So, you have that itch—maybe some extra money that needs to be spent. Some people buy sneakers or comic books and keep them. But when you touch a weighty, glossy coin in your hand, it shouts “old money.” The investment coins. Not only are they pretty to look at, but emperors have played with them, pirates have stolen them, and sometimes they have saved people in times of trouble.

First, let’s make one thing clear: not every shiny coin will make you rich. Your grandpa’s stray change in a mason jar probably won’t be enough to buy a beach property. Coins that are real investments? You might think of gold sovereigns, silver eagles, and Canadian maple leaves. These are the rockstars, made by well-known institutions and conveying not just metal but a promise.

A little drama is always good. Think about how crazy it gets when gold prices go up. People break into jewelry boxes to look for lost gems, and hardened investors move coins from one safe to another. And there is a reason. Coins feel different than blips on a screen. You could still trade a gold coin for food even if the internet went down tomorrow. Can you say the same regarding your crypto account?

It doesn’t take long for coin collecting to get interesting. The year, mint mark, and even the smallest imperfection all affect how much something is worth. Have you ever heard the story of the penny that was a mistake and paid for college? It does happen, but not very often. Sometimes, when there aren’t many of them, a typical coin becomes a headline, and collectors go crazy.

But why put money into coins when equities promise excitement and flash? First of all, coins don’t go down when a tweet shakes up the market. They are real. You can drop them, look at them, and give them to your grandkids. Coins stay the same even when governments change or prices go up. Also, you don’t need a PhD in statistics to understand the basics, unlike stocks.

Let’s talk about the people who say no: yes, coins might be fake. You can avoid most frauds, though, if you do your homework. Be careful with deals that look too good to be true. If someone is selling bullion out of the trunk of their car, be careful. Stick with vendors you can trust and look for certificates. It’s fun to look for deals, but no one wants to wind up with a memento instead of an asset.

Everyday investors’ stories give this space its personality. There is the retired teacher who traded silver dimes for a trip to Europe. The young parent is saving gold for their kids’ future. Each penny they hold has a story to tell, and it will last through market ups and downs.

As you think about your own portfolio, keep in mind that coins need patience, not nerves of steel. The way markets work is strange. Today’s favorite could be tomorrow’s failure. But if luck is on the side of the patient, coins will wait quietly until the last minute to shine again.

Are you thinking about putting more money into your investments? It’s time to give you some history and some heavy metal, maybe. I think the clink is kind of addicting.