| For centuries, coin collecting has been known to | | | | know that coin handling is a very vital and often |
| be a very popular and profitable hobby. The art | | | | tedious task. Each coin in your collection should be |
| of coin collecting refers to the trading and | | | | handled with the utmost care, if only to ensure |
| collection of coins or other forms of legally minted | | | | that these do not show any signs of wear and |
| currency, and usually the most valuable ones are | | | | tear, and have uneven spots or changes in color. |
| those that had been minted with errors, featured | | | | Uncirculated or Proof coins should be handled with |
| unique and historically-interesting designs or | | | | extreme care, and need to be touched anywhere |
| figures, or had been circulated for only a short | | | | except the edges, as fingerprints can help to |
| period. Numismatics refers to the study of | | | | considerably reduce the coin's grade and value. A |
| currency, and is closely related to the art of coin | | | | coin holder should have a velvet-like surface as |
| collecting. | | | | well, to ensure that it will not scratch or blot a |
| Generally, neophyte coin collectors begin collecting | | | | coin. |
| coins that are already in circulation, and usually | | | | Coin collectors have different themes and goals in |
| these coins that are in circulation are more likely | | | | mind, with some trying to obtain samples of coins |
| to get damaged, and only would be worth | | | | that were issued from every country. Some |
| whenever you hold onto them for a long period | | | | collectors also opt to collect coins that were only |
| of time. Once you go up the coin-collecting ladder, | | | | issued from one country, most likely their own. |
| you move on by collecting coins from other | | | | Some avid collectors also purchase magazines or |
| sources, such as antique coin shops, coin shows, | | | | books that discuss the joys of collecting coins |
| internet auctions, flea markets, and from other | | | | from every year. There are other coin collectors |
| collectors as well. The art of coin collecting can | | | | who also store coins that were issued during |
| also be seen as an investment, as the prices of | | | | historically-important periods, such as the Roman, |
| the coins you store and preserve may rise should | | | | Greek, and Byzantine or the Middle Ages as well |
| they become rare, or drop when these coins are | | | | as of the Indian, Celtic and Persian empires, and |
| in surplus supply. Just like other hobbies, a coin | | | | the 18th or 19th centuries. The purpose of |
| collection does not produce income until it is sold. | | | | collecting coins from different periods may vary, |
| While there is a market for rare and obsolete | | | | depending on whether the collector wants these |
| coins, a coin's value will considerably depend on its | | | | coins to serve as a mirror or reflection of the |
| actual condition and grade. Any visible damage or | | | | events that happened during the era in which |
| defect on the coin, such as a hole, a dented edge, | | | | they were produced, or for some other purpose |
| gouges, or even cleaning, may greatly reduce the | | | | as well. |
| coin's official value. First-time collectors need to | | | | |