| Today, it is believed that the first coins were | | | | collection and even gave out some as gifts. In the |
| bronze and used in China around 800-1,000BC. | | | | Middle Ages, the wealthy families and royalty |
| Lydia in Asia Minor used coins about 600-700 BC. | | | | amassed amazing collections. Even in the early |
| The Lydian's coins were called "starters" which | | | | history of America, only the wealthy could afford |
| was a unit of weight. Starters were stamped with | | | | to collect coins. Everyone else had to spend the |
| a lion's head image and made with a gold and | | | | money for necessities such as food, shelter and |
| silver alloy. Today, as you might guess, the coins | | | | clothing. |
| that are still remaining are very valuable. | | | | Then in 1858 the American Numismatic Society |
| The early Americans did not use coins for money. | | | | was formed and in 1891 the American Numismatic |
| They made their "notes" from beaver skins, | | | | Association was founded. (A numismatist is a |
| wampum and tobacco. They had their own | | | | person who studies, collects or invests in paper |
| money system without coins in use until foreign | | | | money or coins). Because of these organizations, |
| traders came to America and demanded | | | | public awareness of coin collecting grew and in the |
| payment for their goods. The foreign coins then | | | | 1930s the U.S. Commemorative coins were struck |
| started to circulate, but soon Americans started | | | | and became extremely popular with the public. |
| making their own coins from copper in the 18th | | | | More and more people were starting to collect |
| century. Then after the new American | | | | and invest in coins. The numismatic hobby has |
| government was born, it started to regulate | | | | been growing every since the 1930s and it is |
| coinage. The rights to produce their own coins | | | | estimated that there are more that 15 million |
| were eventually given to the states. Later, | | | | numismatists in the United States today! |
| national coinage was produced in America and the | | | | Collecting coins is such a popular hobby because |
| first U.S. Mint building started their coining | | | | the idea of collecting money is exciting! And the |
| operations in Philadelphia in 1793. The Mint building | | | | money itself is fascinating and informative. Coins |
| was actually an old brewery! The cent coin was | | | | can open up your world to other cultures, history, |
| the first one struck for circulation. | | | | art and economics by just studying them and the |
| It's amazing how these ingenious and enterprising | | | | stories attached to the coins. There is a |
| early Americans operated their first Mints. They | | | | satisfaction when a person finds that particular |
| used a screw press that was powered by horses | | | | date or mintmark to complete his collection! And |
| or many strong men! The planchets were | | | | since a completed collection is more valuable than |
| squeezed between the obverse and reverse dies | | | | individual coins, the excitement grows after each |
| to strike the coins. At first, the dies were cut by | | | | completed collection! |
| hand. Sometimes a die cutter would add his own | | | | Start your collection today by visiting the many |
| artistic flair to his dies. | | | | quality numismatic websites on the internet. Some |
| Coin collecting has a long and colorful history and | | | | companies even let you preview the coins before |
| was mostly a hobby for the wealthy until more | | | | you buy them! It really is an exciting and |
| modern times. The Roman Emperor Augustus | | | | fascinating hobby. Don't be surprised that when |
| (63BC-14AD) was the earliest person known to | | | | you collect that first coin, you won't want to stop! |
| collect coins. He collected them for his own | | | | |