For those who are considering buying coins on eBay, I have a few recommendations.

I have bought coins on eBay before and have yet to experience any trouble.

However, having said that, I do think you should know that I exercise several precautions that can help me to avoid running into any online auction hassles.

Here is some advice, before you buy coins on eBay...

If you've got a rare or unusual coin, then you've probably considered selling it at a coin auction.

But, before you do, please heed the advice of the following coin experts before selling coins at auctions...

In a previous article I wrote about coin folders and gave some suggestions on how to collect coins using them.

But maybe you found or inherited a folder that's already complete, or you just completed your own.

How much is it worth?

As is the case with most other coinage, there are several types and denominations of gold coins. Too many to list in one or two articles so I've decided to pick a few to go into more detail on.

The four I've chosen are the more common of the gold coins and are all types of Eagles.

I just want to start off by saying that, as a collector, I do not condone coin cleaning. In almost all cases, cleaning a coin will decrease its value.

But, I know a lot of you may have some extremely dirty coins that can only benefit from a good cleaning, so I'm going to share some methods that have been known to clean coins. I have not tested very many of these because I don't clean many of my coins. But maybe one of these methods will help you.

How much do you know about U.S. coins and coin history?

Here is a fun and informative article I have put together to test your knowledge of coins.

1. All U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars minted prior to 1965 are 100% .999 fine silver. Fact or Fiction?

2. It used to be illegal to possess gold coins in the U.S. Fact or Fiction?

3. The 1943 wheat back cent was made out of silver to save copper for the war. Fact or Fiction?

4. Some buffalo nickels were minted only having 3 legs. Fact or Fiction?

5. Other than copper, nickel was also a critical material during the war. Therefore from 1942 to 1945, nickels contained silver instead of nickel. Fact or Fiction?

6. Gold coins are better to collect and will always be worth more due to the price of gold. Fact or fiction?

7. The penny is the lowest face value coin ever produced in the U.S. Fact or Fiction?

8. The Philadelphia mint is the oldest mint in the U.S. Fact or Fiction?

9. The average life expectancy for a circulating coin is 25-30 years. Fact or Fiction?

10. United States mint facilities produce 30 to 40 million circulating coins per day. Fact or Fiction?

11. The initials of the coin designer do not appear on every circulating U.S. coin. Fact or Fiction?

12. It is against the law to deface U.S. coins. Fact or Fiction?

Answers below

Looking for a place to post your coins for sale online?

There are a few different routes you could take, including:

Teletrade - Certified Coin and Currency Auctions

Stacks - Rare Coin Auctions

Heritage Auction Galleries - Consignment Program For Coins

eBay (...see all live coin auctions here)

Perhaps your best bet is to find a dealer in your local area. Or, check this list of Authorized U.S. Coin Dealers.

Or, you could advertise your coin for sale right here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins ... it's fast, easy, and FREE!