Buy Coins – Complete Guide to Purchasing Coins Online

Let’s start by telling you that buying coins is a truly interesting activity rich in various aspects, that is not limited to the mere buying and selling of coins.

Those who buy coins do so mainly for two reasons. The first is to purchase coins to collect them. Perhaps, if you are an experienced numismatist and need a missing piece for your coin collection, you must buy it. Or you are a new collector and need more pieces, perhaps in bulk, for your newly started coin collection.

And note that we are not talking about collecting and therefore buying coins from 2000 years ago (well, those can also be found and they are beautiful). You can very well collect more recent coins, such as the Euro, of which there is indeed a collection, the Euro collection that we have given a lot of space on our site.

In practice, all coins from all European states are collected, preserved, and collected, including commemorative coins. You know that often you can find Italian 2 euro coins with different designs? Well, those are 2 euro commemorative coins and they are highly collected and sought after.

If you are wondering what sense it makes to collect or buy coins as recent as the Euro, just think that some euros are worth hundreds of euros (sorry for the pun). You can see some examples by taking a look at the 2 euro commemorative coins from the Vatican.

But let’s not get lost in the maze of Euro coins and move on.

Another reason why people look to buy coins is for simple investment. This is especially the case for coins minted with precious metals, such as gold coins and silver coins, which we will discuss specifically in a later chapter, still on this page.

Among the most fascinating coins, ancient coins truly play a leading role. And I warn you… not only is the topic really interesting, but also very, very exciting.

We have understood the consequences of this passion as well, but only later, only after we started studying some Italian coins from rare lire or some Roman coins. And the consequences were evident when we started receiving packages with gold and silver coins from hundreds of years ago. All pieces or lots purchased as and where we will explain shortly.

I assure you that the emotion of holding (with gloves, of course) a silver Roman coin in circulation during the time of Emperor Augustus or Commodus, and observing its designs and patina, is very strong and difficult to describe.

You are not just holding a pure piece of silver or gold, although that is indeed the case. You are holding a piece of human history, a physical and tangible testimony of events and characters that are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.

Where to Buy Ancient Coins

Unfortunately, ancient coins are not found everywhere. They are rarely found in antique markets, unlike those from the Kingdom of Sardinia or the lire of the Italian Republic.

Moreover, to own ancient coins, one must have a certificate that certifies their origin. This way, you can be sure that you are not purchasing or holding stolen coins from private collections, museums, or archaeological sites.

Additionally, knowing the exact provenance of the coin and having certainty of its authenticity are essential parameters that help maintain the value of the piece itself.

To buy ancient coins, you need to use a portal that guarantees all this, and we have been using this site regularly for years. We have also created a short guide that explains how to register in 1 minute, which you can find on this page, and how the auctions work on this page.

Registering is really easy, it is obviously free, and once inside, you will have access to the largest selection of ancient coins that you can find online.

You will be able to buy Roman coins, Greek coins, ancient Byzantine coins, or coins from the Middle East.

Did you think you could go to a store near your home and find Roman sestertii for sale? Nope. Today, ancient coins are bought online, all with maximum guarantees on authenticity, provenance certificates, and delivery assurance.

Buying gold coins is another option for those who today have no issues using the internet and have a fairly substantial budget.

Gold coins actually represent a simple and quick way to convert cash into precious metals. First of all, gold coins are easy to find once you know how to do it (we'll explain that shortly). They are also a safe investment that can be liquidated with great ease.

Why Buy Gold Coins?

If you want to invest in precious metals, as mentioned earlier, gold coins are an excellent solution, certainly much more efficient than buying bullion.

To purchase gold bullion, which we explained how to do on this page, you need to have large amounts of money. Unless, of course, you buy small bullion bars weighing just a few grams, which you will pay little for but are, proportionally, less convenient.

Gold coins, on the other hand, are small, easy to transport and move, and once you have them at home, they retain their value.

In fact, their value is not just that of the metal they are made of, which is subject to market law (for example, the price of gold is currently rising significantly).

Gold coins also have a “numismatic” value that rarely deteriorates or loses value, making them even more sought after in the collectibles market, not just in the precious metals market.

It will therefore be easy for you, once you decide to sell your coins, to recoup your investment, find a buyer, and thus convert it into cash.

Types of Gold Coins

Once you start browsing the gold coin section, you will notice that the types of coins found in circulation are more or less always the same.

If your goal is to buy gold coins for investment, you will see that gold sovereigns dominate, along with a few other types of coins that we will list below.

These are all coins that you can easily buy and just as easily sell since demand is always high, and you will never have problems liquidating your investment.

Gold Sovereigns

These are precious coins called “sovereign” because they always depict an English sovereign. Gold sovereigns are the quintessential investment coin. You will find dozens of them with different prices and weights. By the way, keep in mind that gold coins are weighed in troy ounces, which we discussed here: ounce page.

Gold Euro Coins

The European Union, through the European Central Bank, also issues gold coins, including commemorative ones, in various denominations. You will find on this page gold euro coins with face values of 10 euros, 20 euros, 25 euros, 50 euros, and 100 euros.

These are just face values; note that the 100 euro gold coin weighs 1 oz, which is one ounce of gold (see what an ounce is here).

Gold Francs

The French gold coins you find on this page are another very popular type of investment gold coins, and you will find them in abundance, often more numerous than gold sovereigns. The denominations vary, with 40 francs, 20 francs, 10 francs, and 5 francs available.

The most famous and well-known are undoubtedly the 20 gold franc coins, the so-called “gold marenghi.” We have talked extensively about the gold marengo on this page: the gold marengo.

Gold Dollars

The dollar is a safe-haven coin due to its great stability, and gold dollars are always in high demand. There are many denominations, from 1 dollar, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, up to 100 dollars. Obviously, the value of the precious metal must be added to the numismatic value of the coin, some of which are truly remarkable. You can see all the gold dollars at auction right now by clicking here.

Gold Lire

Our country does not joke when it comes to offering a wide choice for buying gold coins. The old lira has a vast variety of coins from various denominations and different historical periods of Italy.

Famous are the gold lire of the Kingdom of Sardinia featuring Carlo Alberto, or the lire with various kings of Italy from Umberto I to Vittorio Emanuele.

Of particular interest in this case are also the Italian marenghi (the 20 gold lire) and the gold lire coins from the Vatican, featuring portraits of various Popes, which you can see all by clicking here.

Gold Krugerrand

The Krugerrand is the gold investment coin of the Republic of South Africa. Remember that South Africa is one of the richest countries in gold deposits and precious stones.

The Gulden

The Gulden, on the other hand, is the gold investment coin of the Netherlands. You can buy this gold coin choosing from various denominations depending on your budget.

The Gold Rouble

We are talking about the Russian coin, the rouble, available in many denominations, including 100 roubles, and always in demand in the market.

The Gold Yuan

Lastly, the gold investment coin of China, the Gold Yuan, available in different denominations but always depicting a Panda in various poses on the coin.

Where to Buy Gold Coins?

To buy gold coins, we also use the same portal as before, and all operations are done online, directly from home, comfortably on our sofa.

The portal where you can purchase gold coins online can be found on this page. You will find a guide on how to register on this page. You will find a guide on how to buy coins at the bottom of this page (or by clicking here).

Registration is easy, and once inside, you can go to the gold coins section (click here to go directly) and see all the pieces at auction.

All you have to do is choose the gold coin to buy, always keeping an eye on your budget. Keep in mind that you will need to add a 9% auction fee and shipping costs (about ten euros) to the auction price.

Buying Gold at the Bank

Even though banks hold most of the world's gold reserves, they do not sell coins. Besides, I don't think you want to walk into a bank and buy a gold bar weighing 11 kg.

At most, banks will sell you gold certificates, but in the end, where's the passion, the excitement of owning a gold coin of Marcus Aurelius, if you are holding a piece of paper?

As with the discussion of gold coins or ancient ones, if you want to buy silver coins, you do it either for investment or for pure passion and collecting.

The silver coins we most enjoy buying are those from the Roman Imperial era. Wonderful pieces that circulated during the Empire that you can buy for less than 50 euros each, shipping included.

Fantastic specimens that you can add to your numismatic collection or if you want to invest in your portfolio of investment coins.

The most common modern silver coins are undoubtedly the silver dollars. Silver dollars are minted not only by the United States but also by other nations such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

The designs on silver coins are very varied, and in this case, you can also make your choices to buy the coins that satisfy you the most in terms of aesthetics, whether colorful designs or commemorative coins.

Where to Buy Silver Coins

The portal where you can purchase silver coins online can be found on this page. You will find a guide on how to register on this page. You will find a guide on how to buy coins at the bottom of this page (or by clicking here).

Now I will show you how to buy coins at auction; you will see that it is not only very easy but also fun and exciting.

Step 1

First, you need to be registered on this portal. Registration is free and takes only 1 minute, you can do it directly from this page. If you are already registered, just log in and proceed to step 2.

Step 2

Now you need to find the coin you want to buy. If you already know what you are looking for, you can simply enter the name of the coin or a keyword in the search field at the top of the site.

Alternatively, you can use the various menus to browse the different categories of coins and navigate through the various specimens and types of coins available for purchase.

Step 3

Once you find the coin you want to buy, click “view lot” and after reading its features and analyzing its photos, you can proceed to make a bid.

Keep an eye on the auction deadline and remember that the closer it gets, the more the price will likely rise. In short, the game and fun of the auction begins now. You can make a bid immediately or wait a bit to see how the auction progresses. We usually know how much we want to spend on a coin, so we place a maximum bid that we are willing to give. This way, we don’t have to keep following the lot, but we will receive a notification in case of a surpassed bid or a win.

Now that you have made a bid, wait. If your bid is surpassed, you will be notified and can make a counter-bid. If your bid remains the highest when time runs out, you will win the coin.

One way to keep monitoring the auction is to install the App on your mobile phone, so even when you are lounging watching a movie, you can check your auctions and make the necessary moves (that’s what we do).

Now, a little trick I want to share with you. If you can’t find the coin you are looking for, you can use “auction alerts.” Basically, you can specify a keyword you want to keep track of, like the name of a coin, and the system will automatically notify you when that coin becomes available in an auction.

Step 4

If someone has surpassed your bid, don’t worry, there will be next time. But if you have won the coin, you will now receive this screen.

Just below, you will be provided with all the information to proceed with payment and check the shipping.

Step 5

The coin is now almost yours; you need to proceed with payment within 3 days. Use the “pay for your lot” button that you will see in the message you receive:

Done! Now the coin is yours and will be shipped within 3 days. You can always contact the seller if you have questions, but the assurance is that he will be paid only after he has shipped the coin because the system acts as an intermediary (that’s why you pay him with a 9% commission).

Additionally, you can also track the package to follow the shipment comfortably.

Excitement, security, and maximum return! Happy bidding!

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check these topics:

• To access the registration page of Catawiki, click here.
• To see which coins are currently up for auction, click here.
• To see how to buy a rare coin, click here: buy coins.
• To see how to register on the auction platform: click here.
• To see how an auction works, click here: how Catawiki auctions work.