coins

Wanna Start On Collecting Coins? A Worthwhile and Educational Hobby

There are many reasons why one collects coins. There are collectors who collect on the basis of the coins' future perceived value, some collect coins coming from just one particular period, some on metal type and some for a coins historical value.

There are also those who enjoy collecting everyday common coins, gaining pleasure from inspecting mint marks and dates on their everyday change. Others have a collection of coins coming from different countries. Some coin collectors spend thousands on rare gold and silver coins from the period of the 1800's until the early 1900's.

The hobby of coin collecting can give pleasure and fun to an individual of any age. Many coin collectors began their collection when they were young children, collecting dimes or pennies and many of them have made coin collection a lifetime hobby.

The hobby of collecting coins involves spending money from the very start so it is good to join a coin collectors group to get ideas and help from knowledgeable and experienced collectors.

You need somebody to buy your coins from, and it may be hard to find a coin dealer of good repute when your are new to the hobby, so having someone that has been in this hobby for years can be of great help to guide you on choosing an honest and knowledgeable coin dealer.

Begin by acquiring a big magnifying glass and examine coins in a bright area so you can spot mintmarks, errors and to clearly read dates on worn or damaged coins.

Decide on what coins to collect and buy a "bookshelf folder" for that series.

You must also have storage, 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 a coin album; storage can also be good for keeping duplicate coins.

Coin collecting is something that takes time to learn. The most important thing to remember is that you are doing it for the right reason - if it is a passion, then it is something worth pursuing.

Collecting just for profit may work but it usually is not enough in the long run. A person really has to think about this since many people who have tried it for that reason have lost focus and failed.

Successful coin collectors take a lot of time to learn everything there is to know about numismatics. Good sources of information are magazines, newsletters and brokers who can pass on information and news, when it happens. By using the resources a person can act fast before other collectors who want the same thing get the information first.

If a person tries to collect without knowing the basics, he will never succeed in this hobby.

Knowing how to grade coins can also help the collector know the true value of the collection. This knowledge will be valuable if the owner decides to trade for something of greater value or it can prevent scamming and wasting money for something of little value. Be vigilant!

One of the virtues that coin collecting can teach a person is patience since the collection may take years to complete. Some of the well-renowned collectors in the world have spent many years before reaping the benefits.

The Basics of Coin Collecting

Coin collecting is said to be the "Hobby of the Kings". Coin collecting is different from money hoarding. Collecting coins as an art form can be traced back to the 14th century. Today, people all over the world are collecting coins. Some collect it for their value, some just like the sheer fun that they get from getting their hands on different coins.

If one is interested in making coin collecting a hobby, he can very well do so. It is a hobby which does not require a certain skill and it can be done by almost everyone.

There are many different kinds of coin collectors. There are those who do it for fun, and others do in a more serious manner.

Informal coin collecting

Most coin collectors, especially the children, start out as informal coin collectors. They are laid-back collectors which do not have a specific goal in collecting coins. They might collect coins from different countries or from different time periods without any intention of being serious about it.

Have coins? Will collect!

Old coins that is. Try looking under that old dresser, or up the attic where grandma or grandpa's things may be stashed away patiently waiting for you to discover them. Who knows, you might find a coin there, an old coin that at today's rate - may be worth a few dollars; probably three or four or five, even ten times what the coin was worth back then.

A penny a day, is worth okay

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a shortage of copper during the year 1943 and all pennies made at that time were minted using steel. There were however, some Lincoln pennies that were incorrectly minted on bronze that turned out to be blanks. A few years or decades later -these bronze pennies became a rarity and are valuable. The steel ones though, because of their commonality, are worth only between one to three dollars each.