Pendant and Ring is not a financial advisor, and this isn’t investment advice.
People sometimes ask if a coin pendant is a good investment. The honest answer is yes, but to varying extents. Today, we’ll cover some of the nuance involved in coin pendant appreciation over time.
Every coin pendant carries three values.
Metal value is what the silver or gold is worth melted down. This value changes with the markets. A silver coin contains a known amount of silver, so if silver rises, that value rises with it.
Collector value, also called numismatic value, is what a collector will pay for the coin itself. It depends on rarity, condition, supply and demand, and history. For some coins, it far exceeds the metal value. Ancient and medieval coins can vary widely. Some ancient coins have modest values because millions were minted and multitudes survive. Others have substantial value because fewer were minted and/or the coins did not survive the passage of time.
Sentimental value includes the feelings attached to an item because of what or who it reminds you of. Over time, your sentiments may change, and when you pass along this heirloom, your descendants may not feel the same way you do.
What changes a coin’s value?
Turning a coin into jewelry can change it. A drilled, soldered, or heavily polished coin loses much of its collector value, and serious collectors often won’t pay a premium for it. Bezel-set coins with no holes can retain and continue to gain value.
Our pendants are wearable history first, and jewelry second. If an extraordinarily rare coin with high collector value comes to us, we’ll typically put it in a display box, not on a chain.
Gold-filled vs. plated vs. solid gold jewelry
Gold-filled jewelry is durable and affordable, and we love it for everyday wear. It contains a thicker layer of gold bonded to a base metal, usually sterling silver. It’s a good purchase for beauty and longevity. It doesn’t have the same metal value as solid gold. Solid gold is a better investment than gold-filled. And both are better than gold-plated.
What holds value
🟢 Solid precious metals with a known weight and purity
🟢 Coins in good, original condition, with clear dates and details
🟢 Documentation, such as an identification or certificate
🟢 Provenance, a record of where the coin came from
🟢 Scarcer types of coins, where fewer examples survive
Even so, markets rise and fall, and a collector’s taste changes. No coin or jewelry is guaranteed to appreciate beyond its metal value.
As a strict investor, it makes sense to buy a quality piece with solid metal, documented history, and personal value. For the rest of us, it makes sense to buy something with meaning: the year someone you love was born, a coin from an ancestor’s homeland, a design you can’t stop looking at. The value it holds or gains above and beyond its metal and numismatic value that’s a bonus. If you’re considering something for its financial growth potential, ask about the weight and metal purity. Ask about mintage numbers and surviving examples.
We’d rather you love your pendant and pass it on with your story, rather than buy it as a bet against inflation.
Have a coin or pendant you’re curious about? Contact us for help with identification.
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