Coin collection is a hobby that has been in existence for hundreds of years. In the past, most people collected rare coins as souvenirs and as a hobby. Nowadays, having rare coins is considered a good investment as they help to diversify one’s portfolio, have been proven to have high tax advantages, can significantly outperform other financial investments such as stocks, and also appreciate. You should however note that not all rare coins out there are worth good money as there are also plenty of remades and counterfeit ones that look like genuine coins but are worth much less. It is therefore important to be cautious when looking for a rare coin dealer to avoid being deceived and swindled. To be on the safe side, you should find a reputable rare coin dealer as they only deal with valuable rare coins. However, finding a rare coin dealer you can trust can be quite a hard task due to the large number of such dealers on the market. To make an informed choice, you may need to follow the below guide.
To find a rare coin dealer that will best cater to your coin collection needs, you should first research their experience. Since your rare coins are a great investment, you should look for an experienced and knowledgeable coin dealer to provide you with accurate information. A coin dealer that has been in the industry for a longer period will be more knowledgeable about appraising rare and valuable coins, hence the need to establish the dealer’s period of operation. You can establish this by visiting several coin shops and speak to the professionals. While at it, you should inquire about their period of operation, areas of expertise as well as whether they have a membership with recognized professional bodies such as the PNG or ANA. In so doing, you will get a clearer idea of what to expect from the coin dealer, hence make an informed purchase.
When looking for a rare coin dealer, you should also consider their reputation among peers. Since the rare coin collection industry is also infiltrated by unscrupulous coin dealers looking to exploit unsuspecting coin collectors, it is important to assess the reputation of the dealers before settling for one. Unethical or untrustworthy dealers will get a bad reputation among their peers, hence the need to check how your preferred coin dealer is reputed in the industry before conducting any business dealings with them. You can also check the online reviews to get the views of their past clients.
The other crucial aspect you should look at when choosing a rare coin dealer is financial stability. You should look for a coin dealer that has real assets as that is an indication that they will be in business for the foreseeable future. An ideal rare coin dealer will have authentic coins and other collectibles as it is proof that they are financially stable. You should however ensure that the valuables in the shop are not being sold on consignment as that would mean that the dealer does not actually own them and that chances of being out of business soon are quite high. To be on the safe side, you should do your due diligence and assess how long the coin dealer will be in business.