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