Basic Rare Coin Information and
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Free Appraisals:
We can provide current prices for your coin holdings. If you own certified coins, N.G.C. or P.C.G.S.. or raw coins, simply provide us with a list and we will give you the current value of your holdings. If you are holding coins that have not been certified by either N.G.C. or P.C.G.S., feel free to forward them to us for a timely and accurate appraisal.

We Buy Coins:
Single coins, or entire collections/estates. No collection is too small or too big. We are always looking to purchase quality coins for our clients.

Want Lists:
If you are looking for particular coins, just mail or fax us your list. Our extensive contacts in the industry make us very proficient when it comes to filling want lists. Our firms president, Al Pinkall, has placed numerous finest known specimens with his clients.

Shipping:
All coins are shipped fully insured using the United States Post Office. If you would like to send coins or bullion to us for trade or sale, give us a call for free shipping materials and instructions.

Liquidation:
There are various options available to you when it comes time to sell. They include: direct dealer sales, sales to other collectors, consignment, and auction. The avenue to choose for liquidation should be based upon the prevailing market conditions at the time.

Storage:
Always take delivery of your coins and precious metals! The number one reason for buying coins or precious metals is for insurance. By not taking physical delivery, you are no better off than having a piece of paper in your hands. Never let anyone store your coins for you ! NOTE: The obvious exception to this would be a registered depository.

Educate Yourself:
By taking the time to increase your knowledge of coins, you will find it easier to develop a long term plan. Most people simply buy the most heavily advertised coins because that is what they become familiar with. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying the most mainstream items, there are many areas of the coin market that go unnoticed due to a lack of a deeper understanding of the coin market as a whole.

For example, there are numerous bargains in early date 19th and 20th century type coins as well as modern issue gold and silver coins. Many silver coins are very scarce and inexpensive compared to their gold counterparts, and just as popular. Feel free to call for a list of suggestions. Remember, the cost of education is far less than the amount of money most of you have already spent on coins or will in the future.

Buy-Back Guarantees
Prior to the start of N.G.C. and P.C.G.S., many dealers offered to buy-back for the coins they sold at the same grade that they originally graded them. However, with the advent of third party grading, these guarantees are no longer needed. A coin buyer can now take any coin in a N.G.C. or P.C.G.S. holder and liquidate it through one of a thousand dealers.

The Mints:
Over the years, United States coins have been produced at various mints. The date and the mintmark identify which mint a coin was produced at. Coins for the Philadelphia Mint, for example, are identified by the lack of a mint mark. The following guide will help you identify which mints coins were struck at.

C = Charlotte, N.C.
CC = Carson City, NV.
D = Dahlonega, GA.
D = Denver, CO
O = New Orleans, LA
S = San Francisco, CA
P = Philadelphia, PA
(No Mint Mark prior to 1979) Gold Only 1838 to 1861
1870 to 1893
Gold Only 1838 to 1861
1906 to Present
1838 to 1909
1854 to Present
1793 to Present



Rarity, Scarcity and Condition
The three factors determining value.

What is Rarity ?
Rare means that there is a very little of something. In the area of numismatic rarity, we must make the distinction between absolute rarity and condition rarity.

Absolute Rarity
Absolute rarity indicates that very few of a particular coin exist in any condition. The 1885 Trade Dollar with a total mintage of five is a perfect example of absolute rarity. This coin carries a premium price in any grade.

Simply looking at the original mintage of a particular coin is not enough. many coins, especially silver dollars. were minted in extremely large quantities. However, as a result of the Pitman Act of 1918, over 270 million silver dollars were melted, thereby drastically reducing the supply. There were also millions of silver coins melted during the massive run-up in silver prices in the early 1980's.

Many gold coins also found their way to the melting pot during the gold recall of 1933, making many issues of this era much scarcer than their original mintage figures might suggest.

Condition Rarity
While some issues are difficult to locate in any grade, others exist in fairly abundant supplies but mostly in the lower grades. In general, high grade specimens are many times scarcer than their circulated counterparts. Many factors combine to eliminate most high grade samples. Most coins are released into circulation when they are minted, and therefore subject to rough handling. Another factor further diminishing the supply of high grade specimens has been harsh cleaning and polishing of collections over the years. N.G.C. and P.C.G.S. do not certify coins that have been cleaned: they are returned designated cleaned and ungraded.

Grading
All American Coin only sells coins graded by PCGS and NGC as well as our own graded choice and gem coins. N.G.C. was recently chosen to be the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association. The A.N.A. was founded in 1891, and has over 28 thousand members. However, the grading services are not perfect and many choice and gem quality coins are available that have not been graded by any particular grading service.




Grading Classifications

Coins are generally classified into three different categories. They are:


Circulated:
Grades in this category run from about good (AG) which is very heavily worn, to about uncirculated (AU), which only has the slightest trace of wear.

Uncirculated:
This category begins with MS60 which shows no trace of wear, but will show a number of heavy contact marks. The category then continues to MS61, MS62, MS63, MS64, MS65, MS66, MS67, MS68, MS69, and finally MS70. The MS70 designation would indicate a perfect coin. To this date, very few coins have received such a lofty grade and both MS 68 and MS 69 are almost as rare. MS 66 and MS 67 coins carry a very high premium in value. Both MS 64 and MS 65 are considered to be gem quality coins. The eye appeal, rarity and price accelerate with each ascending grade.

Proof:
Proofs are specially minted coins which are normally given two or more blows during the minting process, and can be distinguished by the sharpness of the detail. The term proof refers to the method of manufacture and not the condition. Proof coins are graded using the same scale as previously described. Proof coins are minted in far lower quantities than those released into general circulation. For example, 1894, the U.S. Mint released 1.3 million $20.00 gold liberties into circulation, but only struck 50 proof coins. Proof gold and silver coins have always been one of the most popular areas for novices as well as advanced collectors.





Why Buy Numismatic Coins

The reasons for buying numismatic coins as opposed to bullion products are quite compelling.

Gold is an asset that is not simultaneously someone else's debt. The same is true for numismatic coins.

Numismatic Coins allow for complete privacy of ownership.

Numismatic coins are exempt from confiscation. Please see the section about Gold Confiscation for more details.

Numismatic coins offer complete portability.

Numismatic coins offer the best hedge against inflation and frequently outperform the stock market. The value of high grade numismatic coins generally rises as inflation rises.

Numismatic gold coins will rise when the price of gold bullion rises, but will generally do so at a higher rate. For example, when gold rises $15 to $20 per ounce it is not unusual to see double eagles go up anywhere from $75 to $150 (or more) each !

While coins will generally go up as gold bullion rises, there have also been periods where numismatic coins have performed very well when the bullion markets did nothing. Rare coins give buyers the ultimate double play!

More Reasons: Huge government debt. The government claims our debt to be somewhere in the 5 trillion dollar range. This figure does not include so called "off budget spending". It does also not include items such as the 100+ billion dollars for under-funded pension liabilities, or the over 300 billion dollars in social security, etc., etc. The only way out for the government is to pump up the presses! The government says that inflation is dead. With prices for food, automobiles, tuition, etc. constantly rising, it sounds to me like someone in Washington is asleep at the switch.

Dealing with a personalized home owned company makes a difference.

What separates All American Coin from the rest of the pack is that you deal directly with the owner with over 30 years experience, not with salespeople that may have entered the market a week or a year ago. We only sell hand selected sight seen quality rare coins in uncirculation condition.

Contact us at All by Nature Enterprises - All American Coin



Contact Information    allbynaturemail@yahoo.com

ALL AMERICAN COIN  ANACS Member
   visit our online store catalog here