Collectible gold coins around $500?

Question

I want to start a collection of gold coins and am wondering if anyone can recommend a few types to buy in the $500 price range if thats possible?? Any suggestions appreciated.

Answer 1

The rarer the better. In the long run, rarities seem to only go up. In fact, there are inherent disadvantages to rare-date gold, such as diminished liquidity, difficulty in tracking prices, and much more down-side risk from undiscovered hoards.

There's also the risk of non-liquidity in the numismatic marketplace, since the premiums over melt are so much greater. Focus on those United States gold coins that are often termed "generic", and whose values are at least somewhat influenced by changes in the spot price of gold.

Here's a link to a good start with images for your viewing of gold coins. In the $500 or less price range.
http://www.collectibleamerica.com/category.asp?c=262

Answer 2

See a coin dealer there are plenty of collectible gold coins under $500. There are a lot $1, $2 1/2, $5 and $10 U.S. coins that fall under the $500 mark. Double Eagles $20 are over that figure these days. Get a Red Book a Guide to U.S. Coins and check mintage figures, get the scarcer dates, that sell for about what a common date sells for. Try also to get the highest grade you can afford. Do a little home work and you can do well. It would also be a wise idea to buy a book or two on gold coins and see what varieties are scarce, a lot of dealers miss that and you can get a rare variety at a common price. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I would strongly urge you to look at other countries as well as America. You can find lots of European gold coins out there in uncirculated condition for less than $150. You can even buy a nice Napolean Bonaparte gold coin for a little more, but less than $500. Also, while most ancient gold coins are above $500, you can buy Byzantine gold coins for less than $500, sometime much less. Imagine holding a nice xf coin that is 1500 years old, compared to an American one minted in the last 100 years, for the same price. There are also a few gold coins from the middle ages available in gold in that price range, but just a few.

Answer 4

You have been very well-advised so far. You can go for the old gold coins like US gold, a Great Britain sovereign, an Islamic empire gold, Indian Princely State gold, or the newer gold coins like Canadian Maple gold, Kruggerand series, American Gold Eagle, etc. Most are still affordable under $500. It all depends on what you like actually. Whether it's the design, history or purely investment. Try the gold coins from Europe, for example the Sovereigns or Swiss Vrenelis, as I find them appealing and not that overrated.

Answer 5

Another collectible series you might like are the gold sovereigns of the British Empire. Each coin is similar in size to the US five dollar gold coin (about the size of a nickel). The reverse has a great looking design of St George slaying a dragon.