| Can you imagine being a king? Or living in a palace, | | | | created a hobby that continues to grow to this |
| commanding servants to bring you more bread | | | | day. Hundreds of thousands of numismatists |
| sticks? It's a lifestyle few experience except | | | | (someone who collects coins) all over the world |
| through books and movies, and it has a mystical | | | | have now joined with the kings of eras gone by |
| aura about it. So what does that have to do with | | | | to begin their own quest to amass a collection. |
| coin collecting? Coin collecting is known as the | | | | You can begin collecting coins today by simply |
| hobby of kings. It's not clear exactly how this | | | | looking at the coins in your pocket. Wheat cents |
| came to be, but here's my take on it. The | | | | and war time Jefferson nickels can still be found |
| average person in those days needed every coin | | | | quite easily and if you're lucky, you could find a |
| they had. Setting money aside to admire wasn't | | | | pre-1964 dime or quarter which is composed of |
| possible unless you were willing to go hungry. | | | | silver and worth far more than face value |
| Those who were able to set aside their money | | | | nowadays. |
| as playthings were royalty and they would use | | | | Coin collecting has evolved into a hobby we can all |
| their collections to show off to others how | | | | enjoy, kings and peasants alike. You learn history, |
| wealthy they were. Thus poorer people weren't | | | | economics, math and even science. It illustrates |
| able to participate in the hobby, and it was a | | | | what countries valued and considered important |
| hobby for kings. | | | | enough to commemorate on their coinage. |
| As time went on though, more people had | | | | So next time you get a coin, don't shove it in |
| enough to eat and then some, and began noticing | | | | your pocket. Take a look at it or you may end |
| the coins they held in their hands. This evolution of | | | | up spending a valuable and rare coin. |
| the poorer class produced more collectors and | | | | |