What Are Semi-Numismatic Coins?

COINS WORTH MORE THAN THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD

- Mike Garofalo

Semi-numismatic coins are literally and figuratively S worth a little more than their weight in gold (or silver, platinum or any other precious metal from which they are made). These coins have small collector premiums above the value that the coin would have if it were melted down for its metal value.

The spot price of gold, silver or other precious metals is the current price in the marketplace at which a given asset, such as one troy ounce of gold or silver, can be purchased or sold immediately "on the spot."

Premium over spot indicates what the markup is for a particular bullion item over the current price per troy ounce for that specific metal type.

There are a few different types of hybrid-value coins that are available for purchase. Each has a particular role to play in an investment portfolio and they differ from one another in such areas as value volatility, price premium and number manufactured.

BULLION COINS

Bullion coins have their values based solely on the spot price of the bullion or metal from which the coin was made. A premium is that portion of the price that the marketplace determines that coin is worth above that spot price. Premiums on bullion coins are typically razor thin, but every mint, whether a sovereign mint or a private mint, does charge a premium.

Remember, the United States Mint, and all sovereign mints, don't sell their bullion coins at the spot price. The U.S. Mint, like all other mints, has to buy the actual gold or silver planchets or metal disks on which to strike or manufacture the coins. The mints that strike the coins buy the metal, refine it (if needed), prepare the dies, market their products and pay their employees. All of that costs money, so mints charge a premium over the spot price in order for them to make a profit. In typical markets, these mints charge a premium of anywhere from 1.5% to 3.5% over spot on a one troy ounce gold coin.