The prices of collectable coins depend a lot upon supply and demand. When coin inventories cannot be moved at the current price level, the prices of the coins decline. Eventually, when the quantities to meet demand are insufficient, the prices will rise. The demand is most often established by collectors and investors but is most of the time directly by dealers. Dealers must sell coins for more than they paid for them to cover expenses and make a profit.

There are also multiple tiers of prices for collectible coins. Retail refers to the prices that the dealers charge collectors and investors. Wholesale prices are prices that dealers charge each other. Collectors and investors can investigate the prices that some coins are going for in the Published Price Guides. It lists the typical prices for retail and wholesale transactions but, the actual prices may be somewhat higher or lower.

The way that dealers make a profit is they usually pay less than wholesale when buying coins from the public. This makes it difficult for collectors and investors to get their money back if the need arises to sell their off their investments. Sometimes, a collector may get a better price for their coins if they bypass a dealer entirely. Unfortunately, it is not easy to find another collector or investor looking for the exact coins that person wants to sell. But, there are some advantages to buying collectable coins from a dealer. A reputable dealer will guarantee the authenticity of the coin that is being sold. They will also be knowledgeable enough to form reasonable opinions on grades. A trained eye will be able detect problems that may have be missed by less experienced people and they will normally be willing to share knowledge with the public, especially their customers.

Besides supply and demand, there are several other factors that determine the price of a collectable coin. The most important factor in the price of a coin depends upon what the coin is. If the coin is a newer coin, the condition and the grade of the coin is a major factor. Obviously, the date is the most important thing when considering the price of an older coin. The grade of the coin is less important in this case. Besides considering the date, consider how rare the coin is.

How many coins were made? How many coins are currently accounted for?

The best way to find out how much your coin is worth is to take it to a professional coin dealer or a professional grading service. Some coin dealers will be willing to appraise your coin for free if you are looking to sell them. Professional grading services will most likely charge a small fee to grade your coins but, it may be worth pain the fee depending on how valuable he coin actually is.

Since determining the price of a collectable coin leaves a lot of wiggle room, the best thing to do when you are looking to make a profit on your investment is to do the research it take to make an informed decision.