Archive for January, 2007

Finding Collectible Coins

Thursday, January 25th, 2007

The growth of the Internet has affected how you find a lot of things. But finding coins can still be very much an old-fashioned practice. Novice collectors are often surprised by how many valuable coins are still in loose circulation.

Stamps as Investment

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

Stamps, like any collectible, have a monetary value. That value is the result of supply and demand, just like anything else. But the demand for stamps is highly volatile, just like other works of art. Collecting with an eye to investment requires an aptitude for risk taking and a substantial amount of expertise.

Coin Publications for the Beginner

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

There are hundreds of websites now in existence devoted to coin collecting and trading. But there are still several hardcopy publications that the novice collector will find extremely useful.

Helpful Stamp Organizations and Museums

Wednesday, January 10th, 2007

Collectors have to sift through lots of information while tracking down and researching stamps. It can be helpful to have a handy list of organizations that in one way or another support that effort.

Authentication

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Separating out frauds or fakes from genuine (even error) coins requires experience and ongoing research.

Frauds, Fakes and Errors

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

The overwhelming majority of coin collectors and dealers are honest. That eBay and other Internet sites are successful is one big piece of evidence to that effect. Trust keeps the whole system going, since there’s a delay between the purchase and delivery.

Some Factors Determining Coin Value

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

There are a host of factors that influence the market value of a collectible coin. Some of those are inherent to the coin like condition, age, number minted and errors. Other factors are purely market forces, which can be changed by mass psychology, non-coin related economic factors and dozens other causes.

Collecting Perfins

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Many enthusiastic philatelist has reached a lull in collecting at some point. The affordable gems are coming less frequently and growing out of your price range. To keep the momentum going, you can start looking for the unusual. Perfins are one of those great oddities that can flesh out a collection.

Supplemental Stamp Collectibles

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Collecting stamps is a never ending source of interest. You can collect for a lifetime and still be on the hunt for that rare gem, that odd bit of history that is captured by a stamp.

Using Fluorescence

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Technology and art often combine in philately. The art aspect is obvious to the naked eye. But sometimes the technology is invisible, as in the case of fluorescent stamps.