Advice On Buying A Nice $10 Indian

I assume you won't be able to handle the coin that you're purchasing... I would advise that once you determine that a prospective seller is respectable, the pictures define the coin and has the coin priced within the normal ranges. Also, ask them to provide documentation of their purchase. If they bought it from another person vs. a reputable coin dealer, you might want to have that information. Next, I would verify the PCGS (or NGC) certification number at their website and ensure that the number is registered. Once you get the coin, you should inspect the slab carefully to see if there's any evidence of tampering.

A fake is a whole different ball game and you probably won't know unless a professional grader looks at the coin. If it's a fake slab, there won't be evidence of tampering, but there's no real way to know if the coin has been replaced (e.g., taking out the certified coin and replacing it with another). It's tough to catch a dishonest person who has the right materials!!

BTW... GREAT choice on the $10 Indian!! I have several gold coins, inlcuding a $10 Indian. I've sold a few of them in the past and when I do, I provide a copy of my certificate of purchase (I bought mine from Blanchard's).

Brian... that really depends on what you want the coin for. There are a lot of reasons to buy gold coins and even more opinions out there about buying gold, so take this with a grain of salt. If you love the coin, look before you buy. Then buy a coin you love from a reputable dealer. If you're looking for an investment, I'd think about gold prices and where you think the price will be when you want to sell it. In either case, save your purchase documentation! It will help people to have more confidence in the coin when it comes time to move it.

IMHO... I'm selling my gold coins. I'm not buying gold these days; my opinion is that the gold market is inflated right now and my bet is that it will be more advantageous to buy in about 2-3 years.