| coin collecting | | | | Historical coin collecting |
| The most ordinary type of coin collector is the | | | | Coin collectors of ancient and medieval coins are |
| casual collector. Casual collectors are both kids and | | | | more interested in historical significance than other |
| adults. They collect random coins because they | | | | coin collectors. The coins of Byzantine, Roman, |
| like the fun of it. The casual coin collector does | | | | Indian, Greek, Celtic, Merovingian, Parthian, |
| not spend as much money on buying and | | | | Ostrogothic and ancient Israelite origin are among |
| preserving coins as a more advanced coin | | | | the most popular ancient coins collected. |
| collector. Casual coin collectors usually have | | | | Specialties tend to vary a lot, but the common |
| interest in coins with a special meaning to them, | | | | approach is collecting coins minted during a |
| like for instance a coin minted in their year of | | | | particular emperor's time in power. A completist |
| their birth. Casual collectors often get hold of | | | | would for example strive for a representative |
| more interesting pieces as gifts from friends or | | | | coin from each emperor. |
| family members. The gift of a rare coin has | | | | National coin collecting |
| transformed many casual collectors to curious | | | | Usually coin collectors of national coins specialize in |
| collectors instead. | | | | the coins of their own country. A common way |
| Curious coin collecting | | | | to collect national coins includes collecting one of |
| When a collector goes further than just circulation | | | | every date and mint mark for a particular series. |
| finds and getting gifts. He develops more of an | | | | This is termed collecting by type. For instance a |
| interest in coins and becomes more a curious | | | | date set in Britain may include one Queen Victoria |
| collector. The curious collector will buy some | | | | large penny for each year, 1837—1901. In |
| inexpensive coins, maybe look around coin shops | | | | another example a U.S. type set might include an |
| or look at coins on eBay or other related internet | | | | example of each variety of each denomination |
| sites. That way a survey of potentially interesting | | | | produced. Most coin collectors of national coins |
| areas of coin collecting is made, and as the | | | | create unique combinations of date, mint mark |
| curious coin collector interacts with more | | | | and type sets. |
| seasoned collectors, he is bit by bit learning the | | | | Error coin collecting |
| trade of buying or selling coins. Like for instance | | | | Collecting error coins is a modern development |
| studying coin books before making any serious | | | | made doable through the automation of coin |
| decisions about buying expensive coins. At a point | | | | manufacturing processes. Coin collectors of |
| most curious collectors learn enough to become | | | | ancient and medieval coins; accept coins with |
| an advanced coin collector. | | | | errors because manual coin manufacturing |
| Advanced coin collecting | | | | processes lend unique features to each coin |
| Every advanced coin collector is a unique coin | | | | struck. |
| collector. Some are dedicated generalists looking | | | | Examples of coin errors could be repunched mint |
| for a few examples of all kinds of coins. If they | | | | marks, doubled dies, double strikes, overdates, off |
| do have enough resources, this can result in an | | | | metal coins, clipped coins, displaced or off center |
| astounding collection, as that of King Farouk of | | | | coins, and different denominations on two sides of |
| Egypt, who collected everything he could get his | | | | one coin. |
| hands on. | | | | World coin collecting |
| Many coin collectors are completists who want an | | | | World coins are collections of relatively recent |
| example of everything within a certain set. For | | | | modern coins from nations around the world. |
| instance Louis Eliasberg was the only coin collector | | | | Geography is often the engine for this type of |
| thus far to assemble a complete set of known | | | | collector; he can travel around the world through |
| coins of the United States. Other coin collectors | | | | his coin collection. Many collect by subject, for |
| focus on coins of a certain nation or historic | | | | instance collecting coins from around the world |
| period. And some collect coins from various | | | | featuring animals. |
| nations or settle on error coins or exonumia like | | | | World coins are usually inexpensive and may be a |
| tokens and medals. As you can see, it can vary a | | | | good starting point for children. Most children find |
| lot. | | | | foreign coins by looking under change-to-cash |
| At the highest levels of coin collecting, it is a highly | | | | machines, where customers throw away |
| competitive sport. It can lead to astronomical | | | | assorted coins found in their penny jars. It is |
| prices as enthusiastic collectors struggle for the | | | | possible to find coins from all over the world, |
| very best examples of each date and mint mark | | | | ranging from Canada, to South Africa, to Korea. |
| combination. | | | | |