Are Coins/Notes Really A Good Investment?

I have been collecting coins for over 40 years and I have been investing in coins for about 8 years. So I am both a coin collector and a coin investor. Although the two roles may overlap sometimes (probably by chance rather than design), in my opinion, the two roles are quite different. It is someting like buying real estate ... the house that you buy as an investment may be very different than the house you buy as a family home. In fact, you may never consider living in the investment property (a 3 apartment fixer upper). Back to coins. As a coin collector, I collect what I like within my financial ability to purchase. As an investor, after some study and analysis, I buy what has the potential to increase in value (similar to investing in stocks). During 2003 and 2004, I purchased large quantities of silver coins at just over bullion value. I did not care about the condition of the coins because I just wanted silver. Why silver? I bought silver because after careful analysis, I believed that it was a good investment. On average, I paid between $5.00 and $6.00 per ounce. Last fall, I sold nearly 3000 ounces of those coins. When a new coin is minted, I may buy it because I like something about the coin as a collector and if it increases in value that is a bonus. If I sincerely believe it has serious investment potential, as a coin investor, I purchase hundreds of the same coin. Like the stock maket, sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don't. The advantage of buying coins in large quantities (except silver or gold) is that you can almost always get you initial investmest back if you sell them (no guarantees).