Eye of a Collector.

Eye of a Collector.

What does it mean to have the eye of a collector?

Coin collecting, much like other upscale collecting hobbies, has collectors of all levels. Rookies to novices, novices to professionals. What separates the pack?

Does having the eye of a collector mean following every upcoming trend? Perhaps it means to follow the forums and ask what other people are doing, collecting, buying.

In my opinion, having the eye of a collector means following your heart, how a coin makes you feel. Trends are as fleeting as the summer sun in the Pacific Northwest. But what sets apart the rookie collectors from the professionals is understanding what creates those trends, what moves them in and washes them out. Once you've acquired the taste for trending patterns, the mind begins to see coins in a new light.

For example, every year there are seemingly endless versions of the various Lunar series coins. This year being the Lunar Year of the Dragon, we are currently offering 27 different versions of coins depicting the Year of the Dragon. But of those 27, a few stand out among the crowd. The Perth Mint 1oz Silver High Relief Proof Year of the Dragon, and the Russian 1oz Silver Proof Year of the Dragon coins were priced
nearly 5x over spot for the Russia version and 8x over spot for the Australian High Relief.

The difference between these coins and the rest of the Dragon coins are that the professional collectors saw the true value of these coins and bought them early, this quick draw sent the prices skyrocketing and lead to a very quick sell out of these coins at their respective mints.

What differences in these coins made them have true value over the others?

Well to start with, Russia is known for creating coins of superior quality and also keeping the mintage very low. Russia made only one Year of the Dragon commemorative coin and did a superb job at it.

In Australia, they have made numerous variations of the Year of the Dragon coins, Gold, Silver, and Platinum. 1/10oz, 1/2oz, 1oz, Nearly every color of the rainbow and more for the 1oz Silver variety. But, only one was a high relief, which from the beginning of the listing on the Perth Mint's website has been labeled "Limit of one coin per customer" and shortly after being listed was branded "Sold Out". The professional collectors of this world saw the High Relief, combined with the low mintage of only 7,500 pieces and saw, even better, felt the need to add this coin to their collection.

It is this acquired feeling, the feeling and sense of knowing what sets apart the coins that are truly unique and worthy of being in a true collection, rather than buying a Purple colored Brisbane ANDA Coin Show Special - Australian Year of the Dragon 1oz Silver Coin simply because you were at the show and at the time it looked nice.

I must admit, this is purely my opinion and although this is what I do for a living, I too have room to grow and learn.

What does the audience think about having the Eye of a Collector?

Please feel free to comment and offer your opinion on this matter.

The Power of Platinum

For those of you who keep an eye on the daily changes in spot prices of precious metals. You'll see the same thing I have seen. A five percent increase in platinum in the last 5 days. Significant? When that five percent equates to an increase of over sixty-dollars per ounce, you better believe that is of significance.

What is the cause of such an increase you might ask. Spot prices much like Stock prices are not directly related to overall production, or actual market impact. The price is more closely related to expectations.

A strike at the South African Mine of the 3rd largest Platinum producing company in the world, Lonmin, has caused unexpected violence between the strikers and South African Police. On Thursday, 34 strikers at the Marikana Platinum mine lost their lives due ot the violence..

Lonmin claims it has so far lost six days of mined production, or about 15,000 ounces of Platinum because of this violence.  Experts are saying that the amount of platinum lost, for now, will not stop the manufacturing purposes of platinum. But, if this continues, this could have quite a long-term impact and it is because of this expected long-term impact that we have seen a sudden increase in price of platinum. 

Pacific Sovereign

The Fiji 2011 $100 Pacific Sovereign 1oz Gold Bullion Coins are now in stock. This includes a Coin Mercantile exclusive listing of the #1, #2, #3, and #4 coins minted! Hurry while they are still available. Chances like this are once in a lifetime.

More Coins, From More Countries

At Coin Mercantile, we strive to bring our customers a very wide selection of coins from all over the world.

As it stands today we have one of the most diverse online stores of coins available for sale. We have relationships with many of the worlds finest mints and issuing authorites, and it is because of these relationships that we are able to offer such a large variety.

Belarus 2009 20 Rubles Zodiac Signs
Scorpio 28.28gm Silver Unc Coin

You would be hard pressed to find another store with so many coins from Belarus, Transnistria, and Kazakhstan. At Coin Mercantile we are able to offer over 30+ coins from each of these countries. 

To the right, A coin featured from the country of Belarus, The Belarus 2009 20 Rubles Zodiac Signs Scorpio 28.28gm Silver Uncirculated Coin is apart of the Belarus Zodiac Sign Series that is extremely detailed and unique. Every intricate detail shows the level of craftsmanship of each coin. 

We also feature many coins from Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore and Macau. 

Be sure to head to our website and check out all of our available products from so many various countries around the world. 

Great Coins from the United States of America.

The Mints in the United States of America don't focus as much on the having a large number of various coin sets and series like the Perth or Royal Canadian Mint. But the Mints of the United States take their time and produce wonderful coins with very meaningful themes.

United States 2010 $1 American Eagle
1oz Silver proof Coin

Since its conception in 1986, the American Eagle Silver Proof Coins have become highly revered collectors items.

The Proof - Strike of these coins make them stand out in already elite class of American commemorative coins, being minted with special dies that strike a highly polished coin blank several times. Resulting in a mirror-like finish.

The United States 2010 $1 American Eagle 1oz Silver Proof Coin is a great addition to any collection, or a great way to share your hobby with friends with loved ones.

United States 2009 $1 Louis Braille
Bicentennial 26.75g Silver Proof Coin

The Braille system, designed by a man from France, but adapted to almost every known language system in the world today and commemorated by the U.S.A. in this wonderful Silver Proof Coin.

This coin commemorates the birth of Louis Braille, unsure of who he is? Any map, telephone, airport, atm and so many other parts of everyday life have the Braille language for the blind to read.

It is such an overlooked part of our society. Sight seems so simple, so normal. But what about the population of blind Americans? Estimated at over 11 million. Have you ever tried to go a day without sight?, an hour?, ten minutes? For those of us with sight we take our senses for granted. For those of us who are without sight, or any other sense for that matter, they are truly living. Each experience without one sense intensifies every other sense.

The United States 2009 $1 Louis Braille Bicentennial 26.75g Silver Proof Coin was made to commemorate the hard work and diligence of one individual who has left a permanent mark on this world and truly helps people every single day.  

Recent Coin Specials.

We recently added a new feature to our website labeled "Sales" and with that we have begun to list more and more great products at great sale prices. Same great coins, with an even better price to match.

Belarus 2008 50 Rubles Lynx 1/4oz Gold Proof Coin

We offer many coins from the country of Belarus and being a self-proclaimed "cat-lover" makes the Lynx a personal favorite of mine. 

Featured to the left is the Belarus 2008 50 Rubles Lynx 1/4oz Gold Proof Coin with Swarovski Diamond Inserts in each eye. Belarus takes environmental preservation very seriously, an environmental protection system has been in place in the country since 1960 since the Nature Protection Committee of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was established.

Australia 2009 $1 100 Years of Swimming Australia
Excellence 1oz Silver Proof Coin

Australia features one of the largest, most well known Mints in the world. The Perth Mint. Coin Mercantile, Inc is an official distributor for The Perth Mint.

To the right is a wonderful example of the quality that the Perth Mint offers. Colorful, detailed, meaningful theme. The Australia 2009 $1 100 Years of Swimming Australia Excellence 1oz Silver Proof Coin, features a young person swimming through the water with the splashes made up of divers in all different poses.

The best part of this coin, we are offering it close to 40% off our regular price!


This is only the tip of our sales "iceberg" head on over to the Sales section of our website to see all of our current deals.

New Releases from the Perth Mint

Coin Mercantile, Inc is an official distributor for the famous Perth Mint and we have recently added there latest additions to there already prestigious collection.

Australia 2012 $1 Opal Series Wombat 1oz Silver Proof Coin

One of the Perth Mint's most creative and uniquely designed coin series' is the Opal Series. Inspired by Australia's famous nocturnal wildlife, this series will release two coins a year, with eight coins in total. The opal center acts as background for the night as these creatures wonder about and forage through the night.

The 2012 Wombat 1oz Silver Proof Coin is the second release from this series. The first release in this series, The Koala, saw unprecedented success and the same is expected for The Wombat.

Australia 2012 $1 Map Shaped Series Emu 1oz Silver Proof Coin

Another largely successful series from the Perth Mint is the Map-Shaped Series. Named after the circumference design that depicts the border of the Australian Continent. The first release in this series, the Kookaburra, was another extremely successful release for the Perth Mint.

The 2012 Map-Shaped Emu 1oz Silver Proof Coin is expected to do just as well. 





We have also added the Australia 2012 50 Cent The Outback Collection Three 1/2oz Silver Coin Set and continuing with the Young Collectors Series, The Australia 2012 $1 Animal Athletes Sailfish Aluminium-Bronze Coin. As well as, the Australia 2012 $1 40 Years of China and Australia Friendship 1oz Silver Proof Coin that depicts flags from both countries and the famous Kangaroo from Australia and Panda from China.

Be sure to check out our New Coins Section on our website.