Whether you are collecting for fun or for profit, there are several reasons that you should seek out certified coins rather than accept any coins that you come across. Some of the reasons are quite obvious, while others may surprise you. Most of the reasoning goes to protect the investments that you plan to make in coin collecting, so it is wise to consider all of the possibilities before you start spending money.

To begin with, you can be certain that certified coins are the real deal. It is a sad world when fraud runs so rampant, but the truth is that it’s just getting easier with improvements in technology. When you purchase certified coins, you will know that they have already been inspected and declared genuine, which can save you a great deal of time and possible heartache. Nothing burns worse than spending a great deal of money on an investment, only to find that your investment is worthless. It is a regular occurrence for collectors to purchase rare coins, only to find that the coin is counterfeit and the seller has long since disappeared. You can save yourself this hassle by dealing only with certified coins.

Believe it or not, it is still possible for someone to take advantage of you even with real coins. Much of a coin’s value has to do with the condition of the coin. If you are not seeking out certified coins only, you could end up purchasing a coin that has been painted, cleaned, plated, or otherwise doctored to give a better appearance. Many collectors and investors have purchased coins that they believed were in mint condition, only to later find that the coin had been scratched or otherwise damaged and then masked with these dishonest techniques.

Of course, it may not be possible to buy only certified coins. There are occasions when you just won’t be able to find the coins that you want with certificates. This doesn’t mean that you can’t buy the coins anyway. It just means that you should protect yourself as well as you can by dealing only with reputable coin dealers. Complete as much research as you can, as well as testing and obtaining second opinions, before you hand over the money for your new coins. As long as you are wise about your decisions, you can build a coin collection that will bring you joy and profit for years to come.