Iowa Admin. Code r. 701—213.3(423) — Antiques, curios, old coins, collector’s postage stamps, and currency exchanged for greater than face value

Curios, antiques, art work, coins, collector’s postage stamps and such articles sold to or by art collectors, philatelists, numismatists and other persons who purchase or sell such items of tangible personal property for use and not primarily for resale are sales at retail, and their sales prices are subject to tax. 213.3(1) The sales price of stamps, whether canceled or uncanceled, which are sold by a collector or person engaged in retailing stamps to collectors is subject to tax. Revenue 213.3(2) Stamps that are purchased for their value as evidence of the privilege of the owner to have certain mail carried by the United States government are not taxable. A stamp becomes an article of tangible personal property having market value when, because of the demand, it can be sold for a price greater than its face value. On the other hand, when a stamp has only face value, as evidence of the right to certain services or an indication that certain revenue has been paid, its sales price is not subject to either sales or use tax. 213.3(3) The sales price from any exchange, transfer, or barter of merchandise for a consideration paid in gold, silver, or other coins or currency is subject to tax to the extent of the agreed-upon value of the coins or currency so exchanged. This agreed-upon value constitutes the sales price or purchase price subject to tax. Currency or coins become articles of tangible personal property having a value greater than face value when the currency or coins are exchanged for a price greater than face value. However, when a coin or other currency, in the course of circulation, is exchanged at its face value, the sales price of the sale is subject to tax for the face value alone. Example 1: Taxpayer operates a furniture store. The taxpayer offers to exchange furniture for silver coins at ten times the face value of any coins dated prior to January 1, 1965. Upon any exchange pursuant to the offer, the value of the coins for purposes of determining the tax on the exchange will be equivalent to the value as agreed upon by the parties, without regard to the face value of the coins. Example 2: Taxpayer operates a hardware store. In the regular course of business, the taxpayer receives silver coins dated prior to January 1, 1965. Taxpayer has received the coins at face value for the sales price and only that value is subject to tax.