| The Origin of Coins and Coin Collecting The hobby | | | | of art as well as a collection of valuable legal |
| of coin collecting began nearly as soon as the first | | | | tender, is widely thought to have begun with |
| coins were minted in Asia Minor, around 650 B.C. | | | | Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, who is often |
| The history of gold coins dates as far back as | | | | called the father of the Renaissance. |
| 2,700 years ago. The first gold coins in the world | | | | The Gold Eagle features a representation of Lady |
| were issued in Lydia around 640 B.C. certain | | | | Liberty striding with torch in hand through a field |
| internet websites will provide you with a lot of | | | | of light rays on its front side. |
| information about the history of gold coins. | | | | The best way to get good deals, and avoid the |
| The value of gold coins is usually higher than the | | | | bad ones, is to pick up some standard reference |
| value of their weight in gold bullion, making them a | | | | catalogues and study the pricing very carefully. As |
| better investment than the gold market alone. | | | | a rule, it's better to own one high quality coin than |
| How would you feel if you knew that you had | | | | a bunch of mediocre ones. |
| handed over a penny worth $2,000 or more as | | | | You will need someone to buy the coins from, |
| change for a dollar? | | | | and it can be difficult to find a reputable coin |
| Avoid touching the coin unnecessarily, as dirt and | | | | dealer. Someone who has been coin collecting for |
| grease from your fingers will tarnish the finish | | | | years can help you choose a knowledgeable and |
| over time. Exposure to air oxidizes metal, | | | | honest coin dealer. You'll need to learn about the |
| changing its colour. | | | | value of different coins. |
| Coin collecting, or numismatics is a hobby as old | | | | Coin collecting for investment purposes can be a |
| as time. As a hobby, it has been around for more | | | | tricky endeavor. |
| than 2,500 years. This is surprising since the use | | | | 1. Properly, accurately, and correctly recognize |
| of coins has been around for pretty much that | | | | and classify your coin, and know the to place |
| same amount of time too. | | | | value on that coin. You can do this successfully by |
| One thing is for certain, there isn't a coin collector | | | | examining your coin in a catalogue or online with |
| out there who will stop collecting just because the | | | | the ?coin price guide?; this will give you an idea of |
| prices have risen a little and probably the same | | | | the going rate and price of your particular coin |
| amount will consider selling their prize collection to | | | | and you can determine the approximate value of |
| the highest bidder. | | | | your coin. |
| Commemorative coins are a popular form of | | | | Everyday coin values are changing; so you need |
| collection, as are rare minted coins like those | | | | to use a ?coin price guide? that is updated on a |
| which had an error in their stamping. If a certain | | | | daily basis to obtain the current coin value. Look |
| set of coins doesn?t interest you, it won?t be any | | | | at online sites that offer step by step guidance on |
| fun at all to become a collector. | | | | how to recognize your coin the proper way. |
| Most coin dealers will charge a lower premium on | | | | 2. Grade your coin based on your thorough |
| the sale of coins to their best customers. After | | | | observation and examination of its current |
| all, it makes good business sense to get the most | | | | condition. |
| profit possible from a person who will do business | | | | 3. Consult coin catalogues for a list of retail prices |
| with you only once. | | | | in or estimates of your coins retail value. ?A Guide |
| What Are Factors That Affect The Value Of | | | | Book of United States Coins?, popularly known as |
| Coins? | | | | "The Red Book" to coin dealers and collectors, |
| When one is just starting in coin collecting, often | | | | provides information on retail coin prices for US |
| the first question is: ?What is the value of the | | | | coins and is available in libraries, coin shops and |
| coin?: and the answer is that the coin will cost as | | | | bookstores. ?The Standard Catalog of World |
| much as you are willing to pay for it and the | | | | Coins? (in volumes) is a guide commonly used by |
| amount can vary considerably. For instance, a coin | | | | coin dealers and collectors as well, to provide |
| dealer?s offer can be much less than a coin | | | | information on world coins and is available in many |
| collector that certainly wants your coin badly to | | | | public libraries. |
| add in his collection. | | | | You can also check current coin prices by basing |
| The following are factors that can influence the | | | | it on the actual dealer coin price found in |
| true value of a coin. | | | | magazines and newspapers or online auctions such |
| 1. Grade or condition of the coin. Your coin will be | | | | as Yahoo, Coin World, eBay or Teletrade. |
| worth or valued more when it is in good condition. | | | | Always keep in mind that you are not collecting |
| When in a perfect or unblemished mint condition, | | | | coins primarily for money; you collect for |
| an ?uncirculated? coin will be worth many times | | | | enjoyment and self gratification, and profit is to |
| more than a similar coin that has been in | | | | be last consideration. The plain fact that a certain |
| circulation. | | | | coin does not have a large monetary value, does |
| 2. The rarity of a coin is the principal basis for a | | | | not necessarily suggest that it is no longer |
| coins value. Generally, the rarer that a coin is | | | | interesting or fascinating or that it must not be |
| found to be, the higher it is priced. Do keep in | | | | included in your collection. |
| mind that rarity has very little influence on the | | | | Each coin will have a certain interest in itself, |
| coins age. Chinese coins are a thousand years old | | | | regardless of the condition that it is in and |
| normally sell for about ten dollars since there are | | | | regardless of its monetary value. There will |
| so many of them; while a ?1913 Liberty Head | | | | always be a certain characteristic that will draw |
| Nickel? can sell for up to or over a million dollars | | | | you to that particular coin; so when it does, then |
| because only five specimens are known to be in | | | | you should have it in your collection. Have fun! |
| existence. | | | | The collection of ancient, commemorative, and |
| 3. Bullion value. A coin's precious metal content can | | | | rare coins is a fun and exacting hobby, and opens |
| determine its value. A platinum, silver or gold coin | | | | up a realm of history that most people never get |
| will not, in general sell for less than the coins value | | | | to see. |
| when melted. | | | | An avid coin collector will be able to tell you |
| 4. Demand. There are coins that are greatly in | | | | virtually every piece of history that surrounds any |
| demand; sought after by many collectors, and if | | | | coin in their collection both because they tend to |
| that a particular coin is in great demand the price | | | | specialize and because knowledge is one of the |
| will be even higher. Even comparatively plentiful | | | | most important factors when it comes to starting |
| coins can mandate higher value when they are | | | | and maintaining a collection of any value or worth. |
| popular with coin collectors. | | | | Possibly. In 1991, only 459,000 25-cent coins were |
| For instance, ?1916 D dimes? are much more | | | | struck (the annual number is usually closer to 100 |
| abundant than the ?1798 dimes? yet in spite of | | | | million). 'Mint State' versions of these coins are |
| this, ?1916 D dimes? sell for so much more | | | | worth about $8. |
| because there are many more individuals collecting | | | | The price for a coin is determined by the demand |
| 20th century dimes than 1700 dimes. | | | | for this coin. Many factors affect this demand. If |
| Here?s how you can determine the approximate | | | | a coin is rare, chances are, it is in great demand. |
| value of your coin: | | | | State coins can appreciate in value if you know |
| The first vital piece of information that you'll need | | | | what to look for. |
| when considering coin dealers is his or her | | | | Nevertheless, a very few pennies were minted in |
| professional qualifications. Some important | | | | 1943 out of copper instead. These rare coins are |
| questions to ask include, does the coin dealer | | | | worth upwards of $200,000 today, and they look |
| belong to any professional groups? How long has | | | | exactly like any other penny. |
| he or she been in business? | | | | While there are some real gold coin enthusiasts in |
| Ancient kings (and even today's leaders) had a | | | | the internet, there are also those people who are |
| telling habit of having their faces imprinted on their | | | | posing as gold coin collectors and are just looking |
| currency. | | | | to rip you off. Complete info on how to buy gold |
| Minting problems don't only involve the writing on | | | | coins. |
| the coin. Sometimes a problem with the die | | | | You can get a silver locating device or a magnetic |
| causes a coin to be double stamped accidentally, | | | | pole for finding loose coins in ditches, under cars, |
| resulting in a very unusual form of rare coins. | | | | or in other hard-to-reach places. Or simply rely on |
| For most gold coin collectors, there are the highly | | | | your eyes to identify those gleaming metal |
| coveted rare gold coins and a lot of gold coin | | | | circlets of potential wealth. |
| collectors are interested in these rare gold coins | | | | Today, there has been an explosion in American |
| that they will offer high bids just to be able to get | | | | interest in coin collecting, in large part due to the |
| their hands on these. | | | | ease and availability of obtaining interesting coins. |
| Coin Collection in Renaissance Times Modern coin | | | | More on Rare Gold Coins and where you can find |
| collecting, where the coins are viewed as a work | | | | them. |