Here is an idea for a hobby which can eventually lead to a viable business for you – collecting gold coin. There is a wonderful lasting beauty in a shiny solid gold coin, and few of us would not be pleased to receive one (or more) as a present. There is a lively market in buying and selling rare old coins as well as new ones, and it is perfectly legal. The gains to be made are rarely spectacular unless you find a particularly unusual coin with scarcity value. Instead, investing in gold is seen as a way of preserving the purchasing power of your money – this is important if you live in the US as the Dollar value has eroded massively over the past recent years.