Why Collect Coins? by Jon Gammon

So why collect coins? Answer is simple really. Coin Collectors, sometimes called Numismatists, enjoy collecting coins on various levels. Some collect coins for their rarity, some collect coins in the hope that one day their collection will be worth a value. Some just do it for the sure pleasure of having a hobby that is easy to do.

Doing a little research and starting off small is the greatest way to get started in this hobby. Learn all you can about coin collecting basics. There are many coin collecting books and websites (like this one) out there, that will try to put a clearer understanding of what coin collecting is all about, and we are here to teach you what you need to know about coin collecting.

Coins have a history about them, when they were struck, why the design was chosen for that time period. There are no reasons etched in stone that says you have to collect coins in any particular way. You collect the way you want to, if you want to only collect pennies, then only collect pennies, if you want to collect complete sets of each of the denominations of coins, then do that, or you can just collect the coins that interest you. You decide what, when, and how to collect.

Coin collecting basics is this, start small. Decide what types of coins you would like to collect. What would you like your collection to consist of? Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, Half-Dollars, Dollars, Gold, Silver, Paper Money. It doesn't matter.

Maybe you want to just collect coins from a certain time period that interest you. Whatever your decision, stick with it and work to completing your collection. Also remember that coins that were struck at different places have different mint marks. A mint mark is a letter that tells us where the coin was struck. Each of the coins that you wish to collect will have different mint marks, to complete a set you will want to have each of the mint marks for that coin.

Subscribe to a coin magazine, Coin World is a good one. They have a wealth of knowledge pertaining to collecting coins. Also visit a local coin dealer, not only will you be able to look at a variety of coins that the dealer will be selling, they also can answer questions that you may have, they are there to help you build and understand coin collecting basics. Use that to your advantage.

I guess you will need a nice place to put your newly acquired coins. Find yourself a coin folder to display your coins. And once you get into the hobby more you can get some coin sleeves to house your collection and store them the way you would want.

The possibilities are endless with coin collecting, and learning coin collecting basics is the first real step in the progression of building a great coin collection. Building a coin collection, is a long process. It doesn't happen over night, it doesn't happen in a week, and unless you are filthy rich, it won't happen in a year. Collecting takes time, effort, and persistence, and the fact of the matter is, there are so many different types of coins to collect that it takes time to study and learn about each of the prospects.

The United States have produced many different varieties of coins from the penny to the gold dollar. They have produced commemorative coins celebrating a historic event or an anniversary. Whatever you chose to collect I am sure that with a little effort on your part, that your collection will be something that you can pass on to your children, or build a small nest egg for your retirement, or whatever you choose to start coin collecting for. Learning coin collecting basics is a healthy start to building a wonderful coin collection.

About the author:
Jon Gammon is the author and webmaster at http://www.thecoinalley.com. Visit http://www.thecoinalley.com to view other related information on the wonder Hobby of Kings.

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NumisManager(tm) Deluxe is by far the most user-friendly software of its kind on the market. Step through the UltraEntry(tm) interface to quickly enter your business strikes, proofs, commemoratives, etc., including variety and error information, images, date/time stamped coin notes, purchase and sales history, and much more. Even special coin grading designation options appear when applicable.

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	What are Commemorative Coins? (BellaOnline) Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:36:01 GMT Commemorative coins have become very popular. Many people want to have different kinds of coins in their collections or for souvenirs. Many times they are used as traditional gifts for special occasions. These coins are not considered to be practical gifts, bur are commemorative items that can be ke
	Some coins in circulation worth more than face value (WVLT-TV Knoxville) Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:49:09 GMT It might be worth the time to start taking a look at all the loose change you come across because believe it or not, some coins are worth several times more than their face value.
	Stamps & Coins: Take it to the bank: 'America's Money' is a great gift (The Sacramento Bee) Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:12:01 GMT When I was growing up, I knew Christmas was close when TV ads for Norelco shavers showed Santa sledding down a hill on a razor. Now I know the yuletide is near when I go into a Walgreens and see displays of candy canes, garland and wrapping paper. That happened the day after Halloween. So it's time to start thinking about holiday gifts for collectors. Given the economic climate, most might ...