Is gold your main attraction? If so, gold coins might not be the best alternative for you. If you’re really into gold, the consensus among numismatists is that you should go for bullion coins. You should focus on coins minted before 1933, while at the same time keeping an eye on others that might be just as valuable. In fact, some experts prefer actual gold bars, kept safe in a pooled account. There are two pros: value and increased safety. The thing is: there is a tradeoff between liquidity and safety. Keeping gold coins at home does bring the obvious advantage of having your portfolio nearby, but it also increases the risks of theft.

An actual coin collection has value from other elements beyond the materials used to mint these coins. Some examples are rarity, issue date, condition and so on. This is where coin collecting starts to get fun. Most collectors prefer the thrill of chasing the perfect coin. Not only that, but the better the coin is, the higher its resale value will be.

What should you do first? For starters, you can spend some time studying numismatics, coin collecting as an investment and even some famous coins in general. You can find some great books on the market which target these fields. All information you learn will help you find reputable coin traders, respected sources of information, browsing the marketplace for coins and even avoiding fraud that someone might attempt to bring upon you. Not to mention grading and other aspects that make a coin more or less valuable.

Networking is another key of this business. Meeting groups of coin collectors near your area can help you with advice from more experienced folks, as well as put you in touch with the right people. After all, you’ll prefer to get coin collecting supplies from reputable companies, the ones that provide you with all you need to protect your investment.

Coin collecting as an investment can be a great hobby that brings profits as well. Simply don’t forget about investing on your own education as well.