You need what is called a Value Calculator.  With a value calculator you just enter the amount of metal you have in either ounces or grams and the calculator will tell you its price.  It factors in the exact current market price so you know that the value of your metal is correct.

This is the first step: finding value.  So where is this calculator?  You might have seen the links to the side of the screen in our link section, but here are the sites: For Gold go to GoldPerOunce.net, for silver go to SilverPerOunce.com, for platinum go to PlatinumPerOunce.com, and for Palladium go to PalladiumPerOunce.com.

These resources are an essential tool in your buying and/or selling of precious metal.

Right now, as of January 15, 2009 the cent's face value is barely worth more than its melt value.  A pre 1982 penny has 95% copper and 5% zinc in it.  Right now if you were to melt down 50 cents it would only be worth 48 cents so obviously it wouldn't be worth it.

Now, should you still hold on to your 1982 and older lincoln pennies?  Perhaps.  Pennies dated from 1983 are worth much less than their face value since they are no longer made with copper.  With the current economic times and all the bailouts and unended spending by the government with money we don't have it is only a matter of time before American money's true value plummets.  We are talking hyperinflation, Zimbabwe style.

What will this mean?  It means your pre 1982 pennies melt value will soar above it's face value.  Also consider that copper is a highly used metal that is consumed more than it is produced especially as India and China come online.

Keep on to your copper pennies?  I'll let you decide, but I'll let you know my collection is growing larger...

Side note:  Don't buy "coin value" guide books.  They no longer work, because if you can't find someone to pay the value of the coin than its not worth that much.  Why not try getting true market value on eBay:

BRITISH GEORGE V PENNY 1918 H] HEATON VERY RARE    US $.99

Rare Great Britain Half Penny 1887 Coin Excellent    US $9.99

1868 Indian Head Penny Rare    US $7.50

1870 Indian Head Penny Rare    US $22.62

1875 Indian Head Penny Rare    US $12.04

1876 Indian Head Penny Rare    US $14.26

1878 Indian Head Penny Rare    US $20.38

RARE Great Britain Queen Victoria one Penny Coin 1900    US $7.99

RARE Great Britain Queen Victoria Half Penny Coin 1899    US $7.99

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The reason this can happen is since gold is the standard, sometimes it is hit with rapid market fluctuations that these other metals are not hit with.

These good precious metals to start investing in are silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium.  Some other good investments are copper(bullets!) and aluminum(recycling).

The first question I always get is where can I get these other precious metals and after I buy them will I be able to sell them.

Yes, and yes, these precious metals may not be as popular as gold but they are just as liquid, which means you can sell them just as easily.

Here are some places to buy these metals:

Silver - Here at DiscountSilverCoins of course.
Platinum - eBay
Palladium - Buy-Palladium.com
Gold - The best stores to buy gold are GoldNuggetSale.com or GoldNuggetShop.com
Rhodium

REPLICA 1835 RUSSIA Platinum coins copy    US $.10

2000 W American Eagle 1 10 $10 Platinum Proof Coin COA    US $221.66

1989 Isle of Man 1 10 oz PLATINUM Cat Coin No Reserve    US $183.63

2010 PLATINUM EAGLE PROOF COIN 1OZ $100 NO RESERVE    US $2,126.77

2000 W Platinum Eagle 4 Coin Proof Set    US $4,699.00

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP CASE CARD COIN LIMITED TY BEANIE 99    US $19.99

7 different platinum eagle coins 11oz    US $3,000.00

2006 W PLATINUM EAGLE 4 COIN PROOF SET NGC PR 70    US $4,750.00

2005 W 4 coin SET PROOF PLATINUM EAGLE NGC PR69 PF69    US $5,475.00

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If you are here you are probably interested in silver or gold.  Maybe you have discounted gold because it costs more, and silver price moves tend to reflect gold, but are cheaper to purchase.  Or perhaps you want to invest in silver to add to your child or grandchild's college fund.

But finding the place to buy silver is hard.  There are sharks out there(both online and locally) that will rip you off on both ends.  They may buy your gold or silver but not for what its worth, or they will sell coins to you, but take a large spot price(commission) on the sale, making a hefty profit while at the same time making your money immediately worth less than its intrinsic value.

So where to go?

There are two good places.  A good place is Bullion Direct, a great place is eBay.  Bullion Direct is decent because their prices reflect the market and their spot price isn't too expensive.  They are cheapest compared to any other big seller of precious metals.

But the secret best place I have found to buy discount silver coins, and discount gold coins is eBay.  Yes, eBay.  The largest person to person marketplace in the world.  Since many items are sold at auction by regular people many don't realize how much their silver is worth.  The beauty of it is the market decides the price, which means you pay what you feel the silver or gold is worth.

Often you can get silver at or below spot price making it worth its intrinsic market value or even worth more if you got it below market value.   And whenever you can't get gold or silver elsewhere you can always get it on eBay.  It's free to join, and you will save alot of money over the other guys that you can put into more investments.

Y2001 PERTH MINT THE DON SILVER $5 PROOF COIN    US $50.29

4X FLOWER DESIGN SILVER TONE COIN SPACER BEADS 18X16MM    US $.70

1922 D PEACE DOLLAR SILVER NICE COIN UGRADE CHECK SCAN    US $19.00

ESTATE SALE GOLD SILVER COINS ART BAR SAPPHIRES RUBIES    US $159.95

DIGITAL GRAM SCALE Asia China Chinese Silver Gold Coin    US $9.99

Numismatic a silver coin dedicated to Vlad Tepes    US $900.00

REPLICA 1821 H FRANCE 5 FRANC SILVER COINS COPY    US $.10

PHILIPPINES 50 CENTAVOS 1947 S COIN UNC SILVER    US $9.99

2007 SILVER PROOF COIN DIAMOND WEDDING QUEEN ELIZABETH    US $54.81

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I don't buy and sell.  I buy and hold, but even if you buy silver as an investment it is important to learn about good buying points.  Why should you buy at $13, when the charts show that it will be $10 in two months, even if it is still in an upward trend.  You invest that money short term somewhere else and then buy the silver when it is low.  That makes a better ROTI(return on time investment).

The chart above shows an overall upward trend, but using candlesticks you will see a large drop(red), followed by a small range trading bar.  This is an engulfed bar, which often signifies a swing in trading, so we should see prices swing from about $10.50 and go up.

Silver is one of the most solid investments to put your money in as it is cheap, retains its value and can't get caught up in bank scandals and bailouts.  I prefer to put my money into silver coins, bullion and bars.

FIVE TROY OUNCE 999 SILVER CLAD PEACE MARIJUANA BARS    US $39.95

10 2010 1OZ OUNCE AMERICAN SILVER EAGLE GEM BU COINS    US $228.00

5 2010 1OZ OUNCE AMERICAN SILVER EAGLE GEM SILVER COINS    US $113.59

1 Ounce 100 Mill 999 Pure SILVER Overlay GGW Bar 19    US $9.99

LIPSTICK PEPPER SPRAYSILVER3 4 OUNCE 15 OC    US $5.99

5 UNCIR 1 OUNCE 9999 FINE SILVER MAPLE SPECIAL 2009    US $140.00

4 Troy Ounce 999 Fine Silver Sacagawea Dollar Round    US $80.01

24 HR SALE U S 90 Silver Coins 1 OZ OUNCES OLD COINS    US $17.49

2010 AMERICAN SILVER EAGLE ROLL OF 20 COINS OUNCES GEM    US $445.44

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