| Coin collecting is one of the world's oldest hobbies | | | | an amazing hobby for you. Imagining all the places |
| and was practiced only by kings and wealthy | | | | your coins have traveled throughout the years, |
| people. Nowadays anybody can collect coins with | | | | your collection would be a constant source of |
| relative ease. There are many reasons why coin | | | | imagination, fascination, and awe-handheld history. |
| collecting is a fulfilling and valuable hobby. | | | | *The Investment |
| *The History | | | | Like I earlier said earlier, collectible coins gain value |
| Coins date all the way back to 650 B.C., | | | | with time. If you know any gold coin buyer, he |
| discovered in an area called Lydia, which is now | | | | she will tell you how much money they've made |
| Turkey. These coins were made of a mixture of | | | | with their collectible coins. 30 years ago, gold was |
| gold and silver that is called electrum. Later, it was | | | | only valued at $100 per ounce. In 2009, it has |
| also mixed with copper to make it more durable. | | | | reached its all-time highest value at just over |
| Most coins even back then were circular, and | | | | $1,000/ounce-it gained over 10 times its value in |
| some had holes in them. The holes made coins | | | | only 30 years! Any coin collections passed through |
| easy to carry on a string along your neck. Coin | | | | time are gaining more and more value. If you buy |
| collecting in America is particularly popular. The | | | | coins at the prices they are at now, imagine what |
| Mint was opened in Philadelphia in 1793, and was | | | | their value will be in another thirty years! You |
| first suggested by Benjamin Franklin. There have | | | | have nothing to lose by purchasing collectible coins |
| been many collectible coins since then, the most | | | | now-you will gain in the future! |
| recent being the set of 50 state quarters. 5 state | | | | *The Coin Market |
| quarters were released per year for 10 years | | | | It is easy to find a coin dealer to handle your |
| starting in 1999. They were released in the order | | | | collectible coins, whether you're buying them or |
| that the states were admitted into the union, so it | | | | selling them. It is one of the most popular hobbies |
| obviously started with the first 13 colonies and | | | | worldwide, and so there are plenty of coin dealers |
| ended with Alaska and Hawaii. These quarters | | | | in the market. When looking to use one, stick with |
| were produced for 10 weeks and won't be | | | | a dealer who not only has experience, but has a |
| produced again. Their value will only increase with | | | | genuine passion and respect for the value and the |
| time, as it is with all rare and collectible coins. If | | | | history of collectible coins. |
| you are at all interested in history, coin collecting is | | | | |