Numismatics – does it even repay?
A variety of new possibilities emerges all the time on the investment market, allowing to
successfully multiply one’s wealth. Nevertheless, traditional forms of investment are still in
good condition. Both stock market and Forex - extraordinarily popular in recent years – may
bring immense profits but also equally giant losses, especially to those who do not possess a
developed knowledge about this market. Investing in real assets is a proven and long since
one of the most popular method of placing the money. However, observing the real estate
market, one could gather an impression that its best times are long over. The investment
funds are safe but do not guarantee a spectacular profit. The saved money might also be
placed in a non-standard method – for example by investing in art or labelled alcohols.
Still, these are uncertain products, demanding a profound knowledge of a given field, usually
unstable and not generating a giant profit.
How can an alternative investment in collector’s coins be shaped against such a
background?
An investment in low-cost collector’s coins is of a long-term nature. The profits emerge
after several years, though sometimes several months is enough for them to be present. Only
a small amount of coins heads down or its price does not drop below the purchase price. As
experience and the analysis of numismatics market show, the majority of coins gains in value,
bringing the investors truly large profits. What is more, the purchase of collector’s coins and
noble elements is a stable form of investment. Primarily because they are not subject to
inflation, they are not a commodity of a virtual value but a valuable ore which becomes the
most expensive currency in case of war or occupation.
What should be then taken into consideration when investing in numismatics?
The ore from which a coin has been made is the first crucial aspect of placing money in the
numismatics. The second one which should be particularly considered is the issuing volume
– the smaller it is, the better for the collector who becomes the owner of a coin issued in
the volume of, for instance, 99 pieces in the whole world, joins the elite and may be certain of
the profit in the future. The additions are also important. Collector’s coins which have been
appearing on the market for a dozen or so years are unique not only because of precious
metals from which they are made, but also because of the interesting additions such as
precious stones (amber, agate, citrine, etc.) and remarkably beautiful projects made with the
use of innovative minting techniques. What matters is also the series to which the coin
belongs. Sometimes the theme of the issue is able to guarantee the successful sales of a coin
(for example Star Wars).
“What is the most important in the case of all the coins is the issuing volume. The smaller it
is, the higher is the potential of growth. In the case of gold coins, the price is also influenced
by the value of the ore found in the coin. Additionally, such aspects as aesthetic value or
affiliation to the series are crucial. Collector’s coins might even be a considerably fine
investment, provide that they are appropriately picked, have an adequate issue, are in a good
state and are stored in suitable conditions.”*
The issues from Australia and Oceania, as well as from Canada, posses the absolute
primacy among the coins which have the biggest potential for investment. They are
accompanied by singular coins from African and Asian countries.
For the needs of this article, we have searched for the coins issued in the recent years whose
price has noticeably risen and brought their owners a significant profit. As it turns out, a broad
variety of such issues might be distinguished, so we have limited ourselves to pointing only
some of the most vivid examples.
The first price given is the one which appeared in the day of issue; the second is the
current average market price.
1. 2$ Compass, Tuvalu, 2 oz Ag 999, 2017. Additions: a real compass. Price difference: 140
EUR - 180 EUR
2. 2$ Star Wars 40th Anniversary, Niue, 1 oz Ag 999, 2017. Price difference: 70 EUR - 90
EUR
3. 5$ Burning Marijuana Sativa, Canada, 1 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions: ruthenium, gilding.
Price difference: 80 EUR - 200 EUR
4. 2$ Artificial Intelligence – The Code of The Future, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions:
fluorescence. The first coin of the series. Price difference: 190 EUR - 270 EUR
5. 2$ Ares – God of War, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions: gilding. Price
difference: 220 EUR - 400 EUR
6. 20$ Meteorite Campo del Cielo El Chaco, Cook Islands, 3 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions:
Meteorite. Price difference: 450 EUR - 550 EUR
7. 25$ The Trans-Siberian Railway, Cook Islands, 5 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions: pearl.
Price difference: 350 EUR - 450 EUR
8. 2$ Darth Vader, Star Wars, A New Hope, Niue, 1 oz Ag 999, 2016. Price difference: 70
EUR - 200 EUR
9. 5000 Francs Mauquoi Lion, Big Five, Ivory Coast, 5 oz Ag 999, 2016. Price difference:
450 EUR - 600 EUR
10. 10$ The Trojan Horse, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2016. Additions: a piece of wood. Price
difference: 200 EUR - 350 EUR
A lot of coins from 2017 are already sold out in particular mints; it is worth taking notice of
them:
20$ The Moon, The Satellite of the Earth, 3 oz Ag 999, 2017. Additions: meteorite.
2$ Speed of Light – The Code of the Future, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2017. Additions:
fluorescence.
1$ Muonionalusta Meteorite, Niue, 1 oz, 2016. The coin made purely from the meteorite.
2$ Jupiter – Roman Gods, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2017.
2$ China - Imperial Art, Niue, 2 oz Ag 999, 2017. Additions: agate.
In the next weeks we will develop the analogical list of coins, reaching back to 2010.
* Source: http://www.przeglad-finansowy.pl/2014/12/inwestycje- alternatywne-podstawy.html
Authors:
Łukasz Rosanowski
Anita Jaworska