Gold has been cherished for thousands of years for its beauty and its value. Today, gold prices are soaring near record levels and with them, interest in collecting. A great place to start is with gold coins.

The history of gold coins starts in 2,700 B.C. with the Egyptian pharaohs, although the glittering discs were for gifts among. Two thousand years or so would pass before gold coins came to be commonly used for currency. This lasted until the early part of the last century.

Now, gold coins are still struck primarily for investment purposes. There are many types of gold coins. If you want to buy and sell gold coins, a good place to start might be with popular American Eagle, U.K. Sovereign or Canadian Maple Leaf. A bullion coin is one whose value is in its weight in gold, typically, although other precious metals are used as well. The worth of rare or collector coins may far exceed its bullion value, that is its weight value, based on rarity, condition and market demand. Gold coin collecting can be a rewarding hobby, but do your research! Joining a numismatic association is a great place to start.