| Coin collecting is one of the most popular hobbies | | | | Then there is the lure of gold coins. Gold has been |
| that nearly anyone can engage in today. It | | | | a popular metal for hundreds or even thousands |
| attracts a wide variety of participants that range | | | | of years, but when minted into an extraordinarily |
| in age from 6 to 100 and covers all | | | | beautiful coin like the $20 Gold Double Eagle |
| socioeconomic groups and nationalities. But what is | | | | designed by Augusts St Gaudens, it has a |
| the lure? What is it that attracts so many people | | | | magnetism for the collector that is beyond |
| to coin collecting? | | | | compare. Owning one of these gems can be the |
| For me at the tender age or 8 or 9 and receiving | | | | centerpiece of a numismatists collection. Many a |
| an allowance of only 25 cents a week, it was the | | | | collector has paid thousands, hundreds of |
| fact that an old quarter, or any old coin, could be | | | | thousands or in some cases, millions of dollars for |
| worth 3, 4, 5 or even more times its face value. I | | | | an exceptionally rare gold coin in near perfect |
| thought if I could find enough quarters that had | | | | condition. |
| sufficient value, I would certainly be on my way | | | | Some of the more popular United States coins to |
| to wealth. I remember scanning the old Red Book | | | | look for are Lincoln wheat cents, Buffalo nickels, |
| coin guides to see if the coins in my collection | | | | Morgan silver dollars, the most popular silver coin |
| were worth anything so I could cash them in. | | | | collected, Barber and Mercury dimes, Franklin and |
| For other more sophisticated collectors than a | | | | Washington quarters, Indian Head $5 gold coins |
| young boy, it can be a coin's historical value that is | | | | and the previously mentioned $20 St Gaudens |
| its popularity. Knowing that you are holding a silver | | | | gold coins minted between 1907 and 1933. A 1933 |
| dollar in your hands that may have been minted | | | | St Gaudens $20 gold piece has the distinction, by |
| when Abraham Lincoln or Theodore Roosevelt | | | | the way, of being the single most valuable coin in |
| was President or owning a coin from a famous | | | | the world. |
| collection is something many collectors seek out | | | | One of the nice things about coin collecting is that |
| and treasure. And owning a coin from a country | | | | you can get started even on a very small budget. |
| other than the one you live in, intrigues the | | | | Nice silver Washington quarters minted before |
| collector into imagining who might have owned this | | | | 1965 can be had for under $5 and even some |
| coin minted somewhere on the other side of the | | | | specimens of the more popular Morgan silver |
| world, possibly many years ago. | | | | dollar can be found for as little as $15. |
| And then of course, there is the beauty of coin | | | | Coin collecting has intrigued many an enthusiast |
| collecting. Finding a beautiful, rare specimen in | | | | and has been a fun hobby and even a good |
| uncirculated or MS condition is one of the biggest | | | | investment for many generations. And being that |
| draws to owning coins. Seeing a coin with no | | | | coins come in all sizes, denominations, grades and |
| scratches and no wear and knowing it is 100 | | | | values, nearly anyone can afford to start their |
| years old or older, in many cases, is a lure that | | | | own collection right now. |
| drives the antique seeker in nearly all of us. | | | | |