NEW TO COIN COLLECTING?

A few items of interest.

COIN COLLECTING BASICS

Basically, coin collecting is obtaining or buying, collecting, trading, or selling forms of coins which are struck or minted.

COLLECTING TYPES

  • Generalist: collects a few examples of a great variety of coins either historically or geographically
  • Specialist: collects for a certain period of coins. Also error collectors for this category
  • Completist: may collect or look for an example of every type of coin from within a distinct period or category

COMMON COLLECTING AREA

  • By Country
  • By Year
  • By Mint Mark (P, D, S, W, C, CC)
  • By Variety (die marriages, etc.)
  • By Type (Barber, Morgan, Peace, Franklin, etc.) – By Subject (portraits, landmarks, animals, historic people, etc.)
  • By Period (i.e. 17th/18th/19th Century)
  • Copies (These are coins that are copies of originals that may be too expensive for most to own)

WHY DO YOU WANT TO COLLECT?

  • Investments
  • Hobby

WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS?

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Mint/Proof Sets
  • Circulated Coins
  • Uncirculated Coins
  • Type Sets

WHAT TYPE OF COINS?

  • World Coins
  • Country Coins
  • Historic

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

  • Weekly buys
  • Monthly buys
  • Occasional buys

SLABS (Encapsulated Coins)

  • Major grading companies grad and attribute and slab coins for a fee
  • Stay away from 5th tier graders and stick with the top 4

COIN CLUBS

  • Join a local coin club to meet with and educate yourself

COIN SHOWS

  • Many shows provide training (some at a cost) for many areas of the hobby
  • Visit one when it comes to town

STORAGE OF COINS/PAPER MONEY

  • Use only archival holders (Non-PVC Polyvinylchloride)
  • Inert materials will not harm the coins/paper money
  • Hard plastic holders are best. Mylar flips are okay but get hard over time and may scratch the coin(s)
  • Safe: never store coins/paper money in hot and humid conditions