Did you know that the newest 2020 quarters will feature two bats from Samoa on the back? There are always interesting stories and finds popping up in the world of rare and ancient coin collectors. Not only are coins beautiful objects, but they’re important pieces of history, too. There are plenty of places you can buy coins online, but most people want to see the coin they are going to purchase up close and personal. So, how do you go about finding a coin dealer within driving distance? Here are some tips that will help you with your search.
Join an Online Community
The coin collecting community is a tight-knit group of weekend historians with more combined knowledge than the administrative office and academic department of most united states universities! Joining an online coin collection community should be the first place you turn to with any questions about where to find that collectible coin you’ve been searching for. Whether you’re looking for a hundred-year-old commemorative coin, rare half cents coins, or some famous Indian head nickles, an online community is sure to put you in contact with some seasoned fanatics that can point you in the right direction.
Attend a Coin Show
Another great way to get involved in the community is to attend live coin shows in your area. There you will find a large collection of professional dealers and private collectors who like to show off their prizes. However, don’t rush in. You want to make sure that the coin dealer you are going to be working with is someone you can trust. After all, coins can be valued at millions of dollars or more depending on its story and its historical significance. Because of this, there are many dealers who will sell phony replicas of rare coins to make a quick profit.
Make sure to ask the coin dealer a few questions before buying that $4 Lady Liberty Coin from 1901 that you’ve had your eye on. Ask if they guarantee the authenticity of their coins. If for some reason the coin turns out to be doctored, you want to make sure that you can get your money back. You also want to be sure that the dealer is PNG certified. The PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild) is a coin collecting agency dedicated to verifying the authenticity of collectible coins. Dealers must meet extremely strict criteria in order to become PNG certified. You can start your search for PNG certified dealers at their online directory.
Use a Lookup Tool
If you find a dealer at a coin show that you are not sure is reputable, then you can always use a people lookup tool to perform a background check. Lookup tools are incredibly useful programs with access to all kinds of public information. You don’t need to know much personal identifying information to begin the search. Just place their first name and last name in the search box along with a keyword like “coin dealer” and let the tool do the rest.
Lookup tools rake through public access information to help you find any personal information you might want to know about the dealer selling you your next investment. Many people search to make sure that the dealer has not made any fraudulent sales or fabricated any coins. Be aware that this is just a precaution.
The coin world is an overwhelmingly genuine place, but it pays to make sure that your dealer is on the up-and-up before you hand over your credit card. Once you have the information you need you can safely start building your own amazing coin collection!