If you receive any solicitation about investing in coins, keep these points in mind.

* Use common sense when evaluating any investment claims and do not rush into buying. Remember, anything that sounds too good to be true usually is not true.

* Make sure you know your dealer's reputation and reliability before you send money or authorize a credit card transaction. If you can, find out how long the company has been in business. Don't rely just on what a dealer's representative tells you on the phone. For example, if a dealer claims to be a member of a professional organization, call the organization and make sure that the claim is true. If you cannot confirm the reliability of the dealer, consider investing with another firm.

* Do not be taken in by promises that the dealer will buy back your coins at or for more than the price you paid or that grading is guaranteed unless you are confident that the dealer has the financial resources to stand behind these promises. Many of the coin sellers prosecuted by the Federal Trade Commission in the last several years have not been able to meet guarantees and other obligations to their customers.

* It is wise to get a second opinion from another source about grade and value as soon as you receive your coins. So, before you buy, find out what remedies you will have if the second opinion differs. For example, some companies offer a 30-day return period if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Check the information that you are given. Will the full purchase price be refunded or will you be given a credit to be used for the purchase of other coins? If a dealer promises to buy back the coins at the same grade at which they were sold, does that mean at the price you paid or at some discounted amount?

Compare different web sites about coins to learn as much as possible before investing in gold coins.