How to Buy Old Chinese Coins

Know about the history of old Chinese coins. There are numerous reference books that you can buy to help you learn about the history of old Chinese coins. Carry one with you when viewing coins. Good books include "Ancient Chinese Coins," by Holger Jorgensen, and "The Dirty Little Secret About Buying Coins," by J.W. Swank. Most importantly, you need to know what condition to expect rare Chinese coins to be in, and how much money they are fetching. While these books are helpful, you will have to search numerous physical and online stores to find current prices.

Find reputable coin or antique coin dealers in your area by asking friends or family for referrals or by looking in your local telephone book or online phone directory under "Coins", "Rare Coins", "Antiques", or "Collectibles." Classification will vary, and you may find different dealers in different sections.

Ask any coin dealer you are interested in working with if he can provide you with references. Many sellers of this type have a list of customers who have agreed to be called as referrals.

Check the Better Business Bureau to see if any customer complaints, liens or judgments have been filed against the antique coin dealer you intend to work with. A coin dealer with numerous consumer complaints is probably not somebody you want to buy from, especially if you are spending a large amount of money on rare coins.

Visit online websites like Coin Resource, Philstart and Joel's Coins to find rare Chinese coins if you cannot find them locally. While being able to see the coin you are buying in person is always a plus, in some cases, you may not be able to find what you are looking for locally. As with any coin seller, doing a bit of research online and with the Better Business Bureau is a good idea.