FAQ

DEFINITIONS

Q:  What is Bullion?

A: Bullion coins are bought and sold for their metal content (intrinsic value), the most common being silver, gold and platinum. Dates and condition are normally irrelevant. Bullion coins trade near their melt value (the actual value of the coin’s metal content) plus a premium that varies depending upon the coin and the volatility of the metal.  Rather than include bullion categories within the U.S. Coin and World Coin exchanges, due to its popularity and usage as a niche market by many large players, we have decided to give bullion its own exchange. As a general statement, coins within the Bullion Exchange are raw (not certified) and date is of no importance.

 
Q:  What is the difference between your Modern category and your Bullion category?

A:  As a rule, the Bullion category assumes the coins are generic in nature and trade for spot metal price plus some premium depending upon the actual coin. 

            (1) dates do not matter

            (2) condition does not matter

            (3) the coins are raw (not certified in holders).

Conversely, as a rule, the Modern category assumes:

            (1) dates do matter

            (2) condition may or may not matter, but typically does

            (3) coins are often certified in holders, although that is certainly not a requirement

Q:  What is Scripophily?
A: Scripophily is the collecting of security certificates, primarily old stock and bond certificates. It can be a beautiful and historical hobby. Collectors will often frame some of the more “eye appealing” certificates. Some certificates have the signature of famous people who ran those old companies.  This hobby can quickly become a passion. 

 
Q:  What is Exonumia?

A: Exonumia is a “relative” of numismatics, yet not specific to legal tender coins or currency. It deals with the collecting of medals, tokens and the like, including such esoteric items as badges or casino chips.  A very popular exonumia item would be Civil War Tokens.

 
Q:  What is Certified?
A: Coins and currency can be certified, which means they are independently graded and encapsulated (sealed) by a third party grading service. This allows for the possibility of site-unseen trading.

 

REGISTRATION

 
Q:  Why Register or Log In as a Seller if it is not required?

A: By registering, you gain various benefits including:

-         Ability to manage your listings

-         Ability to renew expired listings

-         Simpler and faster posting of items.  Logged in users do not need to reply to an email each time in order to confirm each post.

-         Ability to save default information like Seller Info, Seller Terms & Conditions, etc..  Therefore, there is no need to rewrite these fields each time you post an item for sale – one default write-up during registration takes care of it all.  You can always overwrite this information on any individual posting.

POSTING AN ITEM FOR SALE

 
Q:  I want to post an item for sale but there are many subcategories within the main category that apply to me.  Where should I place the item?

A:  For best results, always drill down to the lowest possible subcategory that applies to your item.  For example, if you want to post a 1914 Buffalo Nickel, click U.S. Coins, click Nickels, click Buffalo.  That is the subcategory your item belongs in.  Potential buyers looking for that item will navigate directly to your location.  In summary, for new users to a category, take some time and look around the structure of that category before posting your item for sale. 


Q:  I see that you let me post an item without registering or logging in.  Are there any benefits lost? 

A:  Yes.  See REGISTRATION above.

Q:  What is the zip code / proximity field for? 

A:  Sometimes a buyer might want to find sellers "local" to where they live (within car driving distance for example).  The reasons for this can be varied, including saving on postage/handling, meeting the individual they are buying from, etc.  Therefore, it is in the seller's interest to include their zip code.  If they do not, and if the buyer does a proximity search, that seller will not show up on the buyer's search regardless of what the buyer chooses for a zipcode and distance. 

 

ITEM SEARCH

Q:  When I search for an item, I want that search to display items specific to my search.  What features are available to help me accomplish this?

A:  The site was designed to allow rapid and specific search.  At the most general level, you can do an entire site text search.  Or much more typically, you can utilize the features of an Advanced Search which include searching only within the subcategory level you select, searching only the Item Title field, or searching only the Item Description field.  And within those searches, you can tell the system to match any word, or match all words.  Combined, these features should allow you to very quickly and very accurately find what you are looking for. 

Example:   You want a 1995 American Silver Eagle, Uncirculated, graded MS69 by PCGS or NGC.  You will do an Advanced Search and go to the Modern category and select the subcategory Silver American Eagles (Unc), therefore, your search will only be done on Unc Silver Eagles.  You then search the Item Title and/or Item Description field with the key words needed to complete your search: 1995, MS69, PCGS, NGC and select the option that all words much match in order for the item to show in your view.  That should do it. 

 

IGNORE USER

Q:  Can I put a particular user on ignore so that I do not see any of their listings when I search for an item?

A:  Expected next release.

 
ADVERTISING

Q:  Where in your site can I place an ad?
A:  You may place an advertisement on any page, and at any category or subcategory level.  If Ancient Greek coins are your thing, contact us about placing an ad in the specific category World Coins / Ancient / Greece.  That way, any buyer looking in that subcategory will see the listings, but also see you advertisement.