| Throughout history, people have always engaged | | | | popularity of coin collection has continued to soar |
| in different activities that they consider as | | | | since more and more people now collect coins as |
| pastime. It is interesting to note that the same | | | | hobbies. That is why its tag has now changed |
| activities that serve as serious, money-yielding | | | | from "THE HOBBY OF KINGS" to "THE KING OF |
| professions for some persons are at the same | | | | HOBBIES"! |
| time approached by others as a form of | | | | Why So Popular? Numismatics (the professional |
| hobby-with equal zeal and passion! Thus we have | | | | name for coin collecting) is now considered one of |
| professional football players and those who | | | | the fastest growing hobbies. This is mainly due to |
| engage in it as hobbies, same goes for basketball, | | | | the ease of access to coins these days-both old |
| the playing of musical instruments, golf, etc. | | | | and new. Imagine what quantities of coins have |
| When people see coin collecting as a form of | | | | been made available by the introduction of the |
| hobby, it means that they find that activity | | | | EURO over a decade ago. |
| pleasurable and they thereby spend their time | | | | Scores of western and Eastern European |
| collecting different kinds of coins. They may | | | | currencies literally became candidates for |
| occasionally cash in on their past-time, but what it | | | | Numismatics-especially the coins. And since the |
| means is that they do not engage in it primarily | | | | value attached to coins (financial or otherwise) |
| for financial gains-the monetary value of the coins | | | | increases with its age and rarity, you can bet that |
| they are collecting. When the primary focus of | | | | a few decades or a few millenniums from now (if |
| coin collecting is the monetary value of the coins | | | | we live that long) those readily available |
| rather than the gratification of an individual's | | | | assortment of coins from different parts of |
| curiosity, then it is no longer deemed a hobby but | | | | Europe today will one day become priceless |
| an investment. | | | | articles. |
| The History of Coin Collection: Collecting and | | | | That s not to say that coin collecting should only |
| hoarding coins due to their current or anticipated | | | | target rested currencies. No. Anyone who wants |
| financial value dates back nearly two thousand | | | | to start coin collection can start at any time, |
| years. History tells us that the main reason earlier | | | | anywhere, and with any currency-new or old. |
| generations collected coins was solely for the | | | | Some people actually start their coin collecting |
| value that those coins would someday attain. But | | | | with the very ones in their pockets-their change. |
| coin collecting as art pieces-hobby-is a much later | | | | This phase is referred to as the "accumulator" |
| development. In fact this pastime was originally | | | | stage since the coin collector tries to accumulate |
| referred to as "the hobby of kings" because | | | | as many coins as they can, starting with the little |
| ancient coins were so valuable and rare that only | | | | changes the get when they make minor |
| kings were capable of collecting them and keeping | | | | purchases. |
| them as mere ornaments. | | | | But whether it is for fun or for the purpose of |
| Fortunately, you do not have to be a king (or | | | | making money, the collector can always get |
| queen) today to engage in this pastime. Indeed, | | | | better at it by visiting coin collecting websites, |
| coin collection is longer limited to people who are | | | | where valuable tips are available for free. Are you |
| relatively well-off. Anyone can now consider coin | | | | ready to start the hobby? |
| collecting as their hobby. As a result, the | | | | |