Collecting Bullion

Just starting or thinking about starting. Either way, most answers already mentioned. Another vote for Silver though.

btc624, ignore most of these posts. If you want to COLLECT 1/10 oz gold bullion coins go right ahead and more power to you. If you like the little gold pieces then I think that is great. (If you are looking at them as an investment as well then the people who said to wait and buy the oz coins are right, but for collecting purposes collect what you like.) As a collection I see no reason to bother with certification. It would only make sense if you were trying for a top Registry level set. As for which are "better" unc or proof, the cost for 1/10 oz coins should be low enough there is no reason why you couldn't do both.

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Also, acquiring these does not necessarily constitute collecting except perhaps in the sense that you would be gathering them together. It's more "investing," or maybe "amassing" or "hoarding."

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If he is acquiring them with the goal of getting one piece of each date and not picking up duplicates then he is collecting them, not amassing, or hoarding. And a full set of some 20 uncs and 20 proofs plus the 1995 W Unc error makes a nice set. And you are looking at close to $3,000 just in metal content alone. And if you get the complete set you can keep it going each year and maybe expand out into the 1/10 oz piece issued by other countries, either by type or by date on those as well.

It is kind of odd seeing someone come on here and say he is planing to collect X and a bunch of people coming on and telling him "No you should collect Y". Does this only happen because it was a bullion coin? If he had come on here and announced that he wanted to collect say V nickels, would a bunch of people started telling him "No you should collect Morgan dollars because they are big silver and popular."? Or would they say "No collect Buffalo nickels, they're hot!"? It's his collection, let him collect what appeals to him.

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don't like the fact that everyone seems to charge a premium, almost as much as on a $50 piece. Anyone find a company with good prices?

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How do you expect them to stay in business? Premium = profit = pay light bill = eat

as a Buyer, you can and should look for the lowest price (spot + premium), But to expect not to pay a premium I think is unrealistic.

btc,

Don't ignore any of these posts. Read them all and decide for yourself. Your original posts suggests you are aware that 1/10 gold bullion coins are primarily bullion and only nominally 'coins.' I doubt you're going to be using them in place of $5 bills any time soon.

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If he is acquiring them with the goal of getting one piece of each date and not picking up duplicates then he is collecting them, not amassing, or hoarding.

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That's a big IF. btc624 doesn't say that he is going to be buying one of each date and type. He says he is going to be collecting them. I inferred from the original post that btc is concerned with value as bullion and that since he is not talking about buying 1 oz. coins that he does not have unlimited means. If I am wrong in those assumptions, it doesn't change the fact that in order to be considered a collection, there needs to be some sense of order.

If I buy a roll of 1964 uncirculated half dollars do I have a collection? I happen not to think so. I suggest that prior to deciding to collect something, btc should determine what his ultimate goal is. Is it to have a hoard of gold bullion or a collection of gold coins? There is an important distinction to be made whether or not you think so.

Here's how I see the difference between a hoard and a collection: When I die, I want people to be able to look at my coins and say, "Ah I see what he was trying to do," rather than, "What the H-was he thinking?" Anyone embarking on a collection might want to consider their own standards and what they hope to achieve.

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It is kind of odd seeing someone come on here and say he is planing to collect X and a bunch of people coming on and telling him "No you should collect Y".

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I don't find it odd at all. btc didn't say how he arrived at his decision to collect 1/10 ounce gold bullion coins and it's quite legitimate to point out (since this is a coin collecting forum) that bullion "coins" are generally valued as bullion and values will likely always be tied to the price of the underlying commodity. I applaud the imagination of my fellow members in making suggestions for btc to consider as he embarks on his collection. btc is of course free to do what he wants, but if he is interested in increasing value as he collects, he might be wise to consider silver as I believe it has the potential to outperform long-term. Silver eagles and gold 1/10s would make a nice-looking set.

Ultimately, I think Conder's argument would be much stronger if it didn't include the exhortation to ignore the rest of us.

Yep, if it isn't fun, don't do it. The only person you have to please is yourself.

However, no matter what you hear to the contrary about small being beautiful, my wife often reminds me that size, in fact, does matter.

Ah, that makes perfect sense now.

As for your choice, if the aesthetics are the same to you I myself would always go for the cheaper one.

I agree the 1/10 ounze AGEs are beautiful coins and VERY collectable. Sure they trade a premium, they're proof. Also, smaller quantities are always more expensive, whatever your're buying.

I like the proofs better than the uncirculated pieces. They're much sharper, a lot nicer to look at, more enjoyable, and so on.

I'm not close to the market, I buy them cause I love them. I've never sold a coin, or a bullion piece. Check ebay though, I'm almost certain the proofs sell for a premium. You should find this reassuring if you buying proofs because you know you'll get your premium back if and when you sell.

Enjoy the hobby. That's what it's all about.