| Coin collecting has been around for many years. | | | | 1909-S, 1909-S VDB (for the designer, Victor |
| To most people, it has always been a hobby. | | | | David Brenner), 1914-D, 1922 with no mint mark |
| They collect coins for fun and their aesthetic | | | | and the 1931-S. The letter following the year |
| value rather than their monetary value.To other | | | | represents the different mints where these coins |
| people, coins can be a source of income, such as | | | | are produced. D for Denver, S for San Francisco |
| when one trades on the coin's precious metal | | | | and no mint mark for Philadelphia.There are some |
| intrinsic value, like gold and silver. Also, people | | | | collectors that specialize in areas like coins that are |
| travel around the country setting up booths at | | | | in circulation but have errors. The 1969-S Lincoln |
| special coin shows hoping to sell their coins for a | | | | penny with a double die obverse, the 1970-S small |
| profit to collectors. If you go to your local flea | | | | date Lincoln penny with double die obverse, the |
| market, you will usually find at least one coin | | | | 1972 Lincoln penny with a double die obverse are |
| dealer there trying to sell coins to collectors for a | | | | some examples of these. Also, more recent coins |
| profit.Some more sophisticated investors will try | | | | like the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter with an extra |
| to use not only the coin's precious metal value but | | | | leaf on the ear of corn and the 2005-D speared |
| will also trade using the exchange rate value on | | | | bison reverse design Jefferson nickel which |
| the open market. For example, buying Canadian | | | | appears as though the bison was speared. There |
| maple leafs at a set value, then waiting for the | | | | are many other examples and a search on the |
| exchange rate to become favorable and trading | | | | internet for rare coins will help you find |
| the coins for US silver dollars. If you own two | | | | these.Value to a hobbyist may be as simple as |
| Canadian maple leaf coins for example, you may | | | | how pretty a coin looks. The shinier the more |
| be able to end up with three US silver dollars by | | | | appealing. To a true coin collector, luster, lack of |
| taking advantage of the exchange rate. This | | | | scratches and wear are very important to the |
| practice is of course, not for novices as there is | | | | coin's value. A coin can be valuable because it is |
| much risk involved.Coin collectors, also called | | | | rare or because it is of top quality. This has |
| numismatists, will visit coins shows, coin dealers | | | | become so important, that an actual rating scale |
| and pawn shops in search of whatever coins they | | | | has been developed to grade coins for purposes |
| are trying add to their collections. Collectors cover | | | | of value and insurance.Our next article will cover |
| the spectrum from collecting cents all the way up | | | | more on how coins are graded and the actual |
| to silver dollars. Each denomination has certain | | | | scales used. Until then, take that change out of |
| dates that are rarer and therefore more valuable. | | | | your pocket and check. You may be walking |
| An example would be Lincoln pennies, for which | | | | around with hundreds of dollars and not even |
| the following dates are rarer and more valuable: | | | | know it. |