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