When the advantages of rare coin investment are explained many people become enthusiastic because it goes hand in hand with their plan to own precious metals. Rare coins offer a unique opportunity to diversify one's portfolio in a way that is sound economically considering today's currency problems. The potential profits are staggering if one compares the price history of quality rare coins over the past 30 years and realizes inflation and rarity are now the motivating forces behind price escalation. Investing in and collecting coins has been encouraged since the turn of the century by non-profit organizations like The American Numismatic Association and since 1955 by The Professional Numismatists Guild. Even government agencies like the U.S. Mint spend millions of dollars each year encouraging thousands of people.

Couple this promotion with the private efforts of major rare coin firms and it is easy to see more and more people are being introduced to this alternative investment.

Now consider the supply of quality rare coins is fixed and shrinks each year as more people shelter a portion of their money against the falling dollar. Over time this fixed supply and growing demand help produce rising markets.

Now consider carefully the following fundamental concepts which describe the hidden profit potential and inherent advantages that only quality rare coins offer:

Reason Number One: The most important reason investors should own rare coins is they have historically preserved wealth. And they can be fierce inflation fighters. Study what has happened to any country in which its paper currency has failed. Time after time, without exception, the rare coins of that country were escorted, usually under cover, to a place of safe haven and used to restore wealth. Rare coins were used by Europeans to rescue their savings from the scourges of war. Rare coins preserved wealth in Medieval times and in ancient times too. Any time our paper money is challenged, rare coins can protect wealth.

Reason Number Two: Today's rare coin prices offer immense opportunity to those who are patient. Quality coins are selling at steep discounts to recent 1989 highs. Why? The answer centers around the huge inflow of money into stocks. Thus we have another cycle which offers the investor a big opportunity for there is no fundamental reason for this weakness in prices. In fact quality rare coins stay in our inventory a week or two at most. Such demand is indicative of strong trends now in place which we believe must move prices dramatically higher. How high is difficult to say, but if prices return to the level of the inflation-driven 1970s profits could soar to 400% or more!

Reason Number Three: The private wealth and beauty of coins is unsurpassed. The reason millions of people accumulate and invest in them has not changed. Rare coins are private and not subject to computer surveillance seen at banks and brokerage houses. The fact that rare coins are completely private is a powerful advantage everyone should consider when building financial security.

Reason Number Four: It is no secret that rare coins have made some investors rich in the last 50 years. The right coins have always had an excellent price record when they were purchased at the right time and held for the long term. And we believe rare coins will do better in the future because of independent certification. Does that mean everyone who purchases rare coins makes a fortune? Of course not, but rare coins have performed remarkably well over the long term as illustrated in an article by David L. Ganz. His study was published in Numismatic News (March 11, 1997). David is an accomplished attorney and past president of The American Numismatic Association. For a copy of this work call Ken Slater.

Reason Number Five: Rare coins are easy to store and modern inert packaging makes them virtually indestructible. In fact a fortune can be stored in a small safe deposit box which no one will know about unless you choose to inform them.

Reason Number Six: Wall Street firms such as Kidder Peabody invested millions in PCGS coins because independent certification made large-scale trading easy. In fact it made the rare coin limited partnership common. We believe it is only a matter of time before these large sources of cash are once again directed at certified coins. And again drive prices higher.

Reason Number Seven: Rare coins seldom present a clear title problem which can be commonplace in real estate. They represent truly portable wealth which can be moved on a moment's notice with no special arrangements. Or handed down between generations. And rare coins are not taxed yearly as are many other investments. In fact the tax code allows "like for like" exchanges, thus deferring taxes until profits are taken. Investigate this strategy with your CPA.

Reason Number Eight: With PCGS independent certification buying and selling around the block or around the world is easy because of the Certified Coin Exchange. This network of the strongest 300 dealers in the country displays the 3 top bidders in the country and what they will pay for PCGS certified coins. This creates liquidity and allows for easy pricing.

Reason Number Nine: The 90/10 Investment Rule. Before you lay out hard earned money on any investment make this assessment: How many people are potentially interested in your investment as time goes on? In this case there are legions of interested people for less than 10% of the population now invests in hard assets. That means more than 90% of the population is still available to drive prices higher.

Reason Number Ten: It has been more than 2 decades since the last big move in metals and coins. From the crazy days of the 1970s there have been volumes of newsletters written about hard assets. The greats like Harry Brown, Howard Ruff, Mark Skousen and Doug Casey have also created books now sitting on library shelves for decades encouraging millions of people who have not yet purchased, but who could become educated buyers overnight.

Reason Number Eleven: Finally PCGS certified coins may soon be included in the Super IRA. This retirement option is being studied by Congress. Few realize in the 1970s and early 1980s rare coins were allowed in retirement accounts. Coins were locked up and legally held off the market for decades. Prices went crazy. This option was stopped, but with changes now on the table Congress may soon vote to allow rare coins into retirement accounts once again.