What is Coin Collecting?

WHAT IS COIN COLLECTING?
Coin collecting and the study of money is called numismatics. Coins often reflect the social, artistic, economical, and political trends of the time period in which they are designed and made. Numismatics looks at coins from an economic, historical, political, artistic, cultural and metrological point of view in order to place both intrinsic and monetary value on a coin.   

Throughout the centuries, different cultures have preferred coins over paper money and some have used both. By their very nature, coins are highly durable, convenient, mobile, and accurate modes of payment and investments.

COMMEMORATIVE COINS: METAL COMPOSITION AND LEGAL TENDER
Commemorative coins are struck from both precious metals as well as base metals.  They commemorate or acknowledge, celebrate and record a multitude of subjects and themes.  These coins’ Precious metal compositions include platinum, gold, silver, and their alloys, with occasional use of exotic metals such as tantalum.  Non-precious metals such as copper, nickel and zinc are used to strike base metal coins.  Coin Mercantile at this time offers only coins struck from precious metals or alloys thereof.  To be legal tender, all commemorative coins must be accepted as a medium of exchange in the country in which or for which it is minted and possess the following additional and essential properties:

• The precious metal or base metal structural composition of every commemorative coin must be accurate.
• Commemorative coins must be precisely weighed and their monetary value guaranteed by the country’s National Bank or Issuing Authority (usually the ruling monarchy or government).
• The commemorative issue must be limited by either set production quantity or time (strike-to-order or calendar cessation of production). The smaller the worldwide mintage, the rarer the coin, and in consequence the greater the potential to increase in value.