| The best way to begin coin collecting is by | | | | Whatever the circumstances, I challenge you to |
| learning all you can about it. Whatever it was that | | | | find a serious coin collector who cannot recall why |
| got you interested has done you a favor. Coin | | | | and how he got hooked on building a collection of |
| collecting is a hobby that can grab you by the tail | | | | meaningful coins. |
| and never let go. But that is a good thing. Building | | | | Meaningful coins? |
| a coin collection can be a bit like accumulating | | | | The ones worth big bucks, right? |
| bookmarks while surfing the Internet. One great | | | | Sure. If you are into coins strictly for their market |
| find leads to another! | | | | value, then yes, high value coins are where you |
| Ask a coin collector how he got started in the | | | | want to be. (But be sure and learn how to grade |
| hobby and you will likely be told about --receiving | | | | coins and gain some knowledge about what |
| coins from an older relative, or --rediscovering the | | | | makes one coin worth more than another.) |
| pocket change from a recent foreign vacation, or | | | | On the other hand, many collectors are just as |
| --finding old coins in a forgotten dresser drawer, | | | | passionate about their coins for other reasons, |
| or --hearing a news story about a fabulous price | | | | not quantifiable in the coin market. Coins are so |
| paid for a rare coin at auction, or --locating a | | | | often tokens of curiosity about people, places, |
| barely definable old coin with a metal detector in | | | | and historical events. |
| the backyard, or --seeing a close-up shot of a | | | | Every coin has a story. Every coin collection is as |
| stack of twenty dollar gold pieces on a high | | | | well a collection of these stories. Take your cue |
| stakes poker table in a Western movie, or | | | | from these stories as a direction for your |
| --reading about the recovery of a centuries old | | | | collecting. |
| cargo of silver coins from a Spanish treasure | | | | The longer you collect, the more you will learn. |
| galleon, or --finding an odd coin on the sidewalk, | | | | The more you learn the more meaningful will be |
| under the bed, or lodged deep within the spicy | | | | your collection. And it will lead you down some |
| confines of a macho-combo burrito. (It could | | | | fascinating paths. |
| happen.) | | | | |