Interested in Collecting Coins?

Interested in Collecting Coins? A Rewarding and Educational Hobby

There are several reasons why people start collecting coins. There are collectors who collect on the basis of the future economic value, some collect coins coming from just one particular period or country of origin, some on metal type(gold and silver) and some for historical value.

You can begin by collecting ordinary common coins, inspecting mint marks and dates on your everyday change. Some people start a collection of coins coming from different countries. Some spend thousands on rare gold and silver coins from the period. More than likely you will end up doing all this and more once you get the bug.

The hobby can give be fun for people of all ages. Many collectors begin when they are young , collecting loose change from there parents or getting the gift of an actual mint set. Even folks who did not begin until they were adults, such as myself, turn it into a lifetime hobby.

Some tools of the trade include a magnifying glass to examine coins so you can spot mintmarks, errors and to clearly read dates on worn or damaged coins.
Cotton gloves are also advisable for handling the coins. A well lighted area As well as a clean, uncluttered place to work. Most importantly you must have quality reference material.
To learn about different coin values,monthly coin collecting magazines contain many useful facts and information as well articles ,along with providing great reference photos. Follow what types of coins are sold, and how they are priced, based on dealer pricing. Spend time reading, learning from experienced collectors and asking many questions to coin dealers as well. . You also will need reference that will show you how to evaluate the accurate value of a certain coin based on mint mark, age, color, surface and condition. As you grow more experienced in coin collecting, your ability to spot important details will improve and you will notice key factors such as the lettering, such as if the letters are blemished or blurred, and whether or not they are still distinguishable.

"The Guide Book of United States Coins" , also known as the" red book", is published annually. It provides a good outline of the history, information on basic coin grading, descriptions from past to present including a list of errors to watch for, average retail cost, and an explanation of errors which occurred in the minting process.
Storage is also important, such as clear tubes made of plastic or coin tubes having top screws to keep your coins in until you are ready to put them in an album.

Unless you are only interested in the casual collecting process of gathering every day circulation coins,The hobby can quickly turn from just for fun into spending a lot of money
Look for a coin collectors group in your area to get guidance from more experienced collectors. Research online. Invest in a book.
Having someone that knows this hobby can be a great guide ,as well as give advice in choosing an honest and reputable coin dealer.

Coin collecting is an ever evolving process.It can quickly turn into an obsession.Knowledge and training will save you money as well as make you money in the future.
Try NOT to purely focus on the investment side of this wonderful hobby, although armed with the proper skills and a little bit of luck , it can be very lucrative.

Remember the reason you started the hobby to begin with, a that was to HAVE FUN!

H.B.Stone a.k.a. "Coin Nut" is an avid collector of coins since childhood.
His Blog can be found at Http://coincollecting123.info