A Guide to Buying Bullion Coins: Where, How, and Is It Worth It? - AUCBURG | AUCBURG
A Guide to Buying Bullion Coins: Where, How, and Is It Worth It?
When building a collection of bullion coins, it's worth paying attention to the products of the Australian Perth Mint. These coins stand out in the market for several key reasons, making them an attractive choice for investors.
When building a collection of bullion coins, it's worth paying attention to the products of the Australian Perth Mint. These coins stand out in the market for several key reasons, making them an attractive choice for investors.
The main focus is on them because they combine high minting quality with an attractive design. The recognition of Australian coin series ensures good liquidity, which is an important factor for investments.
Key advantages of Australian coins:
High quality of execution.
Good recognition in the global market.
Decent liquidity.
Attractive design that is frequently updated.
Where to Buy Coins at a Reasonable Price?
For residents of Russia, the issue of buying foreign bullion coins at reasonable prices is particularly acute. In the current environment, almost all goods from abroad are sold with a certain markup, and coins are no exception. Finding good deals is quite difficult.
Nevertheless, there are alternative ways to purchase them. Coins at lower prices can be found at various auctions, including those where bidding starts from one ruble. It's also worth exploring offers on online platforms like 'Meshok' and 'Avito', where you can find private sellers.
Buying from private individuals who import the coins themselves can be advantageous, but it requires time for searching and haggling skills. Major dealers typically set higher prices, although you can sometimes find interesting offers from them as well.
Where to buy coins at a reasonable price?
Risks of Importing Coins Through Acquaintances and by Mail
One way to bring coins from abroad is to ask acquaintances. Importing coins for personal use is legal, with a limit of up to €10,000 for air travel. However, this method comes with risks. For instance, there was a case where an acquaintance transporting coins worth about $1,500-$2,000 from Germany was detained at Turkish customs. Despite having receipts, she was taken to a separate room for an hour for questioning, which created a very unpleasant situation.
To avoid suspicion of smuggling, it is not recommended to transport a large number of identical coins. It's better to limit yourself to a few different specimens totaling up to €2,000-€4,000 and be sure to have the purchase receipt with you.
The previously popular method of delivery by mail from Europe is now practically non-functional. After the introduction of a €200 limit and changes in logistics routes (parcels from Germany began to go through customs in Bryansk instead of Moscow), shipments started being returned en masse. Moreover, there are cases of parcels being completely lost, making this delivery channel extremely unreliable.
Risks of importing coins through acquaintances and by mail
Payment Methods and Foreign Dealers
Buying coins directly from European dealers, particularly in Germany, can be profitable but involves payment difficulties. Direct money transfers from Russia are currently impossible, so one has to look for workarounds.
Several methods can be used to pay for orders on foreign websites. Each has its own features and costs.
Using a bank card issued in CIS countries (e.g., Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan).
Paying via PayPal linked to a foreign bank card.
Using a cryptocurrency wallet for payment.
A bank SWIFT transfer from an account in a European or American bank, which is the most advantageous but requires having one.
Among German websites where you can purchase coins, Silbertresor, Münzen-Engel, Münzland, Karat-shop, and EMK can be highlighted. However, it's worth remembering that any dealer can have issues, for example, with packaging or order fulfillment, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Payment methods and foreign dealers
How to Properly Store a Collection
The issue of storing coins does not require excessive complexity. Although there are special coin cabinets (Münzkabinette), you can start with simpler and more affordable solutions. The main thing is to protect the capsules from scratches.
For organized storage, albums from the German company Leuchtturm (known as 'Mayak' in Russia) with special Encap format sheets are well-suited. For popular series like the Panda, Koala, or Kookaburra, it is convenient to use branded trays designed for 20 coins.
If you don't have a special album, coins can also be stored in a regular box. In this case, it is recommended to pack each encapsulated coin in a separate small bag so they don't touch and scratch each other when moved.
How to properly store a collection
What's the Point of Investing in Silver?
The meaning of investing in silver coins is different for everyone. Goals can vary: from simple collecting and aesthetic pleasure to long-term investments or active trading. Not everyone buys coins with the intention of reselling them immediately.
For those who view coins as a way to make money, the arithmetic is simple. For example, by buying a coin for 4,000 rubles and selling it for 4,500, you can make a 500 ruble profit. To secure an income of, say, 50,000 rubles a month, you would need to sell about 100 such coins, which represents a significant volume of trade.
For long-term investors, daily fluctuations in the price of silver are not as important. The strategy is to gradually accumulate the asset without constantly monitoring prices. In this case, coins act as a way to preserve capital over the long term.
What's the point of investing in silver?
Coins, Bars, or Rounds: What to Choose?
When choosing between coins, bars, and rounds, you should consider their liquidity. Coins are generally the most liquid asset. They are easier to sell and are more recognizable among collectors and investors.
Rounds, especially from well-known producers like Germania Mint, can also be quite liquid. However, the specifics of the Russian market are such that great importance is placed on the quality of the coin. For example, coins with 'milk spots,' which are common on British Britannias, are sold at a discount.
This is precisely why coins from the Australian Perth Mint often come out on top. Their high minting quality and lack of defects make them more preferable for the Russian market, where buyers value pristine condition.