When it comes to buying old coins you never know how much you will end up paying. Old coin prices fluctuate and everyone selling and buying them is trying to get the best deal. So how does someone go about getting the best coin prices?

Your Goal is Important

Old coin prices are different for different people partly because the value of the coin is perceived differently. A casual coin collector finds value by adding coins to his collection. But part of the excitement comes from hunting for the best possible coin prices. Many collectors will spend months researching the best sources. He might attend coin shows and auctions to get the best possible old coin prices.

On the other hand, someone who is buying old coins as an investment opportunity might not be so patient. Many coin investors will pay higher old coin prices because the value added to their investment portfolio will negate the extra cost of the particular coin. Investors also want to start making returns on their investment right away. If that means paying steeper old coin prices to have the coin today instead of later in the year, then so be it.

Effectively Haggling Over Coin Prices

With a little knowledge you can get optimal coin prices. Coin dealers mark their inventory up substantially to ensure a high profit. If you understand the difference between between wholesale and commercial old coin prices then you will be in a position to proficiently haggle for the best possible price.

If you know both prices then you will be able to offer reasonable price that saves you money but is also reasonable to the dealer. This is the key to effective haggling. The old coin prices have to be reasonable enough to both parties.

Knowing the different old coin prices will give you a leg up at coin shows too. Not everyone takes the time do this research so it will put you at an advantage.

Making Money On Your Coin

When you sell your coin, the same general rules apply. You want to set your prices below retail value to make then appealing but as high above the wholesale value as possible. This way you make the most off of your old coins and your buyer will feel he is getting a good deal too.

Like good wine, old coin values increase as the years go by. However, if you don’t care for you coin collection properly it will not be worth as much down the road. For this reason it is essential to learn what you can do to keep your old coin values increasing with time.

How is Coin Value Determined?

The main factors that influence old coin values are the coin’s condition, demand, and historical value. The actual value of any coin can generally be found by checking the book value. For American wholesale prices you can check the Blue Book. For world coins you’ll have to consult the Black Book. To get an idea of consumer prices look in the Red book.

The demand for a given coin is determined mainly by the coin’s rarity. Old coin values are much higher for those coins that are very rare. Sometimes even very old coins aren’t worth very much if there were so many printed that they are very easy to come by.

The historical significance of a coin has an effect on coin values as well. A coin from a particular era in history that is important to a given person will increase the perceived value of the coin. For instance, the a Civil War historian will believe old coin values from this period are much higher.

Old coin values are largely dependent on coin condition. This can be difficult to gauge sometimes but luckily the Sheldon Scale helps us determine the condition of a coin. The Sheldon Scale is a comprehensive 70 part scale that many coin dealers use. Coins that are very worn and difficult to read are considered the least valuable while those that are near perfect are considered mint.

Keep Your Valuable Coins Valuable

One necessary skill for any serious coin collector is understanding how to keep old coin values high by maintaining the coins integrity over time.

Don’t handle your coins very often. When you do handle them, always hold them by the edges only. The oils and acids from our hands can increase the deterioration of our coins thus lowing old coin values over time.

Another thing to remember is not to clean your coins. Every time you handle or scrub the coin you wear some of it away. Most cleaners have a negative effect on the coin as well. So always remember to resist the urge to shine or clean your favorite coins.

Correct storage is key to maintaining the highest coin values. Avoid storing your coins in plastic sleeves or any old paper or envelopes. You must specifically use acid free paper to prevent wear on your coins. Most paper contains acid so check a specialty store.

With a little effort, you should be able to keep your old coin values from dropping. Your collection could be worth a fortune someday if you are diligent about its care.

Have you ever imagined what Roman Emperors like Julius Caesar, Nero or Titus looked like. Perhaps you would also like to own something that may have been held by one of these historic men or someone living during their time.

If you are a collector with a low budget, particularly a coin collector then you should seriously consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.

I prefer collecting Roman coins for a number of reasons.

Unlike other ancient coins there are a wide variety of Ancient Roman coins featuring many different Roman emperors. This is due to the vast time and area that the Empire covered. Countless coins were made between the 1st and 5th century over a large area of the world which the Roman Empire covered and these coins reflect the location and period that they were minted.

Also its great to have a real portrait of an Emperor in your possession. Many emperors came and went and it was customary to inscribe the portrait of the emperor on the coins that were minted during their reign.

Collecting Roman coins can be a cheap hobby unlike other ancient coins created by the Barbarians, Greeks, Indians and Chinese.

In fact they are less expensive to collect then many modern day coins which can come as a surprise to some. As already stated the Roman Empire was large and existed over a long period of time. Therefore there were a lot of Roman coins and so they are not as rare as some may believe. Also fewer people collect ancient coins then modern coins and so the demand for them is lower.

You are less likely to come across a fake Roman coin then other coins. Roman coins are less expensive and rarer so there is less of a motive to forge them.

These coins dont just have historic and monetary value. They also have artistic value being beautifully crafted and containing a narrative or story of the area and period that they were minted.

The currency in Ancient Rome had intrinsic value as their coins were made from precious metals such as Gold and Silver. This can make the coins more special to collect but you should make sure you have a higher enough budget before collecting the Gold coins as these are significantly more expensive.

What determines the worth of a Roman coin

Prices for Roman Coins vary significantly and are due to a number of variables. The top two important are the grade of the coin when it was minted and the condition that the coin is in now.

The condition of the coin depends on how the coin was stored before being found or how tarnished the coin has become due to minerals in the ground.

The grade of the coin depends on the tools and experience of the person who minted the coin during the Roman period. These coins were made by hand and so are not always very well minted. They may be oval rather then circular and lack detail. This can happen if it was struck by dies that were worn down.

Determining the grade of a coin can be tricky and sometimes you simply have to go with how appealing and detailed the coin is to your own eyes.

The third most important factor that determines the worth of a Roman coin is how rare that coin is. However rarity is less of a factor with Roman coins as it is with modern coins as Roman coins are so diverse and numerous.

More people collect modern coins and therefore there is greater demand for them. Also because modern coins are less varied then Roman coins the value of a modern coin can be driven up if collectors are trying to complete their collections. This is less of an issue with Roman coins as the variety is much greater and collectors are less likely to complete their collection. Each collection will be different. Rare Roman coins do exist however. If an emperor was only in power for a short period of time less coins are likely to have been minted during his reign. These coins are harder to find and cost more.

Sellers of ancient coins will often use terms such as scarce, rare or very rare to describe a coin. Just because someone describes a coin as rare does not mean that it actually is. Unfortunately, some sellers will attach this label to ancient coins to attract novice collectors who do not know better. If someone describes a coin as rare or scarce does the person explain why the coin is rare? Does he give it an RIC number and explain the variety? If you are new to collecting ancient coins, you should not jump on a coin just because is it described as rare.

Once you become more experienced it will be much easier to determine yourself if a coin is uncommon, scarce, rare or very rare.

How much should you pay for a Roman Coin

Truly rare coins that are sort after will not sell for much less than $100, and often for much more. Hence, a coin of Constantine described as rare with an asking price of just a few dollars is very unlikely to be so. There are sellers on eBay who claim that their coin is rare, or they have only seen one in 10 years, but there is another one just like it being offered on eBay by someone else.

To get an idea of the diversity in price for different Roman coins, for $5 to $10 you can buy good quality coins minted under late third and forth century AD emperors.

If you were willing to pay $10-$20, you could collect a coin from the more well-known 1st and 2nd century emperors. Maybe some later ones in good condition. If you were willing to accumulate a collection of over 50 emperors in good condition with clear portraits and readable legends this should cost approximately $20 a coin.

On top of this, there are numerous varieties available for each emperor. Of course, just as with modern coins, you can buy ones that cost much more; ones that are in better shape or are more scarce, but if you are just interested in decent coins and history then you may not have to look any further.

You could occasionally splash out on a rarer coin which catches your interest or one in much better condition. Or even a Gold or Silver coin worth more then their weight in these precious metals. Some people are attracted to coins that are dirty or not fully legible as it can add to their mystery and even lead to a rare and expensive find.

To sum up, purchase coins that appear to you personally. Every coin will be different. Choose the one that you think is better value for your money. You may even be able to resell such a coin later and make a profit. Occasionally buy a more expensive coin of a higher grade and condition. Dont worry about rarity too much but if want a rare coin you should make sure the coin really is rare by asking the dealer the right questions. This can save yourself a lot of money.

If youve ever wondered what Roman Emperors like Julius Caesar, Nero or Constantine looked like or wanted to own something that may have been held by one of these historic men or someone living during that period then consider this.

If you are someone who has an interest in the Ancient past or perhaps someone who just likes collecting historic antiques but your not willing to spend much money then you should consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.

There are a number of reasons why I prefer collecting Roman coins then other antiques including other ancient coins.

While other ancient coins can be interesting a very large variety of Roman coins exist due to the vast time and area that the Roman Empire covered. Countless coins were minted over the first few centuries that the Roman Empire existed and these coins reflect the time and location of the region.

Another reason is that it was a tradition to inscribe the portrait of the emperors on the coins that were minted during their reign. It is therefore possible to get an idea of what the various emperors looked like which is amazing considering that they lived thousands of years ago.

There were many Ancient coins created by the Greeks, Barbarians, Celts, Indians and Chinese but Ancient Roman coins are the most in-expensive of all of these.

This can come as a surprise to many considering how ancient these coins are. Yet they can be even cheaper then some of the modern day coins that coin collectors collect. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly as already stated the Roman empire was large and so there were a lot of coins minted. Many Roman coins are therefore not as rare as many believe. Another reason is that there are few collectors of ancient coins then modern coins. This makes the demand for them lower.

There are also less forgeries of Roman coins then other coins particularly modern day coins. This is largely due to the fact that they are less rare and expensive.

Another reason why I enjoy collecting Roman coins is that they have more then just historic value. These coins have creative and artistic value. They have been beautifully crafted and reflect the culture and environment of where they were made.

Roman Coins had intrinsic value. Unlike coins today these coins were made from Gold, Silver, Bronze etc. Should you have a higher budget this gives you the chance to collect the more special and rarer Gold and Silver coins which were worth many more times their weight in those metals.

Factors that determine a coins worth

Prices for Roman Coins vary significantly and are due to a number of variables. The top two important are the grade of the coin when it was minted and the condition that the coin is in now.

Condition of the coin is dependent on how eroded the coin has become while it was in the soil or how it was stored before being found.

The grade of the coin is determined by how the coin was minted when it was manufactured. These coins were minted by hand and so are not always entirely circular or detailed. A coin can be less detailed and of less value if it was struck by dies that were worn down.

Determining the grade of a coin can be tricky and sometimes you simply have to go with how appealing and detailed the coin is to your own eyes.

Another factor that determines a coins worth is its rarity. Surprisingly rarity is less of a factor in determining an ancient Roman coins worth then modern day coins.

Coins are worth a lot more if fewer were minted and there are fewer of them in circulation. Given the large number of collectors of Modern day coins this is more of a factor with Modern coins. This would drive up the cost of a rare coin if collectors are trying to complete their collection.

You should be wary of coin dealers that use terms such as rare or very rare to describe a coin. A coin that is described as rare may not necessarily be rare. Some of those who are new to coin collecting will be misled by such claims. If someone describes a coin as rare you should determine how rare and why the coin is rare. Does the dealer of the coin give an RIC number and provide the range. Do not be tempted to purchase a coin just because someone describes it as rare.

Once you become more experienced it will be much easier to determine yourself if a coin is uncommon, scarce, rare or very rare.

How much should you pay for a Roman Coin

Do not purchase a Roman coin if it is described as rare and being sold for less then $100 as it is unlikely to be rare. Rare coins will not sell for less then $100. Some eBay sellers will claim that their coin is rare and you will not see another like it for years yet you find the same coin on eBay sold by someone else.

To get an idea of the range in price for Roman coins, for $5 to $10 you can purchase good quality coins manufactured under late 3rd and 4th century AD emperors.

For approximately $10 – $20, you should be able to collect a coin from the more recognized 1st and 2nd century emperors, and many later ones in good condition. In fact you could collect about half of the emperors of which there is about fifty with clear portraits and readable legends for about $20 a coin.

There can be a large variety of coins for each emperor. Some will be in better condition, or more rare, but if your interested in purchasing decent quality coins and you dont want to pay too much you may not have to look much further.

Why not occasionally purchase a more expensive and rare coin, or one of a high grade or condition made out of Gold or Silver. This could be very expensive but could be resold to a coin dealer for a good price. Some prefer cheaper coins that require some cleaning as it adds to the mystery and occasionally a rare and expensive coin can be found.

To sum up, purchase coins that appear to you personally. Every coin will be different. Choose the one that you think is better value for your money. You may even be able to resell such a coin later and make a profit. Occasionally buy a more expensive coin of a higher grade and condition. Dont worry about rarity too much but if want a rare coin you should make sure the coin really is rare by asking the dealer the right questions. This can save yourself a lot of money.