Why is it that these coins have become so extremely rare? There are a number of reasons and these reasons are all worth a closer look:

Early Canadian coins were made of pure silver and gold. As such, many of these coins were melted down to acquire their precious metals. Precious metals rise in value on the open trading market every day. In some instances, five cent silver or gold coins are actually worth much more when melted down into silver or gold bars. While this definitely allowed some people the ability to earn revenues, it also greatly depleted rare coins that were taken out of circulation. Today, the remaining gold and silver coins of previous generations (and centuries) have much collectible value as a result.

Reverse of 1985 Canadian Silver Dollar

In some cases, limited edition coins were released to the public and these coins certainly will have collectible value. By their very nature, such coins are scarce and their scarcity definitely adds to their value. Since many of these rare coins have been lost or destroyed over the years, the remaining coins end up increasing in value. Those looking to collect such coins would definitely benefit from looking into procuring such coins since they almost always provide a return on the initial investment.

Human beings are not always perfect and they can sometimes make mistakes. This is true even when molding or pressing coins. So, there have been instances where errors have turned up on a number of rare Canadian coins. While this may have ruffled a number of feathers during the original days of circulation, these error laden coins now have high collectible value. In fact, some of these coins may even have the potential to increase even more in value since they are such oddities and anomalies.

Commemorative coins are also popular rare Canadian coins that many collectors seek. There are scores of rare commemorative coins available on the collector’s market and many of them host some truly inspiring images. These images range from the Maple Leaf to the Royal Mounted Police to the nation’s flag and other uniquely Canadian images. A great deal of artistry and craftsmanship goes into commemorative coins and that is why the collectible demand is so high. This, of course, means these coins increase dramatically in value over time.

Some may be surprised at the sheer volume of categories for rare Canadian coins. Yes, it is most definitely true that there is great variety to these coins in terms of their category.  However, many of these actually coins are small in numbers. That is why they are both rare and highly collectible.

Because of the sheer volume of coins that have been produced there are a number of different spheres of interest one could examine through collecting. For example, one could be interested in collecting world silver coins from particular time periods and regions. For example, many of the silver coins produced in Great Britain during the 19th century were spectacular in their design and have high value in collector’s circles. For those who are serious coin collectors a number of the very rare coins from antiquity and the cradle of civilization come with much interest and value. Granted, these may come with somewhat of a high price tag the beauty of collecting world silver coins is that the sheer volume of those coins that have been produced means that there are coins one can collect to fit any budget or interest. For example, some silver coins perk interest due to their outright oddness.

Some of the silver coins of the world have collectible value based on for lack of a better description their outright oddness. Now, there is run of the mill odd such as the triangular silver coin that was produced by Bermuda. While even the most novice collector will get the inside joke (the shape of the coin is an obvious play on the Bermuda Triangle) one has to really shake their head as a coin that simply can not be used in a vending machine! Oh well, it is a cool looking coin and that is why many collectors prize it. Then, there is the extremely uniquely designed silver coin produced by the region of Naru where the coin was reproduced in the shape of the European Union. This particular coin may very well be the oddest silver coin ever produced and that adds to its collectible value.

When it comes to the subject of silver coins from around the world, there is enough information on the subject that can fill a book. (Actually, there have been a number of books written on the subject!) What is presented here is a brief look at silver coins in general and if there was a brief assessment that could sum the subject of silver coins up it would be there is such uniqueness and diversity within the realm of silver coins they are a among the most fun coins to collect.

When you look at a nation as vast as the United Kingdom as well as its sweeping history of the days of the British Empire it can be somewhat overwhelming to absorb such a massive history. One of the unique subsets of the history of Great Britain can be found in the realm of its currency. This is because British currency – like currencies from around the world – provides a unique insight into the nation itself. So, one could very well consider a collection of these old coins represents an actual document of a civilization’s history.

Keep in mind, the purpose of currency is supposedly mainly a functional one. That is, the numerical figure on a coin represents the particular monetary value of the coin. So here is a question: why are not old English gold and silver coins not bear except for their numerical denomination? If a coin is a fifty pence coin why does it not simple read “50 pence”? When you stop and think about it, it would seem that much of the additional writing and graphics on the coin are superficial. Ok, perhaps that is a harsh and cynical explanation of the craftsmanship that goes into the coins. In reality, the reason these old English coins depict so many unique images is because in addition to providing monetary value these coins are also designed to celebrate the rich history of the nation which minted the actual coins. With many of these classic old English coins you will find that the coins are truly brilliant in the selection of imagery in the sense that they provide a unique insight into the history of Great Britain.

460 Pound Old English Coin

Since the history of Great Britain spans many hundreds of years it can be a lengthy process to collect the incredibly vast volume of coins available. Of course, there is nothing wrong with purchasing the items individually but this can prove to be quite time consuming and possibly costly. Thankfully, there is an option available for those looking to greatly expand their old English coin collection and it involves purchasing these coins in sets.

As the name would imply, an old English coin set refers to large collections of coins from various time periods, eras and denominations. These sets are providing tremendous deals for someone wishing to acquire these coins and eBay makes this process even easier. Collecting old English coins is now easier than ever before as they are available for purchase through the convenience of eBay’s online auction system. Now, you can browse through a multitude of these classic coins and bid on those that strike your interest.

Germany remains a nation that has seen many changes over the years. From its inception in the late 19th century to the First World War to the Weimar Republic to the Second World War to the splitting of the country in the East and the West to the collapse of the Berlin Wall one can say that Germany has forever remained a nation in flux. This unique history (its good and its bad points) have been captured on the coins which it has minted and anyone who has an interest in the history of western civilization or is simple an aficionado of rare coins will find collecting old German coins to be a rewarding and educational experience.

Imagine owning an old Weimar Republic Reichmark. There is much history to be found in this old German coin. When the Weimar Republic started to collapse under its own mismanaged weight the value of German currency would fluctuate every hour. Often times, instead of paying people weekly employers would pay their employees three times a day so the employee could purchase food as the value of a week’s pay could literally drop 99% from one week to the next! A Riechmark coin is a unique reminder of this lost era as well as a cautionary tale about the problems a mismatched government can bring to its populace. As such, a Reichmark coin – along with many old German coins – becomes a stunning piece of history and symbolic of many important lessons. (Granted, historical lessons of German coins from the Second World War are more of a cautionary tale than anything that deserves accolades but coins from this era are not exactly popular with collectors anyway.)

Old German Coin

Even if you are not completely interested in the history of the coins you still have to marvel at the brilliance of the design many of the older and modern German coins represent. It is obvious that a great deal of skill went into the crafting of this coins as the artistry of them does not go unnoticed.

In times past, collecting these coins was not an easy venture as it required a great deal of searching and research in order to track down some of the rarer coins. Today, thanks to the internet and eBay the ability to locate some of these unique coins has become easier than ever before. So, if you are looking to launch a new German coin collection or add to your existing one eBay remains the perfect vehicle for facilitating your acquisitions.

Believe it or not, Spanish gold coins actually predate Spain itself! That is, the ancient Greeks and Romans who inhabited the territory that would later become modern Spain minted a number of gold coins in the region. Geographic region, however, does not make a currency valuable but in the 16th century Spain was the dominant power in all of Europe and certainly possessed the resources to produce its own gold coins.

The most famous of all Spanish gold coins was the legendary Spanish Doubloon that was produced from the 17th to the 19th century. Gold Doubloons became a sort of international currency as they were used in Spanish colonies all over the world. These gold coins were used to purchase commodities from all ends of the earth and made trading with other nations significantly easier. After all, gold is accepted everywhere and it made trading one precious commodity for another more quickly facilitated.

Spanish Gold Doubloon Coins

The actual look of this Spanish gold coin was unique as well as it featured the distinct illustration of the coat of arms of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The two monarchs were among the most influential in Spanish history as under their leadership the crown of Spain expanded far beyond its territorial borders as it promoted the voyages of a number of explorers including the most famous one of all Christopher Columbus. This contributed greatly the expansion of the Spanish gold coin Doubloon throughout the world. In fact, even in the earliest days of American history Spanish gold coins played a dominant role in the economy of the colonies. So, with such a significant history of a presence of gold Doubloons on the world scene that collecting Spanish coins from the early to the modern era has become as popular as it has.

Throughout the centuries some of the most amazing gold coins ever produced were minted in Spain. This is why it comes as no surprise that these coins are highly prized by collectors. Considering the sheer volume of Spanish gold coins produced over the years, there’s literally “something for everyone” when it comes to collecting these coins. If you are looking to add truly brilliant looking coins from a variety of historical eras then collecting Spanish gold coins would be a fine option. They truly are amazing to look at and, better yet, to own as part of your own coin collection.

Interestingly, Australia’s minted coins are modern creations and not derived from antiquity. (Then again, this should not come as a surprise since Australia itself does not date back to antiquity!) What makes the Australian silver coin truly unique is the fact that they are among the very few coins produced completely (99.9%) of silver bullion as well as being among the only legal tender coins that feature of number of unique designs that often change from year to year. This makes the coins quite appealing to collectors as they truly become a one of a kind item as opposed to currency that centers on a traditional image. This is not to knock traditional coins but merely a means of drawing a comparison between them.

Kookaburra Australian Silver Coin

In additional to animal imagery, there is also a call to nationalism on the Australian silver coin including images that pay homage to the Australian military and a coin that commemorates the honoring of the first Victoria Cross to Doctor Reginald Howse, a brilliant military physician who served his country under the difficult conditions of the Boer War. Calls to honor nationalism are not uncommon in coinage and the Australian silver coin display this is a unique manner that has not gone unnoticed by collectors. Of course, when something is unique in look and design the public will react positively and this is why Australian coins are sincere eyebrow raisers in the world of coin collecting.

So, if you are looking to add unique and visually stunning coins to your collection you will definitely want to consider acquiring Australian silver coins as they truly add a unique dimension to any collection. Yes, they truly are that awe inspiring.

The Canadian monetary system was very similar to that of the United States, where 100 cents was equal to one dollar. The denominations are also similar, and could be found in $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $0.50, and $1.00 coins. Canadian coins also come in denominations of $2.00, $5.00, and $10.00, but many of them are no longer in circulation in Canada today. The older one cent piece is a very rare Canadian coin, especially those that were minted in 1876. They were 95% copper, 4% tin, and 1% zinc originally, and weight about 5.6 grams each. Another old Canadian coin that is very collectible is the first five cent piece, along with the ten cent, twenty five cent, and fifty cent piece which were all minted in the 1870s. The Canadian gold coin that is most commonly collected is the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold coin is it is almost mandatory in every Northern and Central American coin collection. Gold coins were also made in $2.50 and $20 denominations, but the $5 and $10 were the only to be released into circulation. They were first minted in 1908, but only stayed in circulation for a short period of time.

Mexico also contributed to the many Northern and Central American coins that are highly collectible. The peso was the name given to the Mexican dollar used, and the first coins minted were 1 centavo pieces in 1863. Between 1867 and 1869, the Mexican silver coin was introduced, and was available in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, and 1 peso. The Mexican gold coin was introduced in 1870, and stayed in circulation for only a short period of time until replaced by nickel coins. Having an old Mexican coin in any collection can be a great addition, especially those that have been out of circulation for quite some time.

Cuba and Panama have also contributed many beautiful coins to collectors, and many of them are considered rare pieces that would be great to have in any collection. Cuban coins are similar to those found in Mexico, and are too called centavos. In 1915, the Cuban centavos were available in various denominations, some of which where either gold or silver. The last silver coins released into Cuban circulation were minted in 1953, and since then, Cuban coins have now been minted out of other materials such as nickel and copper.

Panamanian coins were replaced by the balboa in 1904, which is the current currency used in Panama today. Originally, Panama used the Colombia peso as their monetary system, which consisted of various gold and silver coins that were released into circulation. In 1847, coins were then changed over to copper, making the gold and silver pieces some of the rarest Panamanian coins to have in any collection.

There are all types of Northern and Central American coins still being traded around the world, and they are great to include in any type of coin collection. They come in various materials, denominations, and have artwork on them that is specific to the country they come from. They are unique and rare coins, and are great for anyone who loves to collect coins.

Whether you’re a dedicated coin collector or not, having European coins can make a great addition for practically any coin collection. European coins come from many different countries over thousands of years, so they are all very unique and different in their own ways.

French coins play a huge role in European numismatics since the middle ages, so an old French coin can be a very rare piece to add to any collection. Many coins in France were put into circulation for only a short period of time, so there are a wide variety of older coins that are both rare and very collectible.

A German coin can also be a very collectible coin, even though they are not quite as old as many coins that are currently collected. The older coins were called pfennig, and came in denominations of 1, 2,5,10, and 50 pfennig. Most German coins were minted in the early 1950s, but were later replaced with a new monetary system using cents and euros.

Greece is another country that minted beautiful collectible coins, with most of them being minted out of copper and zinc. They too were replaced by the Euros and cent pieces, so none of the original coins are still in circulation. The smallest denomination of a Greek coin was the 50 lepta, with the largest old Greek coin being the 100 drachmas. Most coins were minted in the early 1970s, and range between 2.5 and 10 grams in weight.

A Vatican coin is a very collectible piece, since each coin honors a pope that made an impact on the history of Rome. The first Vatican coin minted was in honor of Pius XI, and was minted between 1929 and 1938. Six additional coins have been minted since the first, with the most recent honoring Pope Benedict XVI.

The ruble is the currency currently used in Russia, as well as the two self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian coin is given the denomination of kopecks, where several coins were minted in various denominations and given separate names. The ruble was divided into 100 kopecks, and it has been the same way since 1710.

Like many other European countries, the Spanish monetary system was replaced by cents and euros. Because of this, none of the older Spanish coins are still in circulation, making them very collectible and sometimes hard to find. The Spanish coin system was minted in denominations of pesetas, ranging from 1 peseta all the way up to 500. The most unique Spanish coin was the 25 pesetas piece, since it was minted with a small hole carved out right in the center of the coin.

English coins are some of the most beautiful and detailed coins ever minted, and can be found in gold, silver, and many other metals. The noble is one of the most collectible old English coins, since it was the first gold coin ever produced in quantity. They were only in circulation for a short period of time, and were taken over by the half noble and quarter noble which quickly became popular.

Adding any European coins to a collection can be great, since they come from several different countries and were minted over hundreds of years. The different countries minted very different coins, so every  European coin can really bring something totally different to a collection. Whether you are a fan of Spain, Greece, or England, European coins can be great for any coin collection.

The current Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins are available in 1/20 oz, 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz, and 1 ounce denominations, are they are guaranteed to contain the stated amount in troy ounces of gold. They contain .9999 fine 24 carat gold, and are still considered legal tender in Canada even though their face values are only for show and much lower than their true value.

All of the different denominations of the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin are exactly identical, with the only difference being the markings on the obverse and reverse side that note the weight and face value of the coin. The reverse side contains a picture of the beautiful maple leaf, with the word Canada at the top of the coin. The newest coins contain a picture of 79 year old Queen Elizabeth, where the older coins contain a picture of her when she was 64.

In 1994, a Canadian Maple Leaf coin was offered in 1/15 of an ounce, and was available in both gold and platinum. It has a two dollar face value, but they were not very successful. The year 1994 is the only year the two dollar maple leaf coin was offered, which makes them the rarest of the Canadian Maple Leaf coins ever minted.

Platinum coins were minted starting in 1988, and were struck in .9995 pure platinum. They weight the same amount as the gold coins in the same denominations, and were also given the same face values as well. A five dollar silver Maple Leaf Coin was also introduced in 1988, and contained one full ounce of .9999 fine silver. The Palladium coin was introduced in 2005, and contains one ounce of .9995 fine Palladium. It has a face value of fifty dollars, and is the only Maple Leaf Coin subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax in Canada.

In the year 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a new Maple Leaf Gold Coin, which had a face value of one million dollars. The gold content in the coin was worth over two million dollars at the time it was unveiled and measured 50 cm in diameter, 3 cm thick, and weighed 100 kilograms. It had a purity of 99.999% pure gold, and was introduced to promote the new 99.999 percent pure one ounce Maple Leaf Gold Bullion Coins. It was originally introduced as a one of a kind piece, but after several investors began to show interest, the mint announced it would manufacture them as ordered.

There are currently five different denominations of the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold coin being produced, which are minted in the design that was introduced in 2005. The Silver and Palladium Maple Leaf coins are also still being minted, but the Platinum version was discontinued in 2002. All of the Canadian Maple Leaf Coins are a great addition to any coin collection, but the gold coins remain the most popularly collected amongst dedicated coin collectors.

Africa is a country that is full of culture and diversity, and each coin represents a small piece of what Africa has to offer. The rand is the current currency in Africa, which replaced the pound in 1961. The most collectible coins come from the time period where the African pound was used, and the African coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 3, and 6 pence, 1, 2, 2 ½ and 5 shillings, ½ and 1 pond. They were all originally struck in silver, but gold was introduced and gold coins were struck until 1932. The South African Krugerrand Gold Coin is one of the most collected African coins, and was introduced in 1967 in order to help market South African gold. 

China and Japan have also contributed many coins to the world coins collection, and both countries bring coins that are unique and beautiful for any collection. The Chinese coin was originally made using a casting system rather being struck with dies, which makes them unique in the way they were made. Most Chinese coins were circle with a square hole cut out of the center, and contain Chinese letters and symbolic pictures surrounding the hole. The Japanese also used the same style for their older coins, and were made out of copper, silver, iron, and gold depending on the denomination of the coin. The Japanese coin contained a hole in the center for convenience, so they could be strung on a string and carried around that way.  

Australian coins are not as old as many other world coins, due mostly to Australia relying on other countries to supply coins until they developed their own monetary system. Rum and even tobacco were sometimes used as currency, until 1910 when Australian coins were introduced into the economy. Several Australian and Oceanic coins were considered legal tender in Australia for a long period of time, and each coin was given an exchange value to follow the monetary system used in Australia. The Spanish dollar, Rupee, Pagoda, and even the English Shilling were all considered legal tender in Australia, until British currency became the legal currency of Australia in 1825.

New Zealand coins, Greek coins, and even Northern and Central American coins are all different and unique in their own ways, since they come from different monetary systems and represent different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world. Canadian coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold coin are great to add to any world coins collection, since even the older coins represent a small part of Canada in each small coin. Mexican coins are also very special pieces to have, since they portray the various leaders and culture changes Mexico has experiences throughout its history. 

Adding a world coin to your collection is a great way to learn something new, since each coin represents something different from somewhere in our great world. Various monetary systems and coins from all over the world include pictures of famous leaders, unique and beautiful art, and struggles each country has encountered during their history.