Difference between Bullion and Proof coins

Here at www.coinmerc.com we get questions from our customers of all sorts. Today's question is:
What is the difference between Bullion and Proof coins?

Actual Customer Question:

Sorry for my ignorance, as I'm not accustomed to buying many silver coins, but can you help me understand the pricing of proof coins? I have bought a few 1oz ounce silver coins recently for a little over $40. The price of silver is in the $30 range. What would be the rationale for paying 3 to 4 times the price, and for less silver content? Artistry? Subject matter? Rarity? In all sincerity...can you help me understand?

Our Answer:

Bullion 

It sounds like you are used to buying Bullion coins.  Bullion coins are typically not worth anymore than their weight.  Bullion coins often times have a bullion strike from the mint. This means that the strike is good but not the best it can be.  Also another reason Bullion is not worth very much is because they are usually minted to order for the entire year.  That could be 100,000 or 5,000,000, basically they are very easy to find and relatively cheap.

The best strike from a mint is Proof Strike.  It is the way the coin is made that causes a difference in appearance and qualifies it as a 'Proof' coin.  Often times Proof coins offer a low mintage of 20,000 or less.  Because these coins are struck in Proof Condition and offer a limited mintage it makes the coin more valuable.  They often come in a fancy display case with a Certificate of Authenticity, like this one.

  One of the biggest factors in a high priced silver coin is popularity of the design.  I had a 22gm silver coin go for $700.00 without a case, box, or COA. Because of the coin design, mintage, and proof strike it demanded that price.  If it had the COA with it then the coin would have been worth about $900.00.  It was probably worth around $22 in silver but because we were the last dealer to have it available we were able to sell it at that price.

Proof

Lastly, there is a general difference between purely investing and purely collecting.  If you are purely investing then most people will go with Bullion.  If you are purely collecting then most people go with Numismatics.  One advantage to Bullion is that it is easily sold at its value at any coin or pawn shop.  With most numismatics you will have to sell the coin to the general public to get the value that the coin demands. Personally I buy both.  I buy some bullion for the ease of movement in a pinch.  I also buy Numismatics because they are great collector items and do not lose value over time.  I look at it like the stock market.  Don't put all your eggs in one basket, diversify.

Finally, I have to disclose that there are no guarantees about whether or not a coin or any collectible, material thing or instrument in any asset class will increase in value and past performance of a coin’s return is not indicative of future results.

Browse our collection of Bullion and Proof coins at www.coinmerc.com.

Coins From Singapore and New Zealand

Here at Coin Mercantile, Inc we are fond of the craftsmenship coming from all over the globe. But in particular we enjoy the beautiful and extravagant colors the New Zealand Mint and Singapore Mint have to offer.

To the right, we have a coin from the Singapore Mint celebrating the hosting of the inaugural Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix. This event was not only the first night race in F1 history, but also the first street race in Asia. This .999 fine silver proof quality coin is an asset to any collection.

Issued by the New Zealand Mint for the country of Niue, we have two different four coin sets celebrating the epic movie saga Star Wars. To the right is the Millennium Falcon Set and to the left is the Darth Vader Set.

 Also from the New Zealand Mint for the country of Niue, we offer a rectangular coin commemorating the conquest of space. This particular one depicts the first man in space, Alexei Leonov. He was outside the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds connected to the craft by a 5.35 meter tether on Marth 18th, 1965.





All these wonderful coins and more at www.coinmerc.com. 

CoinMerc's Best Sale Ever!

Sale! www.coinmerc.com is proud to bring our customers our largest sale ever.
We have a large selection of rare coins on sale from Belarus Transnistria Ukraine Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.



These coins are very hard to find as the mint is sold out and most have already been added to personal collections...Meaning these could be the last available!


Here we have our Two coin set from Belarus, The Lynx and Lynxes 1oz of .999 Silver per coin. With elegantly placed Swarovski Crystals in the eyes of each lynx, this set instantly adds class to every collection.




The Transnistria 2008 Tulip is one of our personal favorites here at www.coinmerc.com.The Transnistrian Republican Bank issued this charming silver coin dedicated to the Biberstein Tulip, a rare flower that has been the favored spring bulb for centuries. This coin is apart of the "The Red Book of Transnistria"series.


Not only is this a very rare coin but a very rare animal, with an estimated 3500 to 7000 total Snow Leopards remaining on earth today. Take advantage of this great opportunity to own a fine piece of .999 Kazakhstan Gold commemorating such a magnificent animal.





Here we have three wonderful 1oz Silver coins on sale from Ukraine. On the left we have a very special coin commemorating The Famine of Holodomor. Above is a 1998 10 Hryvnia 1oz Silver coin representing the 100th Anniversary of the Ascania Nova Reserve. To the right is a coin dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the outstanding writer who revealed to the world the singularity of Ukraine. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol. All three of these coins are priced at under $70.00, hurry now before they are sold out.

We also have a great selection from Kyrgyzstan priced to sell.

Hot off the press - Australia 2012 Mini Roo Gold

Among the latest releases from the world renowned Perth Mint is the wonderful .999 2012 Gold Mini Roo coin.

This beautiful, button-size coin presents the oppurtunity for both avid collectors and curious collectors to own an iconic Australian Gold coin.


The reverse design was created by world known coin artist Wade Robinson, who wonderfully put together a standing kangaroo with an outback backdrop depicting a windmill and water tank.


The observe is Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II along with the monetary denomination.

The coin is housed in a protective acrylic capsule and presented in a wallet sized card, ensuring safety for life.

We at Coinmerc.com are happy to present our first affordable Gold coin to our customers.

Hard to Find - Capital Cities of The United Kingdom - London Silver and Gold Proof Coins

In 2010 The Royal Mint launched a new series of Gold and Silver proof One Pound coins to commemorate the Capital Cities of the United Kingdom. The series has been designed with a contemporary twist by international coin designer Scott Devlin, who is a Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Queen herself. This is the first time he has designed for the UK.

The reverse of the London coin depicts The Coat of Arms which belongs to the Corporation of the City of London. The "Square Mile" presided over by the Lord Mayor of London.

This rendition of United Kingdom Capital Cities of the UK - London Silver is Proof quality .925 Pure Silver fineness with a very low mintage quantity of 5,000.

The emblem of the London coin features a Red Cross and upright sword in the top left quarter, which combines the symbol of the City's patron saint, St. Paul, with that of England's, The Red Cross of St. George. The edge of the London coin is inscribed with the motto of the arms "DOMINE DIRIGE NOS", translated to 'Lord, direct us.'

The obverse design is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II done by Ian Rank-Bradley.

This rendition of United Kingdom Capital Cities of the UK - London Gold is Proof quality .9167 Pure Gold fineness with an even lower mintage quantity of 2,500.




Steve Devlin has achieved brilliance in his design which symbolizes both the sense of regional individuality and contemporary British unity that UK capital cities champion.

The Capital Cities of the United Kingdom series, commemorates Wales, Northern Ireland's, Scotland's and England's capital cities. Each of Devlin's coins portrays the coat of arms of all four capital cities, with the heraldic emblem of one city highlighted per each different coin.

With a limited mintage quantities of 2,500 for the gold and 5,000 for the silver along with large worldwide appeal of these fabolous coins, www.Coinmerc.com is proud to offer a few of these prestigous coins.

Last Few Available! Australian Lunar Series II 2012 Year of the Dragon 1oz Silver 10 Coin Set

This Elegant Australian Year of the Dragon 1oz Silver 10 Coin Set is Selling out FAST. With a limited mintage of 2,500 and very high interest this set is quickly becoming unavailable.

A real collectors coup, this set is a wonderful gift for anyone born in the Chinese lunar years of 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012.

Each coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% Pure Silver.

The coins are housed in a prestigious red and black display case with a custom- designed shipper, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. 

Displayed on the front of each coin is the inscription "Year of the Dragon" also the Chinese character for "Dragon" as well as the Perth Mint's signature "P" mint mark.

The reverse of each coin features artist Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with inscriptions indicating the year, weight and purity of silver of each coin.

Head to http://www.coinmerc.com  and have a look at the beauty this set has to offer.

Glorious New Gold & Silver from China

Coin Mercanitle is happy to announce that we are now adding more coins from the country of China. Including the great picks like the Panda and Outlaws of the Marsh.



Conitnuing with such an excellent year we have seen with the Dragon, we are proud to annouce that we are also carrying China's unique designs for the Lunar year of the Dragon.


You can see this new inventory and all of our new inventory at http://www.coinmerc.com. If you have questions about a coin you have heard about but don't see on our website then email us at info@coinmerc.com.