Investors Make a Beeline for Gold Coins at Auctions

June 17, 2010 - Collectors are keener than ever to add to their collection of rare gold coins, as evidenced by the action at the Long Beach Signature U.S. Coin Auction. There was a big demand for gold coins at a sale of American currency recently in California. Heritage Auctions, the largest collectibles auctioneer in the world, reported that gold coins were the “hottest” selling items at the event. More than 4,250 bidders were present and $9.88 million was raised. A $10 coin dating back to 1796 fetched the highest price of $57,500. Another gold coin, a $2.5 Clark Gruber and Co. quarter eagle dating back to 1859, featuring the profile of Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle on the other, sold for $51,570.

At another auction, a $3 dated 1859 and supposedly the first proof coin sold publicly, was auctioned at $49,450. An 1883 $10 gold coin sold for $48,888. At the Christie’s New York Jewels sale on June 15, two lots with gold coins were the highest selling items. A collection of 100 Austrian gold coins dating 1915, which were valued at between $70,000 and $100,000, brought in an amazing $224,500.

James Cockington, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, reported that there were discs from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods on offer at a Sydney auction at the beginning of this year. A gold aureus from the Roman mint in 193 AD was valued at $30,000. Greek and Roman gold coins are the most popular. Cockington also wrote that oriental coinage, which has its origins at the same time or earlier, is also drawing a lot of interest from the West, opening up a whole new market for these exotic coins.

June 14, 2010 - The Perth Mint of Australia has released the first 2010 Mini Roo 0.5 gram gold coin. This unique legal tender gold coin has a miniature kangaroo on its face for 2010 and it is a different design each year. Composed of 99.99% pure gold and priced at around US $38, this 0.5 gram Mini Roo is an affordable 24-karat gold coin that the public can afford to buy.

This is not the first time the Perth Mint has introduced Kangaroo gold coins. In fact, these coins have been released since 1990 and are popular for their investment value. They are available in one kilo, one ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce sizes. The smaller sizes are easier to collect and the designs on these are changed annually. The kangaroo, a native of Australia, is often used on other coins.

The newly released 2010 Mini Roo coin is unique for its size and price. Just 11.6 mm in diameter with a thickness of .70 mm, this gold coin is a favorite as a collectible. While the kangaroo adorns one side of this coin, the other side has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The coin has a face value of AUS $2, but obviously, the value of the gold is at least ten times more. The coin has 0.016 troy ounces of gold and is shipped with a protective packing to ensure that the bullion finish stays intact. The Perth Mint plans to make a Mini Roo every year with different designs. Collectors are anxious to add the Mini Roo gold coin to their collection, naturally.

June 10, 2010 - Fueled by the mounting European debt crisis, the price of gold hit a new record this week amid increased demand for gold coins and bullion.

The price of gold climbed to $1,252.11 Tuesday, June 8, the second time in as many months that a new high has been set. The previous top mark was set on Wednesday, May 19, when gold reached $1,243.10 an ounce.

Popular gold coins are actually trading above market value as some dealers worldwide are reporting a difficulty in filling larger orders. One-ounce coins were selling between $1,268 and $1,292 from various sources on Thursday, June 10.

In order to match the tightening of supplies, blank production has increased to its highest level since 1985, with some refiners reporting an increase in output by as much as 50 percent. Despite the boost, some European dealers claim they will not be able to fill any orders for gold coins until August.

A proposed capital gains tax increase in England is also fueling the buying frenzy, especially in Europe. Gold coins are exempt in the new U.K. prime minister’s financial plan, which would more than double the tax rate on British capital gains.

With no end in sight to the economic crisis in Europe, the demand for gold coins is not expected to decrease any time soon. Analysts note sales in the U.S. and Russia remain strong, and many predict European purchases will grow even more as additional E.U. countries add their names to the list of failing financial institutions.

May 26, 2010 - Gold selling to cover losses of assets in other markets kept the yellow metal at a low level until last Thursday. Spot gold was $1,177.00 an ounce climbing back up to $1,212.50 a $35.50 (3%) by Wednesday.

Last week, gold began a profit taking stage that was until Thursday when the markets plummeted on renewed Euro crisis concerns. Just two weeks ago gold market staged an exciting two-day run which climaxed Wednesday 19th on a record breaking performance of $1243.10 an ounce to erase the previous all-time record of $1226.40 posted on December 3, 2009. The difference was $16.70 (1.36%).

Gold staged the record-breaking run amid growing doubts and uncertainties about the effectiveness of the 750 billion euro bailout fund approved this month for troubled EU member countries threatened with fiscal difficulties.

Today we know the bail out package proved to be a band-aid to what appears to be a ‘Lehman-Style’ tsunami heading towards the European markets. Now that Spain has been added to the crisis, investors are wondering who is next.

These doubts and uncertainties had contributed to the decline in markets around the world. Since Thursday last week, gold has gained $35.50 an ounce, yet another sign of investors moving their assets to a safe-haven.

Frank McGhee of Integrated Brokerage Services opined that “we are in the first round of an across the board asset devaluation. Gold will tend to maintain its value now. It will periodically sell off as other markets drop, but you will see money coming back into gold later.”

Gold’s status as a safe haven for investments in times of economic difficulties has been demonstrated countless times. The most memorable of these instances happened in the decades of the 1970s and the 2000s.

During the inflation of inflation of the 1970s, gold prices skyrocketed 1,500%. Prices started in 1970 at $37 an ounce and finished at $600 an ounce in 1979. During the inflation of 2000s, gold soared 400%. It started at $272 in 2000 and finished at $1100 in 2009.

Financial turmoil in the euro-zone continues to favor gold as a safe haven.

“Problems in the euro area should continue to provide some support (for gold). The debt problems are not going away overnight,” said Walter de Wet of Standard Bank. “Gold will continue to have this increased safe-haven status.”

May 25, 2010 - The euro continues to decline since yesterday, dropping down once again to $1.22, from its high early today at 1,275. Against the yen, it declined by 2.4% to 109.29 yen.

Analysts attribute the fall on the ban imposed by Germany on naked short selling effective Wednesday 19 until March 31, 2011. Naked short selling was imposed on Germany’s 10 most important financial institutions.

Also, the sentiment toward the EU-IMP bailout package remained fragile. There are fears that the plan might inject liquidity into the region and put the euro at risk.

It was explained that the naked short selling ban was necessary because of the exceptional volatility” of euro-based bonds.

Analysts explained that in short selling investors borrow stocks with the aim of selling them and buying them back at a lower price for profit. In naked short selling, investors sell the stocks without borrowing them first.

The slump of the euro made an immediate impact on the prices of commodities. Demand for oil dropped because the weak euro and the strong dollar made the commodity which is priced in dollars more expensive to foreign investors.

A weak euro also drives investors towards gold. Peter Spina of Gold Seek LLC said that “as the euro weakens, investors are worried that there is no other place to put their money. The dollar has had its issues recently and the alternative has always been the euro. But now that the euro has been having its own problems where do you put the money?”

The prevailing uncertainties over the fiscal situation in the EU will be, according Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, beneficial to gold because of its negative effects on investors toward euro denominated assets.

“Hence, we reinforce our medium-term gold target of $1,500” the bank said.

The near record high is being credited to economic turmoil in Europe compounded by the U.S. recession. According to a senior analyst from RichcommGlobal, both situations are causing equal uncertainty for investors, noting that ‘the market seems to be nervous.’ Jim Wyckoff of Kitco News echoes this sentiment, and says investors are using gold as a ‘safe haven amid keen uncertainty’ about their economic future. The American Eagle Gold Coins are following this trend, with over 60,000 total American Eagles sold in April of this year.

The increased sales of 50 Gold Coins is not based on the path of the dollar alone. In the days leading to the breaking of the $1,200 ‘psychological barrier,’ gold continued to hold strong amid an ascending dollar.

Debating over future gold prices makes a great daily news story, but the experts do agree on one thing: As long as economic conditions are uncertain and the currency market is volatile, the market for gold will be seen as a safe haven.

Experts say the safest way to own gold is to own bullion in the form of bars or gold coins. Of course owning gold bars is pretty cut and dry. The value of the gold is directly related to the weight of the gold, depending on what that day’s current market price for gold is. However, owning gold coins gets a bit trickier because some coins are worth much more than their weight in gold.

Some of the most valuable gold coins you can find are those recovered from a shipwreck. People love stories, and recovering coins from a shipwreck certainly adds a romantic value to them. However, the majority of coins you’ll find on the market today are your standard gold coins.

The first thing to consider when you’re pricing gold coins is the quality of the gold. For example, the only U.S. bullion coin that was minted in 24 karat gold is the American Buffalo coin. All other U.S. bullion coins are 22 karats or less.

Another thing to take into consideration when it comes to gold coins is the premium the coins are worth on top of the spot gold prices for the coins. The American Buffalo coin averages a 10 percent premium in addition to the gold spot value of the coin. This makes owning gold in the form of coins an even better investment than gold bullion in many cases, but as with anything, it’s always a good idea to ask an expert before you purchase any coins.

The meeting was held last week in Brussels. No details of the rescue package had been released, however, until this time. The report made no mention of any IMF participation whose assistance had been the subject of interesting discussions and speculation.

It will be recalled that our update of April 7 mentioned a report that the Euro dropped 0.6% against the dollar on April 6 from $1.3484 to $1.3399. The Euro had lost over 6% against the dollar and close to 6% against the yen so far this year.

It will not only be the Euro that would be relieved by the reported rescue but other currencies as well. There are 16 currencies that are the most active trade counterparts of the Euro.

The Greek rescue report is expected to have a wide ripple effect on various sectors which may be felt in the next few days.

Meanwhile, another currency is also making news – the Yuan whose devaluation is being sought by other major economies led by the US for its devaluation. Before formal negotiations could start, however, China announced its first trade deficit in six years. The March trade deficit was reported at $7.24 billion, a dive from the February surplus of $7.61 in February. Observers believe that this development had complicated the issue.

The threat to the Euro by the Greek crisis remains real. A report published in the Wall Street Journal revealed a purported plan by Greece to issue a bond worth between $5 billion and $10 billion. This move, should it materialize, will put more pressure on the Euro. The report had not been confirmed.

Greece director general Petros Christodoulou of Public Debt Management Agency, in a March 31 interview on Bloomberg Television, revealed that Greece needs to borrow bail out funds of 32 billion Euros. Some quarters had expressed doubts at the European Union’s capacity to provide such a huge funding requirement.

The Greek crisis has been perceived as a threat not only to the Euro but to other major currencies. There are 16 currencies that are the most active trade counterparts of the Euro.

Another area of concern is the speculation concerning Greece’s position on the IMF financial assistance. Although denied by Greece’s finance minister, the rumored report was that Greece would bypass IMF assistance because of the expected stiff terms. It will be recalled that several days ago, there were published reports purportedly coming from the IMF that the IMF would help Greece only under its own terms.

One analyst was heard to comment that the EU and the IMF seemed to prefer to watch from the sideline for the time being, assessing how long the precariously floating Greek economy would stay afloat and would throw the lifeline only when the actual sinking finally starts. A few days ago there were news reports that the IMF would help if asked but would help only under its own terms.

The prolonged drama had created some nervousness in the commodities market, among them gold. For sometime gold had been behaving with uncertain steps, barely keeping clear of the psychological level of $1100. But as the end of the first quarter came to a close, gold regained its footing and posted a confidence building sustained price increase over two weeks.

Several other factors contributed to gold’s price increase. Among these is the weakened US dollar amid an improving US economy. The dollar fell to the lowest level in almost two weeks against the Euro. April 2 numbers showed US dollar:Euro ratio at 1:1.3468.

A US Department of Labor report on improvement in the unemployment situation released shortly before the end of the first quarter revealed that the number of Americans queuing up for unemployment benefits had dropped by 6,000. The report was favorably received by investors and helped commodities like gold coins extend gains.

Price of crude oil rose beyond $85 a barrel, the highest in 17 months, in the face of increased demand. The demand was interpreted as sign of increased economic activity.

“We expect to see further weakness this week, provided that last week’s $1,134 high point caps. We remain medium-term neutral as long as the gold price stays below the three-month resistance line at $1,128.90 and the 50 percent Fibonacci level at $1,135.50, but above the $1,073.85 January low point.”

Technical Analysis use a series of historic data and mathematical formulas determine future pricing of stock, bonds, currencies, and commodities such as Gold. This is opposed to fundamental analysis that use current news and over all public sentiment to achieve their positions.

Most Technical Analysis believe that the market already has fundamental price fluctuations built into and any price spikes do to fundamental news will correct. The majority of analysis now days give credence to both technical and fundamental analysis, although they tend to favor one over the other, sighting that it would be ridicules in today’s fast paced investment world not to take advantage of every tool available.

The public seems to be embracing the conservative, lower-priced $10 Indian, $10 Liberty, $20 Liberty, and $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins ever since the financial crisis erupted in the fall of 2008. These particular coins are attracting new buyers primarily because they are private, non-reportable, and exempt from government confiscation. And of course the potential for additional profits based on scarcity, something modern bullion coins don’t offer. As gold bullion set new price records, so have most of these classic US gold coins.

Recently, this sector of the market has developed a feast-or-famine mentality. Buyers are either red hot or ice cold, creating greater-than-normal price volatility. In addition, the supply of classic US gold coins on the national market has been extremely tight since the financial crisis erupted. As a result, fluctuations in demand have translated into more exaggerated price swings faster than normal. We expect this cyclical volatility to continue.

Having just emerged from the latest cooling phase, prices for the most popular US gold coins are around 10% to 20% lower than they should be. This affords some excellent investment opportunities. If you would like assistance with your Gold coin acquisition, contact one of our Gold coin experts.

The 1997 law required that in order for gold coins and bars to be accepted in a gold IRA, they must be 99.5 percent pure and be classified as bullion. While both American Buffalo proofs and uncirculated coins meet the purity requirement, the proof coins do not meet the allowed criteria for gold IRAs due to these reasons:

1. Only the uncirculated coins are considered bullion; the proofs are classified by the US Mint as collector’s coins.

2. Proof gold coins do not trade based solely on their precious metal value.

3. The production and distribution processes for proof coins are different than for bullion.

Because the Internal Revenue Service has not officially ruled on these gold coins, organizations like the Industry Council for Tangible Assets do not recommend that they be purchased for inclusion in gold IRAs. The only known exceptions to this position are the 1986 American Eagle coins, although a bill (S. 1533) has been proposed to Congress which would allow a number of collector’s coins such as the American Buffalos to be accepted for investment.

For now, gold IRA investors should either invest in American Eagles, uncirculated American Buffalos, or the American Eagle Proof if you prefer US-minted gold coins for your IRA.

With Greece still attempting to formulate a recovery plan before a meeting with the European Union members on March 16th, the dollar had been attempting to hold its gains. That support has been wiped out this week as Bernanke gave a gloomy report to Congress, unemployment suddenly surged upward and key economic indicators began showing the dollar’s weakness. Gold prices then used this news to break the two-month downtrend and move higher for February, gaining more than 3% over January and getting back on pace to move higher for the tenth consecutive year.

Bernanke’s dismal report on the state of the economy will likely help gold coin prices. Said executives at Investec Global Gold Fund, "we believe the Fed's reaffirmation that rates are likely to remain low for an extended period should be supportive of gold prices in the long term."

Gold’s Relative Strength Index of 58.84 is supportive of higher gold prices, as are the MACD and Full STO indicators, suggesting that gold is ready to trend upward. With the dollar weakening and the economy unstable, gold prices are likely to rise, making additional gold investment a potentially profitable move.

After weathering the media storm of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s trip to Congress to testify on the state of the economy, analysts began to look at the problems in Greece, the US and other countries for an indication of economic stability. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s both indicated that they are preparing to downgrade Greece’s credit rating. "This morning Moody's warned that it may cut Greece's credit rating unless the government provides reassurances that it will not significantly deviate from plans to cut its budget deficit," said Jane Foley, research director at Forex.com.

The problems in the US are becoming more evident as well, with rising unemployment, dropping consumer confidence and record-low new home sales all making the news this week. The Fed is caught trying to keep interest rates low to stimulate the economy and avoiding a flood of new money into the market that it causes inflation.

For investors in gold coins and other assets, this economic instability is just another indication that now is a good time to add more of the precious metal to investment portfolios. Gold has a strong reputation as a hedge against economic difficulties, making it a secure asset to hold in light of the problems in Greece, the US and other countries.

Giving his twice-a-year report to the House Financial Services Committee, Bernanke did not dispel the concern of impending inflation, offer any hope about record-low new home sales, or predict a drop in unemployment rates, he merely confirmed that the economy is still struggling and the flood of low-cost funds needs to continue pouring into the market to keep from disrupting any improvements.

The testimony today was largely good news for gold coin investors, who view liberal money supplies as a benefit for people who want to invest in gold or other commodities. Tightening money supplies generally reduce investor appetite for risk and lead many away from additional gold investment. After trading steady during the afternoon session, after-hours investors pushed prices near the $1,100 per ounce level, gaining more than $1.00 as traders begin moving back into gold positions.

Many analysts expect the sell-offs of gold are likely to end. "The selling has abated because of what Bernanke said. We remain more on the sidelines to see which way the market will trade in the near-term”, said George Gero, vice president of global futures at RBC Capital Markets. Investors should view the Fed report as favorable and continue looking for advantageous points to re-enter the gold coin market.

Historically a top producer of gold, South Africa has seen its steepest decline in production since 1901. According to BusinessInsider.com, as exploration costs there and in other countries have soared, labor costs, political risks and credit shortages have driven the breakeven cost of new gold production up to $500 per ounce.

These shortages have become apparent when last year, the US Mint ran out of gold blanks for the 2009 American Eagle gold coins; with increasing demand by exchange-traded funds, central banks and private investors, this lack of supply is likely to begin affecting spot prices. Although this is bad for producers, it has the potential to be very profitable for investors.

With so many countries experiencing economic turmoil and a large number of currencies becoming devalued, gold is a valuable resource as a hedge against financial difficulties. If a shortage of gold occurs, those holding it will realize potentially incredible profits as the prices react to the short supply; in fact, trading experts like Wells Wilder of New Zealand are predicting prices of $5,000 per ounce within the next two years due to swelling demand, although this estimate does seem a bit high to many economists.

Investors should consider the diminishing supply of the precious metal as they decide whether to purchase additional gold coins. As Jeffrey Nicholls, managing director of American Precious Metals Advisors states, "Regardless of the near-term prospects for gold, the long-term fundamentals promise substantial appreciation later this year and beyond.” The key fundamental here is demand, and lower production could send demand to unprecedented levels, helping investors make incredible profits.

Rep. Pitts points out, “in 1964, if you gave me 10 silver dimes, it was worth $1. Those same 10 silver dimes right now are worth $15. But that dollar, the dollar bill, the printed U.S. dollar bill, is only worth about 50 cents.” This train of thought underscores the concerns of many analysts and economists who see the devaluation of the dollar and worry about the rampant spending of the federal government. This lack of confidence in the US dollar is a prime reason why silver and gold coins hold so much appeal for many investors.

Gold and silver have both served as a hedge against inflation and a protection against financial pressures. As the value of the dollar has fallen, gold has increased, allowing people to retain more value in their assets. Since the United States left the gold standard in 1973, the dollar’s value has dropped and the gold has been one of the best investments in the world. While it is difficult to imagine a state or the entire country returning to silver and gold coins, investors can still see the value of these metals for protecting their financial security.

Gold has gone over the $1,120 per ounce level today as investors look to minimize their risk in currency-based assets such as the euro. For many analysts, the $1,120 mark is another significant step in gold’s move upward, leaving the experts to speculate on what is coming next. The international credit crisis has given gold the opportunity to start a new rally, as people are becoming adverse to the risk of keeping their investments in currencies that are not seen as stable. This has created a fear that can bring addition gold coin investments.

The fiscal health of a number of countries is providing greater concern for wealth and finances as recession can quickly flip to inflation. The United State Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently addressed the idea that inflation is trying to enter the US economy, and today Great Britain announced that its inflation rate is nearly double the anticipated rate for the year. While inflation is damaging for a country’s economy, it tends to be very beneficial for gold investment because it devalues the currency, making gold more costly.

These factors can be quite beneficial to gold coin investment as difficult times typically draw investors to gold. Bullion and certified gold coins are often favored in uncertain times as investors look away from currency-based assets and look towards gold.

“Southern European countries are trapped in an overvalued currency and suffocated by low competitiveness, a situation that will lead to the break-up of the euro bloc,” according to Societe Generale SA strategist Albert Edwards. Edwards goes on to opine that, “The problem for countries including Portugal, Spain and Greece is that years of inappropriately low interest rates resulted in overheating and rapid inflation.”

The euro has not reacted well to this news, falling close to its nine-month low and losing about 10% to the dollar in the past two months. Gold continued its gains as well, closing near $1,100.00 per ounce.

GoldEssential.com analysts noted that “developments over the last 24 hours have been encouraging. Correlation studies showed a decoupling between gold and the U.S. dollar on Thursday as gold rallied on technical buy-through and strong equity markets, while the U.S. dollar gained on better than expected data, like in the good old days”

The problems with the EU and the euro have been helpful in driving gold coin prices higher. As gold prices absorb these gains, it is very possible that the move will continue upward. Investors should look to increase their holdings before any additional price increases occur.

February 13, 2010 – In spite of a strengthening US dollar and a correction in spot prices, gold coin sales for the month of January at the US Mint still reached 85,000 ounces. Down from the record-setting December total of 247,500, January’s total was still within 7,000 of the January 2009 total of 92,000. This year’s total is strictly for Double Eagles as the fractional coins are not currently being produced.

2010 gold coin sales did not begin until January 19th, meaning that the totals were accomplished in less than two weeks. This is a positive reflection of demand so far for 2010, as economic factors such as a strengthening US dollar and economic uncertainties have failed to keep investors from entering the gold market, leading many analysts to anticipate a recovery from lower spot prices. Minted since 1986, the Double Eagle coin is one of the most popular bullion coins in the world.

Bullion represents an important part of the entire gold investment market. It is frequently used as an effective short-term investment vehicle because of its worldwide acceptance and high liquidity. In addition to the United States, some of the other leading bullion producing countries are Canada, South Africa, Australia, France, China and Austria.

As spot prices rise and additional investors decide to enter the market, gold coin sales are likely to increase. Although sold at the US Mint, gold exchanges offer investors additional points of purchase and generally are able to sell at prices lower than individuals receive from the Mint, making their purchases even more valuable.

The United States has the largest gold reserve in the world at over 8,000 metric tons. This total far exceeds Germany’s total of 3,400 tons. At today’s price of $1,090.80, this would amount to total of approximately $288 billion. This represents a tremendous sum of money, but the costs far outweigh the benefits of selling.

The first problem of selling the country’s gold coins and bars is that selling such a large amount would undoubtedly flood the market. “Even talk by the government of perhaps selling gold might cause the price to drop,” adds James Barth of the Milken Institute, an economic think-tank. Barth suggests that selling gold “could be viewed as a sign of weakness” by other countries and send the undesirable message that the U.S. is in danger of economic collapse.

The second problem is that even though the President has the power to sell gold, any proceeds from that sale would go directly to pay on the national debt, not fund the current budget. Although $288 billion is a large sum, it pales to the nearly $12.4 trillion owed by the country or even to next year’s $1.38 trillion budget. While serious steps are necessary, this isn’t a viable option to take.

For private investors, the decision to sell and buy gold coins and bars is an excellent decision. Gold has been one of the best investments for the past decade, rising in value for the past nine years. Private investors should study the market and then make a decision to buy and sell bullion and certified gold coins.

This coin will have a diameter of 19.7 inches and will have inscriptions that read “2010”, “Finegold” and “999.9”. The obverse of the coin will feature a two-dimensional picture of the world surrounded by a wreath and resemble the United Nations flag. The reverse will feature the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, a symbol of freedom that gained significance when President Ronald Reagan gave his famous, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” speech. With its amazing diameter of nearly 20 inches, the coin will dwarf the largest bullion coin by the US Mint, the America the Beautiful silver bullion coin; this coin will measure a modest 3 inches in diameter, meaning that six of these coins could rest inside the diameter of the Global Liberty coin.

While this coin is not being produced with the expectation of any large number of purchases, it will immediately become a rare collector’s coin with only three minted. Such a gold coin will no doubt capture the imagination of numismatics and investors alike, creating a stir that is normally reserved for rare Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles or Gold Dollar coins.

This sentiment is echoed by Bob Gallagher, CEO of international gold producer New Gold. He sees gold as being in the middle of “a very exciting sector of the cycle. Whereas commodities like gold tend to have cycles in the 10-year range, we're probably only in about year six. So the fundamentals are very favorable for continued growth in gold pricing." Precious metals analyst Jeff Nichols agreed, recently opining to Mineweb that he still believes gold coin prices will rise to $1,500 per ounce by the end of 2010.

Based on Moving Average Convergence/Divergence figures, the Relative Strength Index, and other factors, many expect to see further price increases. What that means to the investor is that now is a good time to purchase, whether in certified gold coins or bullion. Many analysts feel that last week’s drop in spot prices was a signal that the market has reached its support level and is now ready to climb. Buying now would offer investors the opportunity to get the most out of their purchases, while trading fundamentals suggest that gold prices are ready to rise.

Gold has quadrupled in value during the past decade, and has increased in price for nine consecutive years. This strength is even more profound in certified gold coins, where the CU3000 Index shows that rare coins have increased nearly seventyfold since 1973. This strong growth has made certified gold coins extremely attractive commodities to hold.

Gold coins are now widely regarded as excellent strategies for long-term investment. While many people hold gold bullion for short-term trading due to its liquidity, certified coins offer investors the chance to capitalize on the rarity, quality and desirability of a piece to gain value over time. Coins such as American Eagles, Double Eagles, Liberty Eagles, Indian Eagles, $3 Dollar coins and more can bring prices into the thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars based on their grade. These coins are best when certified by either PCGS or NGC so that their quality is guaranteed by one of the premier grading services in the world.

As people in Haiti try to recover from the devastation that has consumed the island country, many people throughout the world have shown great kindness, such as the person that donated this gold coin. This gift proved to be even more valuable because of the worth of rare gold coins and their strong return on investment.

The US Dollar Index, a measurement of the relative strength of the US dollar against six foreign currencies, rose to 80.309 today on continued optimism over fiscal weakness in several European countries. A two-month ride has the dollar trading near its 52-week high of 80.375, in spite of any substantial support for its rise. This lack of support provides a strong reason why an investor should consider buying gold coins now.

Gold prices are down more than $150 per ounce from the all-time high set in November 2009, which amounts to a drop of about 12%. Sell-offs and technical trading have figured heavily into this activity, but support for gold prices remains high. Since gold is in a stable position and the dollar isn’t, a reversal is a strong possibility.

Gold coins present an excellent strategy for capitalizing on any upcoming rally. Gold bullion offers a very good short-term option because it is highly liquid and closely follows the gold spot price. Certified gold coins offer a long-term solution because the strength of their profitability is based on rarity and quality of the coins, as well as their gold content.

With analysts still predicting a rally by gold, now is a good time to consider adding bullion and certified coins to a financial portfolio. The underlying weakness of the dollar won’t still hidden for long and gold coins will be a likely beneficiary of the switch.

Gold coins are purchased in two basic ways: bullion (or investment gold) and certified rare coins. Each of these methods features different benefits, but both are valuable investment tools. Bullion is the everyday gold investment; these coins can be easily bought for close to the spot price, currently at $1,062.60, and liquidated quickly, making them excellent short-term investments. Certified rare coins have been reviewed either by PCGS or NGC and have a grade that helps to determine their value. These coins have the potential to increase over time, and some of the rarest ones have brought incredible prices when sold. Because of their unique qualities and scarcity, certified coins provide the potential for strong long-term investments.

Today’s news shows how unstable the economy is and how close at hand economic disaster could be. Forty years of sustained success has encouraged many people to invest in gold coins. If asked, many would say that gold coins represent a stable investment that has demonstrated the potential to serve as a hedge against inflation and a profitable asset in times of economic turmoil. These are just two of the many reasons why many people buy gold coins.

Britain was not the only country to increase its bullion output. The United States also increased its production, with a 66% jump in the number of American Eagle gold coins minted. With bullion prices increasing nearly 25% while the dollar fell over 4% for the year, a move to gold investment was not unexpected.

The big motivation for many people is fear. The concern surrounds falling currency values and the introduction of excessive currency to the economy. These factors can severely weaken the monetary system and force people to look for investments like rare gold coins and bullion, commodities that have been traditionally used as a hedge against economic hardship. This reputation is built on forty years of history, during which the price of gold has increased more than 1,600%, making it one of the best investments over the past generation.

Gold investors can look at increased production by the mints in the UK and the US as signs that gold is still in high demand. This demand will almost assuredly continue to drive prices upward, making investment in gold coins a good move for the foreseeable future.

Gold prices rose in 2009 for the ninth consecutive year, jumping from $869.50 per ounce at the end of 2008 to $1,087.50 at the end of 2009. This $218 per ounce increase in gold prices translates to a solid 25% increase for the year. While bullion is directly affected by this jump, certified gold coins profit from the increase as well.

Bullion and certified gold coins are both beneficiaries of rising gold spot prices. Bullion pricing is basically set by the spot price, so a rise in gold price leads directly to an upswing in bullion. Certified gold coin prices are influenced by other factors such as quality and demand for each individual coin, but gold price still has a big role in determining each coin’s value.

Economic stability and the US dollar are key indicators for gold coin prices at this time. If the economy can rebound and the dollar remains strong against foreign currencies, gold prices may suffer. If, as many analysts expect, the economy and dollar fall victim to inflation, gold coin prices stand a very good chance of soaring. As the United States and other countries battle with their fiscal woes, gold coin prices appear to be ready to rise.

Among rare gold coins in the United States, the name of designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens stands out as the premier coin artist in the history of the US Mint. Sealing his place in history with the Double Eagle, Saint-Gaudens created a second masterpiece with the $10 Indian Eagle gold coin. Like the Double Eagle, this was a revolutionary coin and is a valuable rare gold coin today.

This half ounce gold coin features Lady Liberty dressed in a full Indian war bonnet with star-tipped feathers, while a perched eagle dominates the reverse under the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" at the top. The President Theodore Roosevelt originally refused to allow “In God We Trust” to be included on the coins because he believed that they would be used for immoral purposes, but the motto was added in 1908. With the same issue date as the American Eagle, both coins were minted until 1933 when President Franklin Roosevelt stopped the minting of gold coins.

Although the public was not initially enthralled with the new design, it quickly became accepted and is now considered one of the country’s finest coins. Because of the gold confiscation of 1933, there are small quantities of these coins remaining and the prices reflect that fact. Of the 1907 wire-rimmed coins available, the prices have been impressive, with an MS67 being valued at nearly $350,000 by PCGS.

Like the American Eagles, the $10 Indian Eagle gold coin is one of the most desired rare collector’s coins. As investors look for coins that are scare and have an interesting history and high quality, the Indian Eagle is one of the coins they seek.

Finishing 2009 with the coin honoring Margaret Taylor, the schedule for 2010 will feature Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce and the Liberty Head coin honoring James Buchanan, the only unmarried President in history. The First Spouse coins joined the American Buffalo gold coins as the only gold bullion coin released by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005.

Gold coins like the First Spouse and American Buffalo coins represent an important part of gold investment in the United States. Combined with the American Eagle coins, these high purity coins make perfect investments for people who seek the beauty of gold coins combined with the security that they have traditionally provided as a hedge against economic hardships. Gold purchased in 2000 is now worth almost for times its original purchase price, offering a hint of the earning potential this precious metal possesses.

The First Spouse gold coins represent an effort by the US Mint to honor the women that have served alongside their famous husbands in the White House. The coins also represent an excellent investment vehicle for anyone interested in trading gold coins.

These record sales were generated on 1.425 million Gold Eagles, 28.77 million Silver Eagles and 200,000 American Buffaloes. The Mint also reported that bullion coins accounted for nearly 58% of the department’s revenue for the year, up from 34% in 2008. The Mint was able to meet the demand for 22-karat gold and silver one-ounce bullion coins by the third quarter of the fiscal year.

Several reasons account for the high performance of bullion sales. First, the demand for circulating coins was at a 45 year low with the poor economy reducing sales and causing many Americans to cash in coins they were holding. Even with an increase of $1 coins, total currency production was at its lowest in 12 years, resulting in a higher than average percentage of bullion sales.

Second, the continued problems with the US economy are likely leading more people to invest in silver and gold coins. While dollar-based investments such as real estate continued to suffer, precious metals continued a nine-year trend of gains, making them more attractive investment vehicles. With real estate values plummeting in 2009 and banks barely paying interest, gains by gold, silver and platinum have inspired a shifting of assets for many people.

With the US Mint predicting low coin volumes again for 2010, the country is sending the signal that the economic crisis is not over. Silver and gold coins represent an asset-based investment that has performed well during financial struggles in the past, and will likely be looked to by many investors in 2010 who are seeking ways to protect and grow their wealth.

After dipping below $1,087.00 during the trading day, gold prices climbed back to $1,099.50 per ounce at close, up an impressive $2.70 for the day and a strong $13.00 over its intraday low. Gold’s resistance point has been steady near $1,100 per ounce, and its climb back to that mark is considered by some analysts to be an indication of more upward movement.

Positive movement in the gold market is an opportunity for investors to consider profit taking on currently held bullion or re-entering the market if they are currently liquid. Since bullion prices are tied directly to the gold spot price, they react more favorably than certified rare coins for short term investments. For this reason, many investors prefer bullion over rare coins when they are only planning to hold it during a price cycle for a period of a year or less. Short-term investing with rare coins is not as practical because their prices are dictated more by their quality and market demand than by the actual price of gold.

With most economic factors still indicating difficulties for the United States and other countries in 2010, the forecast for gold is very positive. Investors should continue to watch the price movements of this precious metal and decide when is the right time to make new purchases or increase existing holdings.

For investors, gold coin storage is always an interesting dilemma. Gold have long been viewed as a highly desirable commodity during a time of national financial catastrophe, yet most people feel uncomfortable keeping large quantities of gold at home or even in a safe deposit box. This fact, plus the increased employment of Gold IRAs has expanded the use of depositories and other gold coin storage for protecting one of the most important assets that many people own.

For the majority who are heavily invested in gold, the best answer is probably to use a combination of storing coins at home and utilizing gold coin storage in another location. While the final decision is each investor’s personal choice, splitting up gold holdings between two locations offers several solutions.

For people that own a combination of bullion, rare coins or a Gold IRA, the best practice might be to hold some assets at home for immediate personal access, with the rest being stored at a depository. Because they are generally considered a long-term asset, certified gold coins are best held in a private safe, eliminating the storage fee for holding them in a depository.

Gold IRAs, on the other hand, require that the gold is placed in an approved depository, so it can not be privately stored and still receive the tax benefits. Bullion can be divided, with some being held for immediate access in the case of emergency and the rest being placed in a depository, thus providing security in both locations.

When working with a reputable gold exchange, it is likely that it will have an available depository. In cases where you use a gold coin storage, make sure that the company has a long history that can be verified through a company such as the Better Business Bureau. This will ensure that you receive excellent service and have the best possible protection for your valuable investment.

Finding bargains when coin shopping is more luck than science. Thanks to the work of the Professional Coin Grading Service and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, rare coins are frequently rated for their condition and value. This means that a certified gold coin is going to have a known grade, and you probably won’t be buying a 65 grade 1854 Indian Head Dollar for the price of a lesser grade coin. For this reason, buying from a gold or rare coin exchange can be better because they are experts in quality and have a much larger selection to choose from.

In order to locate the occasion cheap gold coin that you may stumble across, a keen eye and a general understanding of coin quality can help. There are times when sellers will unknowingly put cheap coins up for sale, meaning that they aren’t aware of the value of the coin they are selling. Buyers who frequent coin shops and swap meets should memorize an unofficial list of valuable rare coins. If one of these coins becomes available, a buyer can pick it up and occasionally get a great deal. In addition, if the buyer is familiar with quality, he can look for signs of damage or wear that substantially lower the value of the coin.

Finding cheap gold coins can be a little like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack; there are a number of places to look and very few that have anything to offer. The best effort that a collector can put forward is finding coins at a gold or rare coin exchange that have the potential for substantial price increases in the future.

The key to getting quality is in the analyzing of gold coins for sale. While many people sell old coins, there are a number of things to consider before spending a lot of money on them. Understanding what you are buying, what it will be worth down the road, and where you are buying it can help you determine whether you are getting a valuable investment or not.

Understanding what you are buying in rare coins is really a product of understanding certification. Very rarely are valuable old coins found at a garage sale or the pawn shop. Valuable coins have typically been rated by the PCGS or NGS and have documentation by these professional coin graders to back up their value. This is important because the difference in a grade 65 and grade 60 can mean a coin that is worth hundreds of dollars or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What a coin is worth in the future is a direct result of its quality. A certified gold coin is not only rated, it is sealed and protected from damage that would lower its grade. Regardless of the economy, price of gold or any other factor, a collector’s coin that maintains its grade will almost always appreciate over time.

Finally, if you are looking to get lucky finding a rare coin, you will be lucky if you ever buy anything; in other words, getting a grade 65 American Eagle in your change at the grocery store just isn’t going to happen. A serious collector that wants to buy valuable coins normally does best to look to a gold exchange for getting what he or she wants.

Analyzing gold coins for sale means understanding their worth, and then finding someone who can help you buy them. Rare coin exchanges offer experts in the field and are best equipped to help an investor find the perfect investment.

The Gold Standard was used to more effectively back US currency, because up until 1933 our government was free to print basically as much paper money as they wished. The United States was removed from the Gold Standard in 1971 and many investors immediately started to buy gold bullion coins and bars. While it’s nice to be able to purchase and sell bullion freely, the fact that our policymakers have reverted back to overprinting our dollar bill is moiré than troubling to astute financial minds as well as anyone else with common sense and logic.

Buy gold bullion coins if you believe that our dollar will only become inflated, and not reach the point of collapse. If our dollar crumbles in 2010 as many economists believe it will, another gold bullion seizure could take effect. You can protect yourself from bullion confiscation by purchasing certified gold coins instead of raw gold bullion, and millions of investors have made this lateral move recently. Give us a call or check out the bullion confiscation section of our award-winning tutorial below to learn more.

Gold bullion coins trade for 4-13% over the gold spot price, and some of the least expensive gold bullion coins are the South African Krugerrands and the Canadian gold Maple Leaf coins. The American gold Eagles are very popular around the world, and they trade for about 6-8% over the gold spot price, depending on the dealer you invest through and the volume in which you purchase. Coins from China and Austria usually carry the highest premiums, although all of the aforementioned coins still trade close enough to the spot price to be considered bullion. This is significant to American investors because gold bullion is the asset that our government historically took to shore up the US dollar during the Great Depression.

Many economists fear that our economy will begin to decline sharply yet again in 2010, as government funds wear thin and inflation saps our spending power. If our government needs to ensure the dollar’s future, another bullion confiscation could wipe out the financial and security-oriented expectations of millions of gold investors. If you would like a more private type of gold that has a historical pattern of performing better financially (over 2:1 over the last 20 years and almost 3:1 over the last three years) for investors who hold longer than 14 months, do a little research on certified gold coins.

If you invest in gold coins that meet your specific needs and expectations, you can avoid a lot of the headaches and hot water that some investors have experienced in the past. Feel free to call or email us if you have any other questions before you invest in gold coins, and don’t forget to pick up one of our free investment tutorial guides below.

While you may be interested in getting into gold coin investing, you are probably interested in finding the best deals. Looking for gold coin discounts is a logical thing to do, although it is a task that will vary whether you want bullion or rare coins.

Looking for gold coin discounts in collector’s pieces is, in fact, searching for coins that are either more valuable than their selling price or coins that are going to rise in value unexpectedly. The difficulty in rare coins is that a reputable dealer will know what a 62 grade, 1908 Saint Gaudens American Eagle is worth, and will expect to get that amount for it.

The danger of looking for bargains in rare coins is that if they aren’t certified, even a cheap coin can cost you a lot. The best advice with collector’s coins is to work with an exchange like gold-coin.com that sells PCGS or NGC certified coins and can show you their worth and projected appreciation. In rare coins, finding a coin that rises in value is the safest bet.

Bullion, on the other hand, is sold according to the gold spot price and any charges from the seller. A reputable seller is not taking $1,000 per ounce for coins with a spot price of $1,150; this just wouldn’t make any sense. The value when looking for gold coin discounts in bullion is finding an exchange that offers volume discounts on commissions, and shipping, making the actual price to buy and sell lower.

Gold-coin.com is that kind of exchange. Part of the Certified Gold Exchange, it has outstanding customer service and offers volume discounts on purchases, free shipping and charges no fees for selling gold purchased there. People looking for gold coin discounts will find gold-coin.com to be their best value.

Conditions in the United States have reached a critical stage; a great deal of money has been dumped into the economy in order to resurrect the prosperity that the country has enjoyed. The problem is that the economy is not responding as anticipated; the jobs and consumer confidence have not recovered and the market is flooded extra money, increasing concerns of inflation. While this is bad news for the economy, this is good news for NGC gold investing.

NGC is short for the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Like the Professional Coin Grading Service, or PCGS, the NGC is a company that specializes in the grading of coins and bills based on the 70-point Sheldon Scale. This scale was developed to provide a uniform way of authenticating coins and bills to establish the worth of rare currency.

Rare gold coins have become a very important part of many investors’ portfolios. Gold’s four-fold increase in the past decade explains part of the appeal of rare coins, but the rest lies with the confidence that people have in professional rating and NGC gold investing.

Previously, an investor might purchase an 1851 gold dollar as “very fine”, only to have the grade changed to “fine” when attempting to sell, resulting in a loss. With rating by NGC, gold investing has changed; that same 1851 gold dollar, rated 63 and valued at $1,100, won’t become a 60 grade with a $300 value at the time of sale.

NGC gold investing offers security to traders because it helps to create a uniform method of evaluating coins. Graded and sealed coins will neither lose value nor be damaged over time. In an age when the US economy lacks security, the Sheldon Scale allows NGC gold investing to continue its strong performance as an investment vehicle.

For amateur coin collectors, a trip to the local gold coin store or civic center for a coin show is all that is needed to locate a new coin for purchase. For serious collectors and investors, you need something bigger; your gold coin store is likely to be a gold coin exchange.

Although it might be fun to visit a local gold coin store, serious investors will be more interested in the benefits they receive at a gold exchange like gold-coin.com. Most times, a local dealer will have very little to offer in the way of variety. While he may or may not have a 1907 Saint Gaudens American Eagle, being able to offer multiple coins of different grades is highly unlikely. Rare coins not carried by such a store could be beyond his ability to even attain.

This is not the case with a gold exchange like gold-coin.com, a division of the Certified Gold Exchange. This company is a large, reputable business with a strong track record and impeccable customer service. The company has a huge inventory of coins at a wide range of dates and prices. If you are looking for highly graded Indian Half Eagles, you will find them. The same for Liberty Eagles, Indian Dollars and many, many others.

A gold coin store can be down the street or around the world. For serious investors, the best choice is a gold exchange like gold-coin.com. Wide selection, world-class customer service, and professionally graded coins make this the perfect place to get the coins you want.

One of the most expensive coins ever sold was an 1804 dollar that brought $4 million at an auction. This coin is very rare and in very good condition. If another one was found that was damaged and worn, it wouldn’t be worth anywhere near $4 million, hence, it would be a cheap coin.

The danger with coins like our hypothetical is their true value; this is the reason that rare coins are independently certified. In order to know if you are getting a coin at fair market value, it is crucial to know what it is worth. Thinking that a coin is in uncirculated condition when it would only score 45 out of 70 on the Sheldon Scale can mean you get burned when you try to sell it down the road. Certification is the only way to guarantee that you don’t get stuck with a cheap gold coin.

For this reason, working with a company that specializes in certified coins is a must. A mistake of a couple of points on the scale can mean the difference of $215,000 and $35,000, as in the case of a high relief 1907 Double American Eagle if it drops from a 67 grade to a 65. Dealing with a company like gold-coin.com can help you avoid making the mistake of buying a cheap gold coin. Gold-coin.com is part of the Certified Gold Exchange and its specialists are skilled at helping customers get fair prices on the coins they want.

In an era of economic instability and fiscal irresponsibility by the United States government, a strong rise in the price of gold coins for sale has benefitted investors in this precious metal. Encompassing both rare coins and bullion, many people have enjoyed success in the metals markets and found profit when they put their gold coins up for sale.

Over the past decade, gold has increased to nearly 400% of its value at the start of 2000. This aggressive climb has been the result of overspending by the US, a worldwide banking crisis, wars and policies that have added trillions in national debt. These factors weaken the national economy and make gold more attractive as an investment, whether in the form of bullion or rare coins.

Bullion owners that have gold coins for sale are looking directly at the gold spot price for an indicator of profit and loss. The price of bullion is typically tied closely to the daily price of gold. Rare coins are more a product of the attractiveness of a particular coin, and less dependent on the spot price. Certified gold coins for sale have a rating that calculates their value based on gold content, coin quality and collectability.

With a shaky economy and bad government policies, gold coins for sale over the past decade have been quite popular. Investors that trade with the help of a company like the Certified Gold Exchange can find reasonable prices on gold coins for sale and customer service that is among the best in the industry, as evidenced by its A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

In order to be a successful trader, it is necessary to monitor gold coin value so that you know the state of your investments and if you are in a position to buy or sell. Finding up to the minute pricing is easier now, thanks to the Internet. Since finding the spot price is not a problem, it makes sense to go to a site that can provide much more, a site such as gold-coin.com.

There are a number of different facets to gold coin value; investors need to decide whether to purchase collector’s coins or bullion. If you purchasing a rare coin, what coin and grade best fits your budget? If you are buying bullion, do you want to take delivery of the physical gold or have it kept in a depository? Gold coin value includes deciding what makes a purchase valuable to you and meets your needs; working with a gold exchange can make the decisions easier.

Gold exchanges such as gold-coin.com provide a number of valuable services to their clients. Up to the minute gold prices is one of those features, but there is much more, including such things as advice on trading techniques, storage options and news articles. Providing current information that helps the client with his or her decisions is important, and is one of the reasons why gold-coin.com holds the prestigious A+ rating of the Better Business Bureau.

Monitoring gold coin value has become quite easy in the Internet era, but there are many other questions remaining to be answered. For serious investors, the help of a strong gold exchange can be the best information available and an important way to monitor gold coin value.

Through his first year of presidency, Barak Obama has initiated a number of programs that have failed to stir the weak economy of the United States and have added a long-term debt burden. These failed Obama strategies not only weaken the worth of the dollar, they have the potential to benefit gold coin values for those who invest in this precious metal.

While the President has attempted to rouse the economy with two stimulus packages, a government subsidized car rebate program and health care reform, each of these programs has added to a national debt that is soaring close to $13 trillion. This debt negatively impacts the strength of the dollar and in turn, adds to gold coin value.

With gold coins, an investor can potentially profit from this fiscal instability by either choosing to invest in gold bullion or certified gold coins. Bullion offers a stable investment with gold coin values that hover near the gold spot price. Holding these coins can be an excellent strategy and a hedge against the collapse of the dollar. Certified gold coin values are higher than bullion because each coin has a greater worth than the simple price of its gold. Certified coins have a value that can increase no matter what the gold market does, since they have greater worth due to their rarity and quality.

While the current administration is implementing policies that may hurt the economy for years to come, gold coin values could end up being the beneficiary of these flawed initiatives. Investing in gold coins during difficult economic times can prove to be very profitable.

As the prices of precious metals rise, many people are profiting from gold coin trading. Also with inflation on the horizon many first-time investors are likely to explore the gold market for themselves. Profiting from gold coin trading can be risky if not done correctly, so it’s important to get the facts and deal with a reputable trading exchange.

For starters, the most widely-traded gold bullion coins are American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, South African Krugerrands, Austria Philharmonics and Chinese Pandas. Versions of many of these coins are bought, sold, and traded in weights that range from 1/10th of an ounce, to a full troy-ounce.

To reduce risk, long-term investors may want to trade in PCGS, or NGC-certified gold coinage. Widely-traded certified gold coinage includes the $20 Saint Gaudens, $20 Lady Liberty, and the $2.5, $5, and $10 designs of the Liberty, and Indian coins. Properly chosen, US government-certified gold coin investment historically has provided higher profit margins than modern date bullion coins.

There Are Costs Associated With The Buying, Selling, And/Or Trading Of Gold Coins.

Both bullion, and certified coinage carry a premium that is commonly referred to as the buy and sell spread. The buy/sell is the difference between the sellers buy price and there sell price, at the exact moment the authorized trade takes place.

Gold Coin Trades, And Your Timing.

There is greater risk associated with gold coin trading for investors who hold a short- term, get rich quick philosophy. This is due to margins and shipping costs associated with your purchase, these costs will require time to reach their breakeven point, and you can never count on the gold market moving in a straight line.

A prudent method is to hold gold bullion for short term trades when holding for 1-14 months, and accumulate certified gold coins, when holding for over 14 months, when safety is paramount.

The objective to successful investing in bullion is learning how to sell coins profitably. Just like with stocks, the key is to buy low and sell high, but that can be more difficult than it sounds. Investors that pay attention to certified coins, pricing trends and fees associated with agents are more likely to sell coins profitably and easily.

2009 has been a very good year to learn how to sell coins. For the year, spot gold prices are up nearly 25% and hit an all-time high of $1,226 in early December. For this reason, bullion coins such as the American Eagle have sold rapidly. In fact, the fractional American Eagle coins sold out within just a couple of weeks after their release.

This is why it is important to know how to sell coins. High demand means higher prices as the market attempts to find a balance between buyers and sellers. The high prices make selling more attractive and profitable. An investor who understands how to liquidate his holdings quickly can sell when the price is highest and realize a better profit.

The best advice on how to sell coins is to use an agent. Having an expert that can help a buyer makes the entire process less stressful. A company like gold-coin.com can help identify quantities to be sold, locating buyers, finalizing the transaction and facilitating delivery. Gold-coin.com has a successful record of assisting clients and is an A+ rated company with the Better Business Bureau.

Learning how to sell coins profitably can maximize profits and simplify the process. Gold-coin.com is a perfect partner for investors in the sales of both bullion and collector’s coins.

Gold coin pricing reflects the overall strength of the gold market, but also benefits from portability and, in the case of rare coins, desirability. Gold coins are one of the most easily transported and stored commodities in the world. Safety deposit boxes, home safes and depositories such as those of gold-coin.com make it easy to own coins. In the case of rare coins, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare coins can be carried in a briefcase or even by hand, thus demonstrating their convenience.

Certification of rare pieces also keeps gold coin pricing very high. Professionals in the certification business can ensure that an investor gets a coin that is worth as much, or more, than he or she paid, keeping the investment both safe and profitable. A company like gold-coin.com can help investors get their coins certified, not only establishing their worth, but protecting their investment in the event of theft or damage.

Purchasing gold coins can both preserve wealth and diversify a person’s investment portfolio. As gold coin pricing remains strong, rare gold coins can be a wise investment choice, especially against the weak dollar, with global demand for the precious metal outweighing its supply.

The first step in learning how to buy gold coins is to use a trustworthy dealer; gold-coin.com offers the service that investors need with a professionalism that inspires great confidence. The company has an impeccable record, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

The second step of learning how to buy gold coins is recognizing the difference between bullion and collectable coins. The term bullion means any type gold that stamped with its weight and purity; gold sold this way can be either bars or coins. Bullion has a fixed price that is calculated by weight, purity and the current price of the metal. Collectable coins are more valuable because their worth also includes an element of scarcity. Rare gold coins can be highly valuable if they are in excellent condition and they are certified by a professional.

The next part of learning how to buy gold coins is to place the order. Contacting a company like gold-coin.com makes this easy. The company offers a toll-free number to call directly to their trading floor. Once a buyer decides what to purchase, a buy order can be placed. Such an order includes the type and quantity of coins and the amount to be spent. Once an order is placed, the customer will be required to provide funds and the sale is made.

Learning how to buy gold coins is a simple process. Once an investor decides what to purchase, a simple call to a company like gold-coin.com can finish the process. Gold is an excellent investment vehicle and gold coins are a perfect way to commodity to buy.

There is nothing like combining grandmothers and good fortune at Christmastime to create a heartwarming story. In a story that made gold coin news, an 85 year-old grandmother in New Zealand won more than $13,000 and a new house in a drawing held by the luxury department store, Herrods. The store annually offers such gift giveaways, which the woman had unsuccessfully entered for 13 years, to members of their frequent-shoppers club.

In October of 2009, Harrods began selling gold bullion from its West London store, allowing the contest to include the precious metal that would land it in the gold coin news. Gold bullion is standard issue gold in bars or coins of specific weight and karat class. This gold is frequently held by investors throughout the world.

Harrods venture into bullion sales has made it a topic of gold coin news as well. Its first venture into the selling commodities, Harrods has responded to the great demand for gold caused by the global financial crisis. While cash-based investments have failed during the previous decade, gold has soared with gains of nearly 400%. Harrods high-end approach has provided the company with the contacts to successfully enter the market.

While an elderly grandmother winning a lottery at Christmastime is a heartwarming story, the continued success of bullion investment is why a story like this makes gold coin news. As the global economy struggles to find its footing, gold continues to be a popular commodity among investors, creating feel-good stories for many savvy people.

As the United States comes out of the worst economic period since the Great Depression, the gold coin market is prospering under the Obama administration. While the country gets past double digit unemployment, plummeting real estate values and monumental debt, there has been a rally in key investment sectors such as the gold. As disposable income increases, gold coins are a dependable investment, especially with the price of gold hovering near its all-time high.

Many believe that the economic policies of President Obama are having a positive impact as the United States begins to see signs of recovery. Banks have begun to repay the bailout money they received and more Americans have available funds for investment. With the dollar continuing to be a poor performer, the gold coin market has been especially strong. Analysts predict that the price of gold will continue to rise and demand in the market reflects that confidence as sales of gold bullion maintain a brisk pace.

2010 looks to be another strong year for the gold coin market. With the dollar continuing to struggle, more investors will be drawn to purchase gold. Historically, a weak dollar causes an increased demand for gold as investors look for a hedge against inflation. This additional demand continues to drive up the price, making gold a more attractive investment.

The stimulus packages and other initiatives put in place by President Obama are producing the desired results and making it possible for Americans to rebuild their net worth. Investing in the gold coin market offers a safe, profitable way for people to emerge for a dark economic time.

The American Buffalo coin is a beautiful example of monetary art, originally prepared by noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser. Once a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the designer of the American Eagle coin, Fraser designed the famous Indian Head nickel, which was introduced in 1913. The current American Buffalo coin is the first 99.99% fine 24-karat gold coin ever struck by the United States Mint and offered through authorized purchasers.

The release of these coins has been a prophetic success. The trillions of social spending by the current administration has done very little to reverse the nation’s economic problems and has left many investors hesitant to deposit funds in banks or the stock market. The American Buffalo coin has given investors a strong alternative location for placing funds, allowing them to capitalize on the surging gold market.

Each year investors have responded well to the release of these coins and 2009 has been no different. Released in October, the coins sold nearly 200,000 in the first two months, as investors expressed their lack of confidence in White House policy by purchasing gold. With great foresight, President Bush’s introduction of the American Buffalo coin offers a stable investment during difficult economic times.

While the US is not on a gold standard, there has historically been an inverse correlation between the two. For example, the period of 2001-2004 saw prices for gold vs. the dollar that were nearly mirror-opposites in their 200-day moving averages, with the dollar starting the period as the more valuable, only to drop far below the value of gold as concerns over the world economy and the stability of the dollar increased.

One reason for this inverse relationship of gold vs. the dollar is the fear of a catastrophic financial event. In times when economic conditions become unstable, many people look to gold as a last line of defense. Valued as a trading currency for thousands of years, people typically feel that they can spend gold to buy food and other necessities even if national currencies fail. This faith becomes more obvious as the value of gold climbs during difficult economic times.

As the US staggers with its problems, gold prices will likely continue to benefit. Since it is a liquid asset, gold has value regardless of any nation or leader. Unlike the dollar or any other currency, it possesses an understood value and is unaffected by government actions. As President Obama and Congress spend trillions of taxpayer dollars and water down your wealth you may want to diversify with tangible assets such gold bullion and certified gold products.

Our economy began to flounder a few years ago, first with the decline of real estate values, then with the decline in stocks and now we are dealing with the third strike of a devalued dollar. The United States is dealing with the worst financial crisis it has faced since the Great Depression, so it’s not much of a shock to see that so many investors have given gold a try, because this metal was very successful in similar past cycles.

In the 1930s and again in the 1970s, struggling mainstream financial markets were weighed down by high corporate debt and low consumer confidence. Inflation of the dollar sucked away our spending power during these cycles, and gold subsequently because the fall-back plan for many savvy Americans.

There is no way to know if our economy will improve or devolve in 2010, although it is always good to remain properly diversified at all times. Take some time to determine if you could gain more benefit from raw bullion coins or certified coins, and find a reputable gold exchange that will facilitate your lateral mover into gold. Contact the friendly specialists at Gold-Coin.com if you have any questions or if you would like some free, customized mail-out reports on Eagle gold coins.

If you foresee worsening financial problems for the US economy, then it could do wonders for your portfolio if you vest 20-30% of those assets in precious metals. Gold has risen every year since 2001, and our government’s low interest rates and our poorly performing economy are behind the bullish 2010 projections. Gold has jumped over 30% in the last 365 days, and it is important to understand that these types of returns are not fair expectations year in and year out. However, the security of owning a physical gold investment is more preferable than stocks, real estate, or fiat paper IOUs for many investors.

There is no doubt that gold could lie dormant or retreat in the coming years, although economists believe that our economic downturn has only just begun, and this historically means higher gold prices. Gold tends to outperform traditional investment routes during oppressive recessionary periods. Sure, US stock indexes have ballooned nicely in 2009, but many economists have warned that these figures are only due to our government’s stimulus and bailout expenditures.

In the 1970s, some gold investors made over 1000% and stocks, bonds, and cash accounts were devalued substantially within the same time frame. Gold did not lose its power as a wealth preserver in the 1970s, as we have clearly seen in the last decade. In 2001, a one-ounce gold bullion coin was worth less than $300. Today, that same coin will fetch over $1100 if you sell it through a major exchange.

To get more information about gold bullion coins and certified gold coins, contact Gold-Coin.com or simply request one of our award-winning investment tutorial packages below.

One of the key reasons that certified gold transactions have outpaced bullion transactions on major US exchanges for the last eight years is because the threat of another US government confiscation of bullion has grown. This is due to the weakening dollar and the international unrest over U.S. lawmakers’ saturation of the money supply by donating foolish fortunes to failing corporations and banks.

Investors who do not fall into the following demographics should consider shifting their funds into a market other than certified gold coins:

• Investors who desire a privately held, hard asset-type gold investment

• Investors who plan to hold their gold 14 months or more, and preferably longer than two years

• Investors who foresee the possible collapse of the US dollar, in the event of future hyper-inflation

• Investors who seek an asset that our government has deemed completely private and non-confiscatable in a national financial emergency

Whether you fall into the aforementioned categories or not, Gold-Coin.com can provide you with free information on the most heavily targeted investment-grade certified and bullion coins. Give us a call or request one of our gold investment guides below.

The majority of gold bullion coin purchases are made by investors who foresee inflation of US currency in the near future. The dollar could never reach the point of collapsing in these investors’ minds, although the Fed’s tampering of interest rates and the monetary supply could devalue the dollar significantly. Historically, inflation of the greenback elevates gold prices and other commodities that are priced-based in US dollars. If you believe that inflation could affect your spending power over the next 1-14 months before our economy again regains firm financial footing, then gold bullion coins could be a wise investment choice.

Be aware that gold bullion products that are held within the United States are subject to confiscation by the US government, and our leaders enacted this authority during the Great Depression. If 2010 proves to be the start of the “Greater Depression” as many economists believe it will, another gold seizure could take place as a means to back up the failing dollar and pay down our federal deficit. Historically, the gold bullion market was frozen from 1933-1971 and there is no history of a black market for gold bullion during that time. If you held your bullion illegally, you had nothing more than a shiny, and quite expensive paperweight that you could not let anyone know that you’re… “weighting on”.

If you would like to invest in gold and you are discovering that bullion may not meet your needs, contact Gold-Coin.com for information on more appropriate gold coin investments, or simply register below for a starter kit of helpful information.

Some experts concede that gold has been a wise investment for the last few years, although many of these same experts believe that gold is irrelevant for investment purposes because our nation’s economic situation is improving. If our recession is easing, then it may be a good time to liquidate your gold and convert your assets into stocks, bonds, cash accounts, or another traditional investment avenue.

However, if you think it is a bit too early to say that our economy is out of hot water, you are not alone. Many economists have warned that improving economic indicators are nothing more than the offspring of government stimuli and unsustainable manipulation of our financial markets. If our economy begins to contract again once our government’s stimulus and bailout funds are gone, many investors could suffer more losses similar to the hits taken during the last three years.

Even if our economy is on the path to recovery, there is no debating the fact that Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve will be forced to raise interest rates in the near future. Once the flood of new money starts to hit the markets, a long-term inflationary cycle could result. This happened in the 1970s, and gold climbed to a then-record $850 per ounce as interest rates hit double digits.

Of course, no one can predict the future so it is best that you gather as much information as possible and make an informed decision o your own. You may like to contact Gold-Coin.com if you have questions about the gold coin market, or simply request one of our award-winning gold investment guides below.

When the expert numismatists at PCGS inspect a coin, they consider a number of factors before assigning a grade. The coin’s tone and level of oxidation plays a part in the grading process, as well as any scratches or blemishes on the coin. These experts can easily tell if a coin has been cleaned or touched by human hands, and the smallest nuances in each coin can sometimes mean a large difference in the coin’s actual worth.

Collectors seek the rarest of PCGS coins, such as high Mint State grades of the Carson City Silver Dollar and the elusive $4 Stella gold coin. Investors choose different pieces than collectors, because the aforementioned obscurities do not have a historical pattern of tracking silver and gold spot prices. By purchasing MS61-MS66 grades of the most commonly known PCGS coins, you can protect your wealth with a private type of asset and set yourself up for long-term profit if gold prices continue to rise.

No one knows for sure that gold will go up over time, but the yellow metal has been on an upward climb since 2001 and our Federal Reserve is still holding interest rates at zero. Once the rates start to climb, inflation could eat up your spending power, as was the scenario in the 1970s when interest rates hit double digits.

If you are seeking a secure and practical way to store and grow your wealth until you see concrete evidence of national financial recovery, you may be wise to join the millions of US investors who have added PCGS coins to their current holdings, so contact GoldCoin.net or one of the nation’s reputable gold exchanges today to learn more.

The growth that has been realized in the gold bullion market could continue as our mainstream markets decline due to manipulation of our finances by an influx of fiat “funny money.” Our contracting economy has decimated the wealth of many Americans, but gold bullion bars and coins as well as certified gold coins have proven to be secure ways to store wealth for millions of resourceful American investors.

The majority of bullion investors seek short-term profit, because gold bullion coins are the most practical way to implement this strategy. If utilized correctly, gold bullion coins could boost your portfolio during troubling economic times that have drained many portfolios and retirement accounts. Speak with a professional precious metal analyst to ensure that you are making the best choice for your particular situation and view on current world matters. Introspection is vital in gold investing because your gold investment needs to be made based on your thoughts of our economy’s future.

Investors who determine that gold bullion coins are a good fit for their short-term profit-taking appreciate the fact that there are a wide variety of pieces available. The American gold Eagle and South African Krugerrand coins are two of the most popular 22-karat coins, and many investors who value purity invest in the 24-karat Austrian gold Philharmonics and Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins.

Both 22 and 24-karat coins contain the same amount of gold, but the 22-karat coins employ the use of a bit more alloy to produce a harder coin. Investors who would like to know more about these affordable coins should register below for the 2010 Insider’s Guide to Gold Bullion Coins.

There are two types of American gold coin investments, and a VERY large gap between their times of production. Historic gold American coins were minted until 1933, when the financial problems of the Great Depression forced our government to cease gold coin production. Our government was even forced to confiscate gold bullion from US citizens to back up our struggling dollar and pay down our nation’s heavy debt.

From 1933 until 1971, gold was a scarcity within the United States for investment purposes. When President Richard Nixon removed the United States from the Gold Standard, it gave the Federal Reserve the “green light” to fire up the printing presses. Our government didn’t feel an immediate need for the gold any longer, so they began minting coins and releasing these coins to the public.

Pre-1933 US coins are available in one, ½, ¼, and 1/8 ounce weights, and these coins are useful for long-term wealth preservation and portfolio security. The US Mint replaced the 1/8 ounce coin with a 1/10 ounce variety in 1986, and the face value for US gold coins was raised from $20 to $50. Modern-day American gold coin investments are mostly reserved for short-term profit-seekers, and you should remember that post-1986 bullion coins could be confiscated in the next year if our dollar suffers more major losses.

Contact Gold-Coin.com directly or register below for the 2010 Insider’s Guide to American Gold Coin Investments.

Gold coin values are based on a number of factors, and the most important of these factors is the gold spot price. The roving gold spot price is listed on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). The gold spot price tends to move opposite the US dollar, as do other commodities that are priced using the greenback.

Supply and demand affect gold prices, and this has been especially evident in the past few days. Predominant selling of gold bullion coins has driven the gold price lower, even though the dollar has only shown minimal improvement. Demand for safe-haven assets have escalated gold prices since 2001, and the American gold Eagle coins recently saw a spike in demand after the US Mint announced at www.USMint.gov that these coins would no longer be produced.

Rare gold coins can be price-checked at www.PCGS.com, and you can sometimes buy your investment for a lower price than the PCGS gold coin values by contacting a major national exchange such as the Certified Gold Exchange. You can register below for free, customized information on the latest gold coin values at www.CertifiedGoldExchange.com or by contacting Gold-Coin.com directly.

Just because a gold coin is “for sale” that doesn’t mean that it is “on sale.” Some gold coin retailers charge as much as 25-35% premiums for their gold coins. Gold bullion coins should trade 4-7% above the gold spot price listed on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). You can check the national average retail prices of certified gold coins at www.PGCS.com and www.NGCCoin.com, but one of the tips found in the 2010 Insider’s Guide to the Gold Coin Market is that you don’t have to pay retail prices for your coins.

By contacting the Certified Gold Exchange or one of the nation’s other major exchanges, you can attach your purchase to the large-volume trades that are facilitated for institutional investors. You receive the same discounts as the money managers, and you take delivery of your gold with free shipping. Reputable companies employ non-commissioned, salary employees who are trained to meet your requirements.

If you have gold coins for sale and you do not know how to liquidate your pieces, feel free to contact Gold-Coin.com directly, or register below for detailed information on how to convert your physical gold back into cash.

If you hold gold bullion coins, such as the American gold Eagle or the Canadian gold Maple Leaf, it may be helpful to contact a reputable gold exchange that supplies these coins to the public. Market value for gold bullion coins changes rapidly, as does the gold spot price on which gold bullion coin prices are based. Visit www.Kitco.com and www.GoldPrice.net if you would like to see the current spot values for gold, silver, and platinum.

Gold coin prices are also available at www.PCGS.com, which is the official website of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). PCGS has accepted, inspected, and graded over 17 million coins totaling a worth of over $18 billion, and the numismatists at PCGS are renowned as the industry leaders in grading gold coins.

The PCGS price guide represents the national average retail price of a given coin, and investors should be pleased to know that major exchanges like the Certified Gold Exchange supplies household and institutional investors with PCGS coins at discount pricing.

For live pricing and answers to your questions about the gold coin market, it is advisable to contact the Certified Gold Exchange directly, and the friendly specialists at Gold-Coin.com can answer your questions as well. Request the latest information on the gold coin market below, or call our toll-free help desk today.

Gold Maple Leafs were originally minted using 0.999 pure gold blanks, and the Royal Canadian Mint has produced some special issue .99999 fine coins over the years. These ultra-pure coins contain virtually no base metals, but only pure yellow gold discovered within the mines of Canada.

The 1979 inception of Canadian gold coins came only eight years after US President Richard Nixon removed the United States from the Gold Standard and re-legalized gold bullion ownership for US citizens. The Maple Leaf’s only direct competition within the United States at the time was the South African Krugerrand, but the South African coinage was rather hard to come by because of the global boycott of South Africa due to apartheid.

Canadian gold coins come in one ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, 1/10 ounce, and 1/20 ounce weights, and a 1/15 ounce coin was issued in 1994 only. Canadian Maple Leaf coins are legal tender in the True North, but their face values are much more meager than their actual worth on the gold market.

The Royal Canadian Mint released a coin with a $1 million (Canadian) face value in 2007, and the coin is worth about $4.3 million (US) according to today’s gold spot price, which is found at www.Kitco.com and www.GoldPrice.net. This incredible masterpiece originated as a promotional ploy for the mint of Canada, but there have been several coins produced in response to the fact that orders have trickled in for the weighty (220.5 lbs.) rarity. While a coin such as this is certainly a spectacle, the majority of Canadian gold coins are common bullion items that could be confiscated by our government in 2010. If you want a gold coin investment that has been deemed non-confiscatable, historic American coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens may be a wiser investment. Contact Gold-Coin.com directly for more information on non-confiscatable, investment-grade gold coins.

You must first understand what your expectations are for your gold coin IRA. If you seek profit from your investment and you are not concerned with safety and wealth preservation, you may want to consider the uncirculated versions of modern-day bullion coins.

American gold Eagle coins, Austrian gold Philharmonics and Canadian gold Maple Leafs are the most heavily utilized gold bullion coin investment vehicles for retirement account purposes, when the investor wishes to hold the gold within their IRA between 1-14 months.

If your goal is to preserve your wealth in the midst of the current financial storm and you would like to potentially grow your assets over a period of 14 months or more, you may want to consider the American gold Eagle Proof for your gold coin IRA.

The American gold Eagle Proof is the only collectable, and hence non-confiscatable, coin permitted by IRS regulations for IRA placement. In a national financial emergency, our government has the right to confiscate other types of gold. Our government has done this in the past, and you can learn more about the historic gold bullion confiscation by clicking here.

IRAs backed with gold have shown tremendous growth since 2001, and they continue to show a strong upside potential for the next few years. The spot price of gold has risen over 470% in the last eight years, so it may be a wise idea to complete your diversification before our economy falters further. If you want financial independence during your golden years, call Gold-Coin.com or send us an email for more information on how to attain it with a gold coin IRA.

Gold Bullion Coins

• American Gold Eagle coins (1986–present)

• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins (1979-present)

• South African Gold Krugerrand coins (1967-present)

• Austrian Philharmonic gold coins (2002-present)

• Mexican Gold Pesos (1870-1921)

Gold bullion coins track the gold spot price very closely, and there is usually a small premium for these types of coins in addition to the per-ounce gold spot price. Gold bullion coins fluctuate almost exclusively based on the gold spot price, and these types of gold coins are utilized by profit-seeking investors who would like to exit the gold market within 14 months.

Certified Rare Gold Coins

• Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold coins (1907-1933)

• Gold coins from the Lady Liberty series (1839-1933)

• Gold coins from the Indian Head series (1849-1933)

Certified rare gold coins have historically been more profitable than gold bullion in the long run, but these coins are not meant for every gold investor. If you plan to hold your gold investment longer than 14 months, and you are gravely concerned about the future of our nation’s economy and US currency as we know it, then you should give consideration to certified rare gold coins. These coins move at a faster clip than gold bullion coins, and their classification as rarities make them a completely private investment.

To learn more about the two types of gold coins available for your portfolio, contact us directly or simply send us an email, and we will send customized information on the gold coin market to your door with no obligation on your behalf.

If you are buying gold coins for profit alone, consider the amount of time that you wish to hold your coinage. If you plan to hold between 1-14 months, gold bullion coins could be a good option for you. These coins move in accordance with the Commodities Exchange (COMEX) gold spot price, and each gold bullion coin carries a small premium that varies depending on the specific coin type, denomination, and the volume of your purchase.

If you would like to gather profits over a long period of time without leaving the market, gold bullion coins may not be the best idea. The daily fluctuations of the gold spot price could set long-term gold bullion investors back unnecessarily, so if you plan to stay vested in the market longer than 14 months you could do better financially with certified gold coins.

Certified gold coins like the $20 Lady Liberty and the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle have historically been more profitable for long-term investors, and investors who value their privacy appreciate the fact that you don’t have to deal with any complicated paperwork when you purchase these coins.

Additionally, Executive Order 6102 states that coins of rare and unusual value to collectors are exempt from government confiscation. If you believe that our economy may take a turn for the worst and you would like to place your back-up plan in the palm of your hand, contact us now through email or our toll-free number to get your free information and live quotes on the most widely traded gold bullion coins and certified gold pieces.

Buying gold coins can be as simple as contacting a reliable gold exchange that supplies a large variety of gold coins to the American public. Oftentimes, major exchanges that supply gold dealers with their product also conduct business with the public, so by contacting a reputable exchange such as the Certified Gold Exchange you could save a few dollars per coin.

There are two types of gold coins that investors buy. Bullion coins are more appropriate for short-term (1-14 month) holds, and certified gold coins are usually utilized by investors who want to hold longer than 14 months.

Gold bullion coins like the American gold Eagle and the South African Krugerrand track the gold spot price that is listed on the Commodities Exchange (COMEX), and they carry low premiums over this gold price marker.

Certified gold coins are more expensive than gold bullion coins, but the premium that you pay on the front end tends to grow with time, because investment-grade certified coins are American rarities. These coins track the gold spot price, but their numismatic value allows these coins to be a completely private purchase.

If you would like to shift away from dollar-backed assets and put some gold in your pocket for protection in case our economy collapses, contact Buy-Gold.org directly through email or by calling us for the best information on how to invest in gold coins for profit and safety.

Gold coin investments are split into three basic categories:

• Collector Coins

• Gold Bullion Coins

• Investment-Grade Rare Coins

Collector coins are sometimes very rare and obscure, so price fluctuations are often out of line with the gold spot price. Investors avoid collector coins, because they may not track the price of gold. Plus, their excessive premiums mean that the market for these coins can only consist of so many people who can afford these exotic and speculative purchases.

Gold bullion coins are an excellent way for gold investors to take a 1-14 month position in the gold coin market. Gold bullion coins have been deemed confiscatable by the US government, which means that our policymakers could use our gold bullion coins to pay down the federal deficit. This has happened before, and investors who refused to give up their bullion historically committed a federal crime and were sentenced to 10 years in prison. This no history of a black market for gold bullion within the United States, so investors who value privacy and liquidity may want to avoid bullion gold coin investments as a long-term strategy.

Long-term investors generally do better financially with certified gold coin investments. These coins are private, and they have historically profited more aggressively than gold bullion. They track the direction of the gold spot price, so investors who believe that the gold price will go up for the next few years may be better off with certified gold coins. Start your gold coin investing today by receiving your copy of our 2010 Insider’s Guide To Gold Investing.

The US Treasury confiscated gold in the 1930s, by order of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 6102. Another gold confiscation might be the only viable solution to our nation’s fiscal problems. Even if our government decides to raise taxes, it may not help if other nations refuse US currency.

Since President Richard Nixon removed the United States from the Gold Standard in 1971, our lawmakers have freely spent on one mind-numbingly bad idea after another. They cannot borrow themselves out of debt, so serious actions must be taken for the United States to remain financially relevant.

The gold coin market has seen two-way fluctuations this year, because bullion coins have become less-utilized and rare coins have become more preferable for investors. US gold exchanges are seeing more investors shift away from bullion coins, which are mainly utilized for short-term profit, and into rare coins, which are more appropriate for a long-term hold. Rare coins are for the investor who desires wealth preservation and the potential for long-term profits.

Additionally, investors who value privacy generally purchase historic rarities, because these coins have been deemed to be non-confiscatable types of gold coin. Email us or call us directly for free information on the gold coin market or to fortify your portfolio with safe-haven assets.

Our government has tried to quiet the clamor by infusing our financial markets with trillions of devalued dollar bills, but this strategy has only served to make matters worse. Our government cannot avoid the inevitable demise of the dollar without some sort of radical change in monetary policy, so US investors have fled dollar-backed assets in favor of gold bars and coins. Gold coin buyers can be split into three basic categories:

• Collectors

• Short-Term (1-14 month) Investors

• Long-Term (14 months or more) Investors

Collectors buy a wide range of coins, but the majority of coins that collectors purchase are extremely obscure and hard to find. Gold coins that collectors seek may not track the spot price of gold, so investors shy away from these types of pieces. To learn more about the rarest of rare coins, visit www.Rare-Coin.org.

Short-term gold investors buy gold bullion coins like the American Eagle and the South African Krugerrand. Gold bullion coins track the gold spot price and trade at minimal (4-8%) premiums over the gold spot price’s current level. Gold bullion spot prices can be tracked at www.GoldPrice.net, or you can register for obligation-free, live quotes here.

Long-term gold investors may not want to shift funds into gold bullion coins, because commonly traded rare coins may do better financially in the long run. Gold coins like the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty that were minted within the United States prior to 1933 have tracked and outpaced the growth of gold bullion coins for six consecutive quarters, and many rare coins are still 200-400% below their historic highs. Gold coin buyers can find more information on investment-grade coins in our award-winning gold investment tutorial, and you can get your free copy here or by calling our toll-free number.

Investors who are just getting started in the gold coin market and just want to get their feet wet may want to start out by purchasing fractional gold coins, which carry higher per-ounce premiums but are less expensive overall. Certified coins that are affordable right now are the $2.5 Indian Head coins, as well as the Type I and Type III $1 gold pieces. Take physical delivery of your metals if you are purchasing outside of a retirement account, because the self-empowerment of holding physical gold is more favorable to holding a paper certificate of ownership. Many reputable dealers offer free delivery and commission-free liquidation.

Investors who are ready to fully diversify (average 20-30%) in the gold market would stay within certain parameters for their gold investing. If you want to hold your gold for 1-14 months before attempting to take profits, bullion has historically been a better way to go. Long-term investors who seek gold coins that have been deemed to be non-confiscatable by our government may want to avoid bullion, and purchase certified gold coins.

Investors who require gold bullion often purchase gold coin holdings like the $50 Gold Eagles, the $50 Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, and the South African Krugerrands. Certified coin investors have done very well with the $20 Saint Gaudens and the $20 Lady Liberty throughout the recession, and these coins are continuing to show a strong upside possibility, since they are 200-400% below their historical highs. Contact us today if you need to need any obligation-free assistance in your gold coin investing.

Traditional investments like stocks, real estate, and paper assets have overwhelmingly failed since 2005, but gold and silver coins have maintained and gained their value quite well in the same time period. Economists for JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch believe that gold and silver prices could rise 12-18% in 2010, so gold and silver coins could rise accordingly.

Investors who want to hold gold and silver coins between 1-14 months for profit are encouraged to invest in bullion products such as American Eagle coins and the Canadian Maple Leaf coins. These modern-day bullion coins are available in both gold and silver, and they carry small premiums over the Commodities Exchange (COMEX) gold spot price.

If you prefer a long-term precious metal investment, certified gold and silver rarities might be the wiser investment. Certified coins are private investments, and they have continued to show an appreciated growth pattern over bullion throughout our recession. Bullion could be confiscated by our government if the US dollar’s troubles continue, so investors who seek non-confiscatable types of assets are advised to consider certified gold and silver coins. Call or email us for our award-winning investment tutorial and friendly, obligation-free expertise for all US investors.

Present-day British Gold Sovereign coins contain slightly less than a quarter of an ounce of pure gold, and the Royal London Mint also produces quarter sovereigns, half sovereigns, double sovereigns, and quintuple sovereigns. Only the sovereign and the half sovereign were ever commonly used for circulation as currency. The quarter sovereign was released in 2009, but the threat of a US government confiscation of bullion has kept that coin from becoming very popular in the United States.

In 1933, gold bullion coins like the British Sovereign were forcefully withdrawn from circulation by our government. President Franklin Roosevelt declared that a national financial emergency existed, so he seized US citizens’ gold bullion to shore up the falling dollar. Thousands of British Gold Sovereign coins were melted into numismatically worthless bars and shipped to Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Economists and gold analysts fear that another gold bullion confiscation could take place, so US investors who want protection from the falling dollar and our government may be better off investing in certified gold coins. Contact us directly to get a free copy of our Insider’s Guide To Gold Coin Investing, or to learn more about gold bullion confiscation.

1. Purchase coins that were produced by the US Mint, because these coins will remain liquid and useful if our dollar reaches the point of insolvency. US-minted coins are guaranteed for their content and purity, so they are liquid in over 120 countries.

2. Purchase rare coins that were minted prior to the 1933 bullion confiscation, because President Franklin Roosevelt’s order to seize gold specifically exempted coins of recognized rare and unusual value to collectors. US coins that were released after 1986, and newer coins produced internationally, would be seized by our government if another bullion confiscation took place.

3. Purchase widely known coins, because special years and rare editions are only advisable for collectors. Investors have discovered that it is easier to immediately get fair market value when buying and selling more common coins. There are many rare gold coin dealers, so knowing the fair market value of a coin is vital in making your investment successful.

By calling or emailing us today, you can receive a free copy of our award-winning Insider’s Guide To Rare Coin Investing. If you are prepared to take or extend your position in the rare coin market, our friendly experts can facilitate your investment in a variety of the most popular rare coins.

Investors buy gold coins and bars and they take physical delivery of these investments because this is the safest way to make a gold investment. Mining stocks, gold ETFs, and pool accounts can be a great way to score some quick profits, but investors who seek security and wealth preservation are encouraged to invest in less speculative, allocated, physical precious metals.

Investors who want to buy gold for a short-term hedge against inflation should give consideration to gold bullion bars and coins, and investors who want to buy gold coins for long-term security and wealth preservation are advised to invest in rare gold coins that are government non-confiscatable. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) certify historic American coins as “Mint Sate”, and these rare and unusual coins are widely used as wealth preservation vehicles by safety-oriented investors.

The $50 American gold Eagle and the 10-ounce Johnson-Matthey gold bar are two examples of commonly traded gold bullion investments. If you require certified gold coins, the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle and the $10 Lady Liberty American Eagle have been top performers on the PCGS and NGC price guides throughout our current recession. Invest in bullion and rare coins that are commonly traded, because those investments will fluctuate in the same direction as the gold spot price and liquidity will never be an issue. Contact www.Gold-Coin.com directly to learn more about proper gold coin diversification.

1. What does “certified” mean?

The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)_ and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) inspect and grade historic gold and silver coins. Investors typically buy coins that were minted prior to 1933, because they are deemed to be private investments by our government’s own laws. When each coin becomes certified, it has been granted “Mint State” status. It is given a serial number, issued a Mint State ranking (61-70) and sonically sealed in a tamper-proof slab.

2. Does certifying modern-day bullion coins make them non-confiscatable?

Coins do not become non-confiscatable just by receiving Mint State certification. Executive Order 6012 states that coins of “rare and unusual value” are exempt from gold confiscation. There is nothing rare or unusual about a brand new coin, even if it is in perfect (MS70) condition. Coins that have just been issued by the US Mint should be in pristine shape, so don’t let savvy marketers tell you any differently.

If you are looking for a short-term gold investment, uncertified bullion coins may be a wise path to take. Long-term gold investors may want to avoid bullion because of its risk of government confiscation; certified historic coins may be a better financial decision. Click the link below or give us a call to get your free information packet on gold investment decision-making.

The history of American gold coins grew thicker in 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt made it illegal for US citizens to hoard gold bullion. Roosevelt ordered all gold bullion to be removed from circulation and returned to the US Treasury. Over 131 million ounces of gold were recovered and melted down from 1933 to 1971, and millions of would-be American rarities were lost forever. When President Richard Nixon ceased the gold confiscation and removed the United States from the Gold Standard in 1971, the United States reclaimed the right to print and spend irrational amounts of money.

After President Nixon legalized gold ownership, millions of pre-1933 US coins became very rare and valuable. While some varieties of pre-1933 coinage are extremely rare and obscure, investors tend to purchase the commonly traded coins that have been certified as Mint State. This way, both privacy and liquidity are retained with no government interference.

Experts believe that less than 1% of pre-1933 US coins have survived until our day. Their beauty, intriguing history, and beneficial portfolio utilization make these coins valuable for coin collectors and savvy investors. Learn more about American gold coins at www.USMint.gov, or call www.Gold-Coin.com at 800-300-0715.

Gold brokers usually recommend that profit-seeking investors who only want to remain invested from 1-14 months purchase gold bullion coins. The most popular gold bullion coin in the United States is the one-ounce American Eagle. This US-minted coin bears a $50 face value, and the beautiful rendition of Lady Liberty that was originally captured on the $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin. A more affordable gold bullion coin is the South African Krugerrand, which is the world’s most widely-owned coin. US investors should keep in mind that gold bullion is subject to confiscation by the US government, and economists believe that this could happen within the next year if our dollar continues to slide. Gold confiscation occurred once before within American borders; learn more about the historic gold bullion confiscation at www.Gold-Bullion.org.

Investors who want long-term protection from gold confiscation, and complete privacy, purchase certified gold coins. The aforementioned Saint Gaudens coins, and the entire Lady Liberty series, are the most-utilized investment-grade gold coins by security-minded buyers. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) certify these coins as Mint State, and investors line their portfolios with these widely-traded rarities for long-term wealth-preservation and potential growth. Contact the Certified Gold Exchange at 800-300-0715 or at www.CertifiedGoldExchange.com to get your free information about bullion and certified coin investing.

Today’s investors purchase the $20- Saint Gaudens gold coin and others that have been certified as “Mint Sate” by either the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

Certified American coins that were produced prior to 1933 tend to be a bit more profitable than gold bullion coins during the same amount of time, with no greater risk to the investor. In addition to their potential appreciation, certified historic gold coins are a non-confiscatable asset by our government if they decide to reinstate gold bullion confiscation, which prevailed from 1933-1971. If Franklin’s Roosevelt’s presidential order 6102 is reenacted, American and foreign-made bullion coins would most likely be seized and melted down for our government’s benefit.

The last time this happened, our dollar was on the verge of insolvency, so today’s similar scenario has led many investors to believe that our current administration is capable of instituting another bullion confiscation. While government agents won’t kick in your door to retrieve their gold, you could be illegally sitting on a non-liquid asset for decades. Since most gold buyers purchase the yellow metal for its liquidity, long-term investors are usually encouraged to purchase certified coins. For more information on gold bullion confiscation and how you can avoid this threat, visit www.Gold-Bullion.org or call us directly at 800-300-0715 to receive your free Insider’s Guide to Gold Investing.

Although most economists didn’t expect the gold spot price to reach these levels until December, they are not calling for any major pullbacks due to profit-taking. Safe-haven demand looks to remain strong throughout the fourth quarter of 2009, because gloomy retail sales and economic forecasts have driven cautious investors to supplement their precious metal holdings.

While there are some investors engaging in quick-action gold bullion trading, the majority of US household investors are purchasing certified gold coins. They purchase these coins because of their preservative qualities for wealth. Their non-confiscatability and private status are also reasons that so many investors have lined their portfolios with these coins.

When our economic climate allows for it, profit-seeking investors take their chances with gold bullion investments, which usually fluctuate quite rapidly. Gains and losses are realized quickly in the gold bullion market, and investors tend to shy away from holding gold bullion any longer than 14 months at a time.

Investors who want to hold physical gold indefinitely should consider certified gold coins, which generally do better than bullion for long-term investors. Contact www.Gold-Coin.com directly at 800-300-0715 to learn more about certified gold coins, which are available from reputable gold exchanges in limited quantities.

Many coin collectors purchase modern-day gold coins. These individuals sometimes want to collect coins from every country, and sometimes they simply want a complete collection of American-minted coins. Since 1986, the US Mint has produced and sold a wide variety of the American Gold Eagles, and some loyal Americans have taken the initiative to own examples of each type of American bullion coin. The cost of collecting these bullion coins can sometimes be astronomical, because government entities like the US Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint often add steep premiums to their new releases.

Investors are the largest demographic of modern-day gold coin buyers. They usually purchase these coins in very large volume, and they wait for the market to gain between 6-9% before selling. This short-term strategy is a great way to utilize gold bullion coins, but investors who eventually want to sell their coinage should remember that gold bullion coins could be confiscated by the US government. In the event of a second gold bullion confiscation, investors would be unable to sell or trade their gold bullion to anyone but the US government, so investors who plan to hold their gold long-term may not require or derive benefit from gold bullion coins. Contact www.Gold-Bullion.org to learn about gold coin confiscation, and how to avoid such a trap.

The Austrian Philharmonic gold coin is produced in four varieties. The Austrian Mint produces one-ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, and 1/10 ounce coins every year, as they have every year since 1989. One-ounce versions carry a face value of 2000 shekels or 100 euros, depending on the year of mintage. The one-ounce Philharmonic was the best-selling gold bullion coin in the world in 1992, 1995, and 1996, and its undaunting popularity around the world has made it as much of a part of Austria as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra itself.

US investors who would like to purchase Austrian Philharmonic gold coins may do so by contacting a reputable gold bullion exchange. Fair markup on these coins should be no more than 7% above the active spot price, and many large-volume exchanges can deliver this coin to your door for less.

American investors who purchase the Austrian Philharmonic gold coin, in any denomination, should remember that these coins can be seized by the US government to back up our dollar. If you are considering a long-term gold investment, or if you have concerns about our dollar’s solvency, ask about US coins that were minted prior to 1933 or visit www.Rare-Coin.org; these rarities may be a better investment option for you. Otherwise, call www.Gold-Coin.com directly at 800-300-0715 to pick up your Austrian Philharmonic gold coins.

• The Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is the purest form of gold on the market; its .999 pure gold content is unique for any gold coin.

• The Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is produced exclusively by the Royal Canadian Mint; one of the world’s most reputable coin producing c  entities.

• Wise investors can take advantage of low premiums on the Canadian Maple leaf gold coin; fair markup starts at 6.6% with small local dealers and 5.5% with reputable, larger gold exchanges. Please note that quantity will always affect pricing when buying or selling gold so be sure to ask about large volume discounts, and ask for a dealer with a stellar reputation.

Most of my readers know that selecting widely traded items is vital when it comes to liquidating your precious metals holdings. Maple Leaf investors sleep well knowing that this coin has never failed to achieve a bid or ask price on the official Certified Gold Exchange. This is why Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin holders sleep better at night; they hold a debt-free asset that has never lost its liquidity. Investors know that they have instant liquidity in the event of dollar insolvency, a bartering situation, or if they simply find themselves in a pinch for cash. There are two sides to every coin and the Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin has its faults as well.

• The Royal Canadian Mint marks the coin as $50 in Canadian currency, and many feel that this is in cahoots with the US government, which also marks its one-ounce coinage as $50 dollars. This could be the amount that you would be paid by the US or Canadian governments should they recall or confiscate gold in a national emergency.

• Also be aware that the Maple Leaf coin comes in .999 and .9999 versions, and are priced accordingly. Buying and selling gold is much easier than many investors thought before taking their position with gold. This is particularly true when you select a world class gold investment like the Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin. So don’t wait; go down to the local gold store and pick up a few of these fine coins or call our helpful advisors for discounts off national average retail prices.

Most investors are aware that production of the $50 American Eagle gold coin investments have been suspended due to unprecedented demand, but many investors are unaware that over 13 million of these coins have been sold since 1986. This represents over $1.4 billion worth of gold, but this is not nearly enough to sufficiently stave off long-term devaluation of our dollar. When our government confiscated gold bullion in 1933, they recovered over 131 million ounces, and there is an exponentially larger supply of dollar bills in circulation today. Our government will likely confiscate all gold bullion products, including gold bullion that is stored for IRA or gold ETF purposes. Individuals who hold $50 American Eagle gold coin investments and other gold bullion may want to convert those assets to a type of gold that is more suitable for long-term possession. Contact a reputable gold exchange today to discuss your gold investment options.

The quickest way to make a gold coin investment is to purchase coinage from another investor. Commissions and extra fees that many gold dealers charge can be eliminated by dealing directly with another individual, but the consequences of an unwise trade could linger. Counterfeit coins, unscrupulous traders, and other scams have been reported by investors who tried to conduct business with other so called “household investors.”

Local gold dealers are usually more reputable than any individual, and their proximity allows investors to speak face-to-face with someone who could potentially lead them to an investment. The downside of local dealers, however, is that their stock is usually limited, so specific coins or a large volume purchase may be unavailable through local gold dealers. The “pawn shop” persona of many local gold dealers has driven many potential buyers to fulfill their precious metal needs elsewhere.

Large-volume gold exchanges are a secure way to invest in physical gold, and many investors who want to know where to buy gold coins typically contact these exchanges for more information. Long-standing gold investment companies offer pricing and customer service that individual investors and local exchanges can’t provide. Some investors are not qualified to deal directly with our nation’s major gold exchanges, but some of these market-makers will recommend alternative gold sources for interested persons who are unable to purchase in large volume. Reputation is the cornerstone of the gold industry, so check out www.BBB.org for any potential dealer’s Better Business Bureau rating before making your investment.

Consumers have flocked to gold, as Merrill Lynch’s top technical analyst predicted they would. In 2001, Walter Murphy said that investors would seek refuge in gold until they clearly saw that our government had our best interests at heart. Our current administration’s intrusive philandering in the private financial markets is evidence to the contrary, so the gold price could continue its upward quest for at least the next three years. Gold coin investments like the $50 American Eagle and the 24-karat Canadian Maple Leaf have proven to be wise investments throughout the current cycle, and many US economists believe that gold’s rise could continue until prices reach $1500 per ounce, or more.

The gold price has risen substantially during the last three weeks, so today’s pullback was expected by most mainstream economists. Bullion investors have been more patient than anticipated, because many analysts believed that the gold spot price would drop due to sell-offs last week. At 3pm EST www.Kitco.com and www.GoldPrice.net registered the gold spot price at $1039.80, so most one-ounce gold bullion coins are trading between $1070 and $1170. Today’s pullback has created an excellent buying opportunity for new investors, because many economists have called for above-$1100 spot prices before January. If these projections are accurate, gold bullion buyers could pick up 6% or more on their initial investment before the end of the year.

Gold coin investments like the American Eagle and the Canadian Maple Leaf trade relatively close to the gold spot price, so short-term investors may find that these coins are a better option for them than non-confiscatable, certified coins. More information on gold bullion confiscation is available at www.Gold-Bullion.org, where the Certified Gold Exchange provides free information for institutional and household investors alike.

By dealing with a large-volume exchange that maintains an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, investors can ensure that they will be able to sell the coins for fair market value once our economic problems are resolved. The current trends indicate that gold, silver, oil, and other commodities could rise in value during the next few years, so gold coin investments could provide a private, independent means to store wealth. The gold spot price at 6pm EST was $1055.80, which correlates into a 0.47% loss for the trading day. Gold coin values can be tracked at www.PCGS.com and www.GoldCoin.net around the clock.

In addition to our debt-laden banking sector, many other corporations have struggled to sustain growth and profitability. DuPont, Phizer, The New York Times, and many more of our nation's long-standing businesses have been forced to cut jobs. Our Administration is considering an emergency measure that would provide a $3000 tax credit for employers for each employee that they hire. Opponents of this bill have argued that many employers would unfairly abuse the tax credit, which could cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Many employers have questioned the advantages that a $3000 tax credit would have, since compensating their new employees could outweigh the benefit of the paultry credit. In addition, increasing the workforce could lower a company's revenue, which would not please owners or share holders.

Investors who would like a hedge for their other investments are advised to research the gold coin market, since gold and other precious metals are considered safe-have assets. Many companies offer modern and historic gold coins, and each type of gold coin has its pros and cons. Take physical delivery of your gold coin investment if possible, and hold your hard-earned financial security in the palm of your hand.

Investors can assure themselves that they are buying a tangible asset by taking physical delivery of their metal. Reputable gold exchanges do offer third-party storage, but having physical possession of assayed gold and silver provides a more personal level of security. Mining stocks, pool accounts, and even gold ETFs lack the liquidity and safety that a physical gold investment provides. Gold bullion coins track the gold spot price, as do bullion bars manufactured by companies like Engelhard and Pamp-Suisse. Other investors prefer to trade certified coins, which also track the gold spot price, but also carry substantial, long-term benefits. Certified coins also demand a high premium for their numismatic value, which allows for their protected status, in the event of a second gold confiscation by the US government. If our dollar continues to slide down the slippery slope of insolvency, gold's investment value could be geared to grow substantially. The gold spot price at 4pm EST is $1058.50, and gold has increased 35.07% within the last year. Investors can visit www.Kitco.com and www.GoldPrice.net for live precious metal spot prices around the clock.

The College Board's "Trends in College Pricing" report was released today, and the numbers included in this annual report were quite startling for many students and parents who plan to have a college on their payroll. The average tuition for one year at a four-year public college rose 6.5% in 2009, bringing the average public school tuition to $7,020. Private colleges now cost an average of $26,273 for one year of coursework, which is a 4.4% increase from last year's levels. Many of our nation's colleges are passing on the majority of their higher costs through the tuition hikes, so many individuals who will eventually reach university status are encouraged to store their wealth in a way that could flourish until the time that the funds are needed. Bank accounts are vulnerable to inflation and bank failures, and a gold coin investment could be a wise alternative. Many long-term investors have successfully utilized certified gold coins in the past, and those coins ultimately put their owners' kids through college. Individuals who want to protect their future plans with a gold coin investment should visit www.Gold-Investment.info to take advantage of a free, award-winning tutorial provided by the Certified Gold Exchange.

These numbers are practically unfathomable, but we could conclude that the faculties of anyone who pays off debt with more debt are lacking to some degree. Last year's budget deficit was almost three times as much as the deficit from 2008, and federal debt watchdogs have warned that the international community will not stand for our irresponsible fiduciary policies. Many euro-using nations evidently want to end the dollar's reign as world reserve currency, and some other nations have called for a global currency to be the dollar's replacement. Some investors believe that we may experience some severe inflation within the next few years, but a great many more investors fear that the dollar could collapse entirely. If this were to happen, assets that are tied to cash would be worthless. Many investors have taken a position in the gold coin market, because gold is a globally valued currency that would not be negatively affected by the dollar's demise. Rather, the gold price has risen sharply in response to the declining dollar index, and many economists believe that the gold price will be forced higher in order to keep up with inflation. The current gold spot price is $1066.40, which is just below its all-time high of $1071 reached last week. The gold price is up 5.75% in the last 30 days, and 36% in the last 365 days.

While the majority of US investors disagree with our current administration's claims that we are in the recovery stage of our recession, some investors remain blindly steadfast, and support our leaders' theory. Even these investors are cautious, however, because they fear that our government may allow big business to repeat the mistakes of the past. "We need to be mindful about the dangers of complacency. We can't go back to the old way of doing business," said Doug Hamilton, who is the deputy director of the Pew Economic Policy Group. Investors who fear future fallout from failed corporate strategy are encouraged to take a position in the gold coin market. Gold bullion coins trade based on their weight, and investors can obtain pricing for these types of coins by tracking the gold spot price at www.Kitco.com and www.GoldPrice.net, where active spot prices for all precious metals are available around the clock.

Our fiscal year ended on September 30, and the United States recorded a final deficit of about $1.4 trillion. This figure represents 9.9% of our gross domestic product(GDP) for one year, which is the largest percentage since 1945. The lack of parity between our government's revenue and its spending is mind-boggling. Total government income accounted for 15% of our nation's GDP last year, but spending accounted for 25% of the total tally. This is the largest discrepancy in these numbers in the last 50 years. Our government has refused to slow, pace, or control their spending in any way, and many of our lawmakers have advocated even more spending. White House officials have yet to offer a feasible plan that could allow our nation to reduce the budget deficit and the overall federal debt, and this delayed call to action has left many American citizens feeling abandoned by our government's chronic lethargy. A large number of Americans are anxious that our debt will continue to grow until our leaders run out of IOU slips, at which point the international community may come knocking. Many Americans have increased their gold coin holdings recently, because the global liquidity of coins that have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service(PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC) are a viable way to avoid the treacherous trap of the US dollar's downfall. In addition to the ease of liquidating precious metals, many investors appreciate the complete privacy that a physical gold investment provides.

Economic analysts predicted that US businesses would slash their inventories by 0.9& in August, so the actual figure of 1.5% disappointed many stock investors. These investors are desperately looking for signs of a budding economy, but they may need to ignore the facts and listen only to the Washington beaurecrats in order to have their ears tickled. US business inventories have not declined for this many consecutive months since the 2001 recession, which was much less severe than our current predicament. From 2001-2002, businesses lowetred their inventories for 15 straight months, but many analysts believe that this figure will be surpassed during our current recession. Most Wall Street economists and company representatives have conceded that inventories will continue to decline until our nation's jobless level stabilizes and begins to drop, which could trigger increased consumer spending. If American citizens truly believe that our nation is headed in the right direction, our dollar will most likely strengthen and many of our nation's businesses will begin to thrive once again. Silver and gold coin investments are projected to increase in price and popularity until we see national economic stabilization, whcih is why so many investors are now adding physical gold coins to their current holdings.

The spike in the gold spot price is attributed in part to recent comments made by the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Bernanke made clear in a keynote address in Washington that key lending rates will be raised at the appropriate time. Since what is deemed to be appropriate is a subjective matter, and Bernanke does not appear to be very objective, many investors fear that his monetary policy will provoke an incurable case of hyperinflation, which could collapse the dollar entirely. Bernanke was recently ranked the third most powerful man in Washington by GQ magazine, which fuels the theory that our nation’s leaders are more concerned with vain celebrity status than any viable economic stimuli.

Some publications have managed to maintain a more impartial view. The Atlantic’s November issue contributed their two cents on how the Fed Chairman has handled our nation’s dire circumstances. “The political focus on the federal stimulus package, and Bernanke’s own professorial mildness, has deflected attention from how radically the Fed chief has acted. The particulars of the Fed’s interventions remain lamentably shielded from oversight.”

Many investors choose to provide themselves with a back-up plan by taking a position in the gold coin market. Gold is projected to rise substantially over the next two years, while unemployment and inflation levels could continue to deteriorate the wealth of countless vulnerable Americans. By hedging between 20-30% of their portfolios in gold, investors can add diversification and safety during these perilous financial times.

Last week, House Republicans, including Boehner, wrote a letter to our President outlining the faults of the economic stimulus plan. "Working families and small businesses are struggling, and the administration's $1 trillion stimulus plan is not working," Mr. Boehner said. The reply from the White House gave no response to specific suggestions given in the letter to our President, but simply stated that the White House would review the suggested ideas. Frustration with the White House’s unwillingness to accept criticism or advice is growing among lawmakers, who do not think that the bailout and stimulus package is a logical solution for our economy at the moment. Investors who share those feelings may not have the ability to speak in Washington every day, but there are ways to take a stand against our government’s obtuse monetary policies. Some investors decide to make gold coin investments, because these coins are liquid assets that can be stored independently. Gold coin and bar investments could again prove to be a wise investment during these unstable fiscal times, just as they did throughout the turbulent 1970s.

Certified gold cons may do better financially for long-term investors who do not want to play the market daily. These coins are packaged in a hermetically sealed container, which protects the coin’s luster as well as its numismatic value. A reputable, third party grading agency such as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service(PCGS) both assays and sonically seals these coins. Investment-grade coins are available for those who want a long-term stake in the gold market, and gold coin investments that were made in this manner have sizably outperformed the growth of gold bullion during the last four quarters.

Many investors value gold bullion because it is a liquid asset that can be stored privately. Our government’s ability to confiscate this type of metal is a concern for many investors, since we live in this day and age of the Patriot Act and other imposing government sanctions. Rare gold coins that have been certified by PCGS or NGC are deemed exempt from any future gold recall, since these coins are American treasures, and there is not a sufficient supply to do our dollar’s value further harm. Investors who have concerns about our lawmakers’ actions are encouraged to carefully research gold bullion and certified gold coin investments, since these assets could provide immeasurable safety during these perilous financial times.

For years, many gold bullion investors happily rode the peaks and valleys of the market, and short-term profits were easily made due to the stability of our currency, which has a direct bearing on the gold price. Lately, the dollar’s value has been fluctuating much more wildly, and bullion investors have been pressured to execute trades at exactly the right moment. Government intervention into our financial markets has also altered the way our investments move, and many economists fear that more government intervention into the public markets could cause some unforeseen market fluctuations in the short-term. Those who believe that gold will rise over the next few years may do better financially with a certified gold coin, which does not fluctuate as quickly as the gold bullion spot price. Some certified gold coins have outpaced the growth of gold bullion by a 3:1 ratio during the last six months. Recent economic indicators have been positive, so some analysts believe that the gold price could also retreat. Those who are interested in safety do not mind, though, because to them owning periodically devalued gold is a far better option that burning a candle for feeble fiat currency.

The unemployment rate is currently at a 26-year high of 9.8%, and many expect that the jobless level will continue to rise over the next few years. Our “saviors” in Washington claimed in January that the unemployment rate would remain below 8% as their heralded stimulus plan took root, but that figure is one of the many government-provided statistics that the 16 million unemployed Americans are scoffing at. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said earlier this week that the economy could turn around during the coming months, but that unemployment would "penetrate the 10% barrier and stay there for a while before we start down."  If our government cannot create and maintain new jobs until our recession eases, some economists fear that we could be looking at 15-18% unemployment levels by the year 2011. Higher unemployment levels would almost certainly mean a higher percentage of corporate and personal bankruptcies, which could cause almost unforeseeable levels of home foreclosures and corporate debt. Two of the options that are available to worried investors are gold bullion bars and gold coin investments. Precious metals have historically maintained their value during otherwise difficult financial times throughout our nation’s history. A quick economic recovery would probably repress gold’s value, but many economists fear that our “snake-bit” nation may not regain her full economic health for several years.

October 6, 2009 – Gold coin prices fluctuated wildly this morning, and a record spike to $1044 an ounce was quickly reduced to $1038. Wall Street Journal analysts had predicted in September that gold could surpass its historical high before the end of 2009, but no economists had the resolve to predict today’s events. Some individuals were excited about the advancements that were made in the gold price today, but investors should realize that this is what is supposed to happen when the dollar takes a hit. International unrest is brewing over the declination of the dollar’s value, and today gold simply continued to do what it has done throughout history. 

Various gold bullion coins are approaching the $1100 level today, including the 22-karat South African Krugerrand coin, which is currently trading at $1095. The modern-day American Gold Eagle is available from select gold dealers at $1119, but the pre-1933 US gold coins are still the top performers on the Professional Coin Grading Service price list at www.PCGS.com. The MS63 Saint Gaudens is up 1.1% today, bringing the national average retail value of that coin to $1915. Certified gold and silver coin investors are pleased with today’s gains, after little to no movement took place during the last two weeks. Although gold prices could pull back slightly leading up to the holiday season, market analysts are confident that gold could continue to set new records until economic stability is regained. 

Gold investors were not the only ones who were pleased with Tuesday’s financial results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJIA) and the S&P 500 were up 0.22% this afternoon, as the Nasdaq index registered a 0.18% gain. Silver, oil, and many other commodities posted gains today as well, as investors got back to the basics.

October 5, 2009 – Gold coin prices remained somewhat flat during most of Monday morning’s trading session, as rumors of economic growth in the third quarter of 2009 swirled about befuddled economists. Optimistic investors are actively searching for signs of economic recovery from the US, and such recovery has frequently and shamelessly been heralded by the Obama White House as of late. Ben Bernanke, and others at the Federal Reserve have also touted a strengthening economy, and we would all love to see that process begin. Mountains of mixed data are manufactured every week by various government and media outlets, so extracting any worthwhile information is usually quite exhausting. For savvy investors, however, it is easy to interpret what is really happening within our country. 

The classic signs of a recovering economy are easy to see, as jobs and retail sales tend to increase in significant increments, and employers and consumers begin to notice actual improvement. The Labor Department’s most recent report paints a grim picture, as our country is now home to 9.8% unemployment levels that are expected to top 10% before 2010. As far as retail sales within the United States, it appears as though consumer confidence is still lacking. According to Money.CNN.com, none of the major corporate giants who will release earnings reports this week, are expected to report any significant growth. These disappointing companies have slashed costs to the bone, only to have those bones picked clean by economic erosion. 

Trillions of dollars have already been dissolved in our current recession, and investors are looking for an asset that could provide growth and safety until our mainstream investments pick up more steam. Lower national unemployment numbers and higher retail sales could mean a stabilizing economy, but investors have yet to see either. Gold coin investments have historically maintained their value during otherwise tumultuous financial times, and investors can visit www.Gold-Investment.info to learn more about how a gold investment could fortify a vulnerable portfolio.

Barron's Online compiled a list of our nation's top-performing bankers, and proceeded to interview the head of the class. Brian Foster manages $11 billion for 106 of JP Morgan's clients, and he is considered the top-ranking private banker in America today. Foster says that his clients have been expressing risk concerns as the frightful financial folly from the last 18 months has unfolded, and these clients are looking for liquid assets that can easily be converted to cash. The eco-political global scene has "brought forth in nearly everybody's mind the realization that the risk in their portfolios was greater than they had expected," Foster said. He is recommending commodities for his clients, because he believes that tangible assets will retain their value more effectively if our current recession persists.

One commodity that investors are keenly eyeing is gold. Investment-grade gold coin and bar holdings have increased over 300% in value since the economy stealthily began its decline in 2001. The live gold price is always available at www.GoldPrice.net, and gold's per-ounce spot value at 1pm EST is $1003.80.

Our government decreed in 2005 that investors who hold a 401K plan from a previous employer may convert that account into a Roth IRA. Beginning January 1, any individuals with 401K, 403B, TSP, or traditional IRA packages may convert their plans into a Roth-based program. Until the beginning of 2010, only investors with a household income of less than $100,000 per year will be eligible for an IRA transfer. Our nation's ongoing financial saga has negatively affected many of the 47 million households with IRA accounts that are down over the last eight quarters, but a recent Fidelity Investments survey revealed that only 7% of retirement account investors plan to convert those assets to a Roth IRA. At first glance, it would appear that more individuals would want to transfer their funds into a pre-taxed IRA plan. They are taxed up front, negating any potential tax increases in the future. "If investors have at least 10 years before making withdrawals, anticipate a higher tax rate in retirement, or plan to leave savings to heirs, they should consider a conversion,"  says Chris McDermott, vice president of retirement and financial planning at Fidelity Investments. Many believe that the small number of Roth conversions is due to the growing number of individuals who want precious metals instead of stocks and CDs, regardless of any tax consequences. Investors with traditional, Sepp, Roth, or inactive retirement accounts could already be permitted to place gold coin investments within those accounts. There are some guidelines to follow about gold-backed IRAs.

Gold, silver, and platinum are eligible components of an IRA that is backed by precious metals. Pre-1933 US coins are not eligible for placement within an IRA. The modern-day American Gold Eagle and the Gold Eagle Proof may be used, as well as the American Gold Buffalo and the Canadian Maple Leaf. Various bullion rounds and bars are lawfully accepted as well, but investors should remember that IRA gold investments are government confiscatable, with the exclusive exception being the gold and silver American Eagle Proof coins. More information for investors who are weighing gold and silver is available at www.GoldSilver.org.

The United States economy shrank at a 0.7% level throughout the second quarter of 2009, and could continue to constrict for the next few years as factories and manufacturing facilities either close their doors, or move overseas. Our country's gross domestic product(GDP) has decreased during each of the last four quarters, marking the first time that this has happened. The third quarter GDP of the United States was cushioned by the government's Cash-For-Clunkers automobile replacement program, and any other stimulus-related funds were added to the bottom line as well. Many economists believe that the last quarter of 2009, and the ensuing holiday season could be slow, largely due to widespread and rapidly-increasing unemployment levels. Investors who want to protect themselves from an economic collapse are buying gold coins, since they are a time-tested liquid commodity that can be stored privately.

Investors purchase bullion coins for short-term holding periods, and investors who are trying to preserve and grow wealth over a long period of time are advised to consider rare coins. Rare-coin.org provides more than a sufficient amount of information on rare coin investments. Gold regained its over-$1000-per-ounce status today, and the purified ore is currently valued at $1008.20 on the Commodities Exchange(COMEX) division of the New York Mercantile Exchange(NYMEX).

New York-based reserach team The Conference Board says that consumer confidence is much lower than economists predicted, mainly due to concerns over the labor market. Government officials are quick to point out that home prices are up this month, but they are still 13.3% lower than levels from one year ago. The negative news forced the Dow Jones Industrial Average down to 9780, and the Nasdaq market lost 0.1% in trading this morning. Financial experts believe that major US stock indexes could plummet further if unemployment woes continue to be seen and heard around the nation. Gold coins are the investment of choice for many within the United States due to the fact that they have historically given investors protection for their wealth when other investments lack the luster needed to make a profit.

Gold bullion coins and bars could be a great investment for a short-term profit venture, and certified gold coin holdings could do better financially long-term. Investors prefer these numismatic coins when they are looking for real "bulletproofing" for their battle-worn portfolios. Investors who would like more information on the gold coin market should visit www.GoldCoin.net. The active gold spot price is $992.50, and this is a $0.60 drop from opening values.

Market experts have been speculating since June that US banks and securities firms, some of which have received federal bailout money, could re-implement their incentive programs for top-level executives. Government officials anticipate a solid fourth-quarter for most markets, and this is enough reason for many corporations to reinstitute their bulging bonus programs. JP Morgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs are two such institutions that have already reverted to a way of business that was common before our nation's financial downfall. In July, Goldman Sachs was sharply criticized for its $11 billion payroll. In 2006, a record $34 billion in bonuses was thrown at Wall Street workers, which averages out to over $190,000 per employee. Consumers have called for an overhaul of the bank bonus system, because cash bonuses do little to motivate employees to act in the best interest of shareholders. Equity stakes and stock options can be given to employees in lieu of a cash payout, but analysts fear that most companies will continue to hand out checks at year's end.

The irrational amount of money being handed over to underperforming executives could cause the bottom to drop out of the securities market again, so many investors are making gold coin investments that could potentially balance stock losses. A proper 25-30% hedge in gold cancelled out losses in individual stocks and mutual finds for investors in the 1970s, and many believe that the same formula could be used successfully today.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday that "an ongoing need still exists" for government-aided purchases of securities. The securities are backed by auto, home, and student loans, and the government is helping investors buy these securities. Economists fear that a large number of the loans will continue to fail, harming the securities and the government who backs them. It is becoming more difficult for consumers to extract loans, and the shell shock that lenders are feeling could continue to restrain economic recovery. The "free money" that our government is handing out could wipe away a large percentage of the spending power within cash accounts, and many investors who never considered commodities before are converting assets to gold and silver coins. If experts' projections are accurate, cash accounts could lose 65% or more of their buying ability, and investors in loan-backed securities and stocks could be wiped out again.

Investors who have not yet joined the move into gold should log on to www.Gold-Investment.info for answers to investment-related questions about gold. The award-winning online tutorial is available to the public free of charge from The Certified Gold Exchange.

Investors who want to buy gold as a short-term investment, meaning less than 14 months, typically purchase a coin such as the American gold Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, or the Mexican gold Peso. These coins are used as a short-term investment vehicle because daily price fluctuations keep investors on their backs for a portion of every year. The weak Dollar and outstanding US debt is another reason why some investors shy away from bullion. Another bullion confiscation could occur within the next year, and the current Group of 20(G20) Summit could hold discussions about a US gold confiscation. More information about the first US gold confiscation is made public at www.gold-bullion.org. other investors shift funds into certified gold coins. Certified gold coins are worth more than raw bullion because they were minted in the United States prior to 1933. The most popular certified coin, the Saint Gaudens, is the original version of a bullion coin that many know today, the American gold Eagle.

The information that is available on gold coins is almost infinite, and more research and study is being done on these investment-grade metals every day. If an investor is unsure about which investment grade coin is right for a particular portfolio, contact a reputable gold dealer that offers certified gold and bullion. Certified gold coin prices can be tracked online and with your gold dealer. The gold bullion spot price is $994.50, and analysts expect gold to break through the $1000 ceiling before trick-or-treating begins in a couple of weeks.

September 23, 2009 - A disasterous few quarters for stock and real estate investors has created an upward trend in gold coins, especially by those who plan to rely on retirement account and Social Security funds to live out their golden years. Gold coins such as the pre-1933 Indian Head and Lady Liberty have outpaced some bullion products by three-to-one in the last six months. Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economics at The New School for Social Research, elaborated on her view of the current economy in a recent Wall Street Journal article.

"For 30 years we thought that if we gave people financial advice that over time they would learn something," Ghilarducci said. "But just as we can't expect people to excise their own molars or do their own surgery, we can't expect them to professionally manage their money over a long period of time." Pension plans are largely a thing of the past, and self-directed retirement accounts place the fate of the vested funds in the hands of the consumer. Economic cycles from the 1930s and 1970s are repeating themselves, and many investors who lost big in the last two years are looking to these trends for an answer. In previous cycles, gold coins rose in value as the Dollar and stock indexes fell. Gold is viewed as a safe-haven asset that can be privately held, giving self-empowerment to the investor. Physical gold can be placed within an IRA, but many investors are cashing out their retirement accounts so that they can hold the gold themselves.

Investors who would like to know more about gold-backed IRAs should contact Sterling Trust or Goldstar Trust, the two companies authorized for gold coin storage. If institutional or household investors have questions about any of the many facets of gold investing, visit www.Gold-Investment.info for valuable answers.

September 22, 2009 - In the midst of President Barack Obama and Federal Reserve chaiman Ben Bernanke's gleeful "We did it!" interviews, speeches, and appearances, the majority of the United States is still trying to figure out how to survive the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Gold dealers across the nation report that gold coin sales are up for the sixth straight quarter, and many economists are pointing out that today's trends are the same breed as those that devestated the American way of life in the 1930s and the 1970s.

The 1930s and 1970s were some very difficult fiduciary times for most Americans. Unemployment was high, factories were moving away or shutting down entirely, and inflation devalued saved cash assets to the point that they were not worth the paper that they were printed on. At the same time, government officials slapped the public in the face time and time again by declaring the crisis to be over. Does that sound familiar? Investors ran to gold back then, and in the 1970s it made some investors over 1000%. Certain gold coins are valued now more than ever because of their beauty, inherent value, numismatic appeal, and historic non-confiscatibility by the US government. Many economists think that this historical parallel could continue to play out.

Investors who are interested in knowing more about confiscatible and non-confiscatible gold coins should visit www.gold-investment.info. The current gold spot price is $1016.60, and investors interested in gold coin retail values can log on to www.PCGS.com.

September 21, 2009 - Gold coin investors smiled brightly this morning, as another week begins with gold coin investments rising in value. Gold coin investors usually buy coins like the Canadian Maple Leaf or the American Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, and these coins have seen explosive growth over the last 24 months, largely due to the economic mire that the United States is sitting in.

National unemployment levels reached 9.7% in August, a number that tops even Europe's awful 9.5%. US unemployment is expected to easily surpass the 10% mark before the end of 2009, despite Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's claims that the worst recession since the Great Depression is "most likely over." Warren Buffett said recently that he does not believe that the United States is emerging from this pathetic financial state, and the upcoming holiday season will serve as a good indicator of how our economy is really doing. Retail sales are expected to be flat, and Stacy Janiak with Deloitte retail group said she expects holiday spending to be "controlled and conscious," which could eliminate a lot of the last-minute, emotional buying that people have done historically when the economy is in good shape. Meanwhile, gold coins and bars are projected to compensate for the Dollar's inflated status by reaching $1100 per ounce by early 2010.

The gold spot price dropped briefly from $1000 levels on Monday morning, before buyers hit the market and drove it to $1004 by 1:30pm EST. Gold coin pricing is available by checking out www.PCGS.com and www.goldprice.net, which always shows the active spot price for gold, silver, and platinum.

September 18, 2009 - There are a wide variety of gold coins available on the open market today, and with gold recently topping the $1000 mark for only the sixth time in history, gold coin investments are more popular than ever. Gold coins carry risk, as do all other investments, and investors should be aware of the risks that the current economy presents for gold coins.

In 1933, the United States was in shambles. Factories and companies were closing their doors, lay-offs were the norm instead of the exception, and US currency lost a majority of the buying power it previously held. President Roosevelt took away all gold bullion from US citizens in order to back up the Dollar's value, with a couple of notable exceptions. Jewelry was not taken by Executive Order 6102, nor was gold needed for industry, such as in automobiles and dentists' offices. The other exception was covered by Section 2-B of Roosevelt's decree, which says that "gold coins having recognized special value to collectors of rare and unusual coins" are not to be confiscated by the government in order to back up the Dollar. Today, as the Federal Reserve reports that the Dollar is again losing value against other currencies, investment-grade gold coins such as the PCGS and NGC certified Saint Gaudens and Lady Liberty are purchased with their non-confiscatibility in mind.

Gold coin prices were lowered slightly in early Friday trading as gold bullion investors took profits, bringing the gold spot price down $4.20. PCGS graded investment-grade coins held their value on the PCGS price guide at www.PCGS.com. The active spot price for COMEX gold is $1009.10, and this fluctuating spot price can be tracked live at www.goldprice.net.

September 17, 2009 - Gold coins like the American gold Eagle and the Canadian Maple Leaf are leading a pack of bullion investments that have made some investors over 300% in the current cycle. The report on the growth of the gold coin industry comes at the same time as the Federal Reserve reports that household net worth is 19% below the historical peak reached in 2007.

The Fed reported on Thursday that the average net worth of a US citizen is down almost 20%, and economists noted that these figures do not take into account the inflation that has occurred since Ben Bernanke took over the Federal Reserve, the US central bank. The last six consecutive fiscal quarters have seen the economy shrink, and stocks have only posted gains in one quarter over the last two years. The stock gains, which occurred in the previous quarter, are attributed by many economists to the debt-ridden government's intervention program. Some stocks and automotive markets posted gains this summer, lending credence to Bernanke's notion that the worst US recession since the Great Depression is over. Government officials fear that the stimulus plan could backfire because some investors are simply cashing out their stocks, opting instead to store wealth in liquid assets that could provide more portfolio stability.

Gold is one of the liquid assets that investors look to in times of financial distress. Gold coin investments are becoming more popular due to the historic non-confiscatibility of some pre-1933 US coinage. The active gold spot price on www.goldprice.net is $1013.30, and gold coin retail prices can be viewed at www.PCGS.com, although some discount dealers are able to provide investors with prices lower than those listed on the PCGS price guide.

September 16, 2009 - Gold coin prices shot up on Tuesday as Reuters reported that credit card defaults inside the United States are at their highest level since the beginning of the recession. This could be yet another sign that banks' woes over the credit crunch are just beginning. Gold coins are valued as a debt-free way to store and potentially grow wealth, and many Americans who don't trust the faltering banking system are shifting into gold coins and other hard liquid assets.

Bank of America and Citigroup reported today that more customers than ever are defaulting on their credit card debts. Bank of America reported that it does not expect 14.54% of current loans to be paid. Citigroup, the company that issues the most MasterCard branded credit cards, saw a 2.11% increase in loans it does not expect to be paid. The largest issuer of Visa credit cards, JP Morgan Chase, announced that they expect 8.73% of their current loans to never be paid. These companies and others that received government bailout asistance are continuing to drown as waves of new debt are added to the system. Reuters reported that payment delinquencies at some US companies tripled expected levels.

The gold spot price at 5:30pm EST is $1018.30 on Wednesday, which translates into a $10.10 gain for the yellow metal today. Various grades of pre-1933 US gold such as the Saint Gaudens coin saw increases as indicated on the PCGS price guide at www.pcgs.com. Live quotes for investors who want to sell and buy gold coins and bars are available by visiting www.goldprice.net.