| You should collect what you like and enjoy. This is | | | | Obviously, one will be very limited in the years, |
| Your Dream. Design it any way you want. | | | | mints, and varieties available from pocket change |
| Never-the-less, . . . decide on Foreign coins or US | | | | and bank rolls - both being local in nature. Even if |
| Coins; and Proof or Mint State. If US, then decide | | | | starting with these means of collecting, always |
| upon a Denomination: penny, nickel, dime, quarter, | | | | keep an open mind about other resources. So, a |
| half dollar, dollar or other. | | | | little future insight helps to decide that better |
| Or, decide upon a particular Period in History, e.g.: | | | | resources will yield better coin collections. Most |
| Morgan Dollars (Lady Liberty, Following Civil War), | | | | collections will span a greater range of years, than |
| Peace Dollars (Following WWI), War Time Cents | | | | either pocket change or bank rolls can possibly |
| (Steel and Shell Casing - WWII), War Time Nickels | | | | produce. It is therefore imperative to investigate |
| (Silver - WWII), Silver quarters and dimes - pre | | | | other resources. |
| 1965; Statehood Quarters; 20th Century; 19th | | | | Your Budget will usually determine the Grade of |
| Century. | | | | coin that you can afford to collect. MS63-MS65 is |
| Or decide upon an Historical Figure; Kennedy Half | | | | an Ideal range for collecting, not only because of |
| Dollars (Following his death), Lincoln Cents; | | | | the excellent condition and detail of the coins, |
| Washington Quarters; Franklin Half Dollars; | | | | greater availability, lower costs, and because coins |
| Eisenhower Dollars, Susan B Anthony Dollars, | | | | in this range tend to Appreciate faster than other |
| Roosevelt Dimes; Sacagawea Dollars. You can also | | | | Grades. There item is very simple, and it has to |
| choose Type Sets, Year Sets, Mint Sets, Proof | | | | do with the quality of the coin - or how much you |
| Sets and Decades. | | | | want to Spend per Coin - for an average coin, for |
| The Next Step is to decide upon the Quality of | | | | an exceptional coin, or a perfect coin. Your budget |
| coin you want to collect. Your choices are: a) | | | | will usually determine this factor, or, how much |
| pocket change; b) bank rolls; c) US mint and proof | | | | per month you can spend (per month?) for your |
| rolls and sets (new and used); d) Buy from Coin | | | | new Investment. Never doubt that Coin Collecting |
| Shows and Clubs; e) Buy on the Internet; f) Buy | | | | is an Investment. Although it is easy to overlook |
| from coin dealer; g) Buy from coin magazine or | | | | the amount of time spent on this Endeavor |
| ad. Each has their benefits and advantages. | | | | because two of the main ingredients are Pleasure |
| Pocket Change and Bank Rolls provide Circulated | | | | and Enjoyment. Confucius Say: |
| coins. The US Mint provides Uncirculated "Mint | | | | "If you enjoy what you are doing, you will never |
| State" and "Proof" coins. | | | | work another day in your life." |
| The Internet provides the Greatest Selection | | | | Think of it as a Fund. You are trading Money for . |
| from private Web Sites, e.g.: to the big Auctions | | | | . . Money that Grows and Gives Pleasure! Properly |
| like eBay, Yahoo, Heritage and TeleTrade. And | | | | attended, this Fund can quite possibly put |
| With the advent of (free) it becomes very quick | | | | someone through college. |
| and easy to pay for purchases over the Internet | | | | Lastly, decide whether to collect all of the coins in |
| and by Phone. | | | | your Group - including varieties and errors - or |
| The one thing that is important in all of the above | | | | just the Regular Issue Coins. Errors and Varieties |
| choices is the Grade of the Coin, which is closely | | | | can become extremely expensive and difficult to |
| related to Value (a topic for another article). But | | | | find. Most people will avoid them. |
| which leads to the next choice: Buy Slabbed or | | | | This Concept of "Trading Money for Money" is |
| Raw? Raw coins are what you find in pocket | | | | critically important because most people shy away |
| change. Slabbed coins are those that are | | | | from spending a little more, just to get the best. |
| Professionally Certified and Graded by an | | | | And I am talking about the best in quality of coin, |
| Independent Third Party. The coin is then placed in | | | | no matter what the Grade or Price. In other |
| a "slab", made of plastic, identified, labeled and | | | | words, get a Coin with the Grade it is Supposed |
| sealed. It actually takes 3 Professionals to decide | | | | to Have. This is the Only way to be sure of the |
| upon the Grade of a Coin. If Buying Raw Coins, | | | | Value of the Coin. Spend your Money Wisely. Get |
| You need to Know How to Grade a Coin. Even | | | | what you pay for. Until you become a |
| then, there will be Disputes about the Grade. | | | | Professional at Grading, rely on the Professional |
| When Buying a Slabbed coin, You Know the | | | | Graders. Whether you choose to collect Kennedy |
| Grade. The Grade Becomes Virtually Undisputable! | | | | Proof Half Dollars, or Jefferson Nickels from |
| All references to Price in any resource are Based | | | | pocket change, thanks to the Internet, you will |
| on Grading, which follows the Guidelines set by | | | | find a huge selection available, on many different |
| the ANA - American Numismatic Association. | | | | web sites, to give your Coin Collecting efforts a |
| Currently, there are only Four Companies that are | | | | boost. Internet Web Sites will Forever Change |
| Recognized for Strictly following these Guidelines: | | | | Coin Collecting! Why? Because Top Quality Coins |
| PCGS, NGC, ICG and ANACS. It is from these | | | | can be easily Bought and Sold by any body - |
| Professionals that one should buy slabbed coins. | | | | since they are Slabbed! |
| Buying Slabbed Coins is the First Rule of Serious | | | | Always Know Your Grade! |
| Coin Collecting. | | | | |