So the older the coin the higher the value like any antique?

Not really. Kookaburra 2005 as example, still selling at rm150 or less while 2010 lunar tiger is sold for over rm200.

Ase 2002 fetch about rm90 while 2013 ase is sold for about the same price.

Lunar mouse 2008 is sold for about rm170 while lunar ox 2009 is sold not sell than rm200.

Above are examples. The older doesnt mean more expensive.

It is more like unique, demand, supply, mintage. All play their parts.

Huh? So how will I know which coin is rare and worth collecting? What determines the value of collection?

If you buy silver bars, your "returns" upon selling always depends on spot. Say if not silver is at $22, 2 years later it becomes $40. You said to yourself: "hey I think it will go higher, I'm holding on my stack". Then after that spot plunges and now it is back to $22. Your metal's performance? Zero growth, if factoring holding cost and maintenance it could even be -ve.

For me I collect only coins, and only gold and silver coins that change design every year. For example silver Pandas, kookaburras, koala; and gold panda and gold nuggets (kangaroo). These coins, at current year can be bought pretty much the same price as most current-year bullion coins. However the magic is that once this year is over 2014 will have a new design. Your 2013 or prior year coins will instantly becomes a numismatic item and you can command higher price at secondary market... Especially to collectors who wants to complete their sets.

For example Chinese Silver Panda... 2013 ones are selling around $35, but 2012 ones are selling at secondary market at over $50. There is nothing much to lose as a collector because you still can sell back yours at spot (assuming you treat your stuff for its silver content only), or you can sell as numismatic item.

If you bought maple leaves or American eagles, you can only sell them at spot even if they are past-year issues.

Hi Seng_Kiat, wat coin do u recommend for buyer who want mainly for investment instead of collection? Which series n wat promotional u hv?

Remember ya, Lowyat forumer special discount. ..

If I remember correctly, bullion coins are not worth to invest in Malaysia because coins are taxed when they were brought in... so you pay a higher price compare to bars yet most dealers buyback at spot.

Since you are not looking at numismatic value, just go for generic silver bars or rounds... those are better options given current circumstances.

So meaning the coins will go up in value right after the year itself is it? Like 2012 higher value than 2013 and 2011 higher than 2012? Does it work that way? So what's the difference between collecting silver coins and normal fiat coins that's rare? Like our 50 cent coins sold in singapore's auction for 10k...

The only value that goes up as years go by is its numismatic value.

Say you buy 1oz of silver Panda in 2012, by 2013 your 2012 panda is no longer available in the market thus you may command a higher price to collectors. Most metal stackers, at some point of time will tend to develop interest on certain series thus they will likely to pay a bit more to secure past-year issues. This is what it looks like for some past-year panda issues, as you can see they have annual design change every year.



To us as stackers, we buy at premium+spot for current year coins BUT in future years you get to sell either (1)at spot back to metal dealers, or (2)at a premium to collectors. I think there is nothing to lose... if you stack generic silver rounds or silver bars, you pretty much only have 1 option to sell: at spot. If silver "lao sai" till U$10/oz then your portfolio lost 50% in value.

These are some indicative price on how past-year issues are doing:
Past years Perth Mint Kookaburras
Past years Perth Mint Koalas

Normal fiat coins mostly made of cupro-nickel and they hardly worth its metal content. And it takes a "miracle" to find a rare one.

Ic. How do u find the liquidity of numismatic coins vs bars?

Bars/generic rounds/silver maples/silver eagles/philharmonics:
+ zero maintenance, just dump into a sealed tupperware and put some desiccants
+ low premiums
- unlimited mintage (the mint keep producing till end of the year)
- buyback price follow spot (+ slight premiums for coins)

Semi-numismatic coins (panda, kooks, koala): <--- Recommended for most coin stackers
+ price tend to appreciate for past-year releases
+ low premiums for current year (buy current year, hold it for 3-5 years)
+ tend to have limited mintage (like kooks 300k, panda 800k)
- need to source for secondary market buyers (quite easy in Singapore, not sure what is the demand in Malaysia. Else try on eBay)
- need maintenance e.g. anti-tarnish agents, desiccants
- tarnish can be removed, but milk spots means your coin can only be sold at close to spot
- metal dealers buyback at spot, they don't care your numismatic value

Numismatic coins (collector proofs, limited mintage):
+ price tend to appreciate for past-year releases, or sold-out items
- very high price (sometimes can be 10x or more over spot)
- need to source for secondary market buyers (quite easy in Singapore, not sure what is the demand in Malaysia. Else try on eBay)
- need maintenance e.g. anti-tarnish agents, desiccants
- tarnish can be removed but likely to damage the coin. Milk spots means your coin can only be sold at close to spot
- metal dealers buyback at spot, they don't care your numismatic value so you lose a lot (and I mean a lot) if your coin does not have collector base
- very risky play if you don't know how to anticipate collector's demand
- at times numismatic coins can be purchased at secondary market at a price lower than them mint's issue price, so numismatics do not guarantee +ve return


My take on numismatics:
- don't ever buy colored coins, hardly anyone wants them
- buy numismatics that runs in ongoing series, this will ensure you have a stream of active collectors to buy your stuff when you decide to sell-off after a few years. One-time issues tend to have high demand for a short while, and when market is saturated collectors lose interest and your coins drop in value

As mentioned in my earlier posts, I started stacking silver maples in tubes until I realize my investment depends on spot. Spot keeps dropping my portfolio keeps losing value. I switched all to semi-numis and numis and never look back. I don't collect silver bars for the same reason above.

seems to me that numis and semi numis are very complicated.u need to know the value. else, u wont know if the buyer is underpaying for ur coin or not.

btw, how do u differentiate numis and semi numis?

numismatics - coins that are minted with very limited mintage, and priced at least 100% over spot. These coins are strictly for collectors.

semi-numis - coins that are minted in much larger quantities, and priced close to spot for current year issues. Semi-numis tend to be an ongoing series and the mint change designs once the current year is over. Past year releases tend to command higher price.

Oh, how do u know they are limited mint or large quantity mint? Does it print anywhere on the coin?

Nope, unless those proof coins which not less than RM300 each and comes with certificate and good presentation box .. Normal bullion like lunar series, kookaburra, you have to find from official website or google. .

As for lunar series bullion type, they fixed production 300k per each year for 1oz coins. Others sizes are 'unlimited' but will not produce once they declare the mintage. Lunar proof have mintage of 10k copy and the most high demand in the market. Sold out in just hours on the recent release, horse.

There are also other type like colored bullion, colored proof (50k), gilded (50k), etc from perth mint on their lunar series. . All you need to do is just a little reading. .

Yea, need to understand them more before u start investing in it. Think I better stay with bars. Less knowledge needed. Hehe..

Numis? Try the Tiffany series & Mongolian Widlife series

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This post has been edited by livina2011: Nov 14 2013, 12:50 PM

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This post has been edited by livina2011: Nov 14 2013, 12:51 PM

Yeh! USD20.7/oz now. ......

So what r u waiting for? Buy la...