Coin Collecting 101: What Type of Coin Should You Collect?

>and overall appeal. A coin can have a grade
Coin collecting is a fun hobby to start and the thrillranging from MS-60 (dull luster) to a flawless
of hunting for old coins is enough for many peopleMS-70. Although MS-70 is considered unobtainable,
to continue doing it. Other people consider coina grade of MS-65 and higher will make a
collecting an investment, something they cancoin’s price shoot up.Circulated coins are
receive a profit from. If you are one of thosemore forgiving, they do not take into
people, then you can find several types of coins inconsideration the amount of scratches and dirt a
this article that will help you determine whatcoin has gathered along the years. Grades for
others are looking for. Most coin collectors will lookcirculated coins will vary. AU (about
for only a specific kind of coin that will make their“uncirculated”), EF (extremely fine), VF (very
collection more valuable and interesting to buyers.fine), F (fine), VG (very good), G (good), AG
Others are collecting for sentimentality and are(about good), F-2 (fair) and P (poor) are used as
looking more at the coin’sindication of how much a coin is worth.These
uniqueness.Series collectors are those looking for agrades are dependent on a circulated coin’s
series of coins that mark every year and everyluster, visible wear, design elements and visibility
design change made in that coin.Type collectorsof letters and numerals. Unlike “uncirculated”
are those people who are looking to get one ofcoin’s grades, these grades do not
each coin where there were/are changes made.dramatically lower a coin’s value. This is
Ancient coin collectors are those people lookingwonderful for people who are looking just to
for coins spanning the years 650 BC —complete a collection and do not care about a
450 AD. This is the time when coins werecoin’s mint condition.Pricing of a coin will
invented and there were silver, gold and bronzeusually be determined by a coin’s supply
versions made. It also marks the time whenand demand. Very low supply and very high
Roman emperors were the rulers and most ofdemand will make a coin’s price higher;
them feature famous Roman emperors, Romanhowever, high supplies of the coins will depreciate
towns, or gods.Token collectors are those whoa coin’s value.Demand is usually established
are looking for different kinds of tokens thatby coin dealers where they take into
were used in exchange for real money whenconsideration the number of people wanting to
there was a lack of coins. These tokens werebuy or sell the coins. Once a coin becomes difficult
used as local currency even if the governmentto find, coin dealers will usually make its price
had not given permission for them to behigher so that people are inclined to sell extra
used.Coins are also graded. A coin’s gradingcopies of their coins. Grading and pricing a coin
depends on its condition and the price of the coinusually takes a lot of experience to master.
will rely heavily on that grade. It is important for aAlthough there are several tips and guidelines to
coin collector to know how to grade a coin tolook for in grading a coin, only professional dealers
make sure that he is not swindled by individualshave the final say on how much a coin is worth.
looking for a quick profit. “Uncirculated” coinsIt does not hurt to know this grading is done and
are those coins that are not showing any wearwhy your coin was graded differently from what
and tear or to referred to as “in mintyou thought.Coin collecting is not really about
condition”. A mint state (MS) grading dependsinvestment, it should be a fun and thrilling hobby.
on a coin’s luster, contact marks, hair lines