Besides the more common means of investing, there are a few options that do not appear on your typical query, which can be for a good reason: We will not only list several alternative investments, but also why they might be missing from most sources.

Jewellery

This one is very double, because jewellery tends to depreciate immediately, as you at moment of purchase lose not only the full sales tax plus profit margin of the seller: Jewellery almost always is traded solely for its precious metal net weight value, plus the value of other commodities (think gemstones, which only count from 0,25 carat). Net weight is key here, as 100% pure gold accessories are very rare, due to extremely high wear, therefor you need to check purity and calculate the value based on that.

Gemstones are certainly of value, even without precious metals, but quality, condition and size are all relevant factors. Two stones of the same size and kind are unlikely to have the same value because of a brighter or more collectible colour, the quality of the cut is also relevant.

(Old) Coins

For most readers this may appear as something purely for collecting, but; old coins tend not only to contain silver, pristine specimens have also been highly collectible for millennia. There is reason to believe that Augustus Ceasar even gave them to friends*. Condition and desirability are key here: A pristine piece that nobody wants is worth less than a worn piece that everybody seeks. Should be noted that fully worn pieces tend to be traded for their precious metal content. And there is the kicker: If a lot of not valuable old coins are smelted for their silver, the coin becomes more valuable, thereby  becoming a profitable investment. In the past centuries, collecting coins has definitely been a thing, people just collected pretty coins and smelted the ugly ones. This has changed recently, but could change again so keep in mind that only the nicest coins are likely to increase in value.

Naturally the above requires a lot of patience and probably even dumb luck. A much safer approach is collecting precious metals coins that are traded close to their precious metal content and storing them in a safe environment. The ideal candidates for these are twofold:

• Coins that are considered investment coins; these are traded solely at their gold/silver/platinum group value. Some of these can become extremely valuable in case of low mintage. The premium paid for these coins is low, but so is the premium when you sell them for smelt value.
• Coins that contain precious metals (mostly silver, gold and platinum), but are struck in a low mintage and extra high quality (proof or prooflike). These are immediately considered collectors coins and are prices as such, you do pay for the gorgeous box etc., so you will have to overcome a high premium from the start. Keep in mind that most will not exceed a small premium, if any, over metal value.

There is one more type of metal to consider, copper: In the past copper was considered a lower less valuable metal and issued instead of silver. Nowadays we need lot of copper to transfer energy systems and even for regular electrical machinery (copper is an extremely good conductor of electricity), which makes an investment in copper possible. Should be noted that copper is mined in such quantities that the price per kilogram is just below 10 EUR, on 07 May 2025, so you need bulk and are likely to receive only marginal gains.

Art

We are not talking about your fancy museum main exhibition items, but instead about small paintings and other pieces from famous, presumably contemporary, artists. For instance, a print made by a highly collectible artist is likely not to exceed 200 EUR, making it possible for anyone to purchase it. It is also likely to increase in value overtime as the population and therefor demand increases. If there also is growth in middle class wealth, demand and prices are going to increase hand-in-hand. The work of most artists also tends to increase in value as they die.

There is one consideration to make before investing in any type of art: If it does not increase in value very rapidly, you are going to be stuck looking at it for some time, so you should only buy art that you actually like.

A small note: Stamps are considered small pieces of art by some, but that is a completely different market. Largely because stamps are more similar to coins and the people trading them are aging. Where the art market changes with the traders (read people who actually buy it): Only actually popular pieces are bought and sold for high prices.

Land

Land is something of which there has always been a shortage, partially because you can use it for so many things, but more than one at a time can be tricky. For this reason, we will be looking at three different types of exploitation.

Land for building

This is by far the most valuable type, because housing is something which people are always going to need. There even are speculators who purchase (pieces of) land before it gets reassigned to building. Doing so is extremely profitable, if you get it early and before the rezoning becomes public knowledge. Should be noted that there are quite a few hidden costs to owning land: You have to get it measured to know what is really yours, documents need to be drafted and notarised, and so on.

Once the building actually commences you can probably sell to a developer or the government, who than either sell it to the new inhabitants or collect fees. Note that in some countries the government can just take your land or force you to accept a low price, possibly via third parties.

Unfortunately there are stories of con artists selling the exact same piece of land multiple times and sometimes with a made up rezoning plan. So you buy something that will never become yours, for a plan that does not exist.

Land for farming

A more hands-on approach compared to building. Farming requires a lot more than simply owning land and waiting for someone to buy it from you. You either have to arrange for someone else to farm it for you, or get your own hands dirty. In both cases a very large investment will be required in tools and machinery. Also seeds/cattle can be rather pricey, so you really need to plan ahead for this one. Not farming it is an option, but a wasteful one as you are going to miss out on harvests.

Once successful you can sell you own harvest, possible consume a portion yourself, which happens at market prices and can vary based on quality. Some types of grain are suitable for both human and animal consumption: Human consumption requires high quality and fetches a higher price, so you want that one. It is possible that some goes towards animals. As such it is important to take into account that not all products are the same.

Farming, in this article, can also be applied to growing and selling timber. A much easier approach that does usually require a different zoning destination, but most certainly profitable if done correctly. You still have to plant and maintain the trees, but there is less work between harvest and harvesting will be years later than planting.

Land for the sake of conserving it

Surely the least economically viable option, but not the least valuable in terms of practicality. By conserving land, you return to it flora that was there for thousands of years, in an attempt to save the planet and local wildlife. You will rarely be able to harvest or otherwise sell anything from you land, but you will have to spend money maintaining it. Probably a lot at first, just to get it to where it restores nature. Government subsidies are a possible, if unreliable, source of income, but this most likely is a labour of love.

Value appreciation is possible, for value of both the land itself and the trees on it. Depending on the specific situation some hunting/fishing might provide a small income or food source for the owner. Of course hunting and fishing can only be done to a minimal amount, otherwise you risk thinning out the herd, which counteracts any conservation effort.

 

*Considering that some of our oldest coins come from that era, he may not have given them “old” coins.