Coin collecting is one activity that has actually kindled the interest of many people of all age groups. Coin collecting is not seen just as an activity that is done for fun, but is also take seriously as a hobby by many people. Make sure that you go through this general overview about coin collecting, and the various nuances in doing it.
Ever since the coins came into existence, a few people who were genuinely interested in knowing about the currencies of other regions started trading coins, and they started collecting coins from various places. Most of the people who first started collecting coins were members of the royal family that was ruling the region. The modern coin collecting has evolved a lot ever since it got kick started in the early 1900s in the US. Not that the habit did not exist till then, but then, it was dormant, and ever since the modern version of coin collection started, the fame drastically shot up.
Coin collecting is for the elite. It is seen as a very useful hobby by most of the people who are into it, and they enjoy collecting coins from the various regions. This is a hobby that most of the parents and even the professionals encourage. Coin collecting can be seen as a form of educating the young blood about the coins from other places.
The increase in popularity for coin collecting is another reason that has led many people to resort to coin collecting. There are many people who have invested a lot in this hobby, and there are dealers too. Even though there are people who want to collect the coins for pride, there are many others that collect the coins for the sake of business. There are others who have inherited the coins, and the hobby from their predecessors.
There are many supplies that are required to go ahead with this coin collecting process. For people who have taken this as a hobby, there is almost no need for any sort of supply, but for people who are looking to do this in a more professional way, will require a lot of supplies. The supplies are not in the form of money, they are in the form of accessories like magnifying glasses, folders, boxes, and albums. Most of the accessories that are used by the professional coin collectors are very much affordable, and are aplenty in the market.
The other reason for the coin collectors to be looking for coins that are known to be rare is popularity. The coin collectors have many options that can help them extend their collection. Most of the people who take this as a hobby are looking to find coins that are of the limited edition kind, and they are the ones who manage to find the best of coins. There are many people who look for the rare antique type of coins, and the best place for them to find what they want is the internet, or other professional dealers.
The coin collectors who are looking to make a lot of profit from this coin collection are known as investors? These are the people who look to find coins that are limited editions, outdated, or, rare. There are kids who do this as a hobby, and the interest that they develop early in their life gets magnified when they grow up, and they sure rock the field with their collections.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Monday 11 January 2010
Coin Collecting - Tips For Beginners
Are you interested in pursuing the hobby of coin collecting? If so, then you are not the only one. There are many reasons as to why coin collecting is such a popular hobby and one is because it is not a very easy task. So, if you wish to make your own collection of coins as a hobby or if you wish to do so in order to reap profits at a later date, there are many factors that you must keep in mind.
Research is the foremost factor that you should take into consideration while coin collecting. There is no end to the amount of research you can do and you can never do enough research. The most successful collectors of coins in the world are the people who took the time out to research and explore the entire arena of coin collection. The different subjects related to coin collecting that you should research on include types of coins, history of coins, recommended supplies for coin collection, coin values and more.
If you are a beginner, the best thing for you to do is collect as many coins as you possibly can. Try saving all the coins that you come across so that you can examine them in detail later on. This approach works for most beginners as many of them are not aware of the value of their coins, especially if the coin has not been examined thoroughly. While following this method, it will not take a long time to develop a rather large collection of such coins. At this point, all coin collectors should conduct an examination of their coins and separate out the valuable ones from the others. From this point, with some experience, coin collectors should slowly change their collecting habits.
Once a sufficiently large collection has been gathered, with the first set of coins closely examined and sorted, the important thing to consider is storage. Unfortunately, there are many beginners who commit big mistakes while storing their coins. Many collectors simply put their coins into a box or jar. Although such a casing is enough for storage of coins, it can also result in irreparable damage. If you own coins that are rare or high in value, chances are their value will increase with time, and so it is important to take proper care of them. Normally, it is not recommended to store coins in coin holders for a long time. They are alright for display but should not be used for storing. For storage, it is best to use a coin album or a coin folder.
Another important factor for developing a coin collection is knowing what you are buying. Whether you are collecting as a hobbyists for as an investment, it is always good to have enough information regarding your purchase. All coin collectors wish to gather valuable or rare coins and the only way to get your hands on such coins is through purchase. Almost all professional coin dealers will have a good understanding and view of the worth of their coins. Therefore, there is not much danger of scamming, although it is always better to examine the value and condition of a coin before making any decision. If a coin costs more than twenty dollars, research it.
Apart from coin dealers, the internet is a viable source from which to purchase coins, especially through auction websites. If you are a beginner, you could not ask for a better facility. You will be surprised by what you find. There are a number of renowned coin collectors who sold their entire collection online. As stated before, caution is of utmost necessity while purchasing. There are many people who, unlike dealers, do not know the full value of the coin they are selling. This could result in the over estimation of the worth of a coin. If you have not done enough research and do not have sufficient information, you could end up paying more than you should.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Research is the foremost factor that you should take into consideration while coin collecting. There is no end to the amount of research you can do and you can never do enough research. The most successful collectors of coins in the world are the people who took the time out to research and explore the entire arena of coin collection. The different subjects related to coin collecting that you should research on include types of coins, history of coins, recommended supplies for coin collection, coin values and more.
If you are a beginner, the best thing for you to do is collect as many coins as you possibly can. Try saving all the coins that you come across so that you can examine them in detail later on. This approach works for most beginners as many of them are not aware of the value of their coins, especially if the coin has not been examined thoroughly. While following this method, it will not take a long time to develop a rather large collection of such coins. At this point, all coin collectors should conduct an examination of their coins and separate out the valuable ones from the others. From this point, with some experience, coin collectors should slowly change their collecting habits.
Once a sufficiently large collection has been gathered, with the first set of coins closely examined and sorted, the important thing to consider is storage. Unfortunately, there are many beginners who commit big mistakes while storing their coins. Many collectors simply put their coins into a box or jar. Although such a casing is enough for storage of coins, it can also result in irreparable damage. If you own coins that are rare or high in value, chances are their value will increase with time, and so it is important to take proper care of them. Normally, it is not recommended to store coins in coin holders for a long time. They are alright for display but should not be used for storing. For storage, it is best to use a coin album or a coin folder.
Another important factor for developing a coin collection is knowing what you are buying. Whether you are collecting as a hobbyists for as an investment, it is always good to have enough information regarding your purchase. All coin collectors wish to gather valuable or rare coins and the only way to get your hands on such coins is through purchase. Almost all professional coin dealers will have a good understanding and view of the worth of their coins. Therefore, there is not much danger of scamming, although it is always better to examine the value and condition of a coin before making any decision. If a coin costs more than twenty dollars, research it.
Apart from coin dealers, the internet is a viable source from which to purchase coins, especially through auction websites. If you are a beginner, you could not ask for a better facility. You will be surprised by what you find. There are a number of renowned coin collectors who sold their entire collection online. As stated before, caution is of utmost necessity while purchasing. There are many people who, unlike dealers, do not know the full value of the coin they are selling. This could result in the over estimation of the worth of a coin. If you have not done enough research and do not have sufficient information, you could end up paying more than you should.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Coin Collecting Themes - How To Identify Your Own Theme
Collecting coins is a hobby that is enjoyed by people of all ages around the world. Though many of these collectors of coins have themes which they choose to stick to, there is no necessity to follow any particular themes for coin collecting. You could just start off by collecting random coins if you are new to the hobby, however you will find it much more intriguing if you do select a series to work with.
Though professional collectors collect all kinds of coin they can get their hands on, many do choose a theme for the coins they collect. So many of these collectors say it's fun to hunt rare and valuable coins they always prefer to go with it. We've listed a few examples for you.
Collecting coins on a country based theme is popular. In this theme there are two choices. That is to collect different coins which were currencies of one particular country over a long period of time or may be decades together. Some coin collectors collect coins from different countries in the world. You could narrow it down further by collecting coins from a particular country during a particular decade.
There are others who build their theme of coin collection based on the inscription on the coin.There are many variations in inscription based on different countries around the world and coins collected based on this theme helps us to learn the history. This is also a great way to get your child interested in history education, if the conventional approaches seem a bit too clichéd.
Themes based on different years are another common theme for coin collection. Usually beginners concentrate on this theme as well as the country theme as themes based on year and country are the easiest themes for coin collection. It is significant to know that coins from 1800s and medieval period come under this category.
Some collectors concentrate on themes based on their interests. This is known as theme based on collectors edition coins. If a numismatist has interesting hobbies, he collects coins that have themes in scripted on them based on his hobbies. This approach is interesting, but there are only limited collections available on this theme. It is usually the more experienced collectors who resort to this sort of series to concentrate on.
Numismatists also choose themes based on valuable, rare and limited edition coins. Beginners often choose themes based on countries or years. Some start their collections with coins from what their interest is based on.
As a numismatist, one can collect any amount of coins they want. But if a theme is developed, it increases one's interest in collecting coins and a complete goal and a theme is accomplished.
The themes mentioned above are a few examples for you to choose to start your own coin collection theme.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Page Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Though professional collectors collect all kinds of coin they can get their hands on, many do choose a theme for the coins they collect. So many of these collectors say it's fun to hunt rare and valuable coins they always prefer to go with it. We've listed a few examples for you.
Collecting coins on a country based theme is popular. In this theme there are two choices. That is to collect different coins which were currencies of one particular country over a long period of time or may be decades together. Some coin collectors collect coins from different countries in the world. You could narrow it down further by collecting coins from a particular country during a particular decade.
There are others who build their theme of coin collection based on the inscription on the coin.There are many variations in inscription based on different countries around the world and coins collected based on this theme helps us to learn the history. This is also a great way to get your child interested in history education, if the conventional approaches seem a bit too clichéd.
Themes based on different years are another common theme for coin collection. Usually beginners concentrate on this theme as well as the country theme as themes based on year and country are the easiest themes for coin collection. It is significant to know that coins from 1800s and medieval period come under this category.
Some collectors concentrate on themes based on their interests. This is known as theme based on collectors edition coins. If a numismatist has interesting hobbies, he collects coins that have themes in scripted on them based on his hobbies. This approach is interesting, but there are only limited collections available on this theme. It is usually the more experienced collectors who resort to this sort of series to concentrate on.
Numismatists also choose themes based on valuable, rare and limited edition coins. Beginners often choose themes based on countries or years. Some start their collections with coins from what their interest is based on.
As a numismatist, one can collect any amount of coins they want. But if a theme is developed, it increases one's interest in collecting coins and a complete goal and a theme is accomplished.
The themes mentioned above are a few examples for you to choose to start your own coin collection theme.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Page Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Facts on Coin Collecting and Collection Themes That You Can Choose
According to history, Egyptian King Farouk and Roman emperors were among the first coin collectors. They collected a large number of coins in their palaces and castles. Over the years, the concept of coin collecting has changed and common people have become coin collectors. In fact, the competition between these collectors is quite fierce and this makes the price of rare coins always increase. A single coin can hundreds of thousand and even millions of dollar, which shows that coin collectors will do anything necessary to get the coin that they want.
Coin collecting themes
Some coin collectors are generalists, which mean that they collect bits of everything, but others are very specific and this creates coin collecting themes. The country theme is one of the common ones. The purpose of this theme usually is to collect coins from as many countries as possible. Traveling has become easier nowadays and thus it is easier to collect coins from different countries. Internet and online friend network can also be used to get foreign coins.
A year theme is fairly common as well where coin collectors used the year when the coin was minted as the basis of their collection theme. A variation of this theme is to collect a coin denomination from the first to the last model. When collectors complete all models from a coin denomination, they will continue with other denominations. This theme is closely related with period theme where the basis of the collection is the period when the coin was minted. Common period collections are collecting coins from Victorian era and Greek period.
Prior to the 19th century, coins were hand minted and it was pretty common for coins to have errors. Today, these errors have become one of coin collecting themes as well. Another coin collection theme is mintmark differences between coins. Mintmarks that are rare and difficult to produce will have higher value than the common ones.
Subject, for example like a figure of animals on the coin, can become a coin collecting theme as well. Composition or the type of metals that a coin was made from is another common theme. You will find that it is common for a coin to have two or even three metals combined.
Whatever the theme is, many coin collectors like to compete between each other because they want to outdo their compatriots. They brag when they have completed a rare set of coins that is available nowhere. This situation has made coin collecting a fascinating and an expensive hobby.
Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about antique silver coin locket, please visit famous coin collections.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Heller
Coin collecting themes
Some coin collectors are generalists, which mean that they collect bits of everything, but others are very specific and this creates coin collecting themes. The country theme is one of the common ones. The purpose of this theme usually is to collect coins from as many countries as possible. Traveling has become easier nowadays and thus it is easier to collect coins from different countries. Internet and online friend network can also be used to get foreign coins.
A year theme is fairly common as well where coin collectors used the year when the coin was minted as the basis of their collection theme. A variation of this theme is to collect a coin denomination from the first to the last model. When collectors complete all models from a coin denomination, they will continue with other denominations. This theme is closely related with period theme where the basis of the collection is the period when the coin was minted. Common period collections are collecting coins from Victorian era and Greek period.
Prior to the 19th century, coins were hand minted and it was pretty common for coins to have errors. Today, these errors have become one of coin collecting themes as well. Another coin collection theme is mintmark differences between coins. Mintmarks that are rare and difficult to produce will have higher value than the common ones.
Subject, for example like a figure of animals on the coin, can become a coin collecting theme as well. Composition or the type of metals that a coin was made from is another common theme. You will find that it is common for a coin to have two or even three metals combined.
Whatever the theme is, many coin collectors like to compete between each other because they want to outdo their compatriots. They brag when they have completed a rare set of coins that is available nowhere. This situation has made coin collecting a fascinating and an expensive hobby.
Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about antique silver coin locket, please visit famous coin collections.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Heller
Start Your Child on A Coin Collecting Hobby
Wondering what to give your child on his next birthday? Give him a gatefold spread that can accommodate up to 50 coins. He may not appreciate the coins, but telling him stories about the coin and how it was made can spark his interest. For each birthday give him the coins minted that year. His collection will grow and so will his interest and by that time, he will be an accomplished numismatist.
History Lessons and Saving Money
The ideal age to start a child on a coin collecting hobby is at six years old. Imagine the number of coins he can amass when he reaches adulthood! But there's more than just introducing him to coin collecting. You can use this exercise to teach him how to save his pennies in a coin bank plus pique his interest in the country's history when you start with local coins.
Since you may not have those very old and valuable coins dating back to the 1800s, get a book on coin collecting and show him the pictures of the coins. Add a story or two depicting the era that'll make any child sit up and listen. Stories add value to the coin collecting hobby and expect your child to be an expert in historical epochs.
If someone gives your child a bag of coins, take out each coin and sort them. Teach your child how to do the sorting. As you go along, tell him a little history on each coin. Probably the bag of coins will yield recent mints so it won't be hard for you to tell the coin's story.
If you have saved all the coins circulating in the year of your child's birth, that would be the best introduction to a lifelong of coin collecting for your child. Help him along with the collection. Learn the tricks yourself so you can teach your child how to collect, clean, and store the coins.
Starting the Hobby
For starters, get magazines on coin collecting, a pair of white gloves, magnifying glasses, and coin albums or folders. Start scouting for coins and learn all about the discontinued coins like the 1965 quarters, dimes, and half-dollars. Subscribe to coin collecting magazines and check out the websites on coin collecting. You'll be amazed at the wealth of information you can collect and pass on to your child.
Using a magnifying glass to see the fine lines and the details of a coin is an exciting experience for a child. Make sure you are ready to give the information your child may need. Or if you don't know the answer, you can make it your project to find out online.
Because this is just a starting point for you and your child, don't buy expensive coins and if you find some dirty old coins, don't attempt to clean it. Find out its composition and the appropriate way to clean it. You can get help from several websites specializing in coin collection.
Tips for Coin Hunting
This is not referring to a treasure hunt. You can do your hunting online. However, coin collecting is an expensive hobby if you want the rarer and more prized coins. In the meantime, make do with what is available and always get your hands on new mints. Tell your friends you're helping your child start a coin collecting hobby but be prepared for the avalanche of coins that will start pouring in.
In the future, when he coin collecting bug bites you real hard, you'll be running after a metal detector to clean out your yard and your grandfather's house. The hobby meant for your child will be yours too.
It's never too early or too late to start a new hobby. Consider crafting unique gift baskets or groomsmen gifts, or restoring and designing Zippo lighters. Visit http://www.ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradlley_Mckoy
History Lessons and Saving Money
The ideal age to start a child on a coin collecting hobby is at six years old. Imagine the number of coins he can amass when he reaches adulthood! But there's more than just introducing him to coin collecting. You can use this exercise to teach him how to save his pennies in a coin bank plus pique his interest in the country's history when you start with local coins.
Since you may not have those very old and valuable coins dating back to the 1800s, get a book on coin collecting and show him the pictures of the coins. Add a story or two depicting the era that'll make any child sit up and listen. Stories add value to the coin collecting hobby and expect your child to be an expert in historical epochs.
If someone gives your child a bag of coins, take out each coin and sort them. Teach your child how to do the sorting. As you go along, tell him a little history on each coin. Probably the bag of coins will yield recent mints so it won't be hard for you to tell the coin's story.
If you have saved all the coins circulating in the year of your child's birth, that would be the best introduction to a lifelong of coin collecting for your child. Help him along with the collection. Learn the tricks yourself so you can teach your child how to collect, clean, and store the coins.
Starting the Hobby
For starters, get magazines on coin collecting, a pair of white gloves, magnifying glasses, and coin albums or folders. Start scouting for coins and learn all about the discontinued coins like the 1965 quarters, dimes, and half-dollars. Subscribe to coin collecting magazines and check out the websites on coin collecting. You'll be amazed at the wealth of information you can collect and pass on to your child.
Using a magnifying glass to see the fine lines and the details of a coin is an exciting experience for a child. Make sure you are ready to give the information your child may need. Or if you don't know the answer, you can make it your project to find out online.
Because this is just a starting point for you and your child, don't buy expensive coins and if you find some dirty old coins, don't attempt to clean it. Find out its composition and the appropriate way to clean it. You can get help from several websites specializing in coin collection.
Tips for Coin Hunting
This is not referring to a treasure hunt. You can do your hunting online. However, coin collecting is an expensive hobby if you want the rarer and more prized coins. In the meantime, make do with what is available and always get your hands on new mints. Tell your friends you're helping your child start a coin collecting hobby but be prepared for the avalanche of coins that will start pouring in.
In the future, when he coin collecting bug bites you real hard, you'll be running after a metal detector to clean out your yard and your grandfather's house. The hobby meant for your child will be yours too.
It's never too early or too late to start a new hobby. Consider crafting unique gift baskets or groomsmen gifts, or restoring and designing Zippo lighters. Visit http://www.ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradlley_Mckoy
Coin Collecting - Still Very Popular Hobby
Coin collecting has been one hobby that has stood the test of time. People from all walks of life and ages enjoy collecting their favorite coins. From displaying to talking about their coin collection numismatics love their hobby. Numismatics is the name given to people who talk about and collect currency. Coin collecting dates back to the Roman Empire as gold coins had special meaning and that continues today. Coin Collecting means many things to many different people. Coins can trace a country's history or even learn about people that you have never met. This is just one of the things that coins do for people. Others collect coins as investments for their future or their children's future. Coin investments in recent years have seen a big growth with the price of silver and gold increasing.
Coin collecting can be broken down into several different arenas. Most people collect coins two ways. One is a series. This means they try to get every coin that was minted in a series. One of the most collected series is the Morgan Dollar. These coins were issued in the 1800's and are still highly prized today and sought after the world over. The other big collecting arena is collecting a president or a certain denomination. Collecting coins have lasted through the years for many reasons, but the thrill of the hunt is always mentioned. Coin holders are still given as gifts for kids which let them put coins in a holder and see what they need yet to finish their collection. Just like a long time ago when they viewed coin collecting as a part of our American history
The Internet has been a real boon for coin collecting. Where it used to be hard to find information about coins and coin collecting the Internet has changed all that. From price guides to forums the Internet has made collecting coins a lot easier. If you have a coin collecting question the odds of you getting an answer has increased a lot and you don't get so discouraged about it. Many times when people can't find an answer, they give up. Since we have the Internet these questions now can be answered and keep more people in the hobby. This helps coin collecting grow even more. With limited edition coins and collectors series being introduced now more often it's a great time to be a coin collector. The future looks bright and coin collecting looks to grow at an even faster rate thanks to the Internet and collectors.
Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Meier
Coin collecting can be broken down into several different arenas. Most people collect coins two ways. One is a series. This means they try to get every coin that was minted in a series. One of the most collected series is the Morgan Dollar. These coins were issued in the 1800's and are still highly prized today and sought after the world over. The other big collecting arena is collecting a president or a certain denomination. Collecting coins have lasted through the years for many reasons, but the thrill of the hunt is always mentioned. Coin holders are still given as gifts for kids which let them put coins in a holder and see what they need yet to finish their collection. Just like a long time ago when they viewed coin collecting as a part of our American history
The Internet has been a real boon for coin collecting. Where it used to be hard to find information about coins and coin collecting the Internet has changed all that. From price guides to forums the Internet has made collecting coins a lot easier. If you have a coin collecting question the odds of you getting an answer has increased a lot and you don't get so discouraged about it. Many times when people can't find an answer, they give up. Since we have the Internet these questions now can be answered and keep more people in the hobby. This helps coin collecting grow even more. With limited edition coins and collectors series being introduced now more often it's a great time to be a coin collector. The future looks bright and coin collecting looks to grow at an even faster rate thanks to the Internet and collectors.
Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Meier
Coin Collecting - Get to Know the Coin Collectors!
Coin collecting is one of the activities currently being favored by a lot of people worldwide. Wondering how coin collecting obtained this immense popularity? Well, it may be due to the fact that this hobby can be relatively easy especially when you know the basics and you are in the company of people who can guide you in your endeavor!
At present, there are many different kinds of coin collectors. Some do it for fun while others treat it with much more respect. Among the many kinds of coin collectors out there are the informal coin collectors, the inquisitive coin collectors and the advanced coin collectors.
The Informal or Casual Coin Collector
These are the people who do not have any specific goals in mind in going about their coin collecting expeditions. They may keep coins for a lot of varied reasons, but they are not very serious in building their collection around a more specific theme. They just add any coin that strikes their fancy straight into their collection!
Another distinguishing feature of informal coin collectors is that they do not shell out a hefty sum of money to acquire or preserve coins for their collections. However, informal coin collectors are not at all a hopeless bunch. In fact, most coin collectors started out as informal coin collectors - so do not worry if you belong to this group!
The Inquisitive or Curious Coin Collector
As soon as the informal coin collector starts to notice and appreciate the beauty and the details of the coins in his or her collection, he or she may transform into an inquisitive coin collector. He or she may start surfing the net and browsing the displays in coin shops to learn more about coin collecting.
However, the inquisitive coin collector still would not spend large sums of money in coin collecting. What he or she may want, for the mean time, is to simply appreciate and enjoy the beauty of the coins. However, the inquisitive coin collector is simply a step away from being a full-fledged coin collector!
The Advanced Coin Collector
The advanced coin collector is one who have gotten past through the informal and inquisitive coin collecting stages. He or she knows the value of the coins and will start his or her collection with a specific target in mind. Whether the advanced coin collector will build his or her collection around coins of a certain nation or a certain time period, he or she will definitely do it right!
The advanced coin collector may build his or her collection in a number of different themes. Some may be interested in building a coin collection from a certain nation during a certain period of time. Others may want to collect coins from countries they have been to. Still others would prefer to build a coin collection that represents a certain historical or commemorative events. For some, being perfect may be the standard but some collectors relish the thrill of finding and collecting “error coins”.
Undoubtedly, coin collecting can be a lot of fun. Just the thrill of finding that elusive coin that will make your collection more unique can be enough to make you crave for more!
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Coin Collecting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
At present, there are many different kinds of coin collectors. Some do it for fun while others treat it with much more respect. Among the many kinds of coin collectors out there are the informal coin collectors, the inquisitive coin collectors and the advanced coin collectors.
The Informal or Casual Coin Collector
These are the people who do not have any specific goals in mind in going about their coin collecting expeditions. They may keep coins for a lot of varied reasons, but they are not very serious in building their collection around a more specific theme. They just add any coin that strikes their fancy straight into their collection!
Another distinguishing feature of informal coin collectors is that they do not shell out a hefty sum of money to acquire or preserve coins for their collections. However, informal coin collectors are not at all a hopeless bunch. In fact, most coin collectors started out as informal coin collectors - so do not worry if you belong to this group!
The Inquisitive or Curious Coin Collector
As soon as the informal coin collector starts to notice and appreciate the beauty and the details of the coins in his or her collection, he or she may transform into an inquisitive coin collector. He or she may start surfing the net and browsing the displays in coin shops to learn more about coin collecting.
However, the inquisitive coin collector still would not spend large sums of money in coin collecting. What he or she may want, for the mean time, is to simply appreciate and enjoy the beauty of the coins. However, the inquisitive coin collector is simply a step away from being a full-fledged coin collector!
The Advanced Coin Collector
The advanced coin collector is one who have gotten past through the informal and inquisitive coin collecting stages. He or she knows the value of the coins and will start his or her collection with a specific target in mind. Whether the advanced coin collector will build his or her collection around coins of a certain nation or a certain time period, he or she will definitely do it right!
The advanced coin collector may build his or her collection in a number of different themes. Some may be interested in building a coin collection from a certain nation during a certain period of time. Others may want to collect coins from countries they have been to. Still others would prefer to build a coin collection that represents a certain historical or commemorative events. For some, being perfect may be the standard but some collectors relish the thrill of finding and collecting “error coins”.
Undoubtedly, coin collecting can be a lot of fun. Just the thrill of finding that elusive coin that will make your collection more unique can be enough to make you crave for more!
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Coin Collecting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Coin Collecting Fascination and Wonder
Since coins are so prevalent in our culture, it is easy to get young children interested in coin collecting. Children will enjoy coin collecting because they can find coins everywhere, whether it is in their parents' pockets, or discovering a lost penny on the ground.
Kids get excited to add a new coin to their collection. They enjoy the interesting appearances of the varied coins and love organizing them. Getting kids interested in coin collecting might be easier than you think, so the following are some tips to help you get a child started.
Give the hobby of coin collecting as a birthday or holiday gift. A coin collecting startup set can make a wonderful gift in general, and the cost of gathering together a few of the common coin collecting supplies is relatively inexpensive. Plus, your kit can look rather impressive and important to a young child. It's money, after all!
Start with a fancy album to hold the common coins. There are some very nice binders for protecting and sorting coins available on the market. Make sure that the album you choose is either one for displaying modern coins easily found by a child or one where the child can indicate the types of coins on his or her own.
Include a package of plastic coin holders in your gift set, as individual coin holders are cool things for kids to play with. There are plain types and more fancy ones, so if the price difference is negligible, go for that little extra.
Provide the basic tools as well. Coin collecting is a serious business, and you should add a pair of latex gloves for handling, a soft cloth to place coins on, a good magnifying glass, and a plastic ruler to your startup kit.
From the start, relay the importance of not washing coins to prevent damage. Kids are usually thrilled by dirt and knowing exactly why dirty coins are a good thing will have them puffing up with pride and telling everyone their new knowledge.
Another way to add interest to the hobby is to add a coin collecting book. With a coin collecting book, children will get extra information about the hobby that they can read and understand.
Find a book that has a variety of hints and tips to keep kids interested in new ways to collect coins. Look for books on the market that are written in easy-to-understand terms for kids who want to begin a coin collecting hobby.
Do toss in a coin collecting price guide in your gift, though. We're talking money, after all, and even money has a value and price. Kids will rave about that special coin worth a lot and a coin collecting price guide can be an extra motivator to encourage the hobby.
Last, but not least, start the collection for your child. A child will have round eyes to see that in the album you present are a few old rare coins or a couple of old Roman coins. You can find one of these on eBay or at an antique dealer.
Some world coins are a good alternative, though, and having a handful of low-value coins from other countries (again, check out eBay or have friends worldwide mail you some) can be a fun way to encourage coin collecting.
What if the child doesn't like the gift? Don't be disappointed. Kids are like that, with fussy tastes, and they run from one interest to another quickly in their youth.
The coin collection set you've carefully put together may not thrill, but eventually, the child will pull out that gift and the interest will spark at that point.
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting.php], and his portal has the best information on coin collecting. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting [http://www.mynicheportal.com/arts-crafts-hobbies/the-passion-of-coin-collecting-for-kids] blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
Kids get excited to add a new coin to their collection. They enjoy the interesting appearances of the varied coins and love organizing them. Getting kids interested in coin collecting might be easier than you think, so the following are some tips to help you get a child started.
Give the hobby of coin collecting as a birthday or holiday gift. A coin collecting startup set can make a wonderful gift in general, and the cost of gathering together a few of the common coin collecting supplies is relatively inexpensive. Plus, your kit can look rather impressive and important to a young child. It's money, after all!
Start with a fancy album to hold the common coins. There are some very nice binders for protecting and sorting coins available on the market. Make sure that the album you choose is either one for displaying modern coins easily found by a child or one where the child can indicate the types of coins on his or her own.
Include a package of plastic coin holders in your gift set, as individual coin holders are cool things for kids to play with. There are plain types and more fancy ones, so if the price difference is negligible, go for that little extra.
Provide the basic tools as well. Coin collecting is a serious business, and you should add a pair of latex gloves for handling, a soft cloth to place coins on, a good magnifying glass, and a plastic ruler to your startup kit.
From the start, relay the importance of not washing coins to prevent damage. Kids are usually thrilled by dirt and knowing exactly why dirty coins are a good thing will have them puffing up with pride and telling everyone their new knowledge.
Another way to add interest to the hobby is to add a coin collecting book. With a coin collecting book, children will get extra information about the hobby that they can read and understand.
Find a book that has a variety of hints and tips to keep kids interested in new ways to collect coins. Look for books on the market that are written in easy-to-understand terms for kids who want to begin a coin collecting hobby.
Do toss in a coin collecting price guide in your gift, though. We're talking money, after all, and even money has a value and price. Kids will rave about that special coin worth a lot and a coin collecting price guide can be an extra motivator to encourage the hobby.
Last, but not least, start the collection for your child. A child will have round eyes to see that in the album you present are a few old rare coins or a couple of old Roman coins. You can find one of these on eBay or at an antique dealer.
Some world coins are a good alternative, though, and having a handful of low-value coins from other countries (again, check out eBay or have friends worldwide mail you some) can be a fun way to encourage coin collecting.
What if the child doesn't like the gift? Don't be disappointed. Kids are like that, with fussy tastes, and they run from one interest to another quickly in their youth.
The coin collection set you've carefully put together may not thrill, but eventually, the child will pull out that gift and the interest will spark at that point.
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting.php], and his portal has the best information on coin collecting. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting [http://www.mynicheportal.com/arts-crafts-hobbies/the-passion-of-coin-collecting-for-kids] blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
A Quick Look at Some Coin Collecting Software
Coin collecting software can be a good addition to the supplies you have on hand for your hobby. There are different types of coin collecting software that can help you with many tasks involved in coin collecting, such as identification and cataloguing. It almost seems natural these days that anyone with a penchant for something turns to the technological world!
Coin collecting software can certainly make the hobby easier for those who like to have easy access to information, who wants to learn more about coins, or who are interested in having a database of their coins to buy, sell and trade. For those who love computers and coins, here is a look at some computer software on the market today.
CoinManage 2007 is a coin collecting software that has a comprehensive database of coins and that removes the task of data entry. It includes reporting possibilities and helps you find coins on EBay.
The database includes full mintage information for US coin collecting, as well as links to coin collecting websites. Not only that, the software can provide an idea of what your coin collection is worth by calculating its value.
Coin Organizer Deluxe 2007 is a coin collecting software that helps you sort and manage your collection. It has options to sort based on type of coin, such as old rare coins, medieval coins, modern coins, and has a nice feature of letting the user create coin contacts of buyers and sellers or web resources. The user can also create reports and a glossary of coin collecting terms.
PC Magazine has claimed the Coin Collectors' Assistant Plus an Editor's Choice coin collecting software. This software has an easy-to-use interface and has a complete listing for US coin collecting in its database, including bullion coins and sets.
Colonial and Hawaiian coins are included in the database. It provides tracking options for buying and selling, and helps provide values for coins and collections. Also integrated is a user loadable database of coin dealers.
A great coin collecting software available is the Coin Collectors' Survival Manual that comes in an interactive CD format. This CD provides landmark information on coin collecting, increasing the user's knowledge while providing plenty of tools for the hobby.
There are plenty of topics and coin collecting tips, such as how to avoid pitfalls and how to make money with coin collecting. The CCSM is also available in book format, and this choice makes an excellent gift for either novice or amateur coin collectors, considered an important tool of the trade.
Before deciding on an expensive piece of coin collecting software, figure out your needs. Try to find a basic program so you can become familiar with spreadsheets and databases to organize your coins.
If you can find free trials of coin collecting software programs on the internet, try a few different ones to find the best for your needs. There are also websites where you can find reviews of programs that will give you a better idea of what each one offers.
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting.php], and his portal has the best information on coin collecting software [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting-Software.php]. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting [http://www.mynicheportal.com/arts-crafts-hobbies/analysing-some-coin-collecting-software] blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
Coin collecting software can certainly make the hobby easier for those who like to have easy access to information, who wants to learn more about coins, or who are interested in having a database of their coins to buy, sell and trade. For those who love computers and coins, here is a look at some computer software on the market today.
CoinManage 2007 is a coin collecting software that has a comprehensive database of coins and that removes the task of data entry. It includes reporting possibilities and helps you find coins on EBay.
The database includes full mintage information for US coin collecting, as well as links to coin collecting websites. Not only that, the software can provide an idea of what your coin collection is worth by calculating its value.
Coin Organizer Deluxe 2007 is a coin collecting software that helps you sort and manage your collection. It has options to sort based on type of coin, such as old rare coins, medieval coins, modern coins, and has a nice feature of letting the user create coin contacts of buyers and sellers or web resources. The user can also create reports and a glossary of coin collecting terms.
PC Magazine has claimed the Coin Collectors' Assistant Plus an Editor's Choice coin collecting software. This software has an easy-to-use interface and has a complete listing for US coin collecting in its database, including bullion coins and sets.
Colonial and Hawaiian coins are included in the database. It provides tracking options for buying and selling, and helps provide values for coins and collections. Also integrated is a user loadable database of coin dealers.
A great coin collecting software available is the Coin Collectors' Survival Manual that comes in an interactive CD format. This CD provides landmark information on coin collecting, increasing the user's knowledge while providing plenty of tools for the hobby.
There are plenty of topics and coin collecting tips, such as how to avoid pitfalls and how to make money with coin collecting. The CCSM is also available in book format, and this choice makes an excellent gift for either novice or amateur coin collectors, considered an important tool of the trade.
Before deciding on an expensive piece of coin collecting software, figure out your needs. Try to find a basic program so you can become familiar with spreadsheets and databases to organize your coins.
If you can find free trials of coin collecting software programs on the internet, try a few different ones to find the best for your needs. There are also websites where you can find reviews of programs that will give you a better idea of what each one offers.
Mike Selvon has a passion for coin collecting [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting.php], and his portal has the best information on coin collecting software [http://coins.mynicherecommends.com/Coin-Collecting-Software.php]. Visit his portal for your free gift and leave a comment at his coin collecting [http://www.mynicheportal.com/arts-crafts-hobbies/analysing-some-coin-collecting-software] blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
Coin Collecting Basics - How To Get Started Collecting Coins As A Hobby
If you are thinking about starting the fun hobby of coin collecting there are a few basics you should learn that will help you get started on the right foot and might even save you some money.
One problem (if you can call it that) with coin collecting is that there are so may different types of coins to collect that a novice might but be overwhelmed and get frustrated. Relax, this has happened to many others before you and the fact is most coin collectors specialize in certain types of coins as there is no way unless you are extremely wealthy that you could collect every coin ever made from around the world.
Even though the U.S. State Quarter Program has been enormously popular I think that there are so many people collecting them that it will be a long time before they become very valuable. Still, they are a really good way to begin coin collecting especially if you are on a tight budget.
Personally, I would suggest starting with U.S. coins like the Penny, Nickel and Dime but the neat thing about collecting coins is that you can choose to collect whatever interests you. If you like Franklin Half Dollars then go ahead and start collecting them. Just remember the odds are pretty slim you will be finding one in your change anytime soon.
Go to your local hobby store and look for the coin collecting section where you will find some basic items like coin folders to store your budding collection. These are cheap and work very well when just starting out. Buy a few books on coins to help you learn about the different coins that have been minted and how they are graded and their current values.
With all collectibles the better the condition of the item the more it is worth and coins are no different. Grading coins has evolved into a very exacting science over the years and you must quickly learn how coins are graded and valued or you will become an easy target for unscrupulous coin dealers that take advantage of the beginning coin collector.
Buy a good quality magnifying glass and spend the time to learn how to grade and value coins and you will be much better off in the long run than just blindly taking someone’s word for the grade of a coin unless it has been certified and is in a sealed holder.
There is coin collecting software available for organizing collections but if you are just starting out save your money for building your collection with quality coins and as your collection grows look at getting a software package to help manage your collection.
Try and buy the best quality coins you can afford as higher grade coins are worth more and appreciate in value faster but don’t feel like you need to have the highest grade coins immediately. Part of the fun of coin collecting is always trying to improve your collection with a better grade of coin whether you found it in change, bought it or traded for it.
Start slowly and learn as much as you can about coin collecting before spending any significant amount of money and you will be happier in the long run. Coin collecting can be a lifelong pursuit that is extremely rewarding so don’t rush and enjoy the journey.
For more information about coin collecting as a hobby visit us today at Coin Collecting Basics where we have a helpful information on how to collect coins
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Taylor
One problem (if you can call it that) with coin collecting is that there are so may different types of coins to collect that a novice might but be overwhelmed and get frustrated. Relax, this has happened to many others before you and the fact is most coin collectors specialize in certain types of coins as there is no way unless you are extremely wealthy that you could collect every coin ever made from around the world.
Even though the U.S. State Quarter Program has been enormously popular I think that there are so many people collecting them that it will be a long time before they become very valuable. Still, they are a really good way to begin coin collecting especially if you are on a tight budget.
Personally, I would suggest starting with U.S. coins like the Penny, Nickel and Dime but the neat thing about collecting coins is that you can choose to collect whatever interests you. If you like Franklin Half Dollars then go ahead and start collecting them. Just remember the odds are pretty slim you will be finding one in your change anytime soon.
Go to your local hobby store and look for the coin collecting section where you will find some basic items like coin folders to store your budding collection. These are cheap and work very well when just starting out. Buy a few books on coins to help you learn about the different coins that have been minted and how they are graded and their current values.
With all collectibles the better the condition of the item the more it is worth and coins are no different. Grading coins has evolved into a very exacting science over the years and you must quickly learn how coins are graded and valued or you will become an easy target for unscrupulous coin dealers that take advantage of the beginning coin collector.
Buy a good quality magnifying glass and spend the time to learn how to grade and value coins and you will be much better off in the long run than just blindly taking someone’s word for the grade of a coin unless it has been certified and is in a sealed holder.
There is coin collecting software available for organizing collections but if you are just starting out save your money for building your collection with quality coins and as your collection grows look at getting a software package to help manage your collection.
Try and buy the best quality coins you can afford as higher grade coins are worth more and appreciate in value faster but don’t feel like you need to have the highest grade coins immediately. Part of the fun of coin collecting is always trying to improve your collection with a better grade of coin whether you found it in change, bought it or traded for it.
Start slowly and learn as much as you can about coin collecting before spending any significant amount of money and you will be happier in the long run. Coin collecting can be a lifelong pursuit that is extremely rewarding so don’t rush and enjoy the journey.
For more information about coin collecting as a hobby visit us today at Coin Collecting Basics where we have a helpful information on how to collect coins
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Taylor
Coin Collecting Opens The Door To The Past
Coin collecting or numismatics is probably one of the most popular hobbies in the world and also one of the oldest. Many individuals at some point in time have collected coins. If you want to start a coin collection, a lot of research and study should be devoted to the hobby of coin collecting.
Coins have often been regarded as 'mirrors of history'. Other than the monetary value and worth of antique coins, they also possess historical value. Coins belonging to different ages have different stories to tell of empires and emperors.
Amateur coin collectors generally start their coin collection by collecting coins that belong to their own country, as this is the easiest and the most cost effective way to start a coin collection. With time this may give way to specializing in collecting coins that belong to a particular type. Coin collectors may specialize in coins of a particular country or of a particular period or metal. Commemorative coins, such as those released during sporting events or those that mark the independence day of a country, can also make an appealing collection. Coins with faults or defects are also popular among serious collectors.
As with any other hobby, the coin collection market is flooded with fakes and if you are not an expert in this field it is very difficult to separate the original genuine coins from the counterfeit coins. Before buying expensive coins it is a good idea to get the coin authenticated by reputable coin grading and coin authentication services. The condition of a coin is denoted by a coin grade. For a detailed study on coin grades, read Photograde by James Ruddy. Currently, the more reputable coin grading services are Professional Coin Grading Service, Numismatic Guarantee Corporation of America, ANACS and Independent Coin Grading Co.
The best places to buy coins are reputable coin dealers, auctions, coin shows or from other collectors, though you should avoid buying from the internet as it is hard to judge online whether the coin you are interested in is genuine or counterfeit. Coins may be stored in coin cases, coin trays and coin albums. However, you should avoid storing coins in jars, as keeping them in a jar may scratch the coins.
Amateur coin collectors may mistakenly think that cleaning coins is an important part of caring for the coin collection. However, the opposite is true; it is best that coins are not cleaned at all. Collectors prefer the original look of coins and cleaning coins may bring down their value. If your coins need any cleaning, you should first consult a professional or an expert. Olive oil or soapy water may be used for cleaning coins. Harsh cloths should never be used to clean, and tap water is a strict no-no as they contain minerals that may harm the coins.
If you want to start Coin Collecting [http://www.coin-collecting-hobby.info] visit coin-collecting-vault.info [http://www.coin-collecting-vault.info]. Susan also enjoys writing on a wide range of topics at home-and-family-hub.info [http://www.home-and-family-hub.info].
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Jan
Coins have often been regarded as 'mirrors of history'. Other than the monetary value and worth of antique coins, they also possess historical value. Coins belonging to different ages have different stories to tell of empires and emperors.
Amateur coin collectors generally start their coin collection by collecting coins that belong to their own country, as this is the easiest and the most cost effective way to start a coin collection. With time this may give way to specializing in collecting coins that belong to a particular type. Coin collectors may specialize in coins of a particular country or of a particular period or metal. Commemorative coins, such as those released during sporting events or those that mark the independence day of a country, can also make an appealing collection. Coins with faults or defects are also popular among serious collectors.
As with any other hobby, the coin collection market is flooded with fakes and if you are not an expert in this field it is very difficult to separate the original genuine coins from the counterfeit coins. Before buying expensive coins it is a good idea to get the coin authenticated by reputable coin grading and coin authentication services. The condition of a coin is denoted by a coin grade. For a detailed study on coin grades, read Photograde by James Ruddy. Currently, the more reputable coin grading services are Professional Coin Grading Service, Numismatic Guarantee Corporation of America, ANACS and Independent Coin Grading Co.
The best places to buy coins are reputable coin dealers, auctions, coin shows or from other collectors, though you should avoid buying from the internet as it is hard to judge online whether the coin you are interested in is genuine or counterfeit. Coins may be stored in coin cases, coin trays and coin albums. However, you should avoid storing coins in jars, as keeping them in a jar may scratch the coins.
Amateur coin collectors may mistakenly think that cleaning coins is an important part of caring for the coin collection. However, the opposite is true; it is best that coins are not cleaned at all. Collectors prefer the original look of coins and cleaning coins may bring down their value. If your coins need any cleaning, you should first consult a professional or an expert. Olive oil or soapy water may be used for cleaning coins. Harsh cloths should never be used to clean, and tap water is a strict no-no as they contain minerals that may harm the coins.
If you want to start Coin Collecting [http://www.coin-collecting-hobby.info] visit coin-collecting-vault.info [http://www.coin-collecting-vault.info]. Susan also enjoys writing on a wide range of topics at home-and-family-hub.info [http://www.home-and-family-hub.info].
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Jan
Why Collecting World Coins Adds Fascination to Your Coin Collecting
Collecting World Coins is one of the most fascinating aspects of coin collecting; as well as it brings people self satisfaction.
Coin collecting has been going on since ancient times. The history of coin collecting can be recorded as far back as the Roman and Mesopotamia. Ancient coin collections were kept for the amount of bullion which was the coin was worth during that era.
Later in time the Romans began stamping their city's coins with pictures of their leaders and hero's. Then they started stamping short messages on the coins also. The face of the coins would have the city's leader with the amount of market value, and the reverse side would be stamped sometimes with these phrases, and another picture.
The coins were very beautiful, and soon became part of Collecting World Coins.
Today, coins are collected for many different reasons. One such reason is Collecting World Coins, coins from different countries. The most valuable world coins contained a high amount of bullion; however, these coins could only be purchased from the wealthy. Lesser valuable coins were purchased by people who wanted to start a coin collection.
There are many hobbyists today that still purchase world coins for the bullion value, however, younger collectors have begun Collecting World Coins simply because of the type of stamps which are on the coins. Some of these collectors may only collect world coins of a certain denomination; however, most collectors do not mind having many different denomination coins in their collection.
Collecting World Coins can include some of the most valued world coins, and were valued for their bullion are; the American Gold Eagle, which was introduced in 1986. The Canadian Maple Leaf, which is 99.99+ percent pure gold, came from the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Australian Nugget Kangaroo coin, which was minted at the Perth Mint in Western Australia. Another gold coin which can be added to a world coin collection is the South African Krugerrand.
The Chinese Gold Panda depicts a beautiful stamp of the world's most famous bear, and the obverse is always stamped with the famous Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Collecting World Coins can also include Silver coins as well. Silver coins can include; the American Silver Eagle 1985, the Swiss Silver 2 Francs 1959, the Great Britain Silver Penny 1272-1307.
Since Collecting World Coins is a collector's prize possession, it is very important to keep the coins protected.
Coins tend to wear from handling and from the air. There are precautions which should be taken to ensure to maintain the market value of your coin collection. All important coins should be kept in a coin collector's plastic case.
Handling your coins is very important.
The only way that collector's should touch the coins are the sides. Never the face. This can cause wear as well as leaves undesirable finger prints on the coins, which can cause spots to form. Just having the coin out of its protective covering may cause the air around the coin to pollute the coin and cause discoloration, and the coin may lose its luster.
Brian Lomas is the author of Coin Collecting Secrets which contains more information on collecting world coins - compulsory reading for any coin collector. This website contains valuable information on how you can enjoy the fun and profitable hobby of coin collecting... Even if you have no experience and an extremely limited budget!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course to "Learn The Secrets To Coin Collecting And How To Create A Valuable Collection" go to => http://thecoincollectingclub.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Lomas
Coin collecting has been going on since ancient times. The history of coin collecting can be recorded as far back as the Roman and Mesopotamia. Ancient coin collections were kept for the amount of bullion which was the coin was worth during that era.
Later in time the Romans began stamping their city's coins with pictures of their leaders and hero's. Then they started stamping short messages on the coins also. The face of the coins would have the city's leader with the amount of market value, and the reverse side would be stamped sometimes with these phrases, and another picture.
The coins were very beautiful, and soon became part of Collecting World Coins.
Today, coins are collected for many different reasons. One such reason is Collecting World Coins, coins from different countries. The most valuable world coins contained a high amount of bullion; however, these coins could only be purchased from the wealthy. Lesser valuable coins were purchased by people who wanted to start a coin collection.
There are many hobbyists today that still purchase world coins for the bullion value, however, younger collectors have begun Collecting World Coins simply because of the type of stamps which are on the coins. Some of these collectors may only collect world coins of a certain denomination; however, most collectors do not mind having many different denomination coins in their collection.
Collecting World Coins can include some of the most valued world coins, and were valued for their bullion are; the American Gold Eagle, which was introduced in 1986. The Canadian Maple Leaf, which is 99.99+ percent pure gold, came from the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Australian Nugget Kangaroo coin, which was minted at the Perth Mint in Western Australia. Another gold coin which can be added to a world coin collection is the South African Krugerrand.
The Chinese Gold Panda depicts a beautiful stamp of the world's most famous bear, and the obverse is always stamped with the famous Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Collecting World Coins can also include Silver coins as well. Silver coins can include; the American Silver Eagle 1985, the Swiss Silver 2 Francs 1959, the Great Britain Silver Penny 1272-1307.
Since Collecting World Coins is a collector's prize possession, it is very important to keep the coins protected.
Coins tend to wear from handling and from the air. There are precautions which should be taken to ensure to maintain the market value of your coin collection. All important coins should be kept in a coin collector's plastic case.
Handling your coins is very important.
The only way that collector's should touch the coins are the sides. Never the face. This can cause wear as well as leaves undesirable finger prints on the coins, which can cause spots to form. Just having the coin out of its protective covering may cause the air around the coin to pollute the coin and cause discoloration, and the coin may lose its luster.
Brian Lomas is the author of Coin Collecting Secrets which contains more information on collecting world coins - compulsory reading for any coin collector. This website contains valuable information on how you can enjoy the fun and profitable hobby of coin collecting... Even if you have no experience and an extremely limited budget!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course to "Learn The Secrets To Coin Collecting And How To Create A Valuable Collection" go to => http://thecoincollectingclub.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Lomas
Welcome to the World of Coin Collecting
Coin collecting is popular hobby that has been around for centuries. It can be a great hobby for you and your children. It can also be a profitable hobby. Coin collecting is basically the trading and collecting of coins or other forms of of legally minted currency. Frequently collected coins include those that were in circulation for only a brief period of time, coins minted with errors, or extremely beautiful or historically interesting pieces. Numismatics, often referred to as coin collecting, is the study of currency, though both are closely related.
People often begin their coin collections by saving the coins that are already in circulation. This method has little risk attached as you can always re-use the coins you collected. If you gain more interest in coin collecting then you will want to move onto collecting coins from other sources. Buying directly from the US Mint is a good way to guarantee that coins have not been in circulation. Coin collectors can also purchase coins from coin shops, coin shows, coin clubs, internet auctions, other collectors, or flea markets.
How you take care of your coin collection is very important, as it is with any other collectible. The condition of your coins is paramount to their value. Any sort of damage such as, dented edges, holes, gouges, even cleaning can greatly reduce the value of a coin. Handling your coin collection carefully is extremely important. Your coins should be handled carefully to try to avoid causing wear, spots, or color changes. Collectors do not touch un-circulated or proof coins anywhere but the edges. Fingerprints can also reduce a coin's grade and value. Even when placing a coin down outside of its holder, it is done carefully, usually on a velvet like surface.
There are a few different methods that are common to collecting coins and are often combined as a way to obtain your collection. Some coin collectors attempt to obtain samples of all the coins that were issued from every country, whereas some collectors also may want to collect coins only issued from one country. This is more often than not their own country. Collectors often buy specially made books for the purpose of collecting coins from every year. For some collectors, coins that were issued during historically important periods are of particular interest. Coins of Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Indian, Celtic, Parthian, Merovingian, Ostrogothic, and ancient Israelite origin are amongst the more popular ancient coins collected. Many collectors restrict their coin collecting to coins issued after the 18th or 19th century, while others collect ancient and medieval coins. Coins are often a reflection of events in time in which they were produced, e.g. during a particular king's reign, presidency, war, or other historical event. Coins issued during these periods are of particular interest to collectors.
Coin collecting is often undertaken as an investment. Reasons given for investing in coins are similar to those given for investing in stamps, precious metals or other commodities. As with most collectibles, a coin collection does not produce income until it is sold.
Iain Gall is a coin collecting enthusiast. For more great information on collecting coins be sure to visit http://www.coincollectingknowhow.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iain_Gall
People often begin their coin collections by saving the coins that are already in circulation. This method has little risk attached as you can always re-use the coins you collected. If you gain more interest in coin collecting then you will want to move onto collecting coins from other sources. Buying directly from the US Mint is a good way to guarantee that coins have not been in circulation. Coin collectors can also purchase coins from coin shops, coin shows, coin clubs, internet auctions, other collectors, or flea markets.
How you take care of your coin collection is very important, as it is with any other collectible. The condition of your coins is paramount to their value. Any sort of damage such as, dented edges, holes, gouges, even cleaning can greatly reduce the value of a coin. Handling your coin collection carefully is extremely important. Your coins should be handled carefully to try to avoid causing wear, spots, or color changes. Collectors do not touch un-circulated or proof coins anywhere but the edges. Fingerprints can also reduce a coin's grade and value. Even when placing a coin down outside of its holder, it is done carefully, usually on a velvet like surface.
There are a few different methods that are common to collecting coins and are often combined as a way to obtain your collection. Some coin collectors attempt to obtain samples of all the coins that were issued from every country, whereas some collectors also may want to collect coins only issued from one country. This is more often than not their own country. Collectors often buy specially made books for the purpose of collecting coins from every year. For some collectors, coins that were issued during historically important periods are of particular interest. Coins of Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Indian, Celtic, Parthian, Merovingian, Ostrogothic, and ancient Israelite origin are amongst the more popular ancient coins collected. Many collectors restrict their coin collecting to coins issued after the 18th or 19th century, while others collect ancient and medieval coins. Coins are often a reflection of events in time in which they were produced, e.g. during a particular king's reign, presidency, war, or other historical event. Coins issued during these periods are of particular interest to collectors.
Coin collecting is often undertaken as an investment. Reasons given for investing in coins are similar to those given for investing in stamps, precious metals or other commodities. As with most collectibles, a coin collection does not produce income until it is sold.
Iain Gall is a coin collecting enthusiast. For more great information on collecting coins be sure to visit http://www.coincollectingknowhow.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iain_Gall
Amazing Coin Collection Secrets and Tips For Maximum Value and Fun
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Coin Collecting is the collecting or trading of coins or other forms of legally minted currency. Frequently collected coins include those that were in circulation for only a brief time, coins minted with errors, or especially beautiful or historically interesting pieces. Coin collecting can be differentiated from numismatics in that the latter is the study of currency. Though both are closely related, a numismatist may be or not be a coin collector and vice versa.
Coin collecting has been a very popular hobby for generations and goes well beyond hoarding coins due to their value. Once known as the "Hobby of Kings", modern coin collecting is generally believed to have begun in the fourteenth century with Petrarch. Most people start collecting coins that are already in circulation. There is no risk involved since you can always just spend the coins you have collected but, there is also not a lot to gain. Coins that have been in circulation are more likely to get damaged and are only worth money if you hold onto them for a very long period of time.
Once the hobby has gained your interest, you can then move on to obtaining coins from other sources. Buying from family and friends is a good way to start, just be careful to fully document your purchases! Next, you might want to consider your local dealer. Shop around until you find one you feel you can trust. A good local dealer can provide quality coins and instruction on the finer aspects of coin collecting. Just remember, the dealer has their own taste in coin collecting and it may not be the same as yours. As you continue collecting coins, you will see your preference for coin collecting will develop. You can also purchase coins from coin clubs, coin shows, mail order, the internet, auctions, other collectors, estate sales, flea markets, and the U.S. or other mints.
You can buy specially made books for the purpose of collecting coins from every year or interest. You may find coins issued during historically important periods are particularly interesting. These collections normally consist of coins issued from the 18th or 19th century, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Indian, Celtic, Merovingian, Ostrogothic, Parthian, or Israelite origin, or medieval time periods. Coins are a reflection of the events in time from when they were produced. Collections can vary greatly for this purpose and could contain coins minted during a particular emperor's reign, presidency, war, or other historical event.
Coin collecting can be viewed as an investment. The prices of coins may be steady or the prices of certain coins may drop for coins that are not in great long-term demand. Like some other collectibles, a coin collection does not produce income until it is sold. Although there is a market for almost any rare or obsolete coin, like any other collectable, the condition of the coin is important to its value. Any sort of damage such as, dented edges, holes, gouges, even cleaning can greatly reduce the value of the coin.
The handling of a coin is very important. For the most part, coins should be handled carefully to try to avoid causing wear, spots, or color changes. Collectors do not touch un-circulated or proof coins anywhere but the edges. Fingerprints and even your breath can reduce the coin's grade and value. Even placing a coin down outside of its holder is done carefully usually on velvet-like surface. For this reason, you might want to wear latex or a fine pair of cotton gloves when handling coins.
Today there are millions of people fascinated by coin collecting and several different museums that showcase valuable and rare coin collections. These museums include the Smithsonian in Washington D. C. as well as the American Numismatic Society in New York City which was established in 1891 to encourage education concerning coin collecting. Start your collection today, if you haven't already and join me and these other millions of people in the fun of collecting coins!
Stephen J. Scott is a coin collecting expert and author. For a No Cost Mini Course on collecting coins be sure to visit http://ScottysCoinCollectingSecrets.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_J_Scott
Coin collecting has been a very popular hobby for generations and goes well beyond hoarding coins due to their value. Once known as the "Hobby of Kings", modern coin collecting is generally believed to have begun in the fourteenth century with Petrarch. Most people start collecting coins that are already in circulation. There is no risk involved since you can always just spend the coins you have collected but, there is also not a lot to gain. Coins that have been in circulation are more likely to get damaged and are only worth money if you hold onto them for a very long period of time.
Once the hobby has gained your interest, you can then move on to obtaining coins from other sources. Buying from family and friends is a good way to start, just be careful to fully document your purchases! Next, you might want to consider your local dealer. Shop around until you find one you feel you can trust. A good local dealer can provide quality coins and instruction on the finer aspects of coin collecting. Just remember, the dealer has their own taste in coin collecting and it may not be the same as yours. As you continue collecting coins, you will see your preference for coin collecting will develop. You can also purchase coins from coin clubs, coin shows, mail order, the internet, auctions, other collectors, estate sales, flea markets, and the U.S. or other mints.
You can buy specially made books for the purpose of collecting coins from every year or interest. You may find coins issued during historically important periods are particularly interesting. These collections normally consist of coins issued from the 18th or 19th century, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Indian, Celtic, Merovingian, Ostrogothic, Parthian, or Israelite origin, or medieval time periods. Coins are a reflection of the events in time from when they were produced. Collections can vary greatly for this purpose and could contain coins minted during a particular emperor's reign, presidency, war, or other historical event.
Coin collecting can be viewed as an investment. The prices of coins may be steady or the prices of certain coins may drop for coins that are not in great long-term demand. Like some other collectibles, a coin collection does not produce income until it is sold. Although there is a market for almost any rare or obsolete coin, like any other collectable, the condition of the coin is important to its value. Any sort of damage such as, dented edges, holes, gouges, even cleaning can greatly reduce the value of the coin.
The handling of a coin is very important. For the most part, coins should be handled carefully to try to avoid causing wear, spots, or color changes. Collectors do not touch un-circulated or proof coins anywhere but the edges. Fingerprints and even your breath can reduce the coin's grade and value. Even placing a coin down outside of its holder is done carefully usually on velvet-like surface. For this reason, you might want to wear latex or a fine pair of cotton gloves when handling coins.
Today there are millions of people fascinated by coin collecting and several different museums that showcase valuable and rare coin collections. These museums include the Smithsonian in Washington D. C. as well as the American Numismatic Society in New York City which was established in 1891 to encourage education concerning coin collecting. Start your collection today, if you haven't already and join me and these other millions of people in the fun of collecting coins!
Stephen J. Scott is a coin collecting expert and author. For a No Cost Mini Course on collecting coins be sure to visit http://ScottysCoinCollectingSecrets.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_J_Scott
Coin Collection Themes - Tips To Choose A Suitable Theme
When it comes to pursuing the hobby of coin collection it is the hobby of many individuals cutting across all age groups. The most exciting part of coin collection which is liked by the children and the beginners is that they have wide variety of options available. Usually the coin collectors choose some coin themes according to which they start the collection but its not mandatory.
Its always good to choose a coin theme though you can go about any type of coins. But a chosen coin theme gives you the direction for hunting the particular type of coins.Many coin collectors have confessed that the exciting part in coin collection hobby is to find coins that are rare or which are very valuable.If you are the one who wants to go for a coin theme then this article will give you examples of some of the popular coin collecting themes.
Country Theme
The coin collections associated with a particular country is one of the themes. There are too many options for this theme. An example would be to select a particular country and collect coins only for that country for example United States of America. The other extreme theme may be to collect the coins of every country of the world!
Coin Mint Mark
The coin's mint mark may also be the theme for coin collection. The mint mark is the actual inscription on the coin. If we see the mint marks for US coins they have more or less remained the same in the recent past but these mint marks are varied across different countries or for that matter the coins of US from past have also different mint marks.
Year Theme
The theme of Year is also a very common one. Starters and children usually choose the theme with year and country. The reason behind the selection is the easy availability of the coins with these themes. The most important thing to remember is that the coins from 1800s and that of medieval period also falls under these themes.
The coin's subject and the interest of the collector can be other factors that can influence the coin collection. This is especially true with coins that are available in limited edition. For instance if someone has interest in boating or for that matter racing them he will try hard to find and collect which are focused on these themes or may be related to these activities in some way or the other. Though themes are nice but at the same time it limits the scope of coin collection.
Those themes which involve the collection of rare, limited edition coins or valuable coins often seek the help of professional coin collectors. On the other hand the starters and the beginners whose theme of the coin is country like USA or if time is the theme then they can start collecting the coins from their own pockets or from known ones. So you should take this point into view if you have just started the coin collection.
The above themes mentioned are just few of the coin collecting themes that the hobbyist can follow and take it as guide. So as a coin collector, it's up to you to decide whether you want to collect the coin based on any theme or not or you just want to go collecting any type of coins that comes your way. But one thing should be kept in mind that the theme based coin collection gives you more excitement and a goal which you will find very interesting.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Its always good to choose a coin theme though you can go about any type of coins. But a chosen coin theme gives you the direction for hunting the particular type of coins.Many coin collectors have confessed that the exciting part in coin collection hobby is to find coins that are rare or which are very valuable.If you are the one who wants to go for a coin theme then this article will give you examples of some of the popular coin collecting themes.
Country Theme
The coin collections associated with a particular country is one of the themes. There are too many options for this theme. An example would be to select a particular country and collect coins only for that country for example United States of America. The other extreme theme may be to collect the coins of every country of the world!
Coin Mint Mark
The coin's mint mark may also be the theme for coin collection. The mint mark is the actual inscription on the coin. If we see the mint marks for US coins they have more or less remained the same in the recent past but these mint marks are varied across different countries or for that matter the coins of US from past have also different mint marks.
Year Theme
The theme of Year is also a very common one. Starters and children usually choose the theme with year and country. The reason behind the selection is the easy availability of the coins with these themes. The most important thing to remember is that the coins from 1800s and that of medieval period also falls under these themes.
The coin's subject and the interest of the collector can be other factors that can influence the coin collection. This is especially true with coins that are available in limited edition. For instance if someone has interest in boating or for that matter racing them he will try hard to find and collect which are focused on these themes or may be related to these activities in some way or the other. Though themes are nice but at the same time it limits the scope of coin collection.
Those themes which involve the collection of rare, limited edition coins or valuable coins often seek the help of professional coin collectors. On the other hand the starters and the beginners whose theme of the coin is country like USA or if time is the theme then they can start collecting the coins from their own pockets or from known ones. So you should take this point into view if you have just started the coin collection.
The above themes mentioned are just few of the coin collecting themes that the hobbyist can follow and take it as guide. So as a coin collector, it's up to you to decide whether you want to collect the coin based on any theme or not or you just want to go collecting any type of coins that comes your way. But one thing should be kept in mind that the theme based coin collection gives you more excitement and a goal which you will find very interesting.
Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
Thursday 7 January 2010
Wednesday 6 January 2010
Coin Collecting- Is The Hobby Of Kings For You?
Coin collecting is one of those hobbies that for most collectors, started by accident. Usually the coin that sparked the interest was a coin found in circulation. It could have been a foreign coin, or one from the country it was found in, but something unusual about the coin drew the attention of the collector. From there the collector likely started collecting other coins in circulation and eventually went on to become a more serious coin collector.
Coins were collected even in ancient Rome, although it is not clear if this was coin collecting in the modern sense, or just coin hoarding. Petrarch was the first man known to collect coins in the ordered approach of a modern coin collector. Petrarch lived in the 1300s in Italy and given his fascination with classical culture and literature, his collection probably included ancient coins. Since then, a number of different approaches to coin collecting have developed around the world.
The coins that collectors acquire can range from ancient coins to coins from modern nations that no longer exist. Some collectors even specialize in collecting coins made with minor defects in them. Many collectors choose a specific year or a certain series of coin to collect. Comprehensive coin collections, where a collector has every type of coin issued in a country, are extremely rare. Some people however, manage to assemble comprehensive coin collections from one country or another.
Most collectors start out collecting coins belonging to the currency of the country they live in. Usually it's something unique or eye catching to the budding collector that rouses their interest. From this start, they may go on to collect specific years or valuations of coins. Usually the initial interest provokes reading about coins and coin collecting and then they're off.
The best way to start collecting coins is to buy a coin collecting reference book and to join a coin collecting club if possible. The coin collecting reference book will both help you to develop an understanding of the valuation of various coins and to allow you to develop an appreciation of the variety of coins collected. Being able to join a coin collecting club as well would be especially helpful. Your fellow club members are bound to be more widely experienced at coin collecting and buying than you are. Furthermore, they will know trustworthy coin dealers, they will also know about coin collecting shows and you might develop some good friendships along the way.
A useful strategy for building a coin collection is to find a coin dealer that you can trust and get advice from. This is where joining a coin collecting club would help, because other members would know such individuals. Although some people might think that a coin dealer could have a conflict of interest in giving advice, the experience that a coin dealer could offer in terms of the coin collecting world could be invaluable to you. Obviously you will have to decide on what kind of budget you will follow in building your coin collection. This in itself will give you some kind of structure in terms of how quickly your collection grows and what you buy.
An outstanding coin collection may take a lifetime to build. Like many hobbies, the real advantage of coin collecting is the fascination, interest and mental absorption that the activity can offer the coin collector. If you select your collection well, you may even make a profit on the side.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Coin Collecting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Coins were collected even in ancient Rome, although it is not clear if this was coin collecting in the modern sense, or just coin hoarding. Petrarch was the first man known to collect coins in the ordered approach of a modern coin collector. Petrarch lived in the 1300s in Italy and given his fascination with classical culture and literature, his collection probably included ancient coins. Since then, a number of different approaches to coin collecting have developed around the world.
The coins that collectors acquire can range from ancient coins to coins from modern nations that no longer exist. Some collectors even specialize in collecting coins made with minor defects in them. Many collectors choose a specific year or a certain series of coin to collect. Comprehensive coin collections, where a collector has every type of coin issued in a country, are extremely rare. Some people however, manage to assemble comprehensive coin collections from one country or another.
Most collectors start out collecting coins belonging to the currency of the country they live in. Usually it's something unique or eye catching to the budding collector that rouses their interest. From this start, they may go on to collect specific years or valuations of coins. Usually the initial interest provokes reading about coins and coin collecting and then they're off.
The best way to start collecting coins is to buy a coin collecting reference book and to join a coin collecting club if possible. The coin collecting reference book will both help you to develop an understanding of the valuation of various coins and to allow you to develop an appreciation of the variety of coins collected. Being able to join a coin collecting club as well would be especially helpful. Your fellow club members are bound to be more widely experienced at coin collecting and buying than you are. Furthermore, they will know trustworthy coin dealers, they will also know about coin collecting shows and you might develop some good friendships along the way.
A useful strategy for building a coin collection is to find a coin dealer that you can trust and get advice from. This is where joining a coin collecting club would help, because other members would know such individuals. Although some people might think that a coin dealer could have a conflict of interest in giving advice, the experience that a coin dealer could offer in terms of the coin collecting world could be invaluable to you. Obviously you will have to decide on what kind of budget you will follow in building your coin collection. This in itself will give you some kind of structure in terms of how quickly your collection grows and what you buy.
An outstanding coin collection may take a lifetime to build. Like many hobbies, the real advantage of coin collecting is the fascination, interest and mental absorption that the activity can offer the coin collector. If you select your collection well, you may even make a profit on the side.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Coin Collecting
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Monday 4 January 2010
Collect Coins For Fun - A Guide to Coin Collecting For Beginners
Work, work, and more work is the global mantra these days. As you get caught up in the rat race for power and pelf stop awhile to think whether too much work is making you a dull boy! If you are constantly jittery or anxious, its time you had some time just for your self. A hobby like coin collecting could become an exciting and a competitive sport and do you a lot of good by diverting attention from mundane tasks. So hoard interesting coins instead of dollars for a change!
A coin collection usually starts from modest beginnings. For example, you may have coins in your wallet from a trip to another country or you may come across old coins while rummaging about in an antique shop. You can base your collection on country, year, period, or subject. If you or a friend or family member travels a great deal globally, you would find it easy to collect coins of different countries. You may also choose a particular foreign country that interests you, say France or India, and collect coins of that country. In contrast, collect your nation's coins if you want to know more about it!
Collect Coins For Fun -
Collecting by year involves collecting a particular coin every year of its manufacture. For example, if a certain coin was produced first in 1900 you collect from that year to the present. If a certain monarch's reign interests you, collect coins from that period. Alternatively, you could collect ancient or medieval period Roman, Indian, or Greek coins. Subject collection would include coins on a particular subject, for example, maps, flowers, or ships.
Some coin collectors collect by error! I mean they collect faulty coins. These include clipped coins, off center coins, and coins with over dates. These coins are very rare as automation has reduced the possibility of errors. This makes them even more interesting and desirable. You can also collect by material, say gold or silver.
Apart from picking up interesting coins during international travel, you can get them at local antique shops, flea markets, coin shows, and auctions. Some coin collectors say that rummaging through charity boxes kept at local stores also leads to interesting discoveries. But, don't forget to inform the shop owner before embarking on such activities.
It's great to collect coins, but where are you going to store them? Many people keep their coin collection in a box, but keeping coins all together can lead to scratches on their surface. It's also difficult to locate a particular coin when required. To begin with, you can consider storing coins in separate paper envelopes, label the envelopes and, then, keep them inside a box. You can also opt for small plastic bags to store your coin collection. This way, in contrast to paper envelopes, you will be able to see your coins without touching them directly. However, ensure that the plastic bag is not made of PVC, which could harm the coins inside. When you develop a large collection you can choose a cardboard or plastic coin album. All these storage devices can be purchased from hobby shops, coin shops, or online stores.
Before you start buying expensive coins for your collection invest in a price guide, magnifying glass, and desk lamp. You can also join local coin collection clubs and read up books on this hobby.
Tania Penwell provides information on coin collecting for Collectibles at Savvy Cafe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tania_Penwell
A coin collection usually starts from modest beginnings. For example, you may have coins in your wallet from a trip to another country or you may come across old coins while rummaging about in an antique shop. You can base your collection on country, year, period, or subject. If you or a friend or family member travels a great deal globally, you would find it easy to collect coins of different countries. You may also choose a particular foreign country that interests you, say France or India, and collect coins of that country. In contrast, collect your nation's coins if you want to know more about it!
Collect Coins For Fun -
Collecting by year involves collecting a particular coin every year of its manufacture. For example, if a certain coin was produced first in 1900 you collect from that year to the present. If a certain monarch's reign interests you, collect coins from that period. Alternatively, you could collect ancient or medieval period Roman, Indian, or Greek coins. Subject collection would include coins on a particular subject, for example, maps, flowers, or ships.
Some coin collectors collect by error! I mean they collect faulty coins. These include clipped coins, off center coins, and coins with over dates. These coins are very rare as automation has reduced the possibility of errors. This makes them even more interesting and desirable. You can also collect by material, say gold or silver.
Apart from picking up interesting coins during international travel, you can get them at local antique shops, flea markets, coin shows, and auctions. Some coin collectors say that rummaging through charity boxes kept at local stores also leads to interesting discoveries. But, don't forget to inform the shop owner before embarking on such activities.
It's great to collect coins, but where are you going to store them? Many people keep their coin collection in a box, but keeping coins all together can lead to scratches on their surface. It's also difficult to locate a particular coin when required. To begin with, you can consider storing coins in separate paper envelopes, label the envelopes and, then, keep them inside a box. You can also opt for small plastic bags to store your coin collection. This way, in contrast to paper envelopes, you will be able to see your coins without touching them directly. However, ensure that the plastic bag is not made of PVC, which could harm the coins inside. When you develop a large collection you can choose a cardboard or plastic coin album. All these storage devices can be purchased from hobby shops, coin shops, or online stores.
Before you start buying expensive coins for your collection invest in a price guide, magnifying glass, and desk lamp. You can also join local coin collection clubs and read up books on this hobby.
Tania Penwell provides information on coin collecting for Collectibles at Savvy Cafe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tania_Penwell
Coin Collecting - Factors That Influence the Value of Collectible Coins
The history of coin collecting dates back further than your mind can go. The wonderful thing about it is that anyone - old or young - can pursue this hobby. It is fascinating how diverse collections can be. You can either focus on collecting ancient coins belonging to one country or collect coins belonging to different countries. Going one step further, the collection can even be based on a particular series, a particular type set, a particular dye or even a particular grade of coin. Collecting coins that have errors due to the dies used, uneven designs, double strikes, and re-punched mints sometimes turn out to be worth their weight in gold.
As to the question, "why is this book offered free?" Simply put, there are too many other better books about rare coin collecting that were written by well-known numismatists (see the 'Suggested Reading' list below). Nevertheless, since its public release to the Web in 1997, this text has been read by more than a quarter of a million readers hailing from Australia, Europe, and the U.S. Numerous webmasters and editors from all sorts of hobby sites, including prominent search engines such as Ask Jeeves, InfoSeek, Lycos, and AOL, have selected this book for their particular venues dealing with coins and hobbies. As a result, Companion is widely read by thousands of new collectors each week.
Then there are those who like to only purchase very rare and expensive coins for investment purposes. Many people love to purchase brand new coins straight from the mint while others collect foreign coins only. The great thing about coin collecting is that there are no rules and everyone can collect whatever they wish.
Coin collecting and stamp collecting are often referred to as the twin hobbies. Both these hobbies are very popular, partly because you do not require any special skill to start the hobby and also because it gives you great pleasure and an immense feeling of satisfaction. You can start coin collecting anywhere and at any time and with the coins that you actually have. As you add to your collection, you can relive the history of the country through the coins. Of course once you gain interest, coin collecting is bound to pinch your pockets, but that of course may be true of any hobby.
Numismatics is the terminology used for the study of coin, notes, medals, but all coin collectors are not necessarily numismatists. Coin collecting in India is pretty lucrative as people are willing to part with coins to those who are willing to buy them. It is a form of investment for many Indians. The kind of coins you collect and the number of coins you collect depends on how well off you are financially. It can be quite an expensive hobby because rare coins could cost a lot. In fact the coin collecting market can be likened to the stock market where the share prices plummet one day and shoot up the next. The factors that influence this could be the ordinary forces of demand and supply.
Furthermore, the advent of the internet has been an amazing boon to collectors of coins the world over and collectors are able to find up to the minute information pertaining to value, rarity, and conditions of coins of all shapes and sizes. Online participation in the hobby of coin collecting is enormous, with individuals logging on to look up information about their coins, meet up on message boards, and find chat rooms where enthusiasts can get together to trade coins. You can also find collecting tips as well as many more different outlets to buy, sell, trade, and learn much more about the time- honored tradition of coin collecting.
There are coin shops and shows where you can find knowledgeable collectors who can help you find what you need and can give you advice on furthering your collection. Be wary of sellers at flea markets, antique shops, or other on-targeted markets where the seller may inflate their prices or sell problem coins to unknowledgeable customers. Many of these sellers are even less knowledgeable about coins than the beginning collectors they sell to. The same risk can come from mail order or online purchases. Knowledge is your best insurance when dealing with these dealers. Use businesses referenced in coin collecting publications or from other collectors who you trust.
You see, there's a little bit for everybody in the world of coin collecting. You don't even have to be rich anymore. If you can afford a penny, nickel or a dime a week you have started a coin collection. You see, don't let the fact that coin collecting was once a rich man's hobby scare you away. There are some really neet coins still to be found in your everyday pocket change.
You say you live in a little apartment then Coin collecting is for you. Your collection will fit into one corner of your dresser drawer, or in small blue coin folders and coins don't make any noise.
Most of today's coin collectors developed the hobby within the last twenty years. Nearly all of the commemorative coins issued in this time period has increased in value. Here are a few examples of coin investments which have some collectors smiling: the 1995 Tenth Anniversary of the American Eagle coin set (issue price $995.00, current value $3,600.00); 2000w $10 uncirculated bimetal Library of Congress coin (issue price $235.00, current value $1,100.00).
Check in Coin Collecting [http://thecoindude.com] for loads of information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Micheal_Watson
As to the question, "why is this book offered free?" Simply put, there are too many other better books about rare coin collecting that were written by well-known numismatists (see the 'Suggested Reading' list below). Nevertheless, since its public release to the Web in 1997, this text has been read by more than a quarter of a million readers hailing from Australia, Europe, and the U.S. Numerous webmasters and editors from all sorts of hobby sites, including prominent search engines such as Ask Jeeves, InfoSeek, Lycos, and AOL, have selected this book for their particular venues dealing with coins and hobbies. As a result, Companion is widely read by thousands of new collectors each week.
Then there are those who like to only purchase very rare and expensive coins for investment purposes. Many people love to purchase brand new coins straight from the mint while others collect foreign coins only. The great thing about coin collecting is that there are no rules and everyone can collect whatever they wish.
Coin collecting and stamp collecting are often referred to as the twin hobbies. Both these hobbies are very popular, partly because you do not require any special skill to start the hobby and also because it gives you great pleasure and an immense feeling of satisfaction. You can start coin collecting anywhere and at any time and with the coins that you actually have. As you add to your collection, you can relive the history of the country through the coins. Of course once you gain interest, coin collecting is bound to pinch your pockets, but that of course may be true of any hobby.
Numismatics is the terminology used for the study of coin, notes, medals, but all coin collectors are not necessarily numismatists. Coin collecting in India is pretty lucrative as people are willing to part with coins to those who are willing to buy them. It is a form of investment for many Indians. The kind of coins you collect and the number of coins you collect depends on how well off you are financially. It can be quite an expensive hobby because rare coins could cost a lot. In fact the coin collecting market can be likened to the stock market where the share prices plummet one day and shoot up the next. The factors that influence this could be the ordinary forces of demand and supply.
Furthermore, the advent of the internet has been an amazing boon to collectors of coins the world over and collectors are able to find up to the minute information pertaining to value, rarity, and conditions of coins of all shapes and sizes. Online participation in the hobby of coin collecting is enormous, with individuals logging on to look up information about their coins, meet up on message boards, and find chat rooms where enthusiasts can get together to trade coins. You can also find collecting tips as well as many more different outlets to buy, sell, trade, and learn much more about the time- honored tradition of coin collecting.
There are coin shops and shows where you can find knowledgeable collectors who can help you find what you need and can give you advice on furthering your collection. Be wary of sellers at flea markets, antique shops, or other on-targeted markets where the seller may inflate their prices or sell problem coins to unknowledgeable customers. Many of these sellers are even less knowledgeable about coins than the beginning collectors they sell to. The same risk can come from mail order or online purchases. Knowledge is your best insurance when dealing with these dealers. Use businesses referenced in coin collecting publications or from other collectors who you trust.
You see, there's a little bit for everybody in the world of coin collecting. You don't even have to be rich anymore. If you can afford a penny, nickel or a dime a week you have started a coin collection. You see, don't let the fact that coin collecting was once a rich man's hobby scare you away. There are some really neet coins still to be found in your everyday pocket change.
You say you live in a little apartment then Coin collecting is for you. Your collection will fit into one corner of your dresser drawer, or in small blue coin folders and coins don't make any noise.
Most of today's coin collectors developed the hobby within the last twenty years. Nearly all of the commemorative coins issued in this time period has increased in value. Here are a few examples of coin investments which have some collectors smiling: the 1995 Tenth Anniversary of the American Eagle coin set (issue price $995.00, current value $3,600.00); 2000w $10 uncirculated bimetal Library of Congress coin (issue price $235.00, current value $1,100.00).
Check in Coin Collecting [http://thecoindude.com] for loads of information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Micheal_Watson
Starting A Coin Collection
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies, we will focus on the Lincoln Cent for the years 1909 through 1958, which are the Wheat Cents. There are still a number of "wheat cents" showing up in circulation, so it is possible to start a coin collection without spending a great deal of money.
While you are searching your pocket change for "wheat cents", be sure to check for silver coinage and of course check those quarters. Then new 50 State Commemorative Quarters are a very good place to start since you can find five new states each year plus the different mint marks.
Getting back to pennies, which is where we want to start our new collection. The first Lincoln Cent was minted in 1909 and was made of copper. The mint continued to make pennies from copper until 1943, when for this year only, they were made of steel and zinc plated to prevent them from rusting. These coins appear to be silver or gray in color because of the plating. The pennies were made of steel because of a copper shortage brought on by the war, but they resumed using copper in 1944. Between 1909 and 1958 the penny featured Lincoln on the obverse (front of the coin) and the words "ONE CENT" over "United States of America" framed by bundles of wheat on each side of the words, there by getting the descriptive name of "Wheat Cents". This is how the penny is called for the years 1909-1958. Other than a minor change in the composition of the metal which was 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc until 1943 when they were zinc plated steel, and then 1944 until 1958 when they were 95% copper, 5% zinc and no tin.
The Penny remained the same for 50 years. It was designed by Victor David Brenner, whose initials appeared on the reverse, of some, of the coins minted that first year. There are two varieties of the 1909, some have the VDB on the reverse, (back of coin) at the bottom of the coin at the 6 o’clock position, and others do not. The pennies were minted at Philadelphia, Pa. and San Francisco, Ca. The pennies from San Francisco have a small "s" under the date while the Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. The coins to watch for are the ones with mintmarks; this applies to all coins not just pennies. The value of coins is greatly based on rarity and with the Philadelphia mint being the largest of the mints; it was natural for them to produce the greatest number of coins. There is also a mint in Denver, Co. and a mint, which had been closed by this time in Carson City. The Denver mint put a small "d" under the date and on older coinage of other types you will find the letters "CC" for Carson City.
Mint Marks are Important, learn to watch for them.
Back to pennies, in 1909 when the first Lincoln (wheat cent) penny was made, they minted 72,702,618 in Philadelphia without the designers, Victor David Brenner, initials. They produced 27,995,000 with the VDB on the reverse of the penny. This same year, 1909, San Francisco minted 1,825,000 without the designer’s initials and 484,000 with the initials VDB on the reverse at the bottom of the coin. So now for the economics lesson of supply and demand and how it affects price. If you had a 1909-penny in "good" condition it would be worth about 75 cents, in "mint" condition it would be valued at about $14.00. If you had a 1909 with VDB on the reverse in "good" condition, it would be worth about $1.80, in "mint" condition ( I can’t explain this ) the value is about $9.00 ( the only apparent reason for the penny with the lower mintage being worth less in mint condition then the plain 1909 in mint condition, would be that in numismatic records kept by the grading services, there are probably more 1909 VDB’s on record than plain 1909’s) If you had a 1909s in "good" condition it is worth $37.00, in "mint" condition about $120.00. Now if you were lucky enough to find a 1909s with the initials VDB on the reverse in "good" condition it is worth $350.00 and in "mint" condition it is worth $680.00 or more. Not bad for a penny.
In all coin types and series there exists what are known as "key dates", for now lets just say they are important because of a number of factors (another big subject), but that they are important in collecting coins of all types, not just pennies. The "key dates" for the Lincoln penny 1909-1958 are:
1909s
1909s VDB
1914d
1922
1931s
The semi-key dates, also valuable, but not as significant as the "key dates" are: 1910s, 1911d, 1911s, 1912s, 1913d, 1913s, 1914s, 1915, 1921s, 1922d, 1923s, 1924d, 1926s, 1931d, and 1933d.
This takes you through the "wheat cents" 1909-1958, along with keys and semi-keys each series of coin has Error varieties, Die varieties, and double die varieties which are also worth more than the common date coins. These again are subjects in themselves but a brief description is needed to make you aware of what to look for in collecting coins.
Error varieties are any condition, which may have existed resulting in a coin being struck and getting into circulation in a condition of appearance to be other than what was intended by the U.S. Mint. Simply said if it looks different than all the other s as a result of a mint mistake and not tampering or defacing by an individual, than it is an error, and they tend to be worth more.
Double Die varieties are actually errors because the coin after being stamped does not exit the die but remains in the die and is struck again causing parts of the design to be duplicated. Sometimes the duplicate is very noticeable other double die varieties require a powerful magnifying glass or microscope to see them.
Die varieties are the result of many dies being used to mint any particular series of coin. They could never produce this many pennies with only one die. Each die has its own characteristics, small differences between dies, which are noticeable enough that you can distinguish pennies or other coins being minted by a particular die.
As you may become educated at this point into the many details of coin collecting, let me say this now. Coin Collecting should be no more involved, difficult, or time consuming than you want it to be. The main objective of coin collecting is enjoyment, if you are interested in investing, find a Stock Broker. Lastly, I borrow this comment from another person whose name I don’t remember, but who deserves the credit none the less. "As a coin collector, you are not a coin owner, but a coin keeper. Although you have the actual coins in your possession and legally they are yours to hold, buy, sell or trade, while they are in your possession you should do everything possible to maintain the condition and appearance of the coins."(To who ever said this, I apologize for not being able to quote you verbatim or give you your due credit) "As keepers of coins, we enjoy our collection, than pass them to the next generation of keepers." This was significant to me personally, as it links, you, others, and me in a great chain from past through present and into the future as we are the keeper of coins, coin collectors and Numismatists.
Enough now of history, economics and philosophy, let’s collect coins.
To start, get yourself a magnifying glass, the bigger the better. Search your coins in a well-lighted area to be better able to spot errors, mintmarks, and to read dates on some of your more worn coins. Determine what coins you will collect and purchase a bookshelf folder for that denomination or series. Whitman, Dansco, Harris & Co. and a few others put out these folders. The Whitman folders are probably the most familiar; they are blue folders about 8 inches high, 6 inches wide and about ¼ inch thick. They retail for about $3.75 each and are available at most bookstores all coin stores and many web sites including my own.
Try to purchase a book called, "A Guide Book of United States Coins" by R.S. Yeoman. This is commonly called the red book and it is a red book which retails for about $11.00 in the hard cover edition at most book stores and coin shops. The Red Book is published every year, it gives you a good over view of the history of U.S. coins, basic grading information, average retail value for all U.S. coins, descriptions of the different coins past and present and a listing of the errors, with pictures, of some errors found in the minting process. Purchase one of the monthly publications on coin collecting. My two favorites are "Coins" and "COINage". Krausse Publishing who also publishes more than half of all coin related books and periodicals publishes coins magazine. COINage is published by Miller Magazines, Inc. and is always packed with great stories and information as well as advertisers for coin related material. You do not need a subscription, but try to buy at least one copy of either magazine. It will give you some great insight into prices of coins, coins other than pennies that you may want to collect also some great pictures of coins and good articles to educate yourself in coin collecting. Both magazines sell for about $4.00 each, if that is within your budget, then you should buy a copy to get an idea of what is out there.
Coin World and Numismatic News are two weekly newspapers with many great articles, current news and classified sections for buyers, sellers and traders all relating to coins. They retail for about $1.95 and are also available at bookstores. The newspaper may not interest you until you get more involved in the hobby and want to stay more in tune with what is happening currently in the Numismatic world. Numismatic News is again published by Krausse publishing and Coin World is published by Ames Press.
A second book you should try to purchase is "Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins", put out by the American Numismatic Association. The book is an excellent guide to grading coins, a skill you will need to develop if you continue in coin collecting. It is a well-used and respected guide for grading coins. Visit the A.N.A. at http://www.money.org, and if you can, consider joining, they have a Junior and Adult Membership. The Junior is only $20.00 for the year and the adult is $36.00, but the benefits are worth the cost of membership. Another coin club is Coin Masters, which is free and also has a Junior Membership as well as Adult. The group is not as large as A.N.A. but it is a great group with some very helpful members. Visit their web site to join at [http://www.coinmasters.org/]
Some supplies should be purchased when you start collecting coins. You should have something to put your coins in for storage, until you are ready to place them in an album, or for you duplicate coins. You can purchase coin tubes, clear plastic tubes preferably with screw on tops, in the various coin denominations, penny tubes, nickel tubes, etc. Tubes cost about 20 to 50 cents each and usually come in packages of 4 or more, but can also be purchased in bulk for a cheaper price per tube.
IMPORTANT POINT: When storing coins, be careful of the material used in the storage device, many plastics react with the surface of coins causing them to discolor or develop black spots. The paper used is also important as many papers and cardboard contain sulfur, which will cause a silver coin to turn black. The very best and most expensive are air tight holders. These provide the best storage and the expense is of little concern for your more valuable coins. A common and popular method to store coins is in 2"X 2" white cardboard folders which have Mylar/Polyester windows. These are very good and affordable holders for your more common coins and they retail for about $3.75 to $5.00 for a box of 100. They are available in bulk packs of 1000 at lower prices, but I prefer the boxes since they make an excellent way to store the folders once you have inserted and labeled your coins. You simply insert your coin into the round window; fold the other side over and staple shut. NOTE: Try to use stainless steel staples, as they will not rust like ordinary staples. There are a number of other methods and devices for storage, be sure they are made of material that is safe for your coins.
A quick note on copper coins: try to store your coins in an area that is dry. This is particularly important if you happen to have some mint state or proof coins. A nice choice red coin when exposed to moisture, even for a brief period could suddenly begin to change color and end up being brown, dull and less valuable.
Cleaning Coins: Read about it, learn it and leave it to the experts.
I recommend no cleaning except under the following condition. If a coin has been exposed to something that will further deteriorate the coin, then cleaning may be needed. Never use an abrasive substance to clean a coin, at most use a mild soap, such as Ivory soap, and water. Gently dab the solution onto the coin, do not rub, and then rinse very well in clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. De-natured alcohol is also used to remove harmful oils from a coins surface, remember to hold the coin by the rim or edges and not on the face of the coin. The acid and oils present in your skin will leave finger prints on the clean shiny surface of a mint state or proof coin that can be seen from five feet away.
Finally, as long as this article may appear, it just scratches the surface of the many aspects of coin collecting. As your collection and interest grows, so will your knowledge. Take the time to listen, to read, ask questions and learn. This is a process that will continue the rest of your coin collecting days. Your education can save you money now and make money for you in the future, but most of all remember have fun. Enjoy the "Hobby of Kings" which has grown to become the "King of Hobbies"; you are a numismatist, a coin collector and a keeper of coins.
Basic essentials needed to start a coin collection.
1.Coins, pocket change is a good way and inexpensive way to start.
2.A good magnifying glass, or a cheaper one at least.
3.Coin albums for whatever denomination and series of coins you intend to collect.
4.Storage devices to protect your coins, tubes are nice but the coins must be removed from them to admire or search through your collection. The 2X2 cardboard holders or flips work best for this reason.
5.Most if not all books and periodicals can be found at your public library, take advantage of that to save money for purchasing coins.
6.Try to join a local coin club. You can probably find one through your Chamber of Commerce or telephone book. There are also some clubs listed on the Internet and clubs such as Coin Masters, which is only available on the web.
7.You will at some time need to purchase coins. It would be near impossible to complete a folder with coins from circulation. Wheat cents are available by the pound at very reasonable rates, but you should shop around.
8.Subscribe to the news group rec.collecting.coins
Visit us at [Http://www.Vportweb.net] or [Http://www.vportweb.com] - our other hobby.
By Paul “Tumble Weed”
No formal writing skills, terible with grammar, but like a "Tumble Weed", I ramble on. Enjoy writing, philosophy, web site building, coin collecting, home remodeling, Tea Cup Pommeranians, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Totoritis
While you are searching your pocket change for "wheat cents", be sure to check for silver coinage and of course check those quarters. Then new 50 State Commemorative Quarters are a very good place to start since you can find five new states each year plus the different mint marks.
Getting back to pennies, which is where we want to start our new collection. The first Lincoln Cent was minted in 1909 and was made of copper. The mint continued to make pennies from copper until 1943, when for this year only, they were made of steel and zinc plated to prevent them from rusting. These coins appear to be silver or gray in color because of the plating. The pennies were made of steel because of a copper shortage brought on by the war, but they resumed using copper in 1944. Between 1909 and 1958 the penny featured Lincoln on the obverse (front of the coin) and the words "ONE CENT" over "United States of America" framed by bundles of wheat on each side of the words, there by getting the descriptive name of "Wheat Cents". This is how the penny is called for the years 1909-1958. Other than a minor change in the composition of the metal which was 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc until 1943 when they were zinc plated steel, and then 1944 until 1958 when they were 95% copper, 5% zinc and no tin.
The Penny remained the same for 50 years. It was designed by Victor David Brenner, whose initials appeared on the reverse, of some, of the coins minted that first year. There are two varieties of the 1909, some have the VDB on the reverse, (back of coin) at the bottom of the coin at the 6 o’clock position, and others do not. The pennies were minted at Philadelphia, Pa. and San Francisco, Ca. The pennies from San Francisco have a small "s" under the date while the Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. The coins to watch for are the ones with mintmarks; this applies to all coins not just pennies. The value of coins is greatly based on rarity and with the Philadelphia mint being the largest of the mints; it was natural for them to produce the greatest number of coins. There is also a mint in Denver, Co. and a mint, which had been closed by this time in Carson City. The Denver mint put a small "d" under the date and on older coinage of other types you will find the letters "CC" for Carson City.
Mint Marks are Important, learn to watch for them.
Back to pennies, in 1909 when the first Lincoln (wheat cent) penny was made, they minted 72,702,618 in Philadelphia without the designers, Victor David Brenner, initials. They produced 27,995,000 with the VDB on the reverse of the penny. This same year, 1909, San Francisco minted 1,825,000 without the designer’s initials and 484,000 with the initials VDB on the reverse at the bottom of the coin. So now for the economics lesson of supply and demand and how it affects price. If you had a 1909-penny in "good" condition it would be worth about 75 cents, in "mint" condition it would be valued at about $14.00. If you had a 1909 with VDB on the reverse in "good" condition, it would be worth about $1.80, in "mint" condition ( I can’t explain this ) the value is about $9.00 ( the only apparent reason for the penny with the lower mintage being worth less in mint condition then the plain 1909 in mint condition, would be that in numismatic records kept by the grading services, there are probably more 1909 VDB’s on record than plain 1909’s) If you had a 1909s in "good" condition it is worth $37.00, in "mint" condition about $120.00. Now if you were lucky enough to find a 1909s with the initials VDB on the reverse in "good" condition it is worth $350.00 and in "mint" condition it is worth $680.00 or more. Not bad for a penny.
In all coin types and series there exists what are known as "key dates", for now lets just say they are important because of a number of factors (another big subject), but that they are important in collecting coins of all types, not just pennies. The "key dates" for the Lincoln penny 1909-1958 are:
1909s
1909s VDB
1914d
1922
1931s
The semi-key dates, also valuable, but not as significant as the "key dates" are: 1910s, 1911d, 1911s, 1912s, 1913d, 1913s, 1914s, 1915, 1921s, 1922d, 1923s, 1924d, 1926s, 1931d, and 1933d.
This takes you through the "wheat cents" 1909-1958, along with keys and semi-keys each series of coin has Error varieties, Die varieties, and double die varieties which are also worth more than the common date coins. These again are subjects in themselves but a brief description is needed to make you aware of what to look for in collecting coins.
Error varieties are any condition, which may have existed resulting in a coin being struck and getting into circulation in a condition of appearance to be other than what was intended by the U.S. Mint. Simply said if it looks different than all the other s as a result of a mint mistake and not tampering or defacing by an individual, than it is an error, and they tend to be worth more.
Double Die varieties are actually errors because the coin after being stamped does not exit the die but remains in the die and is struck again causing parts of the design to be duplicated. Sometimes the duplicate is very noticeable other double die varieties require a powerful magnifying glass or microscope to see them.
Die varieties are the result of many dies being used to mint any particular series of coin. They could never produce this many pennies with only one die. Each die has its own characteristics, small differences between dies, which are noticeable enough that you can distinguish pennies or other coins being minted by a particular die.
As you may become educated at this point into the many details of coin collecting, let me say this now. Coin Collecting should be no more involved, difficult, or time consuming than you want it to be. The main objective of coin collecting is enjoyment, if you are interested in investing, find a Stock Broker. Lastly, I borrow this comment from another person whose name I don’t remember, but who deserves the credit none the less. "As a coin collector, you are not a coin owner, but a coin keeper. Although you have the actual coins in your possession and legally they are yours to hold, buy, sell or trade, while they are in your possession you should do everything possible to maintain the condition and appearance of the coins."(To who ever said this, I apologize for not being able to quote you verbatim or give you your due credit) "As keepers of coins, we enjoy our collection, than pass them to the next generation of keepers." This was significant to me personally, as it links, you, others, and me in a great chain from past through present and into the future as we are the keeper of coins, coin collectors and Numismatists.
Enough now of history, economics and philosophy, let’s collect coins.
To start, get yourself a magnifying glass, the bigger the better. Search your coins in a well-lighted area to be better able to spot errors, mintmarks, and to read dates on some of your more worn coins. Determine what coins you will collect and purchase a bookshelf folder for that denomination or series. Whitman, Dansco, Harris & Co. and a few others put out these folders. The Whitman folders are probably the most familiar; they are blue folders about 8 inches high, 6 inches wide and about ¼ inch thick. They retail for about $3.75 each and are available at most bookstores all coin stores and many web sites including my own.
Try to purchase a book called, "A Guide Book of United States Coins" by R.S. Yeoman. This is commonly called the red book and it is a red book which retails for about $11.00 in the hard cover edition at most book stores and coin shops. The Red Book is published every year, it gives you a good over view of the history of U.S. coins, basic grading information, average retail value for all U.S. coins, descriptions of the different coins past and present and a listing of the errors, with pictures, of some errors found in the minting process. Purchase one of the monthly publications on coin collecting. My two favorites are "Coins" and "COINage". Krausse Publishing who also publishes more than half of all coin related books and periodicals publishes coins magazine. COINage is published by Miller Magazines, Inc. and is always packed with great stories and information as well as advertisers for coin related material. You do not need a subscription, but try to buy at least one copy of either magazine. It will give you some great insight into prices of coins, coins other than pennies that you may want to collect also some great pictures of coins and good articles to educate yourself in coin collecting. Both magazines sell for about $4.00 each, if that is within your budget, then you should buy a copy to get an idea of what is out there.
Coin World and Numismatic News are two weekly newspapers with many great articles, current news and classified sections for buyers, sellers and traders all relating to coins. They retail for about $1.95 and are also available at bookstores. The newspaper may not interest you until you get more involved in the hobby and want to stay more in tune with what is happening currently in the Numismatic world. Numismatic News is again published by Krausse publishing and Coin World is published by Ames Press.
A second book you should try to purchase is "Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins", put out by the American Numismatic Association. The book is an excellent guide to grading coins, a skill you will need to develop if you continue in coin collecting. It is a well-used and respected guide for grading coins. Visit the A.N.A. at http://www.money.org, and if you can, consider joining, they have a Junior and Adult Membership. The Junior is only $20.00 for the year and the adult is $36.00, but the benefits are worth the cost of membership. Another coin club is Coin Masters, which is free and also has a Junior Membership as well as Adult. The group is not as large as A.N.A. but it is a great group with some very helpful members. Visit their web site to join at [http://www.coinmasters.org/]
Some supplies should be purchased when you start collecting coins. You should have something to put your coins in for storage, until you are ready to place them in an album, or for you duplicate coins. You can purchase coin tubes, clear plastic tubes preferably with screw on tops, in the various coin denominations, penny tubes, nickel tubes, etc. Tubes cost about 20 to 50 cents each and usually come in packages of 4 or more, but can also be purchased in bulk for a cheaper price per tube.
IMPORTANT POINT: When storing coins, be careful of the material used in the storage device, many plastics react with the surface of coins causing them to discolor or develop black spots. The paper used is also important as many papers and cardboard contain sulfur, which will cause a silver coin to turn black. The very best and most expensive are air tight holders. These provide the best storage and the expense is of little concern for your more valuable coins. A common and popular method to store coins is in 2"X 2" white cardboard folders which have Mylar/Polyester windows. These are very good and affordable holders for your more common coins and they retail for about $3.75 to $5.00 for a box of 100. They are available in bulk packs of 1000 at lower prices, but I prefer the boxes since they make an excellent way to store the folders once you have inserted and labeled your coins. You simply insert your coin into the round window; fold the other side over and staple shut. NOTE: Try to use stainless steel staples, as they will not rust like ordinary staples. There are a number of other methods and devices for storage, be sure they are made of material that is safe for your coins.
A quick note on copper coins: try to store your coins in an area that is dry. This is particularly important if you happen to have some mint state or proof coins. A nice choice red coin when exposed to moisture, even for a brief period could suddenly begin to change color and end up being brown, dull and less valuable.
Cleaning Coins: Read about it, learn it and leave it to the experts.
I recommend no cleaning except under the following condition. If a coin has been exposed to something that will further deteriorate the coin, then cleaning may be needed. Never use an abrasive substance to clean a coin, at most use a mild soap, such as Ivory soap, and water. Gently dab the solution onto the coin, do not rub, and then rinse very well in clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. De-natured alcohol is also used to remove harmful oils from a coins surface, remember to hold the coin by the rim or edges and not on the face of the coin. The acid and oils present in your skin will leave finger prints on the clean shiny surface of a mint state or proof coin that can be seen from five feet away.
Finally, as long as this article may appear, it just scratches the surface of the many aspects of coin collecting. As your collection and interest grows, so will your knowledge. Take the time to listen, to read, ask questions and learn. This is a process that will continue the rest of your coin collecting days. Your education can save you money now and make money for you in the future, but most of all remember have fun. Enjoy the "Hobby of Kings" which has grown to become the "King of Hobbies"; you are a numismatist, a coin collector and a keeper of coins.
Basic essentials needed to start a coin collection.
1.Coins, pocket change is a good way and inexpensive way to start.
2.A good magnifying glass, or a cheaper one at least.
3.Coin albums for whatever denomination and series of coins you intend to collect.
4.Storage devices to protect your coins, tubes are nice but the coins must be removed from them to admire or search through your collection. The 2X2 cardboard holders or flips work best for this reason.
5.Most if not all books and periodicals can be found at your public library, take advantage of that to save money for purchasing coins.
6.Try to join a local coin club. You can probably find one through your Chamber of Commerce or telephone book. There are also some clubs listed on the Internet and clubs such as Coin Masters, which is only available on the web.
7.You will at some time need to purchase coins. It would be near impossible to complete a folder with coins from circulation. Wheat cents are available by the pound at very reasonable rates, but you should shop around.
8.Subscribe to the news group rec.collecting.coins
Visit us at [Http://www.Vportweb.net] or [Http://www.vportweb.com] - our other hobby.
By Paul “Tumble Weed”
No formal writing skills, terible with grammar, but like a "Tumble Weed", I ramble on. Enjoy writing, philosophy, web site building, coin collecting, home remodeling, Tea Cup Pommeranians, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Totoritis
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