Wednesday, August 12, 2009

How to Determine the Value of Your Gold Coins

Gold has been mankind's most desirable asset for more than 3,000 years. It freely circulated as everyday money - except during times of great economic turmoil - from the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans right up to 1933. Until that year, the value of the great majority of gold coins was the same as their face value. That meant a $20 gold coin could be freely exchanged for 20 one-dollar bills. And 20 one-dollar bills could be exchanged for one $20 gold coin. It was a two-way system that promoted a stable value for our money.

That era ended in 1933. As part of his effort to re-inflate our economy from the depths of the depression, President Roosevelt recalled all circulating gold coins. He had his Treasury Department melt them and send the newly formed ingots to Fort Knox for storage. Then Roosevelt revalued gold, in a series of steps, from its pre-1933 value of $20 to $35 per ounce.

The Market for Gold Coins Changes

Literally overnight, a $20 gold coin contained more than $20 worth of gold. Owners of the limited number of coins that survived the federal recall order, primarily collectors and overseas banks, wondered how to determine the value of their gold coins. Were they only worth their gold value, or would the government's efforts turn once-common issues into scarce and rare dates?

Today we know the answer to that question. The government's massive melting of our circulating $1, $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 gold coins created hundreds of rarities out of coins with original mintage that suggest easy availability. Here's one example: the Philadelphia Mint struck 2.9 million $20 gold coins in 1931, one of the higher mintage of the 1907-1933 series. Based strictly on its original mintage, the 1931-P should be easily available and not too expensive. Thanks to the government's melting, all 1931-P $20 gold coins are rare and extremely valuable.

Gold Coin Values Today

Speed forward to 2009. All U.S. gold coins minted before 1933 are worth FAR more than their face value, and many are worth FAR more than their bullion (metallic) value. That's true because the number of collectors of U.S. gold coins of the pre-1933 era has expanded tremendously. At the same time, the available supply of these coins has remained relatively unchanged. Because rare coin market values are set by the interaction of supply and demand, the long-term value of pre-1933 U.S. gold coins has shown a distinctly rising trend.

So how can you determine the value of your pre-1933 U.S. gold coins?

We live in an age of tremendous availability of information. Early in the last century, collectors and investors were content to determine their gold coins' value by following (and interpreting) auction results. In the late 1940s, publishers began offering a once per year guide book that listed values for every U.S. coin. Then monthly publications were introduced, providing ads and estimated market values. Then weekly coin newspapers, filled with articles, auction results, and market commentaries, were established. Today we have all of these sources, plus the information on the Internet.

All of these sources, when you know how to use and interpret them, are extremely valuable. All of these sources can help you determine the value of each gold coin you own. But none is perfect. Each has its own quirks and its own idiosyncrasies.

The single best way to determine the retail or wholesale value of your pre-1933 U.S. gold coins is to have your trusted adviser perform a professional review, this will provide your most dependable estimate of value.

Determine the Value of Bullion Gold Coins

Bullion gold coins, like American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs, are struck by governments for sale to investors through a network of distributors and wholesalers. They are minted in unlimited numbers, so scarcity is not a factor in determining their value. That means the value of gold bullion coins can be easily determined with reasonable accuracy on any day.

To determine the value of your gold bullion coins, you need to know their pure gold weight and the spot (or cash) value of gold. Determining a gold coin's weight is usually simple: the coin's design should state them. If it does not, contact your coin dealer.

Once you know your bullion gold coin's pure gold content, it's time to identify the market value for an ounce of gold. For today's value, contact your broker. Your broker provides up to the minute bid and ask prices for spot gold, as well as spot silver, platinum, and palladium.

Now you know the weight of your coin and the value of an ounce of pure gold. To learn your coin's pure gold value, simply multiply the two numbers. For example: you want to know the value of a half-ounce American Eagle gold bullion coin. You know the pure gold content (one half ounce) because it is stated on the coin. You locate gold's current market value, and find it is $950 per ounce. Multiplying one-half (your coin's pure gold contents) times $950 (gold's current market value) yields a gold value of $475 for your coin. Market premiums, distribution charges, and dealer commissions will vary and will affect your coin's value, so be sure to consider them when determining your coin's value.

American Eagles, the world's most popular gold bullion coins, are guaranteed for their content and purity by the United States government. Their value is primarily determined by the price of gold, which fluctuates throughout the day.


Contact ITM Trading Senior Analyst for how to buy Gold coins or more information on buying Gold for Investment.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Local Online Bridal Store Saves The Day For Jilted Brides

In MIAMISBURG, Ohio, SharNett Bridal and Prom store is closed for business. This has left Brides To Be scrambling to salvage their upcoming wedding day without having a gown to wear. The store has posted two signs on its door citing the economy as the reason for shutting down.

The store claims that it does plan to contact current customers. However some unhappy customers have been reporting that they are not being contacted by Sharnett.

Luckily for brides there is a concerned wedding dress retailer stepping up to help save the day.

One of the world's largest online bridal gowns websites, which is based in Centerville OH, is stepping in to help the worried brides. Scott Wells, the owner of the store, says he knows that many of the brides affected by the closing are probably in panic mode right now and he wants to help.

Wells is offering 50% off any of the 6,000 gowns in his inventory and a free tiara to go with it.

When asked why he would do this, Mr. Wells told us "This isn't the first time we have had to help out brides to be. Due to recent bad economy there have been other closings of bridal shops and we have stepped in with the same offer. We are not just in the dress business we are in the memories business as well. I cannot stand by and watch these women's dream day be crushed and do nothing."

This store is actually selling some of the dresses below cost to help the women obtain the wedding dress they dreamed of. Brides just need to show some sort of receipt or documentation that they had merchandise at Sharnett.

Mr.Wells wants to stress that they understand how important a woman's wedding day is and he and his staff are there to help, ''Even if their wedding is next weekend or this weekend, we can put them in their perfect dress. With over $1,000,000.00 dollars worth of inventory in stock and being in business for nearly 30 years, I'm certain we can take care of every bride beyond her expectations."

If you are a victim of a bridal shop closing you can always contact an office online, by email or directly by phone.

If you search Google online and go to the more prominent locations you will be able to find contact information and toll free numbers. Many also post local number listings also.


An online Company with over 6000 quality wedding dresses can be found at http://romanticgowns.com Email info@bridalonlinestore.com Phone: 937-291-1610, 866-694-6967, or 866-437-1588

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

How do tanning beds work?

Tanning salons are gaining a lot of popularity. The main reason for it is that people want the tanned look which is really fashionable these days. But it is very essential to know "how do tanning beds work?" before you make the final decision to go in for this option. Remember, that there is no such thing as "safe tanning". Getting tanning through these artificial rays can be very harmful.

The tanning through sun is done by exposing the body to the sun rays. In the process of tanning you may end up harming the skin because sun emits harmful ultra violet rays which can lead to various skin problems and even dangerous skin diseases like skin cancer. The tanning beds work on the principle of sun rays only.

These beds have several florescent lamps which have phosphor blends. They emit UV rays in the form of spectrum which resembles the rays emitted by the sun. The home tanning beds have about 12 to 28; 100 watt lamps where as tanning beds of salons have 24 to 60 such lamps and each of these lamps consume 100 to 200 watts. These beds were first introduced in 1978 in America and in few years time only they have become very famous. But if you understand how these tanning beds work then you may become very reluctant to use these beds. It is true that that these beds are very harmful. The bulbs of these beds emit ultra violet radiations which include about 95% of UV rays and 5 % of UV rays. These bulbs need to be changed when they get fused.

The UV light emitted by these beds is almost like the sunlight. But the only difference is that you can control the amount as well as the time of the exposure of the rays of the tanning beds. The UVB rays emitted by these beds bring the dark color to the skin by stimulating the production of melanin. The UV rays oxidize the melanin which is produced by the UV rays and this result in giving the skin the golden color. It is very essential to understand the working of the tanning beds because keep in mind that your skin is very precious and exposing it to the wrong zone can really have negative and irreversible harm on the skin.

Then there is another category of beds called high pressure tanning beds which are different from the normal beds. You need to be aware of how these tanning beds work before you use them. These beds do not emit any UV rays instead they rely only on the UV rays. In these beds the lamp or bulb which is made of quartz filers the UV rays which are considered to be more harmful. The result is that you get a tan which is not only deep but also lasts longer.

When you go to a tanning salon you are made to lie down on the bed and your full body is covered from all the sides. Then, the rays are emitted from both the sides to reach all the parts of the body. The time for which you lie in the bed depends upon the amount of tanning you want but remember that over exposure to these rays can have a permanent harm to the skin. The owners of the tanning salons may claim that these beds give you safe tanning but you should be smart enough to understand that these are just business tricks. The principle of the working of the tanning bed will make you aware how does tanning takes place and what are the changes which these beds bring in the skin which results in tanning.

If you understand how a tanning bed works properly only then you can be aware of exactly what you are doing with your skin. If you are conscious about your skin and you know how precious is your skin then after understanding how do tanning beds work, you will be able to have an idea that these tanning beds can really put you in real trouble by harming your skin as well as your health.


Save On Tans offers discount tanning salon prices at Scottsdale tanning salons and more.

Monday, June 22, 2009

How to Fix the Air Conditioning in a Car

Air conditioner in car has become a necessity these days. It is very difficult to travel in a car without an AC in scorching heat. The car AC is very small and the designing and the functioning is completely different from that of the air conditioners used in offices and homes. There are two sides of an air conditioning system of a car, viz high side and low side. The compressor of the AC begins at the high side, and performs the functioning of the pump. The refrigerant is moved through the system with the help of the compressor. The expansion valve is there at the low side, which restricts the flow of refrigerant. This helps in reducing the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant.

The car air conditioner works almost like a refrigerator and has a multi-component piece of machinery. The warm air is removed from the car and the cool air is pushed inside the car. This helps in maintaining the temperature of the small space in the car, and moderates the area.

There may be times when the AC in the car stops working or does not give effective cooling. A repair is required at this stage. Each and every car is made of different design and model. But, the basic functioning of the AC in most of the cars is the same. The basic problems with the car air conditioner and the basic ways to fix the problems of car air conditioner have been listed below:

Absence of cool air and improper cooling are the signs of problems with respect to the car air conditioner.

In order to diagnose the problem with your car air conditioner, it is very important to have proper information and knowledge of the different parts of the car air conditioner. There are five components of the car AC viz the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, the refrigerant, and the dryer or evaporator.

It is very important to understand the functioning of all the parts so that the right action can be taken in case of any problem.

The refrigerant is pumped out through the compressor. The compressor acts as a power unit of the car air conditioner.

The condenser performs the function of changing the refrigerant to the liquid form.

The liquid formed through the condenser is converted into cold air with the help of the evaporator or the dryer.

There may be some pressure on the condensed refrigerant. This pressure is removed with the help of the expansion valve and moved into the evaporator.

In case of ineffective cooling, check the refrigerant for any kind of leakage. A fluorescent dye that is readily available at any auto part shop can be used to check the refrigerant. Autozone or NAPA can be used as the fluorescent dye.

The instructions given on the pack of the dye that you purchase should be followed completely and carefully. In most of the cases, the dye is added through the low pressure A/C recharge port that is found on the canister of the air conditioner of the car.

Use the U/V light to check for the leakage. In case of leakage of the refrigerant, the refilled kits can be bought from any auto supply store. These refilled kits are sealed and the replacement can be done by anyone at home.

In case this is not the problem, check for any kind of problem with the fuses, wires, and fan belts. The fuse may have turned bad. The wires might have broken, and the belts of the fan may have got damaged. All these problems may be creating trouble with the functioning of the pump. In case of any problem with any of these parts, get the parts replaced to ensure proper functioning of the car air conditioner.

The air conditioner should be tested after making any kind of repair done by you.

In case one has tried all the above methods to make the AC function properly, and even after replacing all the parts, the AC does not function properly, then there is a need to call a professional.


Find trustworthy Phoenix Air Conditioning and Scottsdale Air Conditioning services and repair.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Wedding Dress Purchase Doesn't Have To Stress You Out

Was this the year when Mr. Right asked you to marry him. Some women have waited for that to come along, from the time they realized the difference between boys and girls. When the excitement of the moment and the initial glow wears off, the job of planning for the perfect wedding day begins. The questions roll around in your mind. How much can I spend, and how will we pay for it? We need to pick a date, buy a wedding dress, decide who will be in the wedding party, and more details then one person can hope to keep straight.

The modern bride-to-be in America has a major task ahead of her when preparing for the big day. Each year the price of a wedding seems to grow by leaps and bounds. The burden of paying for a wedding can be a real challenge for a new couple just starting their life together. You can always downsize the wedding, and cut back on the guest list, but on this most special of occasions you want all your family and friends to witness and share in your joy.

In the last couple of years some internet online stores offer payment options that can help ease the stress of paying for your wedding purchases. There are online wedding dress retailers that offer 90 days same as cash credit. This means you can get your wedding dress, tiara, veil, and accessories, without having to put out an immediate payment. You have 90 days to pay the amount off without being charged any interest. This can be a major burden lifted from a bride's shoulders. When everyone wants their money up front, your most important item, your wedding dress, can be the easiest to care for.

The program is managed through a trusted and secure partner PayPal. With everything else to care for while planning your wedding you don't need to worry about online fraud. That is why the top online bridal gown stores use PayPal to ensure their clients purchases are secure and simple to deal with. It's easy to use this option of purchasing your gown online at the bridal store. When you checkout, select the PayPal option and it will take you to a secure page to enter your information. If you don't already have an account, you can get one at the same time. All of your sensitive personal information is secure and away from hackers.

The option to pay later is just one reason to buy a wedding dress online. Some take checks, and have gift certificates that could be used as a shower present for purchases at the store. Bridal online stores offer a wide variety of the latest styles and fashions. Online retailers are able to sell direct to consumers, which is a significantly lower cost than in typical mall stores. The added benefit to you is that you can get that gown you have been dreaming of, that will have heads turning and not break the bank.

To sum it all up, quality products, low prices, and no payments for 90 days, just might mean that buying a wedding dress could be the best part of planning your wedding.


The staff at Bridal Online Store has over 22 years of experience in the bridal and wedding dress industry. Find out about the latest styles of wedding dress and more at: http://www.bridalonlinestore.com

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Buying a Wedding Dress No Money Down

The elated moment comes when the man of your dreams asks you to marry him. The moment that many women dream about since they were little girls. After the romantic night sets in the reality of what lies ahead. You now have to pick a date, buy a wedding dress, pick who is going to be in your wedding party, and more details then one person could ever think of. Then comes the big question how do you pay for it.

Wedding in America are no small feats anymore. It seems every year the cost to get married just keeps skyrocketing. Yes, you could go with a small wedding with only a few people, but this is your big day that you want all your friends and family to see. The burden of paying for a wedding can be a real challenge for a new couple just starting their life together.

Online there are now some options that can help make the burden of paying for your wedding easier. Certain online wedding dress retailers offer 90 days same as cash credit. Which means you are able to get your wedding dress, tiara, veil, and more putting no money down. Then you have 90 days to pay the amount off with out accruing any interest. Just think of the relief knowing with every wedding bill ringing out that your most important item your wedding dress can be the easiest purchase.

The program is through a trusted partner Paypal. With planning your wedding, you don't need added stress about worrying about fraud online. That is why the top online bridal dress stores use Paypal to insure their customers that their purchase is secure and hassle free. If interested in purchasing a dress with no payments just select the option and it will take you to a secure page to enter to information. Paypal keeps your personal information secure online and away from hackers.

Pay me later feature is not the only reason to buy a wedding dress online. Bridal online stores offer a wide variety of the latest styles and fashions. Online retailers are able to sell direct to you the consumer which allows for much lower prices than in typical stores. Which means you can get the wedding dress of your dreams at a price you can afford. Low prices and no payments for 90 days sure makes buying a wedding dress the best part of planning your wedding.


Low prices on the hottest styles in wedding dresses and bridal gowns.

Monday, June 1, 2009

How to get a good tan?

Many people love to get their skin tanned but because of the side effects of tanning and lack of knowledge they fail to decide how to get a good tan. There is no doubt that a good tan makes the person look sexy and smart and in addition to it also imparts a thinner as well as healthier look to the person. Though there is no such thing as "safe tan" but people still go for it for one reason or another. It is very essential to follow the right rules and guidelines when you opt for tanning the skin.

Tanning can be done through exposure to the sun or through the use of tanning beds. If you want to get tan through the exposure to sun rays then you should follow some steps which will help you to get a good tan. One of the first things to be done is to exfoliate the skin with the help of a loofah and exfoliating wash. This will help to get rid of the dead skin and the new and fresh skin underneath will retain the tan in a better way. Then you should use a sun tan lotion which has SPF of around 8 or 10. Make sure that the sun tan lotion has a moisturizer in it. Macadamia nut oil or Aloe Vera is a good option as they keep the skin moist as well as prevent the sun burns.

The tanning through the sun will show best results if you choose that area which has maximum sunlight and where you are comfortable enough. The best place for tan is the beach. Do rotate your body and change the position so that the rays of the sun reach out to all the areas of the skin. Initially, you can go in for 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure and then 30 minutes after that. Washing the body with a good moisturizing soap after sitting in the sun rays will give you a good tan. Also use a good moisturizer to retain the tan for a longer period of time.

Sometimes because of the weather fluctuations it is very difficult to get a good tan from the sun. Therefore, people go in for tanning through the tanning beds. One of another reason for people going in for this technique of tanning is that the sun rays are very harmful and they have very harmful effect on the skin. In order to get a good tan and flaunt the tanned body in summer you should follow the following guidelines while using the tanning beds.

The first thing you need to do in this regard is to build a base tan and follow the tanning sessions in the tanning beds regularly. You may require about 6 to 8 sittings in the tanning beds however the number of sittings depends upon the skin tone. In order to enhance the effect of tanning you should go in for a tan accelerator which is specially designed for tanning through the tanning beds. This will also help to build as well as maintain the base. Do exfoliate the skin before sitting in the tanning bed this help you to achieve good tan.

After the tanning sessions go in for moisturizing the skin but avoid a moisturizer with a mineral oil as this will prevent you from getting a good tan. After the formation of base tan go in for tanning session 2 or 3 times per week. Switching between the low and high intensity bed is a good option. Even right diet can result in a good tan. Therefore, eat foodstuff rich in beta carotene and include foods like carrot, tomatoes, radish, and broccoli etc in your diet. This will enhance the tanned effect and give the sun kissed glow to your skin. Also take care of your skin while tanning and never let it dry and you really need to take extra care of your face Another thing which will result in good tan is the right clothes. Wear minimum and comfortable clothes while getting your body tanned. Remember that only those areas will get tanned which will receive light. You can even go nude in a tanning bed as tanning in these beds is carried out in a private area.

Just follow the above rules and suggestions and you will surely get a good tan.


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