| At the most basic level numismatics is the study | | | | solely of coins from a specific time frame. |
| and collection of coins, but the truth of the | | | | There are typically three types of coin collectors. |
| matter is that it goes much further than that. | | | | The first group consists of collectors who simply |
| In Roman times, Caesar Augustus gave away old | | | | love the coins themselves and study the coins on |
| coins as Saturnalia gifts, while Julius Caesar wrote | | | | an amateur level. This category can cover people |
| the first book on coin collecting. | | | | who have a few folders of coins to people who |
| The practice of using poured and shaped metal as | | | | have amassed large collections over the course |
| markers during trade is quite an ancient practice | | | | of their lives. |
| and the history of coin collecting goes back to | | | | The second group is made up of coin dealers, |
| ancient days. | | | | who are also called professional numismatists. |
| Though anyone who collects and studies currency | | | | They will grade and authenticate coins for |
| can be called a numismatist, modern numismatics | | | | commercial purposes and in some cases, they can |
| is often limited to the study of coins that range | | | | act as consultants for professional historians or |
| from the middle of the 1600's up to the modern | | | | archaeologists. |
| day. This is the period of machine struck coins | | | | The third category are scholar numismatists, and |
| and these are the coins that are often thought to | | | | they will often work professionally at the practice, |
| be the most collectible. | | | | learning more about monetary systems, especially |
| There are many reasons why someone might be | | | | in the pre-modern period. |
| interested in numismatics, but the two broad | | | | When you are looking at getting started with |
| separations of the field lie between collectors and | | | | numismatics, it can be very helpful to figure out |
| historians. | | | | where you want your collection to go. |
| While some aficionados are very fond of learning | | | | What is your historical interest in coins and do you |
| about the history of the coin and the situations | | | | have an interest in a certain type of coin or coins |
| under which it was minted, a collector need only | | | | from a certain area of the world? |
| have a love for the coins themselves. | | | | Take some time and make sure that you |
| Modern numismatists will often use mint records | | | | consider where your interests lie and to think |
| to find the relative rarity of their coins. Some | | | | about what your ideal collection would be! |
| people focus their collections on different varieties | | | | Numismatics is a hobby that can easily turn into |
| of coins, on mint made errors or even on the | | | | an avocation or profession, so take some time, |
| history of the coins themselves. | | | | and make sure that you learn more about what it |
| Some collections are made up solely of coins | | | | is and what your interests might lay. |
| from a certain area, while others are made up | | | | |