularly valuable are very rare date. For whatever reason there were few of them in the first place and consequently very few of them are still left. And lastly, there are certain kinds of strikes that are quite rare - some are limited editions and others might be mistakes. http://www.coinweek.com/

Collecting coins as every coin collector knows is incredibly fun as well as possibly profitable. Many investors enjoy combining their collecting bug but with their investment strategy and having the best of both worlds. Many times collecting coins becomes a hobby that starts in childhood and extends into the retirement years.

Wondering what a rare coin is worth? Well, they're worth a lot. For example, the 1861 Paquet Reverse sold for $1,610,000 in 2006. There are only two such coins known to exist. Now, that my friends is rare indeed. For the rest of us mere mortals, there are the standard issue gold coins… that are collectible, and fairly valuable, but not rare. Not yet, anyway.