Archive for May, 2009
by Christina Goldman
If you’re a coin collector and are particularly fond of brilliant, uncirculated silver coins then most likely you will be interested in Chinese Silver Commemorative Coins. These coins are typically minted for collection purposes as well as commemorative pieces to honor special events and people that have made a difference or a great impact in the country of China.
For instance, to commemorate the Beijing Olympics, Chinese coins were made and designed just for that purpose. Other nations have also recognized the beauty of Chinese coins, especially Australia, Somalia, Singapore, and the Isle of Man, so coinages were prepared and different gold and silver coins are now circulating the markets today that contain the Chinese zodiac on one side and the partnering nation’s state symbol on the other.
These coins, depending on the weight, the design, and the precious metal content, can either be cheap ( RMB 3 to US $10-15 ) or pricey (usually over a hundred to one thousand greenbacks ) due to its rarity and the history that go with it. If you’re interested in collecting Chinese Silver Commemorative Coins, you’ll be able to find a lot of original pieces or series online in merchant web sites like Amazon and Ebay.
If you’re searching for for those with the Chinese zodiac or the Giant panda in them, all you need to do is just search thru Google and Yahoo and you’ll be in a position to find the set or piece to complete or add to your collection. There’s certain to be a seller or coin dealer that will have the coin or series that you want to finish your personal collection.
If you’re a seller of coins, you can also exploit this opportunity by selling your own set of Chinese silver and gold online. Especially if they’re Chinese Silver Commemorative Coins, you are sure to be showered with all sorts of offers from coin enthusiasts all over the world.
May 24 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Christina Goldman
Is the South African Krugerrand Mini Gold Coin is an authentic gold bullion coin? It is similar to the very popular South African Krugerrand gold bullion coin but perhaps it is a ripoff of the very popular South African Krugerrand Gold Coin?
You are still sane so don’t worry. What you have just encountered are authentic reproductions of the bigger Krugerrand gold bullion coins. What makes them extraordinarily appealing to collectors and stockholders as well are its realistic renditions of the much dear version.
Since gold is once more climbing to levels that have never been experienced before, taking the South African Krugerrand Mini Gold Coin and adding it to the list in your investment portfolio would be a great move. And why is that? You see the mini gold coins have a weight of an approximated .50 grams. It’s got a 10mm approximated size in diameter.
It gets better when you find out that their composition rates actually varies from 6K to as high as the original 22K. If you have plans on acquiring some, it is best to follow the golden rule in buying by the volume. The more pieces you buy, the lower the cost goes right?
Keep in mind that you could have stumbled on a fair deal in the internet but be careful with its authenticity. There are no silver Krugerrands in the market. Don’t let these people trick you into buying these products. It’s best to educated yourself on the coin’s identity like for the ounce mini; it has 150 reeds ; 140 for the and 1/10 ounces.
Before you bring the gold coins home to show to your family, it might be best to do your own research first to make certain you are bringing home pieces of the South African Krugerrand Mini Gold Coin and not gold covered chocolate mini coins.
May 23 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Christina Goldman
The beautiful South Africa Gold Krugerand Coins are found, minted and sold in South Africa. One of the largest producers of gold in the world, South African has an abundant supply of precious metals that come from the deep mines surrounding Johannesburg.
Countries often connect the designs of their currencies according to distinctive historical accomplishments. That is why one person named Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger was selected to bear the imprint on their legal tender. The gold bullion coins made in SA derived its name from him and called it the Krugerrand.
The reason why there’s a high resounding value for these Gold Krugerrands in the market is that these gold coins can register up to 22K in its fineness. So, which gold krugerrands are considered the most valuable?
It is the outstanding 1 troy oz. gold coin deemed as the most valuable of all Krugerrands. It possesses 32.77 millimeters in diameter, weighing 33.930 grams and glints with a 91.67% fineness. Some of these coins goes from one troy ounce to oz, oz. And the 1/10 troy ounce.
Now that SA’s legal tender was purposely made to trade for its gold value with only a minimum cost to produce as well as distribute it, more backers are choosing them over other gold bullion coins offered by other nations as well as the US of America. Bear in mind that gold coins offer low premiums but high liquidity so it is a good selection of investment.
A gold coin’s value depends much on its weight, diameter, thickness and fineness for it to be considered as of excellent value. The South Africa Gold Krugerrands possess all the winning characteristics for investors to consider as one of the most valuable investments to have ownership on.
May 21 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Mark Turgeon
Obtaining a signed guitar is a big deal for those dedicated fans. What can be a better piece of memorabilia than having your own signed guitar from your favorite band or artist? The only problem is finding or getting an authentic signed guitar are hard to come by.
Posters and pictures are more common, because these can be purchased and autographed at the concerts. You can’t exactly tote a guitar into a concert and hang on to it until you get to the autograph table. However, if you are lucky enough to get a signed guitar by a band or artist, you need to know what you’re holding on to.
Many signed guitars are worth far more than their original owners can actually fathom; this is mainly because they’re such a rare item to get a hold of.
All you have to do is search for a memorabilia collectibles dealer, and look at their prices for an autographed guitar. Most of the guitars sell less than $5,000 dollars, but there are those one of a kind signed guitars like Jimmy Hendrix, that can easily fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. It all depends who signed the guitar and the quality of the signature and guitar itself and of course the authenticity.
Most memorabilia collectors try to find an autographed guitar in excellent condition. Guitars are just instruments, but to actually get one signed by your favorite band or artist is worth way more than the guitar itself.
Sure, an autographed guitar is cool to have, but one that was actually played, sweat on, and worn in by the artist is way cooler. Would you rather have a mint condition Fender acoustic signed by all the Beatles, or one that was played by John Lennon in their last tour, and then signed by everyone?
Having your signed guitar authenticated by a professional will increase the value of the piece and will be more marketable to the industry if you decide to sell your item. There are so many forgeries and fakes in this world. So having it authenticated may help the value and separate your signed guitar from the fakes.
If you didn’t get a picture of the signed guitar by the artist(s), then you need to consult a memorabilia expert or dealer for a way to prove the legitimacy of your item. Also, before you buy a guitar that is autographed, you need to make sure it’s real, too. Many people make a living off of crafting fakes and forgeries that look more authentic than the originals, so you need to prevent yourself from getting ripped off.
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May 20 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Christina Goldman
China, with all its grandeur and magnificence, has often been known to be one of the best places to find rare silver coins like the Chinese Silver Yuan Coins.
The first few silver coins were minted and circulated round the different parts of the country back in 1889 when the 1st coining press was imported and the methods introduced. Since there is actual pure silver content concerned, one of the oldest ways of really measuring the worth is by weight, so if you’re a heavy coin collector and are interested in Chinese silver then this is how it is usually done.
The first or earliest silver coins that were issued were produced in the Canton, otherwise called the Guangdong mint in the 1890s. These were done in denominations of five cents, one, two, and five jiao, and one yuan. Soon other mints were build in different regions of the country and started manufacturing similar silver coins as well as coins made out of copper in denominations of 1-2, five, 10-20 cash.
With over 20 provincial regions manufacturing and minting silver coins, the governing body saw the requirement to neutralise the country’s currency and finally began issuing its own Chinese Silver Yuan Coins in 1903 as well as other brass and copper coins. The designs of the coins modified once in a while, especially after the revolution, but the size and the metal content remained the same till the 1930s.
The Patriot Central authority introduced on July 1949 the first silver yuan, which was at first worth 5 hundred million gold yuan. It began circulating for a few months around the mainland before the civil war and stayed to be the official currency of the Republic of Taiwan till the year two thousand. As of today, Chinese Silver Yuan Coins have changed into a great addition to the collections of many coin enthusiasts all around the world.
May 19 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Mark Turgeon
Across the nation and throughout the world millions of people have the hobby of collecting items. Some collect baseball cards, celebrity autographs, action figures, comic books and memorabilia that can turn into a profit over the years.
With the explosion of the internet these hobbyists can find items for their collection online rather than trying to find the closest card show or convention. A company like eBay offers all kinds of collectibles that are bought and sold from the comfort of your own home. This website is a perfect purchasing market for the collectibles niche.
Sports cards and comic books are all great collectibles and are more valuable with an addition of a signature. Celebrity autographs seem to impress our society as if they are some status signature.
Average people sign their name a million times over a lifetime and their signature is worthless. However, if a celebrity autographs a picture, poster or other collectibles, the signature automatically gains a value.
All autographed collectibles and celebrity autographs have some sentimental value depending on the celebrity and signature. For example, Beatles autographs will always hold their value because they are living legends throughout the world, and their autographs are very rare to find authentic.
Now, even though they’ve made a come back, it might only be worth a few bucks to the dedicated fan that never gave up hope. Ink on paper doesn’t seem that special, but with all the idolization of celebrities, it’s not surprising that their autographs have such important meaning in our lives.
It doesn’t matter if you are into movies, music, television, or major sports; there are plenty of celebrity autographs to be found on the internet. If you never get the chance to go out and get your own, you can buy just about anything with just about any signature, by simply searching online. One thing to keep in mind is to verify anything you purchase before you agree to buy it.
With all the great memorabilia out there, it’s often hard to tell the real items from the fakes and forgeries. Sadly, people do make a living selling fake celebrity autographs, so you should always find someone who can validate the item and it’s authenticity before you pay thousands of dollars for something that is fake and worthless.
May 18 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Mark Turgeon
Most music lovers have the desire to collect their favorite rock music memorabilia. Whether collecting signed guitars, autographed albums, or other rock music memorabilia collectibles, theres always an item out there for that eager fan.
It is always best to try to obtain your own signature in-person from the artist, but if you cant all is not lost. There are plenty of honest authentic dealers online that specialize in rock music memorabilia and other fine collectibles.
The internet can supply you with much information and products of rock music memorabilia. If you are not looking for an autograph item, then others items may include t-shirts, concert tickets, tour programs, posters, photos, albums and other fine collectibles.
All sorts of rock music memorabilia can be found throughout your internet searches that may bring you interest for your collection.
Rock music memorabilia can be found everywhere throughout the internet with the right keywords searched through the engines like Google and Yahoo. Professional honest dealers and memorabilia experts tend to have their own websites and also an eBay store to sell their collectibles. Always do your research to make sure the item you are buying is authentic.
Too many people use the anonymity of the internet to run a business completely based on scamming people out of money and ripping people off. You should always verify the authenticity of any memorabilia that you purchase, whether it’s priced at $50 or $50,000.
Collecting rock music memorabilia and other fine collectibles is a great way to appreciate your passion for the hobby. Investing in the industry is not cheap especially for those high ticket items.
Although collecting rock music memorabilia can be expensive, but for a true music lover, theres nothing better than holding a guitar signed by your favorite band and display it with passion. These pieces are always exciting to look at and bring out the memories and conversations forever.
May 15 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Stephanie Drouey
According to French and English horologists, modern carriage clocks, also known as traveling clocks, first came into existence in 1798. A.L. Breguet was responsible for the construction, as well as the sale of this first clock. It was sold to Napoleon in that same year in Paris, France. It is also said that Napoleon required his soldiers to carry these type of clocks so they would never be late for battle.
As the name suggests, these clocks were invented in order for travelers to be able to know what time of day it was while riding in their horse-drawn carriages. The originals were all spring-driven clocks that were typically housed in a form of a metal-framed case, glazed on all four sides and set with glass. They had a handle on the top for ease of carrying. Once they were wound with a key, they usually kept time for about eight days.
The majority of the carriage clocks marked the hour with chimes. Some played songs, and some even contained a distinctively loud bell that sounded each half hour and hour. Some of the reproductions of today often use batteries, instead of the more costly spring-driven design.
Many of these restorations, as well as original clocks, have found their way into the homes of those decorating with antiques. The four countries noted for the collectible Carriage Clocks they produce are France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. The French clocks were noted for being especially elaborate. They are usually placed on the fireplace mantel as more of an embellishment rather than because the owners have a need for a timepiece in that particular spot.
Companies have been making and/or restoring carriage clocks for many decades. These companies include L’Epee, Roderick Antique Clocks and Montpellier Clocks. Roderick and Montpellier are restorers of these types of clocks. They purchase high quality, antique carriage clocks that are in restorable condition. They then restore them and resell them to buyers who are interested in owning a unique and timeless piece of history. Proportions, style, color and original design all play into whether or not these companies will choose to restore a particular clock.
In 1975, the Roderick Antique Clocks Company was founded. The types of clocks they purchase, restore and resell include English, German and French made carriage clocks, longcases, skeleton, brackets, wall clocks, decorative French mantel clocks and even barometers. A collector can expect to find clocks made by Dent, Lenzkirch, Marti, Marc, Le Roy, Brocot, Jacot, Japy Freres, Drocourt, Hoffmier and Winterhalder, as well as many clock makers of English origin.
Montpellier Clocks came into existence in 1958. They are widely known for their skill in the restoration of authentic antique clocks. Only the highest quality clocks are chosen by this company for complete and careful restoration. They have clocks for sale that were made by Windmills and Whitehurst, William Dutton, George Graham, E.J. Dent, John Ellicott, Edward East, Charles Frodsham, Henry Hindley and countless other clock makers.
The L’Epee workshop was founded in 1839. They began making the movements, escapements and finally complete Carriage Clocks. In 1999, the workshop was relocated to England as a result of being purchased by London clockmakers, F. A. Gluck. Currently, L’Epee continues to produce quality and precise carriage clocks that have the advantage of modern technology on their side.
May 14 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Christina Goldman
Coin collectors around the world admire and often covet the historic French Rooster Gold Coin, or Coq d’Or. This French 20 Franc Gold rooster French gold coin is one of the favorites of and most coveted by international gold coin collectors and investors.
This French gold coin was minted at the turn of the 20th century, beginning in 1901 until France found herself embroiled in the First World War in 1914.
French gold coins are known for their beauty and attractive displays of classic design and structure. While considered rare, the French Rooster gold coin is considered to be quite affordable, and is therefore the most popular of many gold coins produced in Europe.
Containing nearly a fifth of an ounce of pure gold, the facing front of this French gold coin displays the head of the third Republic lady surrounded by the words “Republique Franaise, the motto of the French Revolution.
The reverse side of the coin shows an exquisitely designed and presented fully plumed rooster with the words “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite” etched in capital letters around the edges.
The phrase on the reverse side of the coin was created during the French Revolution against Louis XVI, and the front face of the coin, showing Lady Liberty, was established and created in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 upon the defeat of Napoleon III.
Measuring 21.0 mm in diameter, the French Rooster gold coins contain 0.900 fineness. Coins predating 1901 are extremely rare, and are highly coveted by those with an appreciation for French gold coins displaying a sense of history and unique design.
May 12 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
by Christina Goldman
The Chinese Silver Dragon Coins serves as one of the few coins in which people identified China and its flourishing economy with, being one of the first few silver coins to have ever been produced back in 1889. It has been recognized, for centuries, to be one of the oldest coins to have ever been produced, designed, and distributed throughout the country as official currency.
This was during the time when the 1st modern coining press was introduced and imported into China. From that point, the coins were circulated and had the value of 7 Mace and 2 Candareens. These two values were what the people then used as standard units for silver, which were measurable by weight.
If you’re going to look for exact authentic Chinese Silver Dragon Coin, it is important that you remember the different characteristics of these silver coins. A real Chinese silver dragon coin would usually have a weight measurement of 27.4 grams with an amount of 0.78 ounce of silver.
The design includes a Chinese dragon engraved in the center with the words seven Mace and two Candareens at the base of the image. On top of the dragon is the Hu-Peh Province, which most historians claimed to be the place where the coins were made. These coins were circulated between 1898 and 1905 and were popularly known as Kiang-Nan bucks and would usually cost many hundred dollars when bought from a reputable coin dealer or collector.
Because of their magnificient history, these coins are bound to produce fakes in the numerous markets around China as well as around the planet. The cost of fake coins would usually range between three RMB to US $10-15 when bought through an internet auction site, for instance. If it’s the true Chinese Silver Dragon Coin that you are looking for, another way to judge the authenticity is the crude weight, which is usually heavy.
May 11 2009 | Collectibles | No Comments »
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