Handling Your Bullion Coin

Product NameDepending on whether the bullion coin is viewed as a treasured collectible item or just simply a bullion for its melt down value, the care in storing and handling of bullion coins differs considerably. On one hand, if the purpose of collecting bullion coin is simply for its intrinsic gold or silver value, then the condition of the coin doesn't matter whether it is dented or scratched, though of course a coin in good condition is easier to sell than one that is barely recognizable as a coin *grin*. However if your interest in collecting bullion coins lies only in its precious metal content, it would be better to acquiring coins that have little collectible value or low premiums such as the Krugerrand that have prices that are close to its base gold value, avoid coins that are extremely rare or have a high premium like the American Gold Eagle or certain series of Chinese Gold Pandas as you would be paying much more for the same gold content. Do not buy proof coins as well as they fetch much higher prices than ordinary bullion coin with their pristine condition as their collectible value.

In contrast if the bullion coin purchased is of significant collectible value, which means it fetch a price much higher than only its base content, scratches and dents would reduce their premium value. Therefore practicing proper care in handling and storing such bullion coins is akin to protecting your financial investment, preventing disappointment and serious financial losses while making your coin collecting experience much more rewarding in the long run.

Bullion coins are very sensitive items that do not withstand much handling, in fact it is better that they are not being touched or exposed to the environment at all. This is because bullion coins are generally made from gold or silver. Gold are very soft material that can exhibit scratch marks or dents from even the most minor bumps or mistakes, this especially applies to coins that have very high purity like the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and the Chinese Gold Panda. Whereas silver can be easily discolored from even the most minor exposure of moisture in air or even from human skin. And if we are dealing with Proofs or Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) coins, a single tarnish, scratch mark or even thumb print could easily devalue the coin to less than half of its original value.

Then again, the act of being able to admire and touch the coin is what makes the experience of coin collecting much more enjoyable. To have the best of both world, I would buy a couple of Krugerrand and also the American Silver Eagle that have least collectible value, so we can have something to play with or tolling it around in our wallet with other coins to show off a bit *grin*. While at the same time keep our more precious collection in pristine condition. However by following a few guidelines, it is still possible to admire your more valuable coin collection while avoiding any mishaps that would result in disappointment:
  1. Hold your coin by its edges, never touch the surface of the coin with your bare fingers as the acidity of human skin would result in color change or wear marks that would tarnish the surface of the coin. Preferably, wear a soft cotton glove when handling bullion coins.
  2. Be very careful not to drop, bump or rub your coin against hard surfaces as this might easily result in dents or scratch marks, place foam or soft pads on the table when you are examining the coin to prevent the coin from scratches, ensure that the environment that the coin comes into contact with is dry, clean and free of contaminants.
  3. Never breath onto the coin surface, the moisture from human breaths can cause discoloration which would be hard to remove if ever possible at all.