| Although huge amounts of money can be | | | | say so much about our nation, honoring Liberty |
| invested in collecting some types of American | | | | and freedom above all. In the same way, today's |
| coins, It is possible to have a load of fun collecting | | | | politically correct coins which exclusively promote |
| coins without really investing much money at all. I | | | | the politicians of the past tell of the foibles of our |
| don't have much money invested in our little coin | | | | own modern USA (what subject could possibly be |
| collections, including those that belong to my kids. | | | | more dear to our self-absorbed and narcissistic |
| In my opinion it's really not necessary. We don't | | | | federal politicians when they are trying to decide |
| do it as an investment or anything - its really just | | | | what should appear on our coins than the |
| a family activity. The kids get a big kick out of it. | | | | aggrandizement of politicians like themselves). |
| When I was a kid, you could sort through pocket | | | | There are many types of coins to collect: error |
| change and find coins minted in the teens and | | | | coin collecting, ancient coin collecting, international |
| twenties. Now days you have to buy bags of | | | | coin collecting, silver coin collecting - there are just |
| wheat cents. Not to worry, they are fairly | | | | so many ways to approach it that its hard to |
| inexpensive. When I brought the first bags of | | | | count them all. There really is no right and wrong |
| wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn't know | | | | way to collect coins, in spite of what many so |
| if the kids would be interested, but they dove in | | | | called experts say. You have to decide what your |
| and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and | | | | goal is. Do you want to have a family hobby? |
| the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought | | | | Well, inexpensive wheat cents are an easy way |
| for children, are almost exactly the same as | | | | to get started. Do you want to invest significant |
| when I was collecting coins as a kid. We have also | | | | money in coins hoping that they will go up in |
| collected and sorted through old nickels, both | | | | price? Investment guides want you to buy the |
| Jefferson and Indian Head or buffalo nickels. I | | | | very highest grades of uncirculated coins, but |
| especially like those Buffalo nickels myself, but | | | | sometimes regular old circulated coins appreciate |
| with all the Washington "statehood" quarters, | | | | significantly in price as well (circulated means the |
| there is a lot of interest in Washington quarters | | | | coin has some signs of wear - and sometimes a |
| as well. | | | | lot of wear). I have certainly seen the prices of |
| Collecting coins that are a century or more old | | | | the circulated buffalo nickels I purchase go up |
| gives one a special feel for the history of our | | | | steeply in price over the last five years. In the |
| nation. You wonder about the history these | | | | end, its all up to you! I recommend that you buy |
| heavily worn coins have seen. These old coins also | | | | the coins you like. |