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Guidelines to Follow When You Sell Silver Bars

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by Glen Phillips

Whether you are interested in buying or selling silver bars, you should definitely think about entering this expeditiously-paced market. Every day more people around the world are learning how they can save for their futures, and for the futures of their loved ones. The decision to sell silver bars is a good way to secure your own future because there will always be someone out there willing to buy it from you. Think about it- the government used to make silver currency (quarters, dimes, etc), electronic companies use silver in the production of machinery and such, and jewelry manufacturers use it to make silver trinkets (due to its antibacterial properties)- among hundreds of other reasons that I have left un-named.

Another thing to note is that the spot price of silver chiefly determines the price of a silver bar, so it will suit you to know that before selling silver bars. Never believe that a buyer is going to offer a price directly linked to the spot price of silver per each bar that you wish to sell. That is if the buyer is even knowledgeable enough in the silver department to know such a thing. So look for silver coin dealers who not only quote a nice price for your silver bars, but also one who seem to be sound in their methodology.

Like silver coins, silver bars also come in various sizes. There are 100 oz, 50 oz, 25 oz, 10 oz, 5 oz and 1 oz silver bars and all of these are welcome with silver buyers. Bigger investments in silver like the 1000 oz bars are typically limited to large transactions; although, you can just as easily inquire from a dealer if they are open to buying these as well.

First off, there are several types of silver bars in circulation that are important to know of. If you have silver bars that you would like to sell, then I suggest you know which ones you are holding before you place them into the market. The primary makers of quality bullion silver bars, or bricks, as they’re sometimes referred, are Johnson Matthey and Englehard.

Let me likewise inform you that inadequately labeled or marked silver bullion bars will not generate as much revenue as a nearly perfect or unscarred brick because calculating the silver contained in one will be very hard to do. Imagine yourself as a buyer…do you see how precarious it would be to try to sell one of these silver bars? The profit margin would decrease to almost a shameable rate, which would then basically defeat the purpose of even selling bar as an investment.

Once you have properly established all of the ground rules, and maybe even checked some of them over twice, you will be ready to sell your cherished silver bars. You then need to rummage around for the right silver coin buyers. Find a few good silver bullion dealers that you like and then find a highly competitive price. Make a list of 5-10 buyers, then pick from out of your top three.

Still, to sell silver bars is a profitable venture especially if you bought your silver bars at a time when the spot price of silver was lower. This would allow you to realize significant profits purely from the appraised cost of silver per unit weight over the last few years. The challenge is to search for the best silver bullion dealers who will give you a reasonable and competitive price for your silver bars so you can realize the appropriate profit for the exact type of assets that you have.

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How to Receive More When You Sell Franklin Mint Sets

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by Glen Phillips

The purpose of this article is to help you to receive the best price when you sell your Franklin Mint set. As you may recall, Franklin Mint silver coin, medal, and ingot collections were prevalent in the decades of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, so it’s likely that you have a Franklin Mint collection or two from this era, or have received Franklin Mint sets from an inheritance or an estate that you’re interested in selling.

Regardless of how you happened to come across your Franklin Mint silver coin collection, taking heed to the following guidelines and tips should help you to receive more money when you sell your Franklin Mint silver coin collection to a silver coin buyer.

First and foremost, if you haven’t been following the precious metals market in recent years, and in particular the silver market, you might be surprised to find out that the price of silver has tripled over the past three years, making this an ideal time to sell your Franklin Mint set. The increase in the price of silver is as a result of several factors, all of which have created a perfect storm for an unbelievably performing precious metals market.

Considering that the price of silver was relatively low when most Franklin Mint sets were minted, it’s more common than not to find a relatively high mintage of most sterling silver sets. The high mintage of most of these sets unfortunately works against the seller, as there’s very little collectible value with these sets. In other words, since they’re fairly common, it’s unrealistic to expect a premium when you sell your Franklin Mint silver coin, medal, or ingot collection. Furthermore, Franklin Mint sets are generally composed of sterling silver (typically a combination of silver and copper) as opposed to pure silver, which is in less demand.

Now that you’ve established realistic expectations, the next step is trying to find a reputable local coin dealer or online coin dealer to whom you can sell your coins, bars, or medals online. When researching companies, make sure that you only consider “A” rated accredited members of the Better Business Bureau that have no outstanding complaints, and have been in business for a year or longer. This is a sufficient time period to establish a reputation in the industry.

Once you’ve determined that the coin buyer you’re considering is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau, the next step is to do a general internet search to determine what type of experience previous customers have had. Ideally, you’d like to at least see a couple of reviews or testimonials from prior customers sharing their opinions. Needless to say, a track record of negative reviews should raise a red flag.

Our next recommended step is to visit and search the website of the silver dealer to get a better idea of the company’s philosophy and dedication to their customers. If you get the sense that the coin dealer doesn’t have its customer’s best interests at heart, then you’re likely best looking elsewhere. In general, family owned and operated coin dealerships are relationship based companies and are more likely to assist with any questions that you might have.

Furthermore, whether the quote that you receive for your Franklin Mint set is over the phone, in person, or online, it should be a straightforward price that is easy to understand. If the silver coin dealer provides you with a quote based on pennyweights, grams, or some other basis that isn’t easy to understand, consider moving on. The quote provided should be provided on a per silver coin, medal, or ingot basis, or for the collection as a whole.

If you have decided to do business with an online coin dealer, or coin dealer located outside of your general area, they should be willing to lock in a rate for you. This is important, as there’s a chance that the price of silver could drop between the time you ship your Franklin Mint silver collection and the time it’s received by the coin dealer, potentially costing you a substantial amount of money.

We hope that the above guidelines have helped in identifying how to sell your Franklin Mint collection, and to whom you should consider selling your sterling silver set. We wish you the best of luck!

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Five Must-Know Tips On How to Buy Gold Coins

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by Tony Davis

Are you in search of ideas on how to make the most of your investment fund? If so, you should consider learning about how to buy gold coins. In the past few years, the price of gold has increased dramatically because global economies have been taking a beating. If there is one commodity that you can consider “stable” or more reliable than currencies or company stocks, it would be gold. It has been this way since the ancient periods where gold has been the measure of success and stability.

In spite of economies turning inside out or facing excruciating difficulties, the gold standard has maintained its long standing reputation as a store of value. It has been this way for centuries, dating back to ancient times when gold was used primarily as the heart of any civilization or economy. That being said, buying gold coins without have a clear focus is not good enough. You need to concentrate on either gold coins or gold bullion. At the same time, you have to be very choosy who you buy your gold coins or bullion from. Being a lucrative investment, there are less than ethical people in the industry who try to capitalize on amateurs or new investors. Here are 5 tips to help you with your plans to invest in gold.

When you buy gold coins, you would be well advised to arm yourself with the proper knowledge. In this regard, there are many resources on the internet that can spare you from costly blunders. Things to study include which types of gold coins are sound investments and which others are best avoided, how to track and forecast gold prices, how to strike a good margin, and how to choose the right people to deal with.

Learn as much as you can about buying gold coins or bullion. Don’t take just one expert’s opinion; consult with several respectable and highly regarded gold experts. Maximize use of the internet because it is extensive, updated, complete, and varied. Focus not just on current pricing but also on types of coins, ideas on tracking prices, forecasting, understanding margins, and who the top gold experts are.

Part of what you also need to know would be rates, tracking spot prices, forecasting, and margins. In short, you need to have fairly good idea when to buy and at what prices, and under what conditions to sell.

There are a variety of gold investment options available in the marketplace. You can always choose to buy gold bullion in the form of 10 ounce bars; although this requires a higher level of portfolio diversification and capital outlay. Conversely, you can buy gold coins. One ounce gold bullion coins, such as American gold eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and South African Krugerrands track well with gold’s price, so you can feel confident knowing that the value of your gold coins won’t vary much from the stated gold price per ounce.

Only deal with coin dealers that have a sound reputation. Do not buy gold coins off the street, from dubious sources, or from somebody you cannot trust, especially if you are new to the industry. Always learn to maintain a healthy level of skepticism so that you can properly scrutinize all your investments before committing to them.

There is no reason why your portfolio cannot succeed or grow when you buy gold coins. In the last ten years alone, the price of gold went from $300 per ounce to $1,800 per ounce. That’s a 600% increase in the value of gold, which over the last decade has truly been the “gold standard” when it has come to investments. Considering the state of the economy, there’s no reason why this trend will not continue in the near future. Before the price of gold becomes out of reach, learn to buy gold coins to not only maintain your purchasing power, but also for growth in the value of your investments.

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