Collection

Coin Collecting need some basic info and where to start ?

I am looking at collecting coins and would like to learn more about it. I love history and I think this maybe something I would enjoy and that might actually be worth my time both as for fun and as a kind of investment. What are some good ways to learn about coin collecting and things like what to look for and look out for, also how expensive is it as a rule. Thanks so much!

Public Comments

1. usmint.gov
2. i dont coin collect but i would start by getting a book with alot of coins and a box to put them in then find a local coin shop and ask the person working there
3. HOWDY!!! Dave B, I am kind of like you I don't know anything about collecting coins. I like your Idea but I just know. I just happen to think of this one try the Internet it is open 24-7. There almost something that you can find that might help you on coin collecting. Good Luck. STAY SAFE!!! Bulldog
4. go to antique stores for a start. then buy a book on the subject.
5. Coin collecting can be as expensive as you want it to be. I started out collecting cents then nickels and so on. Today a nickel collection from 1938-2007 is possible almost from change. There are a few hard ones and I doubt you will fins a 1950-D. You need to go do some reading, A library is nice, the books are free. You need to come up with what you want to collect. Not all neat historic items are expensive, nor will you make money on them. I have found over the years that me knowing more than a dealer about a certain series without him knowing I do, has paid off so that I can buy the coins I will never get my money back on, for they are just a fun history thing. For fun I collect Chinese cash coins and most only cost a dollar or so, of course the rare ones are expensive. The fun is learning the history and looking them up to attribute them, for I do not read Chinese but having a coin from 200 BC is kind of fun. I put the cents together from 1909-2000 and then in 2004 sold them for I got bored with them. They were all some what the same. I do like Morgan dollars and large cents, now they have history but are not always inexpensive. I really do not have that much room here so if you email me here I will give you an email address and we can go from there. You can also check out some local coin dealers but don't buy until you do some reading.
6. There are two major types of US coin collections. You could collect US proofs, US mint coins, or both. Most people collect mint coins, but I collect proofs. I only collect PCGS and NGC graded coins. These are coins that have been sent into a grading company who will grade and slab your coin, for a price of course. There are many sites like Ebay, Heritage, or Teletrades that hold auction almost daily with huge inventories. Coin collecting is great fun and very time consuming, and can be very profitable if done right. Like any investment it take time and years of learning. I started out knowing nothing, you just have to do your research. One book that helped me with proofs was Rick Tomaska's " Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 era". There are a ton of books out there, but you might want to start with that one. He is also coming out with an encyclopedia as well. Good Luck!!!
7. U can collect whatever commemoratives that u get or u can buy coins.. U can also collect currencies... I am a coin/stamps collector... drop me a mail for more info... i wil show u some of my collections...