| The Origin of Coins and Coin Collecting The | | | | |
| hobby of coin collecting began nearly as soon | | | | For most gold coin collectors, there are the |
| as the first coins were minted in Asia Minor, | | | | highly coveted rare gold coins and a lot of |
| around 650 B.C. | | | | gold coin collectors are interested in these |
| | | | rare gold coins that they will offer high |
| The history of gold coins dates as far back | | | | bids just to be able to get their hands on |
| as 2,700 years ago. The first gold coins in | | | | these. |
| the world were issued in Lydia around 640 | | | | |
| B.C. certain internet websites will provide | | | | Three basic rules here: buy what you like, |
| you with a lot of information about the | | | | buy what you can afford, and buy at a |
| history of gold coins. | | | | reasonable price. Follow this advice and |
| | | | you'll enjoy your coins more, you won't pay |
| The value of gold coins is usually higher | | | | too much for them and you won't go bankrupt. |
| than the value of their weight in gold | | | | |
| bullion, making them a better investment than | | | | As you become a more experienced coin |
| the gold market alone. | | | | collector your "eye" will mature and you'll |
| | | | be looking more closely at details like the |
| How would you feel if you knew that you had | | | | lettering on a coin, making sure the letters |
| handed over a penny worth $2,000 or more as | | | | are still clear and not worn down. |
| change for a dollar? | | | | |
| | | | Coin collecting for investment purposes can |
| Physical dirt can be removed by careful | | | | be a tricky endeavor. |
| washing with a hand soap and patting dry. | | | | |
| Tarnish, called toning to collectors, does | | | | All coin dealers are not created equal, and |
| not lower the value of the coin. | | | | it is nearly impossible to specialize in |
| | | | every area when it comes to collecting rare |
| To the collector, bragging about 'finds' | | | | coins. Therefore, it's important to know what |
| constitutes one of life's most enjoyable | | | | to look for before you select a professional |
| pastimes. | | | | for your coin collecting needs. |
| | | | |
| Collecting coins is a hobby that can be | | | | Circulated coins are more forgiving, they do |
| enjoyed by anyone of any age. A lot of coin | | | | not take into consideration the amount of |
| collectors started as children, with the help | | | | scratches and dirt a coin has gathered along |
| of their parents or grandparents collecting | | | | the years. Grades for circulated coins will |
| pennies or dimes. For some coin collecting | | | | vary. AU (about ?uncirculated?), EF |
| can become a lifetime hobby. | | | | (extremely fine), VF (very fine), F (fine), |
| | | | VG (very good), G (good), AG (about good), |
| Commemorative coins are a popular form of | | | | F-2 (fair) and P (poor) are used as |
| collection, as are rare minted coins like | | | | indication of how much a coin is worth. |
| those which had an error in their stamping. | | | | |
| If a certain set of coins doesn?t interest | | | | These grades are dependent on a circulated |
| you, it won?t be any fun at all to become a | | | | coin?s luster, visible wear, design elements |
| collector. | | | | and visibility of letters and numerals. |
| | | | Unlike ?uncirculated? coin?s grades, these |
| Coin dealers will also be more likely to | | | | grades do not dramatically lower a coin?s |
| recognize a counterfeit coin, have a higher | | | | value. This is wonderful for people who are |
| chance of hearing about the sale of the | | | | looking just to complete a collection and do |
| specific rare coins that interest you, and | | | | not care about a coin?s mint condition. |
| will recognize an asking price that is over- | | | | |
| or undervalued. As an investor, these are all | | | | Pricing of a coin will usually be determined |
| critically important points for your success. | | | | by a coin?s supply and demand. Very low |
| | | | supply and very high demand will make a |
| Coin Collecting 101: What Type of Coin Should | | | | coin?s price higher; however, high supplies |
| You Collect? | | | | of the coins will depreciate a coin?s value. |
| | | | |
| Coin collecting is a fun hobby to start and | | | | Demand is usually established by coin dealers |
| the thrill of hunting for old coins is enough | | | | where they take into consideration the number |
| for many people to continue doing it. Other | | | | of people wanting to buy or sell the coins. |
| people consider coin collecting an | | | | Once a coin becomes difficult to find, coin |
| investment, something they can receive a | | | | dealers will usually make its price higher so |
| profit from. If you are one of those people, | | | | that people are inclined to sell extra copies |
| then you can find several types of coins in | | | | of their coins. |
| this article that will help you determine | | | | |
| what others are looking for. | | | | Grading and pricing a coin usually takes a |
| | | | lot of experience to master. Although there |
| Most coin collectors will look for only a | | | | are several tips and guidelines to look for |
| specific kind of coin that will make their | | | | in grading a coin, only professional dealers |
| collection more valuable and interesting to | | | | have the final say on how much a coin is |
| buyers. Others are collecting for | | | | worth. It does not hurt to know this grading |
| sentimentality and are looking more at the | | | | is done and why your coin was graded |
| coin?s uniqueness. | | | | differently from what you thought. |
| | | | |
| Series collectors are those looking for a | | | | Coin collecting is not really about |
| series of coins that mark every year and | | | | investment, it should be a fun and thrilling |
| every design change made in that coin. | | | | hobby. While the overall goal of a coin |
| | | | collector is to complete a set of coins, |
| Type collectors are those people who are | | | | learning what to look for in a coin is |
| looking to get one of each coin where there | | | | important to make sure that no one can take |
| were/are changes made. | | | | advantage of your need to complete a |
| | | | particular set. |
| Ancient coin collectors are those people | | | | |
| looking for coins spanning the years 650 BC ? | | | | When deciding which coins to collect, you |
| 450 AD. This is the time when coins were | | | | should consider your interests, your budget, |
| invented and there were silver, gold and | | | | and your return on investment. |
| bronze versions made. It also marks the time | | | | |
| when Roman emperors were the rulers and most | | | | An avid coin collector will be able to tell |
| of them feature famous Roman emperors, Roman | | | | you virtually every piece of history that |
| towns, or gods. | | | | surrounds any coin in their collection both |
| | | | because they tend to specialize and because |
| Token collectors are those who are looking | | | | knowledge is one of the most important |
| for different kinds of tokens that were used | | | | factors when it comes to starting and |
| in exchange for real money when there was a | | | | maintaining a collection of any value or |
| lack of coins. These tokens were used as | | | | worth. |
| local currency even if the government had not | | | | |
| given permission for them to be used. | | | | Some people have made a lot of money buying |
| | | | and selling coins, others have lost fortunes. |
| Coins are also graded. A coin?s grading | | | | If you are serious about investing in |
| depends on its condition and the price of the | | | | numismatics, first spend a bit of time |
| coin will rely heavily on that grade. It is | | | | learning. |
| important for a coin collector to know how to | | | | |
| grade a coin to make sure that he is not | | | | Some collect coins related to kings and |
| swindled by individuals looking for a quick | | | | queens. Some collect those related to plants |
| profit. | | | | and animals. |
| | | | |
| ?Uncirculated? coins are those coins that are | | | | Scarcity should not be confused with overall |
| not showing any wear and tear or to referred | | | | mintage. During the silver booms, many, many |
| to as ?in mint condition?. A mint state (MS) | | | | silver coins were melted for there bullion |
| grading depends on a coin?s luster, contact | | | | content. |
| marks, hair lines and overall appeal. A coin | | | | |
| can have a grade ranging from MS-60 (dull | | | | Some precious coins with double stamping |
| luster) to a flawless MS-70. Although MS-70 | | | | include doubled-die Lincoln cents from 1972, |
| is considered unobtainable, a grade of MS-65 | | | | 1983, and 1984, and a doubled quarter minted |
| and higher will make a coin?s price shoot up. | | | | in New York in 2001. |
| | | | |
| By examining a coin, one comes to know the | | | | Remember that most gold coins are worth more |
| geography, philosophy, sociology, artistry | | | | than their legal tender amount. Although they |
| and other aspects of the culture they existed | | | | re not available for purchase directly from |
| in. | | | | the U.S. Mint, American Eagle can be commonly |
| | | | found for sale in coin shops, on the |
| Minting problems don't only involve the | | | | internet, by gold dealers, and at coin shows. |
| writing on the coin. Sometimes a problem with | | | | Always be on the lookout for rare gold |
| the die causes a coin to be double stamped | | | | coins, and have coins appraised by a gold |
| accidentally, resulting in a very unusual | | | | coin expert to avoid large differences in |
| form of rare coins. | | | | price. |
| | | | |
| The American Gold Eagle stands out among | | | | You can get a silver locating device or a |
| other bullion coins because of its lovely | | | | magnetic pole for finding loose coins in |
| design, and because its value is backed by | | | | ditches, under cars, or in other |
| the full strength of the United States | | | | hard-to-reach places. Or simply rely on your |
| government. | | | | eyes to identify those gleaming metal |
| | | | circlets of potential wealth. |
| Coin Collection in Renaissance Times Modern | | | | |
| coin collecting, where the coins are viewed | | | | Today, there has been an explosion in |
| as a work of art as well as a collection of | | | | American interest in coin collecting, in |
| valuable legal tender, is widely thought to | | | | large part due to the ease and availability |
| have begun with Francesco Petrarca, or | | | | of obtaining interesting coins. |
| Petrarch, who is often called the father of | | | | |
| the Renaissance. | | | | Complete info on how to buy gold coins. |