Austrian Coins
Looking for world coin tips on finding world coins? Here's a hint: It produced Mozart and Freud as well as Vienna sausages (!) Austria may be your next target for collecting world coins.
While Austrian coins may not be as beautiful as Chinese coins with pandas or Canadian coins with maple leafs, the restrike Austria 4 ducat coin (you remember ducats, they were in Shakespeare's plays) is a beautiful coin. We also like the Austria 20 Corona and 10 Corona.
When buying foreign world coins in gold, remember to consult a world coins expert to see which issues are popular or rare or both. Many Austrian coin issues such as proof sets will sell quickly and be valued at high prices. It's a good idea to know your Austrian history--though everyone recognizes Einstein. The 200th Mozart Anniversary commemorative coin is affordable, especially in Extremely Fine.
But if you can't buy Austrian coins, don't get an inferiority complex. The size of your foreign coins or your coin collection doesn't matter.
Chinese Coin Guides
China has a thousand years of history, and a civilization that developed before Western Europe's. You want to own a part of this culture, beyond your Gold Panda Chinese coins. What can you collect? And are there counterfeit Chinese coins like bootleg DVDs?
Are you looking to Confucious for world coin tips? Confucius say: Of course there are counterfeit world coins and foreign coins--just learn to recognize the true goodness.
Chinese knife, spade, and related bronze coins have overrun the market, so beware of these. We know of an ancient spade coin selling for $45 in Five/Very Fine grade.
Lower-value coins such as ordinary Sung and Ch'ing, or the cheaper reigns of Ming, regular pan-liang, wu-shu, and kai-yuan, usually aren't counterfeited since there are so many of them. But you're after rare and valuable Chinese coins. Avoid too-pretty coins minted after 1985, experts say. The Gold Panda is genuine, but a too-even patina can signal a fake. Chances are if your ancient Shang Dynasty coin or Ghost-Head Money (it looks like a ghost) from 500 B.C. is chipped and worn, it's not a fake.
Confucius also say: Avoid coins that are either too cheap or too expensive.
While price guides for Chinese coins are hard to come by, consult Chinese antiquities experts and numismatists, as well as dealers who specialize in Chinese coins--there are only a few in the West.
After all, fraud is fraud, no matter what culture you come from, but Chinese coin dealers are generally honest.
Collecting the China Gold Panda
Pandas. They're on the letterhead of environmental organizations. They chew bamboo. They're cute. They're endangered. And now they're collectible.
The China Silver Panda world coins, especially in earlier years such as 1992, are not quite as valuable as a baby panda, but they're easier to hold (mama bears can be fierce!) We know of a Brilliant Uncirculated 1992 Silver Panda, with a panda climbing in a tree on the obverse, selling for $69.00. The type notes ".999 Ag 1 oz." Ag, in case you forgot your high school chemistry, is the peridoic table symbol for silver. Multiply the troy ounce by the face value (500 yuan or $1.23 USD) and the value of silver to get the total value of these beautiful world coins--but remember, the total value takes a back seat to the collectors' value.
The China Gold Panda has .9999 Fine Gold and the legal tender value of one ounce Gold Panda Chinese coins is $100. A Quarter Ounce Gold Panda can sell for 80 British Pounds, $154 USD. As with the Silver Pandas, the reverse displays the Temple of Heaven and the obverse panda portraits change every year. The 2004 design depicts a mother panda nuzzling a baby panda.
A caution for collectors of Chinese coins Reports have surfaced of 1982 Gold Pandas selling for $3,000 US, but all that collector activity has made some dates scarce like the pandas, especially since many collectors regard Panda Chinese Coins as the most beautiful of all coins.
Where can you get Chinese Panda Coins?
* eBay
* US Dealers
* UK Dealers
Those cute faces demand to be collected, and they're a solid investment.
Canadian Loonies
The Loonie--as Canadian as hockey, Molson's, saying "Eh," and as one US expatriate put it, "punting on the first down." The golden-colored (copper-plated nickel-based) Loonie is also the result of a 1987 mistake.
Want some good world coin tips? If you have a Canadian silver dollar prior to 1987, it probably depicts two men in a canoe. Hang on to your pre-Loonie Canadian coins, because those silver dollars were the model for the Loonie. However, when Canada decided to issue a gold one-dollar coin, the dies imprinting the design for the silver dollar got lost in the mail. The canoe design was in use since 1935, but thanks to a mail error, a loon graces the obverse of the one-dollar Canadian coins.
What does this mean for you, non-Canuck collector of world coins and foreign coins? Earlier dates are worth something on eBay. An 1867-1992 commemorative loonie with a rare loon on the reverse, dated 1992 is going for five times its dollar value on eBay.ca. While loonies might not approach the value of Canadian Maple leafs, if you want to be a true Canadian collector and acquire Canadian coins, owning loonies gets you a ticket to the Maple leafs game and a cold Molson.
Old Canadian Coins
Gordon Lightfoot sang of "a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run/When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun." He's talking about "The Canadian Railroad Trilogy." You need some world coin tips, quick! Can you collect coins before ViaRail? Well, you can buy...
* George V 1930 5-cent coin
* Queen Victoria Penny 1858
* Newfoundland ("Newfie") 1873 Victoria cent
* Doubled George V 1946 5-cent coin
But what about that pre-Canadian railway coin? The first Canadian railway charter was in 1832, when the the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad incorporated.
You can buy British tokens before 1832. In the 18th century, French money ruled. Many coin lots include US and Canadian tokens from 1700-1832. A Wellington halfpenny has surfaced from 1814. In 2003, an 1814 Fine Token was valued at $8, Very Fine $20, Extremely Fine $60, all in Canadian dollars. Check current coin value guides for world coins, foreign coins and Canadian coins. Also check eBay, where a token is selling for $15.49 USD and $18.40 Canadian dollars.
You may find it difficult to get your hands on these rare tokens, but when you do, put on Gordon Lightfoot and enjoy a remnant from a simpler era.
When in Rome, Collect Roman Coins
The year 2000 gave us "Gladiator." ABC gave us "Empire." HBO gives us "Rome." Sad to say, Greek and medieval-themed epics haven't fared as well (think "Troy," "Alexander" and "Kingdom of Heaven.") What is it about the Greeks? Caesar is undoubtedly proud.
If you're a budding antiquities collector and a lover of world coins and foreign coins, what Roman coins can you collect? Some of our Roman recommendations and prices quoted on our favorite antiquities sites:
* Emperor Vespasian Sestertius (the basic Roman unit of money), 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D., often sold for $390
* Silver denarius (another basic Roman coin) created in honor of Centurion Annius, 82-81 B.C, in Very Fine grade with a female bust, scales and a caduceus on the obverse and a chariot with horses on the reverse $135
* Marcus Porcius Cato, Republic/Imperitorial coin, silver denarius with Bacchus' head wreathed with ivy on the obverse, seated Victory goddess on the reverse, 89 B.C. Very Fine/Fine, $60
* From the decline: Valerian I, c. September 253 - April, May or June 260 A.D., draped bust right on obverse and ROME AETERNAE on reverse, Fair, $35
Let's not forget the coins with Antony and Cleopatra...but those are valued at $800-$1150 after the dealer collects the imperial overhead. And if an ancient Roman coin looks like it's been cleaned, take a grade off, but don't send the seller into the arena with the lions. Ancient Roman coins are an investment that won't "Rome" away.
Canadian Maple Leaf Availability
Like real maple leaves and maple syrup, Canadian coins and Canadian maple leaves are widely sought after. The difference is, maple syrup isn't pure gold.
Your US or Canadian dealer may not offer you that 1999 maple leaf, possibly because he or she may not have it in stock. That's why many dealers say "dates of our choice." Need some world coin tips? When you're dealing with world coins and foreign coins, you're dealing with international shipping, rexchange rates, customs, tariffs...Canadian's might be renowned for their hospitality, but they also have a country to keep solvent.
Check with various dealers and with the royal Canadian Mint to see if they have the 1999 Gold Maple Leaf you want. Otherwise, have a list of backup dates you'll accept.
After all, the U.S. keeps stealing Canadian hockey players, It's only right that Canada should keep its coins to itself. In the meantime, enjoy some beautiful maple leaves and have a stack of pancakes.
Mexican Coin Collecting
Immigration problems, border patrols and economic difficulties won't stop you from collecting Mexican coins. But did NAFTA torpedo your collection of world coins and foreign coins? You have US coins, Canadian coins, now you need to complete your set with Mexican coins.
The Mexican peso exchange rate has been declining but may rise again in early 2006 according to projections. One US dollar may equal 9.77 pesos in September 2005. The current exchange rate is 10.66 Mexican pesos for 1 US dollar. Your dealer may sell you a Mexican 20 peso gold bullion coin restrike for $2.53. Once you convert Mexican pesos to US dollars, multiply by gold prices as well as the troy ounce if you know it, you have your coin's true value. A 50 peso gold bullion coin has 1.2067 troy ounces.
You might also want to collect Libertads, issued since 1996. These silver Mexican coins have the Independence Angel on the obverse. We've seen a five-ounce coin sold for $60.
So the next time someone complains about the "Mexican problem," you can say, "I like their coins, have you ever thought of collecting them?" It won't stop the border debate, but it may give you and your fellow coin collectors a new appreciation for Mexico.
Canadian Maritime Provinces
Can you name all the Canadian maritime provinces? Quick! New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Now can you name the coins? If you can, you can collect them. Some of our favorites:
* A New Brunswick 1861 Large Cent
* Newfoundland 1872H Fifty Cents G4
* Nova Scotia 1864 Cent
* Prince Edward Island Cent 1871
Some of these coins may be worth $60 Canadian, while in Good or Fine condition you might sell them for only $5 Canadian. Check a dealer who specializes in North American coins or world coins.
Now name all 50 states. Quick! Very good. It's even more impressive that you can name the Canadian provinces and show off Canadian maritime province coins.