| The hobby of coin collection can be enjoyed | | | | would like to have a fast turn around -- they sell |
| persons of all age group. As a hobby, it has been | | | | them as fast as they can to make quick profits. |
| there since the 1800's, though it became | | | | 4. Hobbyists: These are people who collect coins |
| widespread only during the 1900's. People collect | | | | solely for personal fulfillment and pleasure. |
| coins for a variety of reasons: right from those | | | | Hobbyist normally a broader vision behind their |
| who are interested in coins purely for the personal | | | | hobby -- they love the coins, are interested in |
| satisfaction to those whose motto is only making | | | | knowing their histories, etc. Quite frequently, |
| money through their collection. We are describing | | | | hobbyists donate their coin collection to history |
| the following broad categories here: | | | | museums or other organizations. And sometimes |
| 1. Professional coin collectors: These are the | | | | their collection passes on to the next generation |
| individuals collecting coins with aim of making | | | | and so on. While hobbyists start collecting coins |
| profits sometimes in the future. Most of the time | | | | only for fulfilling their personal interest, sometimes |
| they are quite informed individuals who can | | | | later on they begin to make profits. |
| evaluate the value of the coins by examining their | | | | 5. Inheritor coin collectors: There are people who |
| conditions. They have the skills to separate a | | | | did not start collecting coins themselves but |
| precious coin from a lot of ordinary coins. | | | | inherited the collection from past generation(s). |
| 2. Investors: They collect coins purely as an | | | | Generally, the inheritors just keep the coin |
| investment. They are on the look out for rare | | | | collection; they treasure it but do nothing, and it |
| types of coins. One can, of course, find coins of | | | | gets passed on to the further next generation. |
| high value -- coins that are older, limited edition | | | | Sometimes the inheritor becomes interested in |
| coins, out of circulation coins, and rare types of | | | | the collection and grows it further. |
| coins accidentally, but it is difficult to count on | | | | 6. Hoarder: These are individuals who just keep |
| chance discoveries for collection. So they often | | | | whatever coins they come across. Some are |
| buy these coins from any one who is willing to | | | | simply afraid of losing a valuable coin if not stored. |
| sell, particularly from the professional coin dealers. | | | | They are neither profit makers nor do they |
| An investor coin collector differs from a | | | | collect for sake of love for coins -- they are just |
| professional coin collector largely in the degree of | | | | hoarders. Many hoarders may turn around, |
| expertise. | | | | examine and evaluate their collection for its value, |
| 3. Coin dealers: Although it is highly debatable, but | | | | others are not normally concerned about doing so. |
| coin dealers also form a separate category of | | | | Well, these are the noramlly known categories of |
| coin collectors. They are always on the look out | | | | coin collctors -- on the one extreme is the |
| for rare types of valuable coins. They normally | | | | professional coin collector who is an expert, and |
| don't hold their coins for long as compared to | | | | on other, the horder who merely hoards the |
| other coin collectors who are trying to build a | | | | coins.You can figure out for yourself, which |
| collection over a period of time. Most coin dealers | | | | category you belong to. |