Tom Luxsox Coins

Kopek Coin

A 1900 Russian Kopek in 2003 was valued at 50 US Dollars. In today's market a coin that is a proof of the same date is valued as high as 250 US Dollars. A Rouble from the same time period was valued at 200 US Dollars in 2003, and now is valued at 1800 US Dollars and up.

So what is causing the sky rocketing market for Russian Coins? Most in the coin collecting business attribute the explosion to the Russian economy. Over the past decade we have seen the Russian political arena go through marked changes. During this time frame, the economy in Russia plummeted and many of the old coins were actually melted down to be put directly back into the local economy.

This cause a dramatic depletion in the number of authentic Russian coins remaining in circulation. As the economy and political nature in Russia has stabilized and actually begun to recover, the desire for the old coins exploded into a mad frenzy. In fact, currently any Russian Imperial coins can no longer even be exported outside of Russia.

Any coins that are currently outside of Russia are collected by private collectors and are rare. They are so rare in fact that the Yale University Library has jumped on board with a large display of coins on loan to them. Even at Yale however, some coins are being placed in question. With the staggering market for the coins, counterfeiting has become big business. Yale currently has two coins that are being question as authentic or counterfeit. Fake Roubles are showing up every where. The beginning collector can easily be taken in by a fake coin.

So what are the experts saying about this market explosion in Russian Coin Collecting? Will it crash soon or continue to have the unbelievable return rate currently being seen in the market? Looking at the coin collecting market in the United States over the past five years, coins of the same time frame are still valued at a higher dollar value than their counterparts in Russia. Coin collecting in Russia is a relativity new market and is just beginning to develop. This leads most experts to believe that this trend will remain in an upward swing for some time to come.

With that in mind the topic on many coin collecting forums is not on the escalating values of the Rouble but on the counterfeiting business. For new collectors, the reality is that many are trying to exploit the gushing market with worthless fakes. According to Robert Oaks Guide to Beginning Coin Collecting, there are some definite guides to follow before jumping in to buy that "deal" on ebay.

Rarity

Judging the rarity of a coin is a very complicated business. Mintage figures are not always accurate. In the case of the Russian coins, because so many of the coins (and no one knows the exact number) were melted down to infuse the economy, what once was a very common coin, may in fact now be an extremely rare collectors item. How do you tell? Find a reliable source to verify the variety of any coin prior to purchasing it.

Quality

Cons are valued based on their condition. Proof coins are the most valuable of all coins regardless of origin. These coins were designed specifically for collectors. The exclusive design is seen in the number of imprints on the coin. However, most coins have not been preserved properly and even the oils from fingertips can decrease the value of a coin. A simple scratch could cut the value of a particular coin nearly in half.

The old rule of collecting coins is buying the best quality you can afford. It will pay off in the investment. Be sure of the value by taking the coin to a reputable source. There are many associations that specialize in certain eras or countries for coin collectors. Find one that is focused on your area of choice and join it.

Finding the coins

There are many venues to find coins to purchase. A beginner however, should avoid places such as ebay as they can not verify the validity of the coin nor the condition over the internet. Coin dealers, even with their draw backs, can be the safest market for beginners.

There are a few dealers that have professional affiliations. In choosing a dealer look for one that has affiliations such as the PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild), ANA (American Numismatists Association) or the ANS (American Numismatists Society) listed in their business file. These organizations have a reputable history and are great resources for the beginning coin collector.

Joining an organization such as is listed above may be the best investment in your coin collecting adventures.

Sources:

Robert Oakes, Coins The Beginning Collector

Yale Library, [http://www.library.yale],edu/slavic/coins

Standard Catalog of World Coins 2003, 2007

Bright blessings,

Ashira

http://ashirarhapsody.webs.com/

The Witches' Child Author

FFWA Member

Cassel Network of Writers Member

Kopek - White Collar Lies $20.56 Disc 0:No track list availableDisc 1:Cocaine Chest PainsWhite Collar LiesFeverLove Is DeadFloridianSub HumanEasy Way, TheBring It On HomeLove Sick BluesBigger Than Us AllSin City

Kopek the Destroyer by Owens, Phil [Paperback] $25.62 Phil and Ronnie started with two rabbits. Then along came Tim, a grouchy 11yearold Border collie they adopted from the Blue Cross. Next, they acquired another rabbit, a guinea pig, yet another rabbit, and then a cat. Now whilst Phil has had dogs all his life, they were in the main, older rescue dogs and Ronnies experience was limited to Tim, who they only had for 4 years. Living with Tim introduced Ronnie to the joys of canine ownership, so when he went to the great field in the sky, it was a nobrainer to look for another dog. However, they decided to get a puppy. A puppy was a new experience for both of them, and an experience it certainly was. There were plenty of incidents to cope with, as their new puppy grew up, many of which contributed to the slow deterioration of their newly renovated home. Author: Owens, Phil Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: 2009/02/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.21 x 6.14 x 0.31 inches

Minutka: The Bilingual Dog/Iki Dilli Kopek $12.58 With beautifully expressive, witty illustrations and an appealing contemporary design, this book shows kids how much fun it is to be bilingual by introducing them to a teeny-tiny dog who is fluent in English and Turkish--and even dreams in both languages. Anyone who has ever known and loved a pet will instantly recognize Minutka's favorite activities: she shakes paw, snatches socks, runs in circles, and has fun around the house and garden with her family and friends. Readers don't need to know Turkish (or even be children) to be entranced by this lovable dog.

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