| Coin collecting is an enjoyable hobby that doesn't | | | | purchase coins. It's a good idea to visit a local coin |
| require an initial investment of too much time or | | | | or numismatic shop to see what sort of coins are |
| money for the beginner. It's important for the | | | | available, their price ranges, and the types of |
| beginner to decide when starting his or her | | | | books and protective covers that coin collectors |
| collection exactly what the focus of the coin | | | | need to use to keep their coins free from dirt, |
| collection will be. | | | | dust and moisture. Beginners should get into the |
| Coins of interest might include those showing | | | | habit of checking their pocket change every day |
| errors struck at the mint called error coins, coins | | | | to see if there is a coin that might be of interest |
| containing gold, foreign coins, or coins with | | | | for collecting. Other ways to acquire collectible |
| historical value that are no longer in circulation | | | | coins include purchasing them from a coin shop or |
| such as mercury dimes and buffalo head nickles. | | | | joining a local coin club in which members buy, sell |
| Other ways to start a coin collection might be to | | | | and trade coins, or searching auction sites and |
| focus only on coins of a particular country or a | | | | numismatic shops on the internet. |
| particular year, the year of one's birth for | | | | Beginners should learn the language of |
| instance. Many beginning collectors started in the | | | | numismatics and pick up a book about how to |
| past few years by collecting the quarters issued | | | | grade coins based on their condition, as well as |
| by individual states in the U.S. and collecting them | | | | what kinds of coins are the most desirable, and |
| in a specially design map showing the United | | | | most likely to increase in value over the years |
| States. Still other beginning collectors are | | | | versus coins that suit a collector's specialty |
| fascinated by coins minted from a particular metal | | | | category but may not be as likely to increase in |
| such as platinum, silver, copper or aluminum, as | | | | value overall. |
| was the case during World War II. | | | | Coin collecting can become an addictive hobby for |
| The beginner should set an annual budget for coin | | | | the beginner that can prove fun, educational as |
| collecting, usually no more than $75 or $100 to | | | | well as profitable. |